Mortal: Starting with the Golden Jade Book

"What, are you giving up already?"

"I...I..."

The young cultivator remained silent, which only fueled the gloomy middle-aged man's anger.

"You worthless thing. Every time, hundreds of cultivators enter the Xuanhuang Pool. When has the demonic path ever carried out a large-scale massacre?"

They also understood the importance of a gradual approach, generally selecting only one true core disciple to use the Xuanhuang Pool each time. The other ordinary disciples were mostly unaware of this, so those who died inside were mostly those who killed each other while vying for spiritual treasures.

"Then...what if we run into each other..."

"Useless trash! I, Kui Biao, am infamous for my ruthlessness. How could I have such a worthless brother like you?"

The burly, sinister man was furious at the sight of the other man.

"With our strength, plus the Spirit Fusion Talisman and Invisibility Talisman that I specially purchased, as long as we don't provoke those core disciples of the demonic path, who can do anything to us?"

We don't need to go to the central area to join the fun. Just search for lone cultivators on the outskirts and strike in the shadows. With numbers outnumbering the enemy, are you still worried about not making a fortune?"

Upon hearing this, the young man indeed showed a hint of joy.

"Yes, yes, you're so smart, big brother. I'll listen to you after I go in. Whatever you say, I'll do."

"That's right. Don't worry, follow me. You'll get your share of the benefits. Once we come out of the Xuanhuang Pool, we'll return to find the hidden opportunities here. Maybe we'll even have a chance to advance to the Core Formation stage. At that time, there won't be any place in the world that we brothers can't go."

The sinister-looking middle-aged man, Kui Biao, chuckled a few times, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

After discussing their plan, the two decided not to linger any longer and turned to fly away into the distance.

Shortly after the two left, Lin Zui appeared nearby, with two points of light slowly disappearing into the distance on the Thousand-Mile Sensing Talisman in his hand.

"The Xuanhuang Pool... is quite interesting. And that bead they have should be the same as Qin Mengyao's Yuantu Bead. I wonder if, if I get my hands on it and combine the two beads, I can find the opportunity here?"

Lin Zui muttered to himself.

When he discovered the beads that resembled Yuan Tu beads in their hands, he immediately intended to kill them.

However, after hearing the two tell him the secret of the Xuanhuang Pool, he temporarily gave up the idea.

Qin Mengyao hasn't advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage yet. Since she can't leave for the time being, she might as well go and join in the fun. Maybe she can even get some benefits from it.

As for danger?

Since no cultivators above the Core Formation stage will participate, what is there for him to worry about? Even if he really encounters a disciple of some old demon, wouldn't he just run away if he couldn't beat him?

Having thought everything through, Lin Zui immediately returned to his cave.

He told Qin Mengyao that he was going out for a while and told her to focus on her cultivation, then turned around and chased after the direction in which the two had disappeared.

……

Three days later.

Tianxuan Mountain, the secret realm of Xuanhuang Pool.

Lin Zui mingled in the crowd, silently observing the countless cultivators gathered there. From the sparse crowd when he first arrived, in just three days, two to three hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators had gathered, and the number was still increasing.

Judging from their clothing, they were indeed mostly independent cultivators, but there were also some in groups of three or five, dressed in uniform, who were clearly cultivators from the same sect. Apart from a small number of ordinary disciples from the six sects, the vast majority of the rest were cultivators from sects in other neighboring countries.

"It really is completely open to the outside world, without any restrictions whatsoever. The demonic path is truly cunning. Not only do they use other people's flesh, blood, and souls to refine Xuanhuang Qi to cultivate their own disciples, but they also deliberately put on such a selfless and impartial act, making people grateful to tears. It's really... quite the beast."

"However, there are quite a few disciples from the six sects, and some of them seem to be at odds with each other. It seems that the guy named Kui Biao was right. These ordinary disciples have no idea about the secrets of the Xuanhuang Pool. It's hard to say how much benefit they can get from going in. But it does help stabilize the hearts of the people in the demonic path."

Lin Zui pondered to himself.

"I wonder who the core disciples the six sects will send this time? I hope it's not that Wang Chan, otherwise it will be quite troublesome."

Lin Zui recalled Wang Chan's expression that day. If Wang Chan had discovered that he was here, he would probably have disregarded everything and wanted to grind him to dust.

Suddenly, Lin Zui's expression changed.

A powerful aura flew in from afar, revealing itself to be a giant centipede covered in bluish-gold scales.

On the centipede, a group of cultivators stood proudly. Leading them was a slender old man, and beside him stood a woman in purple. She had a graceful figure, skin as smooth as water, and a delicate and charming appearance that would attract anyone who looked at her.

As the centipede flew closer, the girl, along with more than ten fellow disciples behind her, leaped down and landed on a platform, immediately attracting the attention of countless people around.

The girl seemed completely unfazed by the stares of the crowd, as if she were already used to it.

The thin old man looked at her.

"Young lady Dong, I have no choice but to send you here. The six sects have an agreement in the Xuanhuang Pool Secret Realm that cultivators above the Core Formation stage cannot interfere in any battles within the secret realm. Even if you are a direct descendant of Senior Yunlu, this is not an exception. Therefore, how many opportunities you can obtain inside depends entirely on your own abilities."

"Yes, thank you, senior. Xuan'er understands!"

The girl respectfully agreed, her attitude neither humble nor arrogant.

However, these two brief exchanges had already quieted the surroundings down.

There could be no one else who could be addressed as Senior Yunlu by this Core Formation cultivator; it must be Yunlu Old Demon, a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator from the Joyful Union Sect.

The stunningly beautiful young woman before me is actually a descendant of the Old Demon Yunlu?

"Dong Xuan'er, it really is her!"

The moment Lin Zui saw the girl's face, he recognized her.

In the original story, this woman was abducted by Tian Buque of the Hehuan Sect during the Battle of Yanjiabao. But in this life, as far as he knows, Han Li and this woman should have successfully escaped back to Huangfeng Valley. Unexpectedly, twenty years later, this woman still came to the Hehuan Sect. He wondered what happened after that.

Judging from this woman's current cultivation level, she has successfully advanced to the late Foundation Establishment stage. With a father in the mid-Nascent Soul stage providing full support, her progress is indeed quite rapid.

Moreover, looking at the dozen or so companions behind her, they were all at the late Foundation Establishment stage and clearly followed her lead. It was obvious that they were guards arranged for her by Yunlu.

"It seems this woman is the core disciple chosen by the Demonic Path to use the Xuanhuang Pool. But is it necessary to bring so many experts? With the name of the Old Demon Yunlu intimidating, who would dare to compete with her?"

Lin Zui muttered to himself. He was also very interested in the Xuanhuang Pool, but he would have to see if there was an opportunity. If the situation did not allow it, he would not risk his life.

Time passed slowly, and more cultivators arrived one after another, but none of them had a terrifying background like Dong Xuan'er.

Two days later, there was finally some activity at the entrance to the secret realm.

After a violent earthquake, a huge crack appeared in the once flat ground, through which a blurry passage could be vaguely seen.

"The secret realm has opened, let's go!"

Amidst shouts, some of the cultivators who had participated before rushed into the passage.

Lin Zui observed from the corner for a while, and after seeing that most people had entered and confirming that there were no problems, he no longer waited. He instantly transformed into a stream of light and rushed into the passage.