Chapter 463 62: Six Paths (Part 1)

「Three days later.」

Shii Xuan followed a Female Crown to the heart of the Sect Array.

"Our Sect's Array is called the Yellow Wind Array. It is an Ancient Immortal Fragmented Technique, later improved by our predecessors."

Cen Sulan, a High Grade Golden Core cultivator from the Profound Clarity Sect, explained as they walked, "This array is Tier Four High Grade and can even trap and kill a Nascent Soul. It is second only to the Star-Picking Tower's Circulation Star Battle Grand Array."

"Shii Xuan."

"I am here."

Shii Xuan snapped out of his daze and bowed respectfully.

"I'm already aware of your situation." Cen Sulan stopped and sighed. "Qin Zhiruo was not the right partner for you. What's done is done. Don't let this disappoint the Sect's hopes for you."

"...Yes." Shii Xuan lowered his head. "I understand."

Cen Sulan spoke slowly, "There are two reasons for you to enter the array. First, it is customary. A newly promoted Golden Core can use the Array's power to stabilize their realm and Cultivation. Secondly... by being here, you can ignore the trivial matters of the outside world. When you emerge in thirty years, all of today's troubles will be in the past."

"Yes," Shii Xuan nodded. "I am grateful for the Sect's consideration and will keep it in mind."

"It is good that you understand." Cen Sulan gave a placid smile, leading him to a platform. "This is one of the core nodes of the Yellow Wind Array. Cultivating here allows you to use the Array Power for Body Tempering, which is immensely beneficial for a Cultivator who has just entered the Golden Core Realm. You can also study the Array and gain insights into the Great Dao."

"Go!"

With a light wave of her Duster, Shii Xuan's body flew up uncontrollably and landed gently upon the platform.

Instantly, a strange new awareness dawned on him.

Shii Xuan felt as if he could conjure a colossal hurricane, one that stretched from heaven to earth, with a single thought.

The countless flows of Qi between heaven and earth became clearly discernible.

The Golden Core within him, which had been sluggish and difficult to circulate, now spun rapidly as if stimulated.

'What a magnificent place!'

'If I could stay here for an extended period, I could reach the Mid-Stage Golden Core in less than a hundred years. However, they say you can't linger here for too long, or you risk 'Dao Assimilation.' Thirty years is the absolute limit.'

With that thought, he bowed in thanks to Cen Sulan. Seeing that he had adapted so quickly, she gave him a few parting instructions and left.

Shii Xuan watched Cen Sulan's figure recede until it disappeared. Then, his expression darkened, and he abruptly slapped the back of his head.

WHOOSH...

A plume of black smoke billowed out.

In the blink of an eye, the wisps of smoke coalesced into a human form, revealing none other than the world's foremost demon, the Six Paths Demon Monarch.

He was dressed in a pale purple robe, a Jade Hairpin casually pinned in his topknot. His features were handsome, and he sported a trim, three-stranded beard, exuding a distinct masculine charm.

At first glance, one would mistake him for a supremely talented Righteous Cultivator, never for the world's greatest Demon.

"The Yellow Wind Array!"

The Six Paths Demon Monarch glanced around and gave a placid smile. "This array was renowned in ancient times. It once trapped and killed a Celestial Immortal, and I have always been quite wary of it."

"How fortunate!"

"You brought me inside."

As he spoke, he looked back at Shii Xuan, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

'As expected of the pawn I so carefully selected,' he thought. 'Decades of nurturing have finally paid off today.'

"Senior," Shii Xuan began, his hands clasped. "Can you break this array?"

"From anywhere else? Of course not." The Six Paths Demon Monarch shook his head, then smiled and raised a hand. "But here... is the very heart of the Array!"

SHIMMER!

As a Spiritual Light flashed, a short flute appeared in his hand. This was the Purple Gold Flute, a Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact. It had once been the greatest treasure of the Six Paths Celestial Corpse Sect, and possessed the wondrous ability to control Soul Spirits.

Oom...

The melodious notes of the flute began to drift out slowly.

Visible sound waves expanded in all directions. Wherever they passed, the void cracked and shattered like a broken mirror.

"This is..." Shii Xuan's face was a mask of astonishment.

"The Great Dissociation Technique!"

"Correct," the Six Paths Demon Monarch said as he played the Purple Gold Flute. "I created this technique by fusing the legacies of the Six Demonic Dao. It can disintegrate Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, as well as the Physical Body's Primordial Spirit."

"It is perfectly suited for use here."

BOOM!

RUMBLE...

Before he had even finished speaking, a deafening roar erupted, spreading rapidly throughout the entire Profound Clarity Sect.

"What's happening?"

"Shii Xuan!"

"What's going on with you?"

Cen Sulan, who had only just left, was the first to sense that something was wrong. She instantly reappeared nearby, her expression changing drastically when she saw the Six Paths Demon Monarch.

"Six Paths..."

"How dare you!"

