Chapter 266 - 148: The Five Elements Gradually Take Shape, Demon Shadow of Mang Mountain (Part 2)

Chapter 266: Chapter 148: The Five Elements Gradually Take Shape, Demon Shadow of Mang Mountain (Part 2)

Xuzhuang narrowed his eyes. The woman from the Demon Sect he had once mentioned to Sun Suzhen could be none other than the Demoness Shishi, an old enemy.

Sun Suzhen was resourceful and well-informed. Xuzhuang had once asked him about Shishi’s background, but since the Demon Sect had been lying low for a long time, Sun Suzhen knew very little. Now that there was news, however, he had remembered the matter and sent a message specifically to Xuzhuang.

Xuzhuang nodded and asked, "Where did these Demon Sect cultivators show themselves? If you have specific information, could you tell me the details?"

Sun Suzhen replied, "I only learned of this because Senior Brother Yue told me. It’s best if he explains the details to you."

Xuzhuang cupped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute. "Please, Senior Brother, tell me what you know."

Zhe Junyang shook his head. "No need to be so formal, Junior Brother. Those Demon Sect cultivators appeared in Mang Mountain. We don’t know what they’re plotting, but they’ve been lingering there for some time and have committed many massacres, leaving all the Independent Cultivators in Mang Mountain in a state of constant fear."

"Mang Mountain?" Xuzhuang nodded thoughtfully. The so-called Mang Mountain was not one specific mountain range, but rather an endless expanse of mountains in the northwest of the Divine Continent. It stretched north to the Beiming Continent and west to the Jianxia Mountain Range, spanning over a million li. Even the gates of the Shaoyang Sect and the Celestial Fire Sect could be said to fall within the bounds of Mang Mountain, though they were not particularly close to each other.

’In such a vast region, Spiritual Mountain Blessed Lands are naturally numerous, and rare treasures aren’t uncommon. As a result, many small sects and Independent Cultivators have settled there. But what could the Demon Sect cultivators be plotting in a place like this? Are they killing people to refine their demonic techniques?’

"Correct," Zhe Junyang said. "There is a hermit in Mang Mountain known as Venerable Ju Mang. He’s a distant relative of the Yue Family. He established a small retreat in Mang Mountain to cultivate, but after witnessing the brutality of those Demon Sect cultivators, he felt his life was in danger and requested aid from our family. That is how I learned of this."

Sun Suzhen then asked, "Senior Brother Yue, you once said he was eager to fight cultivators from the Demon Sect. Did he go to Mang Mountain?"

Zhe Junyang knew he was asking about Yue Junlan. Shaking his head, he said, "Jun Lan was summoned by the Ancestral Master to cultivate in the Grotto Heaven. He hasn’t emerged from his seclusion yet."

A thought struck both Xuzhuang and Sun Suzhen at the same time. While the Zhenren of their sect—aside from the Master—were famously elusive, their old reputations had not been entirely erased by time. There had always been a rumor that the Yue Family was still watched over by a living Primordial Spirit True Man. This would explain why the Yue Family was so prosperous, even among the twelve great houses.

Zhe Junyang’s words now seemed to confirm this rumor. After all, besides Yue Junlan, they had never heard of any other True Disciple being summoned by the Ancestral Master to cultivate in the Grotto Heaven... except, perhaps, for Fei Fan Yan, who was rumored to be the personal disciple of a Primordial Spirit True Man. She might be granted such an opportunity.

Zhe Junyang didn’t dwell on the topic. "This is a recording sent by Venerable Ju Mang," he continued. "Junior Brother, take a look and see if your enemy is here." He took a small Jade Disc from his sleeve, placed it on the table, and tapped it with his finger.

A projection appeared above the Jade Disc, showing a burly man with shoulder-length red hair. He had a fierce, watchful gaze, and even through the projection, his baleful aura felt palpable.

’So this is a True Disciple of the Demon Sect? I wonder which of the Demon Sects he belongs to.’

According to the Tai Su Sect’s records, during the era when demons thrived on the Divine Continent, there had been eight great Demon Sects. Only five remained. Aside from the Yinji Sect, which had long ago relocated to the Western Continent, and the Bone Sect, which had recently reappeared, the remaining three were the Innate Demon Sect, the Demon Intent Sect, and the Manifestation Sect. All had ancient lineages and were not to be underestimated.

As Xuzhuang was thinking, the image on the Jade Disc changed. It now showed a young Daoist with sharp eyebrows and a handsome, elegant demeanor. He looked less like a cultivator from the Demon Sect and more like a proper Daoist with a refined, stern aura.

Xuzhuang committed the appearances of both men to memory. In the next moment, the image on the Jade Disc shifted once more, revealing a woman with a cascade of black hair and a white veil obscuring her face. Only a pair of melancholic, soulful eyes were visible. Who could it be but the Demoness Shishi?

A cold glint flashed in Xuzhuang’s eyes the moment he saw her image. He memorized the final figure shown on the disc—a middle-aged Daoist with a gray beard—and then turned to Zhe Junyang. "Do you know the exact location of Venerable Ju Mang’s retreat? I’d like to pay him a visit."

Zhe Junyang frowned. "I can give you the location, Junior Brother, but... are you planning to go to Mang Mountain for revenge?"

