Chapter 504 19: Demon Path Evil People

Several days of tender intimacy passed.

Fang Cheng found himself recalling many poems and writings from his past life.

....

This day, the Li Huan Demon Emperor sent a message through her Jade Pendant, informing Fang Cheng that the Qianhuan Immortal Tree had manifested.

Only then did Fang Cheng and Yun Qiuyuan descend from the Jade Tower.

In just a few short days, the young woman's Cultivation had soared.

She wore a form-fitting black gown that clung to her slender waist and perky hips, revealing every curve. A high slit on the side exposed a pair of long, slender legs.

The young woman's skin had become even more fair, tender, and smooth, with a translucent luster. Her face was bright and lovely. Beneath a pair of gracefully arched brows were beautiful eyes, as clear as pristine water.

Her luscious lips and the faint smile playing in her dimples added a touch of flirtatious charm to her pure, sweet features.

Fang Cheng summoned the Ruyi Celestial Escape Shuttle. He and the young woman left the Gloomy Valley, picked up the Li Huan Demon Emperor by the shore, and flew deep into the Illusory Sun Sea.

A spindle-shaped shuttle with two pointed ends streaked across the azure sky at an incredible speed.

A layer of silver light sheathed the shuttle, shimmering dazzlingly in the sun. Its flight was completely silent. With every flash, it covered dozens of miles, disappearing over the horizon in just a few breaths.

The shuttle's interior was spacious, its furnishings elegant and comfortable. Fang Cheng and the two women sat in leisure, following the trace of an aura as they flew deep into the Illusory Sun Sea.

In less than half a day, they spotted a colossal tree in the distance. It grew from the seabed of the vast, boundless ocean, its trunk reaching straight for the heavens.

The giant tree was over ten miles thick and several thousand feet high. It rose solitarily from the ocean's surface, its canopy spreading out like a vaulted dome. Its foliage was lush and dense, wreathed in spiritual light and a magnificent radiance.

From a distance, the sight was spectacular—the entire canopy blotted out the sky.

Countless Cultivators were flocking to the tree from all directions. Streaks of Escape Light of every color traced bright, slender paths across the sky before descending into the canopy.

They were like shimmering motes of dust, vanishing into the enormous sea of leaves.

Rumor had it that a great power from the Red Profound Association had planted this tree. It appeared once every few hundred years, its canopy hiding countless treasures for the world's Cultivators to fight over, providing them a chance to improve themselves.

The method was quite similar to how the great Demon Sects trained their Disciples.

Every time the Feathered Immortal Tree manifested, it heralded a bloodbath. Countless would be slain as Cultivators fought and plundered to their hearts' content within the vast canopy. The strong grew stronger, and the weak perished.

Gradually, it came to be that anyone who dared to seek treasure here possessed a Cultivation of the Life Soul Realm or higher.

Many Cultivators from the Mystic Sects of the Righteous Path also came here to temper their Divine Techniques and Dao Heart in order to better themselves.

It was known as one of the Mingxiao Domain's grandest martial gatherings.

Having learned of the Red Profound Association and the Demon Lord, Fang Cheng now understood the true origin of a worldly wonder like the Feathered Immortal Tree.

'Someone in the Red Profound Association must be using this opportunity to cultivate top-tier experts for this realm,' he thought. 'All to continue the Association's mission of suppressing the Demon Lord's remains!'

'No wonder they hid the Red Profound Order within the canopy.'

The Ruyi Celestial Escape Shuttle passed through the void and flew quietly into the canopy, plunging them into what felt like an ocean of leaves.

As far as the eye could see, the massive branches of the Feathered Immortal Tree resembled mountain ranges. The leaves were like giant sails, dense and endless, forming a colossal maze.

The canopy naturally suppressed a Cultivator's Divine Sense. Even Fang Cheng found the range of his own Divine Sense restricted to within a hundred yards, which made him feel rather uncomfortable.

Spiritual light flashed in Yun Qiuyuan's eyes. After glancing around, she took out a black, crack-covered Compass and began observing their surroundings with a Secret Technique from the Heaven-Stealing Sect.

A moment later, she pointed in a certain direction. "Ma… Master," she said, "there's an aura of treasure in that direction. We might as well search as we go."

In the bedroom, she loved to use her pure, sweet voice to playfully call Fang Cheng 'Elder Demon Fang.'

But with the Li Huan Demon Emperor present, she followed Li Huan's lead and addressed him as Master.

Fang Cheng nodded. "Then let's go take a look."

