Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

The ice and snow melt, and spring arrives with blooming flowers.

With its vast mountains and seas, and leisurely cloud shadows, Laoshan Mountain is full of vitality. In spring, Laoshan boasts clear blue skies and waters, layered mountains, and swirling clouds and mist. Ancient temples stand quietly in secluded valleys, flowers bloom in succession, trees turn verdant, and bamboo forests are deep and secluded. The wintersweet of Taiqing Palace exudes a subtle and refreshing fragrance, cherry and apricot blossoms cover the mountains like snow, and pink, white, and purple flowers adorn the red walls and palaces.

Inside the council hall, True Man Xuan Yang sat in the main seat. To his left sat Fairy Ling Xi, the head of the Water Moon Pavilion, and to his right sat Jian Chen of the Azure Cloud Sect. The elders of the three sects—Laoshan, Water Moon Pavilion, and Azure Cloud Sect—were arranged in two orderly rows according to their sect ranking and cultivation level, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere in the hall.

Master Xuan Yang slowly swept his gaze across the crowd below, and spoke in a deep, authoritative voice: "Elders, the reason we have gathered here today from the three sects is to discuss the matter of besieging the Blood Fiend Sect. The Blood Fiend Sect is entrenched on Black Abyss Fog Island, in the far east of Laoshan, hidden in a perilous place shrouded in reefs and black mist. The island is a gathering place of malevolent spirits, its malevolent energy corroding bones, and its spiritual veins poisonous and filthy, inherently incompatible with the spiritual veins of our righteous path. Although their sect is located in a remote area, they often take advantage of the surge of spiritual tides to quietly approach the mouth of the Guixu Sea, plundering treasures, ambushing passing cultivators, and harassing our three sects. Now the Blood Fiend Sect is at its last gasp. What are your thoughts?"

Jian Chen's face was solemn as he sternly rebuked, "The Blood Fiend Sect has been a scourge to the East Sea for too long. Today, our three sects must join forces to completely eradicate this evil force!"

The elders below the hall nodded in unison, their fighting spirits blazing. The decision to besiege the Blood Fiend Sect was thus finalized.

Before long, auspicious clouds surged and spiritual energy surged in front of the Laoshan Mountain gate. The cultivators of the three sects all gathered, and the mighty allied forces shook the heavens and the earth.

Banners were displayed in three directions, each showcasing the grandeur of its sect. The disciples of Laoshan were enveloped in a watery glow, standing tall and straight; the cultivators of Shuiyue Pavilion wore flowing robes, surrounded by a gentle, watery aura, their movements light and agile; the disciples of Qingyun Sect wore tight-fitting clothes, their swords gleaming coldly, their sword intent awe-inspiring.

Elder Wudao, his Taoist robes billowing, sat in the center; Su Wanbi, in a white robe trailing on the ground, surrounded by moonlight, stood on the left; Shen Qinghan, sword in hand, stood with his sword intent restrained like a deep abyss, seated on the right. The aura of the three sects pressed down on all directions, thousands of cultivators formed a strict square formation, their magical artifacts gleaming, their magical treasures suspended in mid-air, their spiritual energy surging into the sky.

"Move out! Seize Black Abyss Mist Island in the East China Sea!"

Master Xuanyang gave a command, and the sound resounded through the clouds.

In an instant, the allied forces of the three sects soared into the sky, their spiritual light intertwining and stretching for dozens of miles. The cultivators of Laoshan Mountain rode the water, treading the waves and breaking through the air; the cultivators of Shuiyue Pavilion rode the clouds and mist, their figures light and agile; the disciples of Qingyun Sect flew on their swords, their sword cries shaking the heavens. The three groups of cultivators complemented each other, their momentum like a rainbow, their spiritual energy surging and causing the sea to churn, as they sped towards the far east of the East China Sea.

Far to the east in the open sea, the waters around Black Abyss Mist Island were gloomy at this time.

The surrounding reefs stood like ferocious beasts on the sea, and the thick, black fog surged and lingered, so thick that it could not be dispersed, blocking out all the light of day. All that could be heard was the howling of the cold wind and the roar of the turbulent whirlpools, with waves carrying a fishy and malevolent aura crashing against the reefs.

The Northern Mang Deacon, accompanied by three trusted cultivators, their bodies shrouded in a faint aura of malevolent energy, cautiously traversed the hidden reefs and ravines. They avoided the raging whirlpools on the sea surface, following the faint, almost imperceptible pull of their bloodlines, and ventured deeper into the heart of the misty island. The rocks beneath their feet were covered with thick black moss, and every step was chillingly cold.

"Steward, the evil aura of the Blood Fiend Sect is getting stronger and stronger. If we go any further in, we might be detected." A cultivator from Beimang lowered his voice, his ghostly aura completely concealed.

The deacon of Beimang raised his hand to signal silence, his fingertips tightly gripping a bone talisman that gleamed with a ghostly green light. The subtle demonic runes on the talisman were slightly warm, resonating with the aura deep within the earth. "It's alright. This is the bloodline connection of my ancient ancestors from Beimang. No matter how strong the Blood Fiend Sect's malevolent energy is, it cannot conceal the shared demonic energy. Follow the talisman's guidance, and you will not go wrong."

Following the warmth of the bone talisman, bypassing the dense blood-red warning barriers on the island, and passing through layers of ghostly forests, the group finally found an underground cave hidden beneath a cliff in the deepest part of the misty island.

The cave entrance was blocked by thick black rocks, from which seeped a dense aura of death and ancient demonic energy, completely different from the surrounding bloody and malevolent energy. It was cold, heavy, and carried an ancient pressure. The Beimang Deacon was startled and quickly activated the Yin energy within his body, channeling it into the bone talisman at his fingertips.

