Chapter 561 - 516: Legend on the Jishui River (Part 2)

Chapter 561: Chapter 516: Legend on the Jishui River (Part 2)

The Outer Sea Demon Clan had thrown their full might into this. According to covert intelligence from Cunsi Peak, the Outer Sea was now a hollowed-out territory. Nearly all the Transformed Great Demons had been summoned to the mainland.

It would have been one thing if the Star Constellation Sea, the Star Shattering Abyss, and the Netherworld Sea had all issued a summons simultaneously. But crucially, the Ao Family’s Elder Dragon, in his capacity as the Master of the Black Sea and the King of Ten Thousand Demons, issued a decree. Even solitary Great Demons crawled out from the deep sea to gather before the Jishui.

It was the same for Lankao Mountain. It mobilized the resources it had accumulated over tens of thousands of years. The Great Demons from all over the world, drawn by its reputation as a Demon Race Sacred Land, poured out in full force.

Although their numbers of Low-Tier Demon Beasts couldn’t compare to the Outer Sea, Transformed Great Demons appeared one after another, making the jaws of the surviving Jinyue Sect Cultivators drop.

They had originally thought that the Jinyue Sect had been the one suppressing and monitoring Lankao Mountain all along.

Now, however, they discovered that if Lankao Mountain hadn’t hidden its true strength and been wary of the Moral Sect’s existence, it could have swept through the entire Eastern Domain on its own.

By this point, even the slowest on the Human Race’s side realized something was terribly wrong.

No matter how good the Demon Race was at biding their time and accumulating power, it was impossible for them to have an explosive increase in the number of Transformed Great Demons after being driven out of the Central Domain, the most bountiful and resource-rich region.

Furthermore, the Secret Treasures used by the Ao Family’s Elder Dragon and the Dragon Monarch were unlike any that had ever appeared in the history of the Demon Race.

Eventually, a few Great True Monarchs from the Super Sects found an opportunity to team up and risk capturing one of Lankao Mountain’s Transformed Great Demons.

Through a Soul Search, they discovered that the changes in Lankao Mountain had begun a thousand years ago.

All of a sudden, various Holy Medicines specifically for the Demon Race had appeared, allowing the Cultivation of Tier Three Demon Beasts to advance by leaps and bounds.

In particular, the legendary Celestial Demon Qi had turned the Transformed Thunder Tribulation, once an ordeal with a slim chance of survival, into one with a seventy percent success rate.

The Great Demon they performed the Soul Search on was one of the lucky ones who had benefited from the Celestial Demon Qi, successfully passing its Thunder Tribulation and completing its Transformation.

But when the Soul Search tried to probe deeper for more information—such as the Red-Eared Ancestor’s true current condition, or where the Demon Race’s Cultivation Holy Medicines and Celestial Demon Qi came from—the Great Demon’s entire body erupted in Black Flame, burning it until not even ashes remained.

This discovery made the Central Domain Sects guard their territories even more carefully, not daring to advance rashly.

Celestial Demon Qi was not something that should appear in this world. Only a Demon Monarch in the Celestial Demon Realm could gather baleful auras and perform Qi Collection, spending years to condense a single wisp.

To frequently bestow it upon Tier Three Demon Beasts just to increase their success rate in the Transformed Thunder Tribulation—such an extravagant act had never been seen even in Ancient Times.

Celestial Demon Qi could enhance the power of a Demon Race’s Lifebound Magical Treasure, be used to execute Bloodline Divine Techniques that had enormous side effects, and negate the costs that must otherwise be paid...

Most critically, gathering a hundred wisps could block one Divinity Transformation Celestial Tribulation.

Even back when the Celestial Demon Realm still maintained contact with the Human World, Celestial Demon Qi was not so easily obtained.

It would only be bestowed upon the most promising Transformed Great Demons who had performed meritorious deeds.

This led the Human Race to speculate: could it be that another Demon Monarch from the Celestial Demon Realm had successfully descended into their world?

If there truly was a Demon Monarch from the Celestial Demon Realm backing Lankao Mountain, the Human Race’s chances of victory would be even lower.

When confronted with questions about when their Divinity Transformation Ancestors would join the battle, the Super Sects began to give evasive answers.

With a Grotto Heaven Secret Realm and a Divinity Transformation Ancestor, they could at least ensure their own lineage would not be severed.

If they truly risked their lives to fight a Demon Race Divinity Transformation expert, their sect’s status would plummet even if they won.

If they lost, they wouldn’t even have the chance to protect the last embers of their legacy.

’I wonder if that Dragon Monarch is on the other side of the Jishui. And if so, where...’

Bai Zichen had taken a risk by personally coming to the Jishui Camp, precisely to rendezvous with the other members of the Star Palace.

His expression, seen through the eyes of the Ziwei Mask, held a natural authority as he swept his gaze across the opposite bank.

He waited by the Jishui for two days. Every morning began with the routine provocations and insults between the Human-Demon Races, a spectacle that made one drowsy just watching.

Then, both sides would surge forward, fighting with fiery intensity until the sun set in the west.

After two more days, he felt the mask on his face grow slightly warm, and a clear voice echoed in his mind.

