Wei Zhong advanced through Zhiming Cave, its interior dimly lit. The Blood-Eating Bats huddled together, shivering and too terrified to make a sound. Even the half-human-sized Blood-Feeding Bat King had wrapped its wings tightly around itself, trembling uncontrollably.
Extending his divine sense, Wei Zhong faintly perceived a hooded figure deeper within the cave. The aura of a Core Formation cultivator emanating from the figure made Wei Zhong wary, though it remained just within his ability to handle. The cultivator's presence was weaker than that of the Azurewood Sect's Hall Masters and paled in comparison to the Demonic Cultivator who had attacked Black Lake Island.
"Senior," Wei Zhong called out before entering the cave's passage, probing cautiously, "what brings you to this humble place?"
The hooded figure lowered their hood, revealing a face that Wei Zhong found vaguely familiar. "Fellow Daoist Chu, long time no see."
Wei Zhong stepped into the Immortal's Cave. Using the streaks of sunlight filtering through the cliff fissures, he caught a clear glimpse of the figure's face. Surprise and disbelief washed over him as he cautiously asked, "Fellow Daoist Luo?"
Luo Mingyan's lips curled into a faint smile. "Fellow Daoist Chu has quite the eye. Despite my changed appearance, you recognized me at a glance."
"This..."
Wei Zhong stared at Luo Mingyan, who stood before him. The change wasn't merely significant; it was as if he were a completely different person.
The Luo Mingyan he remembered always wore a Daoist robe, his face adorned with a gentle smile, exuding the warmth of a spring breeze—the very embodiment of a righteous cultivator.
But the man before him now had disheveled black hair, faintly tinged with crimson. A finger-thick black mark adorned his forehead, punctuated by a vermilion dot. Combined with his gaunt, ashen face, he exuded an eerie, unfathomable aura.
Even his aura had undergone a profound transformation, radiating a pressure far beyond that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
"Fellow Daoist Luo," Wei Zhong asked, "what truly happened during your years of disappearance?"
Luo Mingyan removed his hood. "Just the cliché tale of being saved from the brink of death..."
As Luo Mingyan recounted his story, Wei Zhong learned how he had been rescued by a Nascent Soul demonic cultivator when trapped by a horde of demons. Impressed by his unique talent, the demonic cultivator had taken him back to his sect, intending to impart his exclusive Demonic Art.
"Core Formation in just over a decade?" Wei Zhong exclaimed in astonishment.
"Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand," Wei Zhong said. "My true cultivation base is barely at the Late-Stage Foundation Establishment. This imposing aura is merely due to the Pseudo-Core within me."
Wei Zhong sighed inwardly. He had initially believed this man had ascended from Early Foundation Establishment to Core Formation in just over a decade—a feat so impressive that even Wei Zhong had felt a fleeting desire for such a potent Demonic Art.
Suppressing his turbulent emotions, Wei Zhong reminded himself, "The Spring and Autumn Water Refinement Manual is my true path. I mustn't sacrifice long-term potential for the fleeting gains of a Demonic Art, lest I lose everything."
"Still, Fellow Daoist, your cultivation progress these past years has been remarkable. I suspect you'll soon reach the Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, won't you?"
Wei Zhong shook his head. "Merely the result of resource accumulation. I can't compare to your achievements."
Studying the man's face carefully, Wei Zhong hesitated before cautiously inquiring, "Could it be that you're the Demon Cultivator who has been causing trouble in Azurewood Sect territory these past few years?"
The man chuckled. "Fellow Daoist Chu, do you doubt my character so much? Though I've joined a Demonic Sect, I would never stoop to betraying my sect or elders."
Wei Zhong felt a slight relief. He had nearly attacked outright, but probing with words first had proven wise.
The thought had barely formed when a sharp, piercing pain shot through Wei Zhong's brow, so intense it made his heart skip a beat.
Someone else? Above me?