The bone rune instantly emitted a ghostly green light, and magical runes of the same origin as those within the cave appeared, slowly imprinting themselves onto the black rock. The once indestructible black rock, as if melting ice and snow, slowly cracked open, creating a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.

The cave was dark and stagnant, with broken bones and fragments of ancient runes scattered on the ground. The deeper one went, the thicker the demonic energy became. In the very center of the cave, a huge bone cocoon lay silently. The cocoon was pitch black, its surface covered with fine ancient bone patterns. A heavy aura of death and a vast demonic energy slowly emanated from it, yet there was no sign of life—this was the Bone Demon that the Beiman Sect had been searching for, slumbering for a thousand years.

Within the bone cocoon, a gaunt human figure could be vaguely discerned, its body covered in jagged bones. Even in its slumber, the aura of a superior being emanating from its bloodline still caused the Beimang Deacon and his entourage to bow their heads, daring not to show the slightest negligence.

"We've finally found it!" The deacon of Beimang's voice trembled, his eyes filled with ecstasy and awe.

At that very moment, a chilling wind suddenly rose at the cave entrance, and several figures shrouded in a bloody, malevolent aura slowly walked in. The leader, with a sinister expression, his black robe stained with blood, and an overwhelming aura of malevolence emanating from him, was none other than Mo Tu, the sect leader of the Blood Fiend Sect. Behind him followed several elders and disciples of the Blood Fiend Sect, each with a ruthless gaze, staring intently at Bei Mang and the others, their malevolent aura surging, already prepared to attack.

"How dare you, people from Beiman, trespass into the forbidden chamber of my Blood Fiend Sect! You have some nerve!" Mo Tu shouted.

"You all know me, Beiman, but do you know who he is?"

The deacon from Beimang quickly turned around, suppressing his excitement. He raised his hand to stop his subordinates who were about to attack, and bowed to the Blood Fiend Sect Master, saying, "Sect Master, please calm down. My Beimang Sect has come here with no ill intentions. On the contrary, we have a great opportunity to save your Blood Fiend Sect and wish to discuss it with you."

"Oh?" Mo Tu raised an eyebrow, his murderous aura undiminished. "My Blood Fiend Sect occupies Black Abyss Mist Island, its defenses impregnable. Why would we need your help from Beiman?"

"Why deceive yourself, Sect Master!" The deacon from Beiman sneered, stating bluntly, "The Laoshan, Shuiyue Pavilion, and Qingyun Sects have reached a consensus and are mobilizing a joint force to march on Black Abyss Mist Island. No matter how strong your Blood Fiend Sect is, it can hardly withstand the combined forces of the three sects, can it?"

"What? The Three Sects' Allied Forces!" Mo Tu's expression changed drastically. He had already received word of the situation, but had not yet had time to react. He did not expect the Three Sects to arrive so quickly.

Seeing this, the Beimang Deacon continued, his tone resolute: "Our Beimang sect possesses ancient spatial domain gate secrets, capable of using the surge of spiritual tides to conceal heavenly secrets and relocate the entire sect. I can make the decision to help your Blood Fiend Sect abandon this Black Abyss Mist Island, allowing the entire sect to quietly withdraw, leaving the three-sect allied forces empty-handed; in return, your Blood Fiend Sect must cooperate with our Beimang sect to help us awaken this ancient ancestor in the future and jointly pursue the Great Dao. What do you say?"

He pointed to the bone cocoon in the center, his gaze resolute.

Mo Tu stared at the enormous bone cocoon, sensing the terrifying demonic energy within. He then considered the approaching allied forces of the three sects and instantly weighed the pros and cons. He knew he was utterly powerless against the righteous alliance; the olive branch extended by Bei Mang was his only way out.

After a moment's hesitation, Mo Tu slowly withdrew his murderous aura, a resolute glint in his sinister eyes: "Fine! My Blood Fiend Sect will cooperate with your Northern Mang Sect! But you must guarantee the safe evacuation of all my disciples!"

"It's a deal!"

The deacon of Beimang and Mo Tu locked eyes and immediately hit it off.

Immediately, the Beiman cultivators began to set up spatial gates. Dark spatial patterns spread across the misty island, merging with the power of the sea's spiritual tides to completely conceal all traces of Black Abyss Mist Island. Mo Tu quickly ordered his remaining troops to gather core supplies, suppress their bloody aura, and assemble, preparing to evacuate with Beiman.

Half an hour later, the spatial gate was fully formed. The dark vortex of the gate slowly rotated, and the Blood Fiend Sect disciples, led by their sect leader, filed into the gate without making a sound.

After the last Blood Fiend Sect member entered the domain gate, the Northern Mang Deacon glanced back at the Bone Demon Cocoon in the cave, waved his hand to remove all the restrictions, and then led his men into the domain gate.

With a flash of light, the spatial gate vanished instantly, leaving no trace.

The once menacing Black Abyss Fog Island has become completely deserted. The black fog, reefs, whirlpools, and malevolent energy have all vanished, leaving only a vast, calm sea.

The vast, surging light of the three allied forces had already appeared on the sea surface, speeding towards this area.

When the allied forces landed, all they could see was emptiness, just a vast, empty sea. There was no trace of Black Abyss Mist Island or Blood Fiend Sect.

Lin Yan and his group stood atop the clouds, gazing at the empty sea before them, their brows furrowed, their eyes filled with solemnity. In just half a day, the Blood Fiend Sect had vanished without a trace.