With a furious roar, the Duster in her hand suddenly swelled in size. Its thousands of strands transformed into ethereal silver threads of light. The dazzling radiance spread like flowing mercury, forming a continuous sheet that threatened to engulf the Six Paths Demon Monarch.

After unleashing this attack, Cen Sulan did not press on. Instead, she let out a sharp cry and shot into the sky to flee.

The Six Paths Demon Monarch was the most powerful figure of their era. Even as a Late-Stage Golden Core Cultivator, she was no match for him.

"Hmph..."

With a cold snort, Cen Sulan felt a murderous aura assail her from behind, striking like a viper's tongue.

'This is bad!'

Her heart pounded in her chest. The Golden Core within her spun violently, and her body instantly burst into several streaks of blood-red light, scattering in all directions.

In the next instant, a massive, pitch-black hand swept through the air, engulfing most of the bloody streaks. Only a few managed to escape.

"A Sacrifice Secret Technique?"

The Six Paths Demon Monarch raised an eyebrow. "Her reactions are certainly quick."

"Hmph!"

With a snort, his eyes flashed. The Purple Gold Flute flared with brilliant light, and the sonic ripples surged wildly outward.

A towering mountain collapsed with a deafening roar, and one majestic palace after another silently disintegrated. Countless Sect Disciples were annihilated by an Invisible Power before they could even react, bursting into clouds of blood mist.

In the span of just a dozen breaths, the core of the Profound Clarity Sect's grounds had been reduced to rubble.

The various defensive Spiritual Lights and complex Arrays were utterly powerless against the might of a Nascent Soul Cultivator wielding a Spiritual Artifact.

Before their very eyes, Dao Foundation Cultivators perished on the spot. Even Golden Core Grandmasters cried out in sorrow as they were slain where they stood.

The vast Profound Clarity Sect had become an Asura Purgatory.

"Six Paths!"

A grief-stricken roar echoed from the distance, "Stop!"

"Qingyuan." Six Paths looked up, his cold, dark eyes glinting. A sneer touched his lips.

"So you were here after all!"

"Contain!"

With a sweep of his wide sleeve, an ink wash painting silently unfurled, expanding outward at an unbelievable speed.

Once it reached its limit, the scroll suddenly contracted.

The entire mountaintop—the shattered peaks, the collapsed palaces, the endlessly screaming Cultivators—was pulled into the painting.

"The Mountain and River Map!"

Daoist Qingyuan's expression was grim. A gourd and a stream of fire appeared beside him in quick succession.

The Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact, the Cloud Thunder Gourd!

The High Grade Spiritual Artifact, the Divine Fire Chain!

Both items were heirlooms of the Profound Clarity Sect. The Cloud Thunder Gourd had once been a Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure containing a Venerable Primordial Spirit. Unfortunately, during a great calamity, not only did Immortals perish, but its Magical Treasure Spirit was also extinguished, causing its grade to plummet. Now, it was merely a Middle Grade Spiritual Artifact.

Besides Daoist Qingyuan, many other Profound Clarity Sect disciples were also trapped inside. Seeing this, they began to shout questions.

"Master!"

"Grandmaster!"

"What's happening? Where are we?"

Daoist Qingyuan lowered his head, a helpless look on his face. He shook his head gently; he could barely protect himself, let alone anyone else.

His gaze shifted, and his expression darkened. "Shii Xuan! You actually colluded with the demon Six Paths and put the Sect in such peril! Have you forgotten everything the Sect has done for you?"

"Hah..." Six Paths strode through the empty air. "Do you really think he could have reached the Golden Core Realm with only the Profound Clarity Sect's support?"

"Shii Xuan's Talent may be good, but his character is weak. Without my Divine Thought residing in him for support, he would have never reached the Golden Core Realm."

"Qingyuan!"

"You and Star-Picking Master plotted to ambush me again. I bet you never expected I would be the one to come to you first, did you?"

As he trod upon the void, a terrifying pressure descended as if it were tangible. One after another, the Profound Clarity Sect disciples exploded into clouds of blood mist.

But at the same time, several figures were revealed from amidst the carnage.

"Six Paths."

A figure shrouded in starlight rose into the air.

"I'm sure you didn't expect to find me here as well."

"Star-Picking Master?" Six Paths froze, his brow furrowed. "You're here as well?"

Star-Picking Master!

The Pavilion Master of Star-Picking Tower.

One of the two Nascent Soul True Men in the Immortal Alliance.

Now, all three Nascent Soul cultivators of the current era were present.

Six Paths did not fear them joining forces. In the past, even an ambush by three Nascent Soul cultivators had failed to kill him, so two would be no match for him. However, with two Nascent Soul True Men present, killing either one of them would not be easy.

"Fine!"

Shaking his head lightly, Six Paths slowly raised his hand. "My goal of destroying the Profound Clarity Sect and the Yellow Wind Array is complete. It would be best if I could kill a Nascent Soul, but it matters not if I fail."

"This will at least keep you honest for a hundred years!"

"Go!"

With a flick of his finger, the Purple Gold Flute transformed into a streak of golden light that shot toward the Star-Picking Master.