The Rise of the Sect: I am the most persistent person in the world of immortal cultivation

The argument in the square grew increasingly heated.

The disciples of the Li and Changsun families were already subtly preparing to fight.

Even the Zhao and Zhang families were not giving way to each other, and the air was thick with tension.

Just then, a clear sound of jade chimes came from deep within the sect.

Immediately afterwards, several distinct beams of light streaked across the sky.

Like a shooting star, it sped towards the square, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

The first beam of light was a dazzling crimson gold, moving at an astonishing speed, and landed in the center of the square in the blink of an eye.

As the light faded, a young man clad in crimson-gold armor appeared. He had a handsome face and an innate arrogance between his brows.

At this moment, he held a long spear that was entirely crimson, with lifelike fire dragon patterns wrapped around the shaft.

With each breath, the fire dragon pattern glows red, as if flames are burning within it.

"It's Senior Brother Lin Yan! After Senior Brother Lin Yan defeated Qi Xuan, the seventh-ranked Snow Saber on the Hidden Dragon List, his strength has already reached the Perfection of Martial Artist. It is said that he is only one step away from becoming a Purple Mansion True Person."

"I never expected that he would personally lead the team to explore the Blackwater River's secret realm this time!"

"That's right. No matter how powerful Li Qingyun is, he's not even good enough to rank in the twenties on the Hidden Dragon List. He's no match for Senior Brother Lin."

The moment the boy appeared.

A gasp of surprise erupted across the entire square.

Even the geniuses from the Li, Zhang, and Changsun families dared not say anything more.

Lin Yan's gaze swept across the square, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable authority.

"When exploring secret realms, harmony is paramount. How can you quarrel over a momentary impulse?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the oppressive aura emanating from his body swept across the entire area like a tidal wave.

The family disciples, who had been on the verge of exchanging blows, instantly calmed down, and Li Qingyun slowly sheathed his longsword.

After all, no matter how much these subordinate families quarrel, it's ultimately not something that can be brought to the forefront.

These talented disciples of the Flying Heaven Sect are the true core.

The moment Lin Yan finished speaking...

Another pale blue light descended from the sky.

The light transformed into a young girl dressed in a blue brocade robe after landing.

She had fair skin and a gentle demeanor, and held a crystal-clear jade flute in her hand.

"It is the fairy Su Wanqing, the shepherd's flute."

"Fairy Su is here too. She has entered the top ten of the Hidden Dragon Ranking this time."

"Fairy Su is skilled in water magic and sonic techniques. With her around, we have an extra life during this exploration of the Blackwater River Secret Realm."

Before long, several more beams of light flashed, all belonging to outstanding disciples of the Flying Heaven Sect in recent years. By evening, almost everyone had arrived.

"Xiao Jianchen, ranked twelfth on the Hidden Dragon List, also came."

"He cultivates the sect's ancient treasure sword technique, the Black Dragon Moon Worship Sword. It's just a pity that he was narrowly defeated by Lin Yan last time, which is why he dropped out of the top ten of the Hidden Dragon Ranking."

Xiao Jianchen's sword aura was awe-inspiring, far surpassing that of Li Qingyun.

Even without deliberately releasing its pressure, the sword cultivators present all felt a strong sense of oppression.

Following that, several more outstanding prodigies from various sects arrived one after another.

As soon as these prodigies from the Hidden Dragon Ranking appeared, gasps of amazement echoed across the plaza.

The family members looked at them with awe and envy in their eyes.

Li Qingyun looked at Lin Yan, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes, but he had to admit that there was still a considerable gap between himself and these people.

Even Zhang Lingwei put away the compass in her hand.

The cultivators from the Changsun family also relaxed their tense muscles.

Lin Yan coughed lightly, then spoke.

"After discussions within the sect, it has been decided that this exploration of the Blackwater River Secret Realm will be led jointly by me, Su Wanqing, and Xiao Jianchen."

"This time, Elder Ye has returned from the Demon Realm and is currently in seclusion."

"The sect's higher-ups said that this time, we should clean up the Blackwater River so that Elder Ye can see the current prosperity of our Flying Sky Sect."

"Ancestor Ye has returned from the Demon Realm."

As soon as Lin Yan finished speaking, the square erupted in chaos.

After all, compared to the disciples of the Flying Heaven Sect, the younger disciples of the subordinate families do not have access to information.

"Of course, besides Daozu Ye, who else in the Flying Heaven Sect can be called an 'Ancestor'?"

"With the Demon Realm army pressing in, it was only by Elder Ye entering the East Sea alone and slaying the Void Refining Demon Ancestor with a single sword strike that the peace of our cultivation world was preserved!"

"My father said that the Demon Ancestor's blood mist lingered for three days and three nights, and all the demon cultivators on the border of the Demon Realm were terrified!"

"I also heard that when Ancestor Ye returned from the Demon Realm this time, he brought back countless rare treasures."

