The black-robed devil cultivator, with hair as white as a craneâs and a youthâs complexion, was none other than Xuan Sanren, the venerable ancestor of the Demon Path in the Feather Transformation Realm.
And standing behind him were several Golden Core Stage devil cultivators:
A youngster, extremely attractive but pale-faced as though veiled by a meticulously sculpted, flawless mask of a dead personâs skin.
An old man with a sword box, his expression wooden, his eyes devoid of all but the whites.
A brawny monster cultivator, his fingertips sharp, with threads of blood in the depths of his eyes.
These three were precisely the trio of devil cultivators who had appeared outside South Yue City.
The only one missing was that decrepit old crone, babbling on and on.
"This Mr. Zhuang really has some ability,"
The pale-faced youth said with a cold sneer.
The monster cultivator scoffed, "Without understanding Formations, do not speak recklessly. What do you mean âability?â This is one of the most profound Formation techniques in the Cultivation World. No one in your Blood Refinement Gate could possibly understand it."
The pale-faced youth was slightly angered, yet the Sword Box Elder spoke:
"Be discreet with your words, Mr. Zhuang is not someone we can criticize."
The pale-faced youth was displeased but said no more.
Under the vast Soul Refining Blood Banner, amidst a sea of blood.
The Five Elements Mountain Guarding Formation, its radiance swirling, spiritual power surging, resisted the omnipresent killing intent and the overwhelming Demonic Qi, standing its ground.
The Sword Box Elder licked his lips, a hint of bloodthirsty intent showing in his eyes as he said to Xuan Sanren:
"Venerable, the Demon Sword requires more killing of living beings, to absorb sufficient human blood before it can break through this Large Formation."
Xuan Sanrenâs gaze was somber. After pondering for a moment, he suddenly shook his head and said:
"No hurry; even if we broke the Formation, we couldnât do anything to him at the moment. Itâs better to just trap him for now."
He then gave a soft, sinister laugh, "Iâve been planning for hundreds of years, altering the Five Elements Mountain Guarding Formation with the Blood Sha Formation Flow, yet I never expected that he would undo it with a flip of his hand..."
"Indeed... it is Mr. Zhuang, who has the potential of a half-step Celestial Being..."
"But all the machinations come to an end here."
"This place has already been sealed by the Nether Heavenly Mechanism Seal which blocks the heavenly secrets. For a short time, the Taoist Court cultivators will not be able to detect anything..."
"Within three days, once the Soul Refining Banner Blood Sea covers the sky and completely seals Li Mountain City, with the Demon Sword suspended in the heavens, devouring flesh and blood, the entire Li Mountain City will become a purgatory, with no living being able to escape."
"Nether Heavenly Mechanism Seal, Soul Refining Banner, Chaotic Demon Sword, these three sacred treasures of the Demon Path are enough to trap any cultivator to death."
"Even Mr. Zhuang is no exception!"
"Moreover, times have changed. He is no longer the domineering Mr. Zhuang of the past..."
The Sword Box Elder and the others cupped their fists in assent, "Venerable is wise."
Xuan Sanren closed his eyes to rest, as if calculating something.
The Sword Box Elder and the others did not dare to disturb him and, after bowing, retreated.
Once they had moved aside, the monster cultivatorâs eyes shone with excitement as he asked the Sword Box Elder in a low voice:
"Do you think we will catch him this time?"
The Sword Box Elder replied gravely, "We are simply following orders; we need not concern ourselves with success or failure."
The monster cultivator felt snubbed and snorted, "Putting on airs, I donât believe you wouldnât be tempted by a chance to ascend to immortality laid right before your eyes."
The Sword Box Elderâs eyes twitched slightly, "Such an opportunity is not for you and I to covet."
He lowered his voice again and said, "Our task here is to act as pawns under the command of the Demon Sectâs Nether Ancestor..."
"Taking the opportunity to kill some people to feed the Demon Sword, just carry out your duties, accumulate some Merit Points, and in the future, you may progress beyond your position as the Ten-Thousand Demons Elder..."
"This is what is truly practical."
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"The matter of âimmortality is for the Nether Ancestor to contemplate, itâs not something for those of our realm to even fantasize about."
"Above the character âimmortalâ, one shares longevity with the heavens and the earth; below it, lies an abyss."
"One false step, and we could end up with no place to bury our bodies..."
The monster cultivator replied perfunctorily, "Alright, alright, I get it."
But in his heart, he scorned, "With the chance for immortality before your eyes, I donât believe you wouldnât be tempted..."
A gleam flashed through the brawny manâs eyes.
The pale-faced youth nearby also showed a covetous look, his ambition growing.
Even the solemn Sword Box Elder, beneath his grave demeanor, felt an emotional tumult...
Immortality...
The three men each harbored different thoughts, and for a moment, it grew quiet.
After a while, the monster cultivator suddenly asked with curiosity, "What about that old crone? Why isnât she here?"
The Sword Box Elder paused, then frowned, "Sheâs likely gone to refine corpses."
The monster cultivator was puzzled, "Is corpse refinement more important than whatâs going on here?"
"You donât understand what kind of corpse sheâs refining..."
The Sword Box Elderâs eyes sharpened, "Given time, if that corpse is refined, it truly... would be extraordinary..."
"Just a zombie..." the brawny man shook his head.
The pale-faced youth also showed disdain.
âŠ
Within the Five Elements Sect, underneath the Mountain Protection Array.
The Chief Elder, upon seeing Mr. Zhuang, had a conflicted expression and hesitated for a long while before bending his waist to bow and say:
"Five Elements Sect thanks Mr. Zhuang for the life-saving grace!"
He was very reluctant in his heart.
The disaster of the Five Elements Sect was a consequence of Mr. Zhuangâs involvement.
But at its core, it was because of the traitor Liao Tiande.
Liao Tiande was the Sect Leader of the Five Elements Sect.
The Sect Leader colluded with the Demon Sect, altered the Formation, and plotted against Mr. Zhuang. From this perspective, the Five Elements Sect was also to blame.
The Five Elements Blood Killing Formation was a second-grade formation of the Evil Path that could refine all the cultivatorsâ flesh and blood within it.
This Golden Core Cultivator couldnât resist it, let alone the other disciples of the Five Elements Sect.
If not for Mr. Zhuang, today the Five Elements Sect would have faced annihilation.
The disciples would have been almost completely killed or injured, becoming nourishment for the Evil Formation, dying under the very Large Formation that their founding ancestors had left to protect their sectâs disciples.