Wei Zhong struggled to maintain his composure, lowering his head to suppress his curiosity and resist the urge to look up.
Noticing Wei Zhong's trembling, Luo Mingyan asked with genuine concern, "Fellow Daoist, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, just an old injury acting up. I'll recover with a bit of rest later," Wei Zhong replied.
"Speaking of which, Brother Luo, do you know the origins of these pernicious Demon Cultivators? They've been wreaking havoc on our Foundation Establishment sects for years, intercepting our Spirit Island harvests multiple times and costing us a fortune in spirit stones."
Luo Mingyan lowered his head in contemplation. "Fellow Daoist, you understand the difference between the righteous and demonic paths. But are you aware that the Demonic Path itself is divided into factions?"
Wei Zhong paused, surprised. "This Daoist has cultivated diligently near the Azurewood Sect for years and never heard of such divisions."
Luo Mingyan elaborated, "The Demon Cultivators plaguing Wild Plains Prefecture are actually aligned with the Heavenly Extremity Demonic Sect, which lies beyond the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range."
"The Heavenly Extremity Demonic Sect?"
"This Demonic Sect is a Nascent Soul Power on par with the Shadowmoon Sect, and it's one of the most aggressive factions within the Demonic Path, advocating for invasion and plundering resources to sustain itself. The demonic cultivators currently raiding Wild Plains Prefecture are merely its vanguard; a full-scale invasion is likely imminent."
"But why would a formidable Nascent Soul Demonic Sect target a Golden Core Sect like the Azurewood Sect?"
"Among the prefectures of Cloud Province, Wild Plains is the weakest, followed by Cloud River. There are two main reasons: first, their inherent weakness, and second, their proximity to the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range, making them the first to bear the brunt of any assault."
Wei Zhong was slightly surprised, never realizing that Wild Plains Prefecture, where he had resided for so long, was the weakest in the entire province. "Wouldn't the major Righteous Path Nascent Soul Sects—like the Shadowmoon Sect, which previously clashed with them in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range—intervene?"
"Heh, kings face kings, generals face generals. Since the Heavenly Extremity Demonic Sect hasn't deployed its main forces yet, the Shadowmoon Sect wouldn't dare to make the first move. The Spirit Transformation Venerables overseeing the major Human Race Nascent Soul Powers wouldn't tolerate such internal strife."
Wei Zhong sighed inwardly. So the cultivation world is no different from the mortal realm—a tangled web of conflicting interests and resource struggles. Only when things threaten to become too costly will someone intervene.
Seeing Wei Zhong deep in thought, Luo Mingyan said, "I came here to inform you, Fellow Daoist, that Wild Plains Prefecture will soon be at the center of a storm. I urge you to prepare accordingly.
Whether you choose to seek protection by aligning with a powerful faction or find a way to leave this place entirely, both are viable options. Given your connections with the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild, neither should pose a problem."
Wei Zhong forced a wry smile. "Thank you for the warning, Fellow Daoist. Are you aware of the recent misfortunes of the Luo and Ning Clans?"
Luo Mingyan shook his head. "After years of cultivation, my ties to my clan have grown distant. Even before my disappearance, our relationship was maintained only by mutual benefit.
Having enjoyed the privileges that came with being a True Inheritance Disciple of the Azurewood Sect, I must now face the consequences of my enemies' retaliation following my absence."
Wei Zhong fell silent. The Luo Clan barely clung to its status as a Qi Refining family, while the Ning Clan had already fractured and dissolved amidst internal strife.
"Thank you for accepting that Jia Qi has fulfilled his obligations to his family," Wei Zhong said. "I am truly grateful."
"I'm simply fulfilling Brother Ning's request," Luo Mingyan said. "Besides, the child is quite talented. I'm very pleased with him."
"Very well, I've said all I need to. I hope Brother Chu will carefully consider his future. I must take my leave now."