A burly cultivator from the Changsun family approached, his voice booming.

"No wonder the sect wanted us to clean up the Blackwater River Secret Realm. It turns out they wanted to show Ancestor Ye our abilities and prove that we haven't let him down!"

The discussions spread like a tidal wave.

The square, which had been somewhat subdued by the arrival of the prodigy, instantly became bustling with activity.

The family members' eyes gleamed, and even the hostility from their previous arguments vanished without a trace.

Instead, there was reverence for Ye Yang and an eager anticipation for exploring the secret realm.

"If Elder Ye could see me slaying a demonic cultivator, it would be worth risking my life!"

Li Qingyun gripped his longsword tightly, the tassel trembling slightly with excitement.

His previous resentment towards the top talents on the Hidden Dragon List has now transformed into his longing for Ye Yang.

He had seen a portrait of Ye Daozu when he was young in the sect's records.

When the other party was still insignificant in the Flying Heaven Sect, he rose among the heroes and became famous throughout the world for his mastery of both sword and saber. This was the goal he pursued throughout his life.

"Ancestor Ye can protect the cultivation world with his own strength. As disciples of the Flying Heaven Sect, we must clean up the Blackwater River Secret Realm and not let our ancestor down!"

Looking at the enthusiastic crowd in the square, Lin Yan felt a sense of satisfaction.

He raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, his voice even more resolute than before.

"Now that you all know Elder Ye's expectations, you must be even more vigilant."

At the same time, Su Wanqing, Liu Qingchen, Mo Ying, Xiao Jianchen, and others nodded in agreement.

"Disciples of each family must obey orders and must not act without authorization."

"Sword cultivators are responsible for clearing the way, array cultivators are responsible for detecting traps, body refinement cultivators protect and support cultivators, and healing cultivators are ready to heal injuries at any time."

"Anyone who disobeys will have their exploration qualification revoked immediately!"

Each of these individuals emphasized the precautions.

Although his words were brief, they hit the nail on the head, demonstrating a composure and broad perspective far beyond his years.

The family disciples in the square bowed in response.

at this time.

An aged yet authoritative voice suddenly came from the direction of the sect's main hall.

"Disciples, heed my command!"

Everyone followed the sound.

Three elders dressed in purple robes walked slowly towards them. The one in the lead was Elder Xuantong, who was in charge of external affairs for the Flying Heaven Sect.

His hair and beard were all white, but his face was rosy like a baby's. He held a seven-colored gourd in his hand, and with each step he took, the ground shimmered with a subtle spiritual light. "Elder Xuantong!"

The cultivators in the square bowed respectfully, including Lin Yan and other prodigies on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.

Elder Xuantong was a highly respected figure in the Flying Heaven Sect. He was not only powerful but had also led his disciples to resist invasions by demonic cultivators on numerous occasions.

Elder Xuantong raised his hand to signal everyone to stand up, his gaze sweeping over the queue in the square, and slowly began to speak.

"The Blackwater River Secret Realm is extremely dangerous, with dense demonic energy and unstable space. The sect has prepared a Sky-Reaching Spirit Ship and guardian demonic beasts for you to help you safely reach the Secret Realm."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a deafening roar came from the distant sky.

Everyone looked up and saw a huge, dark blue spirit ship slowly approaching.

"It's the Heavenly Spirit Ship!"

Someone exclaimed.

"I've heard that this spirit ship is not only fast, but it can also withstand attacks from cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage. It even has a spirit gathering room and a healing room inside, making it practically a mobile sect stronghold!"

"This Heavenly Spirit Ship is one of the ships we're taking on our journey to conquer the Demon Realm."

What's even more awe-inspiring is that there is a huge purple lightning dragon coiled on each side of the spirit ship.

The dragon is entirely silver-white, its scales shimmering with a metallic luster in the sunlight. Its horns are as sharp as knives, and it occasionally spews out tiny bolts of lightning from its mouth, making a "sizzling" sound.

They were tens of meters long, surrounded by dark clouds. Every time they twisted their bodies, they could generate strong air currents, making the surrounding air scorching hot.

Elder Xuantong raised his hand and waved, sending a golden rune flying towards the Tongtian Spirit Ship.

The spirit ship stopped instantly, and dozens of steps formed by spiritual light slowly descended from the side of the ship, extending to the square.

"Alright, board the ship now!"

Elder Xuantong said loudly.

"I hope everyone will gain something from this trip, not only acquiring resources from the secret realm, but also improving their own strength through experience, laying a solid foundation for future cultivation!"

Once everyone had boarded the spirit ship, Elder Xuantong waved his hand again, and two golden runes flew into the bodies of the two purple lightning dragons.

The two purple lightning dragons let out a deafening roar and slowly rose into the air together with the Tongtian Spirit Ship.

The defensive array patterns on the spirit ship lit up instantly, forming a pale golden shield that enveloped the entire ship.