With that, the Ruyi Celestial Escape Shuttle changed course and flew through the sea of leaves in the direction Yun Qiuyuan had indicated.

Before long, they spotted a fruit hanging from a branch ahead in the sea of leaves. It was as large as a palace, radiated a magnificent light, and gave off a profound aura.

Unfortunately, the fruit was hidden behind layers of dense foliage. Compounded by the suppression of their Divine Sense, it was impossible to detect without getting very close.

The Li Huan Demon Emperor glanced at Yun Qiuyuan, her beautiful eyes sparkling. "Little Sister Yun, you certainly are skilled," she said with a smile. "No wonder Master dotes on you so."

Yun Qiuyuan gave Li Huan a radiant smile. "You flatter me, Big Sister. My Cultivation is shallow. It would be better if you retrieved the fruit."

Li Huan nodded slightly. With a flicker, her graceful figure appeared outside the shuttle. She waved a hand, sending out a long silk ribbon that coiled around the fruit, pulled it down, and refined it in an instant.

Inside was a shimmering silver Talisman. It was densely covered in runes that flowed and shifted like a nebula.

Li Huan returned to the shuttle and presented the Talisman to Fang Cheng. "Congratulations, Master," she said with a smile. "We've only just arrived and we've already found a Fourth-rank Talisman. It's a good omen."

Fang Cheng took the Talisman and glanced at it. He found that it contained a single bolt of Divine Thunder, comparable to a full-powered strike from a Mid-stage Dharma Phase Cultivator.

Once the Divine Thunder was released, the Talisman would dissipate. It was a typical, single-use offensive Talisman.

'I could probably create a Talisman like this myself if I expended ten years' worth of my cultivation,' Fang Cheng mused.

He handed the Talisman to Yun Qiuyuan. "Yuan'er, you keep it for protection."

Now that he was decked out in Tier Five Treasures, he had little use for a mere Fourth-rank Talisman.

The only thing within the entire Feathered Immortal Tree that truly interested him was the Red Profound Order.

Yun Qiuyuan happily accepted the Talisman and resumed casting her technique. A moment later, she pointed in a new direction.

The shuttle traveled for about thirty miles. Sure enough, the faint glow of a treasure could be seen deep within the dense sea of leaves.

The Li Huan Demon Emperor had just exited the shuttle and was not yet near the fruit when ferocious beasts suddenly burst forth from the surrounding leaves. They opened their slavering maws, lined with sharp teeth, and lunged at her.

The beasts' power was comparable to that of Tier Three Demon Beasts. Gathered together, they were somewhat imposing.

"Petty tricks."

Li Huan's cold, beautiful face showed a trace of disdain. She moved through the sea of leaves as if taking a leisurely stroll in a garden. With each graceful, lotus-like step, the leaves in her path crumbled to ash.

The ferocious beasts met the same fate, dissolving into clouds of gray mist that scattered on the wind.

With unhurried grace, she plucked the resplendent fruit, refined it on the spot, and retrieved an exquisitely crafted Jade Bottle from within.

She opened the bottle, took a light sniff, and a smile immediately bloomed on her face. She then turned and returned to the shuttle.

"Master, it's a bottle of Tier Four Spirit Pills," Li Huan said, as if seeking praise.

Fang Cheng was pleased. He nodded and said, "Excellent. You keep it for now. We can use it when we cultivate together another day."

Li Huan's pretty face flushed, and a flirtatious glint flashed in her eyes. She was clearly recalling the many blissful, pleasurable moments she had spent 'cultivating' with Fang Cheng.

Fang Cheng pointed to the surrounding leaves. "I fear this is a trap laid by a Dharma Cultivator," he said. "By the looks of it, they're trying to hunt Life Soul Realm cultivators. I wonder who would stoop so low."

Yun Qiuyuan blurted out, "It must be a Demon Cultivator."

The words had barely left her lips when a ball of Demonic Light shot toward the Ruyi Celestial Escape Shuttle from the distance.

"Who dares to interfere with my business?"

The question was accompanied by an arrogant, furious roar.

Fang Cheng looked closely and saw that the Demonic Light was, in fact, a small, black mountain. It was dense and solid, and given its incredible flight speed, the impact would surely be immense.

With a mere thought, Fang Cheng had the Ruyi Celestial Escape Shuttle swerve slightly. Like a slippery fish, it easily dodged the Demonic Light and flew off into the distance.

Finding the Red Profound Order was the priority, so Fang Cheng couldn't be bothered to engage with this person.

But the attacker refused to give up.