Before Wei Zhong could respond, a violent gust of wind swept through the cave, and Luo Mingyan, clad in his black robes, vanished without a trace. The piercing pressure above Wei Zhong's head dissipated with him.
This pressure... could it be Nascent Soul? Luo Mingyan's current position is far from simple.
Wei Zhong repeatedly congratulated himself for not acting rashly. Had he done so, he would have been forced to reveal his Grotto-Heaven and hide within it. I wonder if a Nascent Soul cultivator could detect my concealed cultivation base.
Outside Black Lake Island, a furious gale whipped the lake into a frenzy, capsizing countless fishing boats.
In the sky, a small, wizened old man materialized beside Luo Mingyan. With jet-black hair streaked with white and a white beard, his frail frame was enveloped in a tattered black Daoist robe. The exposed palms of his hands were ghastly—mere layers of dark, leathery skin stretched taut over bone, devoid of flesh or blood.
"This friend of yours is quite intriguing," the old man rasped. "He seems to have sensed my killing intent."
Luo Mingyan's expression remained unchanged. "Fellow Daoist Chu is a Loose Cultivator. His attainment of Foundation Establishment speaks to his resourcefulness."
"Heh heh, let's not dwell on that. Now that you've fulfilled your wishes—visiting the Luo Clan, the Ning Clan, and even Black Lake Island—all that remains is to journey to the Azurewood Sect's mountain gate and retrieve the wisp of your soul from the soul lamp.
With matters settled, would you be willing to become my disciple and cultivate the Free and Unrestrained Heavenly Demon Art?"
Luo Mingyan turned to the man beside him, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "Old Cang, I truly don't understand why you're so persistent. Is my True Demon Bloodline really that rare?"
Having spent years with Old Cang, Luo Mingyan knew his temperament well enough to know that these words wouldn't anger him. On the contrary, they might even help bridge the distance between them.
Old Cang chuckled twice. "True Demon Bloodlines are indeed rare, but finding someone like you, who can suppress it so completely, is even rarer.
Our Primordial Beginning Sect values inner cultivation above all else. We emphasize guarding the heart and controlling desires. The greater one's self-mastery, the stronger they become.
Yet those with True Demon Bloodlines are often overwhelmed by its influence, their temperaments becoming violently unstable—a direct contradiction to our sect's principles.
While such unrestrained individuals might unleash the full power of their bloodline, they cease to be human and become demons, destined to falter on the path of Spirit Cultivation."
"But you are different. With your ability to suppress your Bloodline, you won't be swayed by its negative influences. Instead, you'll wield it like a sword—a sharp, dependable weapon that responds to your will.
This is about mastering your Bloodline, not being controlled by it like those madmen from the Celestial Extremity Sect.
Cultivating the Free and Unrestrained Heavenly Demon Art is a perfect match for you.
The bottlenecks of Core Formation and Nascent Soul will be trivial for you. Even achieving Spirit Transformation might be within your reach."
Even Luo Mingyan, with his years of cultivation and unwavering resolve, found himself deeply moved by these words.
During his time as a True Inheritance Disciple of the Azurewood Sect, his highest aspiration had barely reached Core Formation, let alone the loftier realms of Nascent Soul or Spirit Transformation.
Now, years of steadfast conviction seemed to waver once more. The Righteous Path... the Demonic Path...
Sensing the inner turmoil on Luo Mingyan's face, Cangmingzi pressed his advantage.
"Now that you've mastered our Demonic Sect's techniques, you're no longer the former True Inheritance Disciple Luo Mingyan of the Azurewood Sect. You are a genuine Demon Cultivator.
If your Sect Leader were to see you in this state without my protection, he would strike you down instantly to uphold the sect's authority."
"Think of your fellow disciples at the Primordial Beginning Sect. Their hearts would freeze if they learned of your demise in this manner. They might even harbor resentment and join forces with the Celestial Extremity Sect to launch an assault against the Azurewood Sect..."