And the other side.

On the Blackwater River.

Before the sect disciples' trial arrived.

After exiting the pass, Ye Yang had already taken the lead and arrived at the banks of the Blackwater River.

The wide and vast Blackwater River, like a giant black python, meanders among the mountains.

The river water was as black as ink, with layers of black mist floating on its surface.

That was an extremely dense demonic aura.

Especially under the constant erosion of these demonic energies, the rocks on the riverbank are charred black and covered with fine demonic patterns.

A light touch with your fingertips reveals a bone-chilling cold, clearly indicating that this place was once a major hotspot for demonic cultivation activities.

Ye Yang landed on the highest reef, his robes fluttering in the river wind.

His gaze swept over the Blackwater River, his brows furrowing slightly.

"In that case, it's a good opportunity to test the seeds of the Demon-Devouring Vine."

Ye Yang muttered to himself as he reached out and took out a specially made jade box from his storage ring.

The moment the box was opened, a hundred Demon-Devouring Vine seeds were neatly arranged, each one plump and round, gleaming with a faint black halo in the sunlight.

He condensed a wisp of spiritual energy at his fingertips and gently brushed it across the seed. The seed instantly glowed faintly, as if responding to his power.

Immediately afterwards, Ye Yang took out dozens of high-grade spirit stones.

With a slight exertion of his five fingers, the spirit stone instantly turned into fine powder, which floated in mid-air like silver sand.

The high-grade spirit stone suddenly shattered.

As countless powders scattered and flew about, they contained extremely pure spiritual energy.

As soon as it comes into contact with the air, it releases a refreshing fragrance.

Ye Yang raised his hand and waved it, and the spirit stone powder evenly surrounded the Demon Devouring Vine seed.

It's like laying a silver wedding dress on the seeds.

"rise!"

Ye Yang let out a low shout, and his primordial spirit power surged into the seed like a tide.

In an instant, these suspended Demon-Devouring Vine seeds burst forth from the soil.

The slender black vines grew wildly at a rate visible to the naked eye.

The surface of the vines was covered with fine purple tentacles, like countless tiny mouths, greedily reaching out towards the surrounding demonic energy.

The moment the first vine touched the black mist, it was instantly swallowed up, and the vine's color became even deeper.

A pale green fruit, the size of a grain of rice, sprouted from the top, radiating pure spiritual energy.

Then, more vines spread along the rocks.

It spreads towards the Blackwater River and the entrance to the secret realm, like a huge black network, constantly drawing in the surrounding demonic energy.

The demonic energy in the river was also drawn by the vines, surging upwards along the vine's texture and being completely absorbed by the purple tentacles.

In less than half an incense stick's time, most of the black mist surrounding the Blackwater River Secret Realm dissipated.

The originally pitch-black river water gradually turned a pale blue, and the concentration of spiritual energy in the air increased significantly, making even breathing feel refreshing.

Ye Yang bent down and gently touched a newly grown Demon-Devouring Vine with his fingertips.

The purple tendrils on the surface of the vine trembled slightly, as if responding to his touch.

At the same time, a pure spiritual energy flowed into his body through his fingertips, gently blending with his primordial spirit power without any impurities.

His gaze shifted downwards, landing on the pale green Demon-Devouring Fruit at the top of the vine.

Although the fruit is only the size of a grain of rice, it exudes a rich and awe-inspiring spiritual energy.

A faint halo surrounds its surface, as if it were sealing fragments of stars within it.

"It is truly amazing that such pure spiritual energy can be transformed from demonic energy."

Ye Yang sighed softly and reached out to pluck the Demon-Devouring Fruit.

The fruit felt slightly cool to the touch, yet its spiritual energy flowed through his palm like a living thing, slowly coursing along his meridians.

Wherever he went, even the slightest impurities remaining in his body from refining treasures were quietly purified.

He examined the Demon-Devouring Fruit closely and discovered that the inside of the fruit was not solid.

Instead, it is covered with a dense network of meridians, which act like miniature channels for spiritual energy, storing the transformed spiritual energy in an orderly manner.

"To extract pure spiritual energy from highly poisonous demonic energy, this way of transforming heaven and earth is truly miraculous. Perhaps only the creation of heaven and earth can accomplish this."

When he saw the Demon-Devouring Vine being demonstrated on Penglai Immortal Island, he felt that it was extraordinary, but the demonic energy that the cultivator used to test it was thin, and he did not expect it to be so miraculous.

He looked up at the Blackwater River.

At this moment, even more Demon-Devouring Vines have spread to the river surface.

Black vines slithered like nimble snakes in the inky river, constantly drawing in the demonic energy within.

"With this amazing object, the purification of the Blackwater River is just around the corner."

Just then, a deafening dragon's roar came from afar.

Two purple lightning dragons, enveloped in golden spiritual light, were rushing toward the Blackwater River.

(End of this chapter)