"Freeze!"

From deep within the sea of leaves, the person activated a Fourth-rank Talisman. A streak of Profound Light shot through the foliage and struck the Ruyi Celestial Escape Shuttle, freezing it in place.

The next moment.

Demonic Light flashed in the distance, and another small, black mountain appeared.

This new mountain appeared several miles from the first one. Then, they shot toward each other, converging for a high-speed collision!

Caught directly between them was the pointed, spindle-shaped silver shuttle.

BOOM!

The two small, black mountains slammed into each other with incomparable force!

The Ruyi Celestial Escape Shuttle erupted with a dazzling spiritual light as countless Profound Patterns bloomed across its surface, too bright to look at directly.

Ripples spread through the void between the two Demon Mountains.

The thunderous crash echoed far and wide.

The Ruyi Celestial Escape Shuttle was completely unscathed, but the two black Demon Mountains shattered on impact, their fragments flying in all directions.

Inside the shuttle, Fang Cheng couldn't help but remark, "This world is full of people who don't know when they're courting death."

He had obtained the Ruyi Celestial Escape Shuttle from an Outer Ancient Tomb in the Wilderness Domain, a gift from a Tribulation Realm Great Power. Not only was it incredibly fast, but it was also a peerlessly durable weapon of slaughter that could change size at will.

When struck by the two Demon Mountains, the shuttle had not only remained undamaged, but the three occupants inside had only felt a slight tremor. The force of the impact had been almost instantly neutralized.

Fang Cheng's combat experience was second to none; in that brief exchange, he had already gauged his opponent's true strength.

He looked into the distance, then spurred the shuttle forward. It transformed into a silver stream of light and, copying his opponent's tactic, shot toward the person hiding in the sea of leaves.

The attacker was a young man with large, flowing sleeves and a face full of malice.

He was shrouded in a faint, black Demon Fog, within which thirty-three small, dark mountains revolved endlessly.

Seeing the shuttle hurtling toward him, a savage glint flashed in his eyes as his hands flew through a series of seals.

The thirty-three small, black Demon Mountains suddenly converged, forming an ancient-styled, black Stone Stele.

A tyrannical aura, powerful enough to suppress heaven and earth, radiated outwards.

The Stone Stele shuddered in mid-air before crashing into the shuttle.

BOOM!

An irresistibly powerful impact force instantly obliterated the Stone Stele.

In the blink of an eye, the imposing Stone Stele was reduced to scattered fragments that flew outwards amidst violent flashes of Demonic Light.

A grave look appeared in the young man's eyes. He hadn't expected his prized treasure to be shattered so easily by his opponent.

'I've run into a tough one. Time to go!'

He waved his hand, releasing a thick, black cloud of Demon Smoke.

The Demon Smoke exploded in mid-air, plunging a thousand-acre area into pitch-black chaos.

The young man turned to flee.

Inside the Ruyi Celestial Escape Shuttle, Fang Cheng had already locked onto the man with his Sword Intent. The shuttle turned, transforming into a streak of light in hot pursuit.

The young man's brow furrowed. He hastily took out and activated another Fourth-rank Talisman.

A towering phantom of a Demon God materialized. Gathering an endless amount of Demonic Light, it slammed its palm down on the shuttle.

The Demonic Light struck like lightning—unavoidable!

The Ruyi Celestial Escape Shuttle shot upward to meet the blow. Its silver radiance flared brightly as it crashed into the Demon Light Hand.

BOOM!

A violent explosion echoed through the air.

Invisible shockwaves rippled through the sky.

For a moment, countless Cultivators throughout the canopy paused, startled by the clash.

Amid the tangle of silver light and Demonic Light, the shuttle was knocked backward, and the Demon God phantom abruptly dissipated.

The young man, who had been watching as he fled, felt a secret sense of relief at this sight.

But in the next instant, the cry of a sword rang out from the distance, echoing through the heavens.

He turned his head just in time to see a brilliant sword light flash across the horizon. It was the Sword Qi Thunder Sound, and it reached him in an instant.

His vision blurred, and the sword light was upon him!

The sword light passed through him, and the young man's Protective Spiritual Light tore apart like paper. He died instantly, his Dao erased.

"'A Tier Five Flying Sword… Yan Zongdao?'"

A horrified expression froze on the young man's face.

But then his body exploded into a cloud of Demonic Qi and dissipated.

Inside the shuttle, Fang Cheng's brow furrowed. "So it was just a Demon Dao avatar... No wonder he was so arrogant."

...