The Joyful Union Demon Sect had faced multiple instances of sect annihilation over its countless years of inheritance. This particular branch had only risen to power four thousand years ago; it was perfectly reasonable for parts of their sect's legacy to have gaps and omissions.
Their goal in seeking the Desire Demon Patriarch was likely to chase an ancient legend: to use the form of the [No-Cover Gathering] to perform a Ritual of Desire, attempting to replicate the legendary event of the Patriarch imparting the Path. It wasn't about breaking the seal. Besides, they lacked the capability.
Wang Yu had studied many ancient classics and historical texts. Some cultivators' personal biographies spanned hundreds of years; cross-referencing them with ancient histories offered endless insights. He vaguely grasped the脉络 (màiluò - veins/threads) within Changxi's account; it was likely true. It was like the great war between the righteous and demonic paths that had ended just three hundred years ago. The trigger was rumored to be the demonic path's leader, the [Refining Heaven Demon Sect], attempting to make contact with the True Demon—[Life]!—suppressed within the Heavenly Void Sword Sect's forbidden grounds. Now, with the demonic path's covert activities increasing, it was hard to say how things would develop.
But what was Changxi's purpose in telling him all this? Wang Yu looked at her with suspicion in his eyes.
She abruptly changed the subject. "The Scarlet Kite Demon Domain and the Taihu Spiritual Domain are divided east and west by the [Severing World Mountain Range]. Black Mountain Pass lies precisely on the central axis. The Northern Severing World Mountains start from the Withered Leaf Swamp in the south and extend north to the Endless Ice Plain. The southern part is the [Coiling Dragon Mountain Range], also called the 'Southern Severing World Mountains'. It starts from the Black Mountain Demon Territory in the north and extends south to the [Barbarian Ancient Plain]. According to your account, the area around Black Wind Fort is precisely the Joyful Union Sect's territory."
As her words fell, Wang Yu, as if sensing something, felt a growing sense of foreboding.
Sure enough!
Changxi's eyes burned with intensity. "According to your story, you decided to traverse the Black Mountain Demon Territory while still at the Qi Refining stage and, by a fortunate coincidence, obtained the opportunity for Body Cultivation Foundation Establishment. You ultimately succeeded in your breakthrough here. Given the dangers of the Black Mountain Demon Territory, you must have obtained a safe route map to cross such perilous lands. Otherwise, you wouldn't have had such resolve. Am I correct?!"
*Damn!* What an intelligent woman. Following normal logic, her deduction was absolutely reasonable. Wang Yu's throat felt dry. He couldn't think of any reason to deny it.
"So, Fellow Daoist Changxi, you want me to lead the way, to guide you all to block the retreat path of the Joyful Union Demonic Cultivators in advance?"
"Precisely."
"I..." Wang Yu had to brace himself. "It's not that I don't want to help. A safe route isn't necessarily the only one. With the Joyful Union Sect's influence, they are sure to have found more routes. I..."
"Fellow Daoist, are you truly unwilling?"
The atmosphere quickly grew heavy, tilting in a dangerous direction. Although Changxi had a righteous heart, she wasn't bound by scruples over methods. As long as the outcome was good, she could accept it.
Just as Wang Yu was secretly regretting his loose tongue and his lack of mastery in the art of fabrication, a sudden explosion erupted from the east. The blast range was extremely wide; despite the unknown distance, the shockwave was strong enough to ruffle his hair.
Changxi's face turned grave. The jade pendant at her waist suddenly emitted an unfamiliar male voice: *[Moonbeam Senior Sister, Elder Yi has encountered the Joyful Union Sect demons! Over three hundred enemies! Using our separation point as the marker, three thousand two hundred li east! Request immediate support!]*
A Voice Transmission Jade Pendant. The value of these items varied greatly with range. The highest grade currently could transmit over a hundred thousand li, ignoring barriers from formations and restrictions below the fourth tier. They were incredibly expensive. The one on Changxi's waist, even if not top-tier, was undoubtedly a top-grade item. She herself was likely among the most outstanding of the Sword Sect's many Wandering Disciples, perhaps even from a prominent family.
