Journey to the West: Starting with the True Lord of the Pure Land

On Qingchi Lake.

The water surged and the sword energy was overwhelming.

The once dark lake surface was now illuminated as bright as day by countless crisscrossing sword lights.

The Xuan Guang Dividing Water Sword Formation had been fully deployed, transforming into a massive blue light shield that enveloped the entire Spirit Serpent Mansion.

Above the light shield, water ripples flowed, and sword energy, like a dragon, continuously slayed the demon soldiers and generals who attempted to break through.

Master Changhe, with his beard and hair bristling, stood at the core of the formation, holding a formation plate in his hand.

The Second Elder and the Third Elder guarded the two flanks, while dozens of disciples at the late stage of Qi Refining or even the peak stage each wielded their swords, pouring their spiritual power into the formation without reservation.

The sword formation was incredibly powerful, stirring up the water, causing the undercurrents at the bottom of the lake to surge, and sending pebbles flying everywhere.

The Azure Scale Demon Lord revealed his enormous demonic form, his scales shattered and stained with blood. He charged left and right through the sword formation, roaring repeatedly.

His body was filled with violent demonic energy. As he swung his tail and moved around, he stirred up huge, turbid waves that crashed against the sword array's light barrier, creating violent ripples, but he was still unable to break through the array.

"Azure Scale Demon! Today is your death day!"

Master Changhe's voice was icy, carrying a murderous intent that suggested he was certain of victory:

"The long-standing feud, the hatred between my junior brother Liu Yizi, is finally settled today!"

The Azure Scale Demon Lord was both shocked and furious, and felt an indescribable sense of frustration.

He had no idea how that bastard died, yet he was being relentlessly hunted down by the Sword Pavilion; it was utterly absurd.

However, circumstances were beyond his control. The sword formation was far more powerful than he had anticipated, and coupled with his unhealed old injuries and inner demons, he gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.

"boom!"

A massive water sword, imbued with the power of three Foundation Establishment elders, tore through the water and slashed fiercely at the Azure Scale Demon Lord's serpent body.

The scales shattered, and blood instantly stained a large area of ​​the lake red.

Qinglin let out a mournful howl, and its aura suddenly plummeted.

He knew that if he continued fighting, he would surely die. A glint of madness and determination flashed in his eyes.

"You want my life? Not so easy!"

The Azure Scale Demon Lord suddenly let out a deafening roar, abandoning all defense. His demon blood burned, bursting forth with a dazzling azure light!

He disregarded the damage to his Dao foundation and forcibly burned his life essence.

A terrifying demonic power, far exceeding that of before, mixed with the malevolent energy of inner demons, exploded like a volcanic eruption!

One of its natal scales suddenly shattered, transforming into a fierce, blood-red streak that pierced the weakest point of the sword formation's light barrier like a drill.

Master Changhe's expression changed, and he hurriedly activated the array plate, instantly solidifying the sword array's light shield as solid as glass.

"Sizzle!"

The blood-red light made a tearing sound when it came into contact with the sword array's light shield.

The sword formation trembled violently, and the light shield was actually torn open by that desperate strike, leaving a tiny gap!

A blood-red figure burst out instantly, fleeing desperately towards the East China Sea without looking back.

It moved so fast that it disappeared into the dark depths of the water in the blink of an eye, leaving only a faint trail of blood.

The lake gradually calmed down, leaving only a scene of devastation.

The Sword Pavilion members revealed themselves, all looking exhausted and their clothes stained with blood, clearly indicating that their victory was not easy.

Master Changhe's face turned ashen as he put away the array plate.

Although this attack severely injured the Azure Scale Demon, it ultimately allowed the demon to escape, preventing a complete success.

The old demon also stole half of the treasures from the Spirit Serpent Palace.

Although he was angry, he also felt a sense of satisfaction.

After all, forcing a renowned Foundation Establishment Perfection Great Demon to burn his life essence and flee is enough to demonstrate the power of the Sword Pavilion.

The Third Elder said worriedly, "Senior Brother, that fellow has fled to the East Sea; he may become a future threat..."

Master Changhe snorted coldly: "A stray dog, not worth mentioning! After this battle, the demons of Qingchi Ridge are leaderless, it is time for my Sword Pavilion to establish its prestige."

He turned his gaze and looked towards Yunmang Mountain, a sharp and ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

The dragon demon of Yunkai Mangshan has an astonishing cultivation speed and is said to possess extraordinary treasures, though whether this is true or not remains to be seen.