Luo Mingyan irritably covered his ears, but Cangmingzi's voice echoed directly in his mind.
"Fine, fine! I'll become your disciple. I, Luo Mingyan, will acknowledge you, Cangmingzi, as my master."
"Hahaha!" Cangmingzi's face lit up with amusement, but he quickly composed himself, his expression turning solemn. "Proper discipleship requires proper formalities. This perfunctory oath won't do."
Luo Mingyan sighed in resignation. He knelt on both knees, bowed his head, and kowtowed deeply. "Master, please accept this disciple's homage."
Only then did Cangmingzi's smile return. He helped Luo Mingyan rise to his feet.
"Good disciple, rise."
"I, Cangmingzi, am no ordinary figure, nor shall my disciples be. You currently possess a Pseudo-Core. How about obtaining a True Core for me?"
Luo Mingyan frowned, puzzled by Cangmingzi's scheme. True Cores were rare; aside from the Core Formation experts at the Azurewood Sect and the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild, only the elusive demonic cultivator remained.
"Then I choose the demonic cultivator under the Celestial Extremity Sect."
Cangmingzi chuckled heartily. "No problem at all."
Luo Mingyan was somewhat surprised. "I thought Master would hesitate, considering our shared status as Demonic Sects, and decline to avoid stirring up conflict with them."
A flicker of astonishment crossed Cangmingzi's face before he burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Conflict? Why would the Primordial Beginning Sect fear conflict with anyone?
Now that you've become my disciple, you are the sect's sole Holy Son. Aside from this old man, none in the entire sect holds higher authority than you. If you take a dislike to that Celestial Extremity Sect, give the order, and I'll personally lead our disciples to storm their sect—it wouldn't be beyond us!"
Luo Mingyan was stunned into silence by this declaration, unable to speak for a long moment.
...
Inside Zhiming Cave, Wei Zhong soothed the Blood-Eating Bat's agitation before emerging into the bright daylight. Yet a shadow of unease clouded his heart.
The news Luo Mingyan had brought was explosive. Wei Zhong had initially assumed the disturbances around the Azurewood Sect were caused by scattered rogue Demon Cultivators, but now he realized it was an organized, premeditated reconnaissance operation by a Nascent Soul Demonic Sect.
With Nascent Soul cultivators potentially involved, this was far beyond Wei Zhong's ability to handle.
It was time to unveil the Second-Tier Azure Spirit Brew recipe to secure protection from the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild. If possible, he should flee Wild Plains Prefecture entirely and distance himself from this brewing storm.
Without pausing, Wei Zhong immediately hurried toward the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild.
...
"Who dares trespass upon the sacred grounds of the Azurewood Sect?" Duan Delong roared, already stationed at the heart of the Sect's Grand Formation. Spiritual energy surged from his body into the formation, drawing upon the vast reserves of the spirit vein to swiftly activate the Nine Dragons Sword Formation.
A cyan spiritual light enveloped the Azurewood Sect's mountain gate like an eggshell. Green energy coalesced upon its surface, transforming into nine draconic heads, each adorned with twin horns and trailing wooden tendrils from its jaws. Slowly, they opened their mouths, exhaling streams of concentrated wood spiritual energy.
The commotion drew attention from the nearby Bright Moon Market and even the distant Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild. Ruan Liuzhen appeared in the sky with a grave expression, Elder Yan materializing at her side.
"The Azurewood Sect is deploying such a massive formation... Could it be a Nascent Soul cultivator?"
"Almost certainly," Ruan Liuzhen replied. With a flick of her sleeve, spiritual light illuminated the Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild and the surrounding ten-mile radius, revealing a colossal circular formation.
The cultivators within stared in bewilderment and alarm. Some scattered, attempting to flee, only to find themselves inexplicably teleported back after covering less than five miles.