Wang Yu, who had been observing the entire exchange, quietly sighed in relief. *Good timing.* Any later and he would have been truly stuck in the mud. Since the Joyful Union demonic cultivators had shown themselves, there was no longer a need for him to lead the way.
Simultaneously, not far away, Lan Boting, who had ambushed Wang Yu earlier, shouted from a distance, "Moonbeam Senior Sister, Elder Yi is requesting aid! Time is critical! Let's kill that demon whelp and set off!"
---Silence!
Wang Yu swore he had never encountered such a disgusting person, even in the demonic path. He would remember this. His killing-intent-filled eyes swept over the area before focusing warily on Changxi. If a real fight broke out, he had only a ten percent chance of escape.
In the clearing, the moon-white longsword with the crescent moon gem set in its round hilt had, at some point, been lifted by a slender, jade-like hand.
Changxi looked at Wang Yu with a complex expression, as if recalling some unpleasant memory. She sighed. "Go. I will not kill you."
Hearing this, Wang Yu didn't waste a single word. He immediately pushed his Thousand Li Divine Movement technique to its limit and cast his Invisibility Art, causing his figure to vanish completely from the mountain forest.
"Sigh~" A soft sigh escaped her lips. "The pitiable inevitably have their detestable aspects. My apologies."
...
...
Finally free from danger, Wang Yu had no intention of lingering. This damned place was truly unbearable. He navigated past the now-familiar territories of demon beasts along the way, heading north the entire time. Even when he passed Black Bear City, far behind Black Mountain Pass, he didn't consider entering. His destination was the Withered Leaf Swamp; he planned to find a mud pit and hide there. The swamp lands were filled with foul stenches, rotting ammonia, poisonous miasmas, and venomous insects—utterly unsuitable for long-term human habitation. He refused to believe that, at this final stage of his journey, he still couldn't find a place free from disturbance.
*Nine months! I only need nine months!*
Once he returned to the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect, he could claim to have侥幸 (jiǎoxìng - luckily) broken through using the "Seizing Foundation Art". To the three young masters from the Enforcement Hall who had invested in him, he could explain that he succeeded using the Demonic Womb Secret Curse. This would increase his value, and leveraging his connections would then proceed smoothly. When the time came, he would select a good location to establish his manor, amass wealth, and take control of a city. Resources from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core would no longer be a worry. His plans for the future had always been very clear.
Right now, he just needed a little bit of luck. A tiny bit was enough!
However, blessings never come, but disasters never end alone. Sometimes, the more you fear misfortune, the more it strikes.
Wang Yu fled north almost without stopping. Even when his spiritual power was more than half depleted, he relied on the endurance of his Foundation Establishment Body Cultivator physique to keep running. From south to north, he didn't know how many miles he had covered. But he had run for three full days! Feeling he was roughly in the right area, he wanted to ask for directions to the Withered Leaf Swamp and buy a basic map.
Instead, he encountered something that made him curse his foul luck.
**Withered Leaf City.**
**Tuolong Market, Laifu Tavern.**
"Fellow Daoist, whatever you're inquiring about, forget it. It's hopeless. Try again another time."
"Why is that?"
"Three days ago, news spread from the Black Mountain Demon Territory. They say a Sword Sect Golden Core expert clashed with demonic cultivators. Both sides suffered losses; the demonic cultivators were wiped out, but the Sword Sect lost an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. The victorious Golden Core senior was furious and ordered the eradication of the root of the problem, to seek trouble with the Spirit Vulture Sect. Our area isn't far from the Spirit Vulture Sect; we've already been forcibly conscripted."
Wang Yu's eyes widened. *No way? This unlucky? I've run into this again? Could I be under some kind of vicious curse?!* Wait, that didn't make sense! The Spirit Vulture Sect's(Lingjiu Sect) territory wasn't large; they only had jurisdiction over two or three cities. Stone Lake City was one of them. Their mountain stronghold should be closer to the Black Mountain Demon Territory.
(End of Chapter)