Bai Zichen moved away from the Jishui Camp, chose a desolate mountain ridge, and cast a spell to return to the Star Palace Secret Realm.

In the Divine Statue Hall, there were already four figures. ’Looks like everyone is eager.’

"Ziwei, you’re here. It’s been a while..."

Po Jun Star Monarch turned, pointed to a slender figure beside him, and spoke.

"A new member, Lianzhen Star Monarch. He’s an Ancient Sword Cultivator."

Bai Zichen clasped his hands in a salute, taking in Lianzhen Star Monarch’s appearance at the same time.

He had almond-shaped eyes, a high-bridged nose, and thin lips. His gaze was indifferent, yet it held a trace of violent madness.

’A Star Monarch’s appearance comes from the Star God Statue, so it’s more important to observe their mannerisms and temperament to guess their identity.’

’His words and actions are modest, his expression unreadable... but as a fellow Sword Cultivator, how could I not sense the pride in his bones?’

Bai Zichen made his assessment of this Lianzhen Star Monarch, a guess already forming in his mind.

’If Jumeng Star Monarch is a second-generation Cultivator from a noble background, then Lianzhen Star Monarch is someone who clawed his way up from the bottom, a mix of arrogance and insecurity.’

’Lianzhen Star Monarch’s arrogance seems more like a defense mechanism.’

"Fellow Daoist Ziwei, you’ve already reached the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul Realm?"

Because Po Jun Star Monarch had received Ziwei’s message, he knew the other had already reached the Sword Light Division Realm, so he hadn’t considered a breakthrough in his Cultivation.

After all, mastering Sword Light Division, no matter how fast one was, should take several decades.

To also divide one’s attention to advance one’s Cultivation in such a short time was unrealistic.

Who would have thought that upon closer inspection, he would discover that Ziwei Star Monarch was already at the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul Realm? It was only then that he raised his voice in surprise.

"I was fortunate enough to achieve it before the year’s end."

Bai Zichen had no intention of hiding his Cultivation. From seizing the sword to exploring the Core Secret Realm, one’s strength determined one’s influence within the organization.

Once inside the Core Secret Realm, this would translate into the right to a share of the spoils.

"Thank you for this item. It is now returned to its rightful owner."

A rust-spotted Silver Pill was tossed back by Bai Zichen. Po Jun Star Monarch opened his palm and caught it.

"Fellow Daoist Ziwei, you are truly... truly..."

Po Jun Star Monarch gripped the Taibai Sword Pill, momentarily at a loss for words, unsure how to express himself.

As the only Star Lord who knew Ziwei Star Monarch’s real identity, he had studied Ziwei Star Monarch’s true age and origins.

In fact, if not for the large-scale invasion by the Demon Race, this would have long since become a major focus of attention in the Central Domain.

According to the life story provided by the Northern Domain, Bai Zichen was just over two hundred years old, yet his achievements were among the most dazzling in the history of the Cultivation Realm.

The title of "Time God Sword" had spread throughout the Cultivation Realm in an extremely short period.

A short while later, the other three Star Lords entered the hall one by one. The members of the Star Palace were all assembled.

"I have asked all you fellow Daoists to come here because, as I’m sure you’ve guessed, the Tier Five Flying Sword we seek is here!"

After introducing Lianzhen Star Monarch to everyone, Po Jun Star Monarch’s expression turned serious. He pressed a finger into the air, and a Jishui Map materialized.

"During the Middle Ancient period, after the Ascension Platform vanished, a certain Venerable Lou Lan sought to return to the Earth Immortal Realm. He built a Heaven-Reaching Platform on the Jishui and attempted a forced Ascension to the Upper Realm by traversing a Void Node. In the Human World, he had a beloved Dao Companion, three disciples, and two Spirit Beasts. In the end, he supposedly ascended with his entire household, leading his family through the void turbulence and back to the Earth Immortal Realm."

"I’m sure everyone is familiar with this story. But today, I am here to tell you that this was not some fiction fabricated by our predecessors. It is based on a true event."

The legend of Venerable Lou Lan ascending with his entire household was so fantastical that, aside from Low-Tier Cultivators, most people would just laugh it off.

Any Cultivator with some understanding of the difficulty of Ascension would know that for even one person to pass through void turbulence was to face near-certain death.

Let alone bringing along a Dao Companion, disciples, and Spirit Beasts whose Cultivation was nowhere near sufficient. Even if a Void Refining Cultivator were to descend to the Lower Realm, their power would be suppressed to Divinity Transformation Perfection in the Human World, making it impossible.

Of the Great Powers left behind in the Human World—be they from the Earth Immortal Realm, the Heavenly Demon Realm, or the Celestial Demon Realm—the few who attempted a forced ascension all possessed powerful physiques, approaching the Void Refining Stage.

Or they had a Void Treasure to protect them, something that could effectively resist the void turbulence.

According to Po Jun Star Monarch, no one knew if Venerable Lou Lan’s Ascension was successful.

But his Dao Companion and disciples did indeed vanish after that event.

However, a Star Lord of the Star Palace once obtained an Ancient Book, suspected to have been passed down by one of Venerable Lou Lan’s disciples.

It stated that, for some unknown reason, Venerable Lou Lan had left his personal sword behind in the Human World and did not take it with him when he ascended.