"Manager Ruan's Sky-Seizing Formation has become remarkably profound," Cangmingzi remarked. "To trap so many Foundation Establishment cultivators simultaneously... even I might struggle to replicate such a feat now."
Ruan Liuzhen chuckled. "A mere formation could never restrain Elder Yan."
She then announced loudly to the crowd below, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, Bright Moon Market is now under emergency lockdown. No one may enter or leave."
"Let's hope this doesn't affect our Cloud Gathering Merchant Guild," the pair murmured anxiously as they hovered in the air, their eyes fixed on the distant gates of the Azurewood Sect.
...
"Hmm, the Azurewood Sect does possess some skill," Cangmingzi observed. "The dragon heads formed from condensed wood spiritual energy are remarkably lifelike, and the wood-attributed spiritual energy they exhale is quite potent."
As soon as he finished speaking, the breaths of the nine dragon heads converged into a single stream, their combined force creating an increasingly terrifying aura. The usually gentle wood spiritual energy, intensified by the formation, now radiated a fierce, metallic killing intent, reminiscent of clashing swords.
Cangmingzi's tone carried both praise and amusement. When the formation reached its peak, he leisurely turned to Luo Mingyan beside him.
"This formation isn't bad. An ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator might struggle against it, but it's nothing before me. Watch closely."
Before he could finish speaking, the Nine Dragons Sword Formation's final strike had materialized. The concentrated wood spiritual energy coalesced into a massive wooden sword several feet long, its edge glowing with destructive power.
Zhao Bai leaped to catch the falling wooden sword, then slashed it toward Cangmingzi from afar. A green ripple erupted in the air, its pressure so intense that it caused hairline cracks to appear in the fabric of space itself.
"Not a bad formation, and a decent sword," Cangmingzi remarked, "but the one wielding them is a bit weak."
He extended his withered, skeletal right hand, and a crimson light materialized within it, coalescing into a curved blade about a foot long. Its jade-like surface glowed blood-red, while its hilt was as black as ink, adorned with a scarlet tassel.
As the tassel fluttered, Cangmingzi swung the treasured blade at the green sword light.
Contrary to expectations, there was no violent collision. Instead, the blood-red blade struck the sword light at its vulnerable point, severing it cleanly in a single stroke. The space-warping radiance of the sword light then gradually dissipated, as if consumed by some invisible force.
Cangmingzi executed an elegant flourish with his blade, causing it to vanish from his hand.
Inside the formation, Zhao Bai, utterly exhausted, struggled to gasp, "Nascent Soul!"
Luo Mingyan watched Cangmingzi effortlessly extinguish the sword light with his blood-red blade, barely causing a ripple. Even standing nearby, Luo Mingyan felt only a gentle breeze.
Greatly surprised and puzzled, Luo Mingyan chuckled, "Master, your technique seems to rely heavily on the power of that Artifact. I confess, I haven't truly witnessed the full might of a Nascent Soul cultivator."
Cangmingzi pursed his lips. "At my age, do you expect me to catch that deadly artifact with my bare hands? Even if I could withstand it, could you bear to watch helplessly from the sidelines?
Besides, my treasured blade is a Lifebound Magical Treasure inscribed in the Free and Unrestrained Heavenly Demon Art. It embodies a portion of the art's dissolving properties, representing about thirty percent of my full strength.
But since you insist, I suppose I can't refuse to demonstrate my capabilities."
Within the formation, Nie Yuansen and Yu Xianglan materialized beside Zhao Bai. Realizing their initial strike had failed, they knew their opponent was a Nascent Soul cultivator.
"Senior Brother Nie, let's switch positions with the other two and launch another attack..."
Nie Yuansen shook his head. "The failure of the Nine Dragons Sword Formation proves this is no ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator. Another strike would be futile. Even Martial Uncle couldn't prevail. I'll approach the Senior to inquire about their intentions while you notify the Upper Sect."
"Senior Brother!" Yu Xianglan called out, but before she could dissuade him, Nie Yuansen had already risen and flown toward the formation's perimeter.