If we can catch them off guard today and either capture or kill them, we can eliminate the potential threat and completely extinguish the arrogance of the demons of Qingchi Ridge.

Upon thinking of this, Master Changhe felt a surge of arrogance.

With the might of his great victory, the precious array plate, and three Foundation Establishment cultivators, how could he allow a mere demon cultivator to become too powerful?

"Let's go! To Yunmang Mountain, and meet that dragon demon!"

Having said that, disregarding the slightly hesitant expressions of the two elders, Master Changhe rode his sword and sped off towards Yunmang Mountain.

The two elders exchanged a glance and had no choice but to lead their disciples to follow closely behind.

……

The sword light flashed like a rainbow, sweeping in from the direction of Qingchi Lake.

In a short while, the Sword Pavilion group had reached the Yunmang Mountain realm.

Everyone was taken aback.

The mountain breeze caressed my face, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees, without a trace of the fishy stench and filth that one would expect from an ordinary demonic mountain.

Looking around, one sees verdant mountains, lush forests, babbling streams, and shimmering lights hidden among the swirling clouds and mist.

The air was filled with spiritual energy, gentle and peaceful, carrying a sense of purity and tranquility reminiscent of a Taoist blessed land, rather than being filled with demonic and foul air.

The disciples whispered amongst themselves, their eyes filled with disbelief.

The demon cave they imagined should be filled with grotesque rocks and eerie winds, not such a serene scene.

This is even better than their secluded cultivation place within the Sword Pavilion.

A young disciple couldn't help but take a deep breath, whispering in surprise, "The spiritual energy here is so pure, even more so than in my sect... um."

Before he could finish speaking, his fellow disciples covered his mouth, interrupting his inappropriate remarks.

The Third Elder frowned slightly, his divine sense quietly spreading out to perceive the situation.

Although the spiritual energy in the mountains is not as vast as the sea, it flows in an orderly manner, with yin and yang in harmony, like a lake forming its own cycle.

One could only vaguely sense that someone had guided the nodes of the mountain's ley lines, setting up a spirit-gathering array that subtly aligned with the principles of nature.

He had cultivated for over a hundred years and believed he had seen some immortal grottoes, but few could rival the grandeur of this place.

"How strange. This spiritual energy flows in an orderly and natural way, perfectly in harmony with some kind of natural rhythm."

Water veins converge, earth energy rises, wood spirits flourish… each link is interconnected, yet it is by no means a natural formation, much less the work of ordinary demons!

The Second Elder also showed a strange expression and transmitted his voice to True Person Changhe:

"Senior brother, this mountain is imbued with pure spiritual energy and teeming with life, completely free of demonic aura and impurity. Could that dragon demon... truly be cultivating here in seclusion?"

A ridiculous thought even flashed through his mind.

Could we have come to the wrong place? The owner of this place is not a demon, but a reclusive and virtuous cultivator.

Master Changhe's face was gloomy. As the one with the highest cultivation level, his senses were more acute, and his surprise and doubt were even greater.

He originally thought that Yunmang Mountain was just another place where demonic energy lingered.

Relying on the momentum of their recent victory, they arrived with a fierce sword intent, intending to intimidate others with their power.

Unexpectedly, upon arriving here, I experienced a spiritual environment that was completely different from demons and almost like the Dao!

This doesn't look like the cave of a dragon demon at all.

It is clearly a carefully cultivated and spiritually enriching place for spiritual practice.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and let out a cold snort:

"Bluster and deception are the mark of a wicked person; don't be fooled by appearances!"

However, the momentum that Changhe Zhenren had gained from the victory of annihilating Bilin had unknowingly diminished by three-tenths.

Instead, there was an indescribable solemnity and apprehension.

To be able to manage a demon mountain to such an extent, the master's character and methods are far from ordinary.

Finally, the Xuanqing Cave came into view.

The entrance to the cave is simple and unadorned, with a clean stone platform in front of it and a faint aroma of tea lingering in the air.

If it weren't for the immense, boundless demonic power emanating from within the cave, one would almost believe it to be the dwelling of a reclusive high-ranking immortal.

Master Changhe took a deep breath, straightened his robes which were slightly disheveled from the fierce battle, and suppressed his shock and doubt. The majesty of the Grand Elder of the Sword Pavilion reappeared on his face.

After a fierce internal struggle, he finally decided to lower his stance and said in a deep voice:

"Changhe of Xuanguang Sword Pavilion has come to pay respects to Cave Master Xuanling."

The sound echoed through the clear valley, startling several cranes, which flapped their wings and flew into the depths of the clouds.