Xuzhuang gave a faint smile. He wasn’t the type to seek revenge for every little slight, but he also wasn’t one to swallow his grievances and let them lie.

His conflict with the Demoness was one of the few times he had suffered a humiliating loss since achieving his Golden Core. If he had the chance to settle the score, he certainly wouldn’t pass it up.

Besides, he had questions about the *Primordial Venerable Dao Transmission and Demon Refining Scripture*. If he could capture this Demoness, he wouldn’t hesitate to use harsh methods to interrogate her.

Furthermore, the Demon Sect was about to re-emerge into the world. Clashes between the righteous and demonic paths would be inevitable. He wanted to fight one of their True Disciples beforehand to test the Demon Sect’s Divine Techniques.

Xuzhuang was not one to beat around the bush. "That’s the plan," he answered directly.

Zhe Junyang’s frown deepened. "Junior Brother, I know you are powerful, but the methods of those Demon Sect cultivators are anything but ordinary. They also have the advantage of numbers. It would be unwise for you to go seeking revenge alone."

Xuzhuang knew his senior brother’s concern was genuine, so he didn’t argue. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother," he said. "However, my main goal is reconnaissance—to see what those Demon Sect cultivators are plotting. Seeking revenge is secondary. If the situation is not favorable, I certainly won’t act rashly."

Zhe Junyang let out a small sigh of relief. "Since you have a clear plan, Junior Brother, I’ll give you all the information and locations I have."

He took out a scroll map and marked a location on it. "The Yue Family has already sent some disciples ahead to investigate. If you need assistance, Junior Brother, feel free to seek them out."

"Excellent." Xuzhuang bowed sincerely. "Thank you, Senior Brother."

After leaving Sun Suzhen, Xuzhuang didn’t depart immediately. He pondered for a moment before pointing a finger into the air. Two rays of spiritual light, each carrying a sliver of his divine sense, shot out and flew off in different directions. Only then did he summon his escape light and soar into the sky.

Upon returning to Chongyun Peak, Xuzhuang didn’t head for his manor. Instead, he closed his eyes to meditate and restore his energy. After about two hours, he suddenly opened his eyes and gazed up at the sky.

A streak of sword light approached from the distance, parting the clouds and leaving a long, rainbow-like trail in its wake. In an instant, it reached the summit of Chongyun Peak and, without pausing, shot straight into Xuzhuang’s body and vanished. A Vermilion Gourd had simply appeared at his waist.

This was the incarnation Xuzhuang had summoned back from Zhuojie Mountain, where it had been practicing Swordsmanship.

He had already subdued the Taiyi Rainbow Sword and refined all of its restrictive seals. However, achieving a state of perfect unity with the sword—a level of Swordsmanship where it would act as a spiritual, ever-changing extension of himself—still required a long period of practice and synchronization.

Moreover, the various Sword Arrays he had learned in Langhuan Tower also required practice and experimentation, which was why he had sent this incarnation to Zhuojie Mountain in the first place.

But this trip to Mang Mountain was for revenge, a true life-and-death battle. His opponents were not only likely to be True Disciples of the Demon Sect, but their numbers were also unknown.

Who knew if the recording from Zhe Junyang had shown all of them? In any case, he wouldn’t be fighting a single person. Xuzhuang had to be fully prepared, which meant recalling all his incarnations, Magical Treasures, and Artifacts.

After recalling the incarnation with the Taiyi Rainbow Sword, another hour passed before a second escape light broke through the sky. The incarnation Xuzhuang had left at the Jade Cauldron Hall had finally returned.

It had arrived later than the one practicing Swordsmanship on Zhuojie Mountain because it had to handle some affairs and delegate its duties to Yun Hengshi.

Xuzhuang didn’t actually care much for his authority in the Jade Cauldron Hall, nor did he have any desire to seek personal gain from his position.

As long as Yun Hengshi didn’t try to feign compliance while secretly undermining him, Xuzhuang had no intention of seizing all the power in the Jade Cauldron Hall for himself. Thus, over the past three years, while their relationship wasn’t exactly warm, it had at least been amicable.

When Yun Hengshi heard that Xuzhuang had to leave the mountain on business and might need to temporarily entrust the hall’s affairs to him, he readily agreed, allowing Xuzhuang to extricate himself.

With both incarnations having returned to him, Xuzhuang’s body trembled slightly. His three elements responded to one another, instantly beginning a cycle of regeneration. The Magical Power that the incarnations had consumed while they were away began to recover at a rapid rate.

Ever since he had perfected the Three-Element Elephant Body, although Xuzhuang hadn’t had much time for secluded cultivation, his three-element Magical Power had still recovered to seventy percent of its peak. This was already more than double his previous capacity.

With each breath he took, despite the abundance of spiritual energy within the Tai Su Sect, the Spiritual Qi for several li around was instantly drained, causing a dramatic change in the weather. Clouds and wind converged, and thunder began to rumble.

’I suppose I’ve just broken my agreement with the Celestial Hall,’ a thought flashed through Xuzhuang’s mind. He immediately let out a long cry and shot upward as a heaven-shaking rainbow light, slamming into the gathering storm clouds. With a deafening BOOM, he vanished over the horizon.