Just then, the unfamiliar Nascent Soul cultivator waved a sleeve, unleashing a crimson sea of blood that roared with a ghastly wail. "Senior Brother..."
Cangmingzi blew on his white mustache, his slender arms fidgeting with the voluminous sleeves of his robe. "Watch closely!"
As soon as the words left Cangmingzi's mouth, a crimson stream flowed from his sleeve. Within moments, it swelled into a blood-red ocean that blotted out the sky, engulfing the entire Azurewood Sect's mountain gate.
Splatter! Like a torrential downpour, droplets of blood hammered against the Grand Formation, hissing into wisps of bloody vapor.
The nine wooden dragon heads, once vibrant, rapidly withered and decayed like rotting trees. The formation's spiritual light shattered, leaving the sect's defenses in ruins.
"Free and unrestrained," Cangmingzi chuckled, "how could such a paltry formation hope to contain me?"
A smirk played on his lips as he tugged the stunned Luo Mingyan toward the mountain gate.
Nie Yuansen hurried forward, bowing deeply to Cangmingzi. "Senior, you've gone to considerable trouble to breach our Azurewood Sect's defenses. May I ask your purpose?"
Cangmingzi gestured to Luo Mingyan beside him. "To retrieve a soul lamp."
Nie Yuansen's gaze lingered on the figure, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "Mingyan?"
Luo Mingyan clasped his hands in a formal greeting. "Sect Leader, it has been far too long."
Cangmingzi snorted. "I have taken him as my disciple. He is no longer affiliated with your Azurewood Sect. Fetch his soul lamp at once."
Nie Yuansen paused briefly, then swiftly sent a telepathic message to Yu Xianglan below. Turning back to Cangmingzi, he said, "Senior, please wait a moment. I have ordered someone to retrieve it."
Nie Yuansen watched Luo Mingyan's drastically altered appearance with an inward sigh. He could never have imagined that the True Inheritance Disciple who had vanished years ago would return to the sect in such a state.
Yu Xianglan soon arrived, bearing the soul lamp, and gazed at Luo Mingyan with lingering disbelief.
Luo Mingyan took the lamp and crushed its outer shell with a single hand. The Soulfire within immediately flew back into his body.
Having achieved his objective, Cangmingzi simply said, "Forgive the intrusion," and pulled Luo Mingyan away. With a flourish, the lingering droplets of blood-colored water floated upward and were absorbed into his sleeves.
The defensive spiritual light of the Azurewood Sect's Grand Formation reappeared, and even the nine wooden dragon heads regrew, though their appearance was crude and their size was significantly reduced.
"Senior Brother?" Nie Yuansen shook his head, watching the pair depart. He turned to Yu Xianglan behind him and said softly, "Effective immediately, remove Luo Mingyan from the Azurewood Sect's disciple registry. Junior Sister, you may handle the forces that targeted the Luo and Ning Clans as you see fit."
"Yes!"
Now that Luo Mingyan had become the disciple of a Nascent Soul cultivator, his status had undergone a complete transformation. Though Cangmingzi followed the Demonic Path, dealing with a Core Formation sect like the Azurewood Sect would be effortless.
"We must still maintain respect for our seniors," Cangmingzi said, turning to Yu Xianglan. "Has the Shadowmoon Sect been notified of this matter?"
Yu Xianglan nodded.
"Good. The Azurewood Sect has fulfilled its duty. Let the Upper Sect handle the rest."
As they left the Azurewood Sect, Cangmingzi toyed with the seven crimson blood pearls in his hand, asking Luo Mingyan with a hint of pride, "Disciple, what did you think of my little trick?"
Luo Mingyan stared intently at the blood pearls, still unable to believe that the vast sea of blood from moments ago had been formed from these very beads. Hearing Cangmingzi's question, he bowed his head respectfully and replied, "Master is truly mighty!"