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

The deafening dragon roar gradually subsided
The Heavenly Spirit Ship was protected by two purple lightning dragons.

It slowly landed on the flat open space on the bank of the Blackwater River.

As soon as the hatch opened, Lin Yan stepped out first, carrying the Crimson Fire Dragon Spear.

But the moment his foot touched the ground, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his previously composed expression was instantly replaced by astonishment.

The scene before him was completely different from the Blackwater River he remembered and even from the records in the sect's books.

At this time of year, the banks of the Blackwater River would be teeming with demonic energy and surging tides, so dark that even sunlight could not penetrate the thick layer of darkness.

Even inhaling a breath of air requires circulating spiritual energy to resist the bone-chilling cold.

But at this moment, the black fog on the river surface had completely dissipated.

The dark river water surprisingly revealed a hint of clear, pale blue.

The gentle breeze brought not a pungent, demonic stench, but a refreshing and invigorating fragrance of spiritual energy.

Even more strangely, the charred rocks along the coast were covered with completely black vines.

The surface of the vines was covered with fine purple light, and the top was adorned with pale green spiritual fruits.

It was continuously emitting pure spiritual energy, and even the air seemed to be dyed a light green.

"This...this is the Blackwater River? I'm not mistaken?"

At this moment, not only Lin Yan, but also many disciples emerged from the Tongtian Spirit Ship, riding their magical artifacts.

Li Qingyun followed closely behind and stepped off the spirit ship, where he saw the scene before him.

The long sword in his hand slammed against the deck railing with a clang, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He visited last year with his family elders.

He had almost gone mad from inhaling too much demonic energy, but now he couldn't find even a trace of it.

The stark contrast made him gasp in surprise.

Zhang Lingwei, who was surrounded by Zhang family disciples, also came over.

Zhang Lingwei hurriedly took out the bronze compass, and the pointer spun rapidly for several rounds.

He pointed firmly at the black vines and said in a trembling voice.

"The compass shows that the concentration of spiritual energy here is even higher than that of the spirit-gathering array on the main peak of the sect!"

"Moreover, these vines... are actively purifying the demonic energy remaining in the earth's veins!"

Unable to contain his curiosity, the burly cultivator from the Changsun family reached out to touch the vines.

My fingertips just touched the purple tentacles on the vine.

A gentle spiritual energy flowed into his body through his fingertips, instantly soothing the fatigue he had felt when boarding the ship.

He suddenly opened his eyes wide and shouted.

"This spiritual energy is so pure! It nourishes my meridians even better than high-grade spirit stones, and it even washed away some of the impurities in my body!"

The disciples immediately erupted in excitement, with some bending down to examine the spiritual fruit.

People reached out and touched the vines, and murmurs arose.

"When I last came here, the demonic energy could condense into water droplets, and if it got on your clothes, it would burn holes in them. How did it change like this in just half a year?"

"What kind of treasure are these vines? The fruits they bear have such spiritual power!"

"Could it be that the secret realm itself has undergone a change?"

Just as everyone was filled with doubt and surprise, Elder Xuantong slowly stepped off the spirit ship, holding a seven-colored gourd.

His gaze swept over the vines along the bank, and he was initially puzzled.

But he quickly understood, and a look of realization flashed in his eyes.

He raised his hand to quiet the room before slowly speaking.

"There's no need for you to guess. The Blackwater River has undergone such a dramatic change in such a short time; it must be the work of the sect's seniors."

"Perhaps when the sect's seniors returned from the Demon Realm, they brought back a rare item that could purify demonic energy, and these vines are the transformation of that item."

"A senior from the sect? Could it be Patriarch Ye?"

Someone in the crowd whispered a guess, and as soon as they finished speaking, they were met with a chorus of agreement.

The Blackwater River has undergone such a dramatic transformation.

Besides Elder Ye, who else could possess such extraordinary abilities?

"It must be Elder Ye!"

Li Qingyun gripped his longsword tightly, his eyes filled with reverence and excitement.

"Our ancestor not only protects the cultivation world, but also paves the way for our trials. We must cultivate diligently and live up to his expectations!"

"Yes! With such a spiritually rich place to help us, and the rare treasures left by our ancestor, what is there to fear from the demonic cultivators in the secret realm!"

The disciples' morale was instantly ignited.

The tension caused by the dangers of the secret realm vanished, replaced by a high morale.

"The sect's seniors have cleared the obstacles for you, so you must show your true abilities! Prepare your equipment now."

"In a quarter of an hour, proceed into the secret realm as planned. Make sure to completely eliminate the demonic cultivators and let the Ancestor see the strength of our Flying Heaven Sect!"

"As ordered!"

Thousands of disciples responded in unison, their voices echoing along the riverbank.

soon.

The fifteen minutes of preparation time passed in the blink of an eye.

The disciples packed their bags; many of them were participating in such an event for the first time.

The hand holding the ritual implement turned slightly white from anticipation and nervousness.

Just now.

The two purple-robed elders beside Elder Xuantong stepped forward.

One of them raised his arm, and a jet-black flag floated in mid-air.

The flag was about ten feet long and was embroidered with a black dragon with bared fangs and claws.

The two dark red crystals embedded in the dragon's eyes refracted a cold light in the sunlight.

The other person took out a palm-sized bronze token.

The token is covered with dense array patterns.

"Everyone, retreat three zhang (approximately 10 meters)!"

The elder holding the flag spoke in a booming voice, and the moment he poured his magic power into the flag, the black dragon flag unfurled with a "whoosh."

The black dragon on the flag seemed to be awakened, swirling and rising in wisps of black mist, creating a subtle resonance with the space above the Blackwater River.

For a moment, even the air seemed to ripple slightly.

The elder holding the token quickly walked to a huge rock in the middle of the riverbank, which was engraved with ancient array patterns, and placed the bronze token firmly in the groove of the rock.

"Buzz!"

The moment the token touched the boulder, the array patterns suddenly lit up with golden light.

Immediately afterwards, a gate of light, ten feet wide, slowly took shape in front of the boulder.

As soon as the portal appeared, an intensely dense, suffocating demonic aura surged out from within, creating a stark contrast with the refreshing spiritual energy surrounding the secret realm.

Many disciples subconsciously took a half step back, gripping their ritual implements even tighter.

The demonic energy was far more intense than they had imagined, and even carried a faint, almost imperceptible, bloody scent.

"How...how can the demonic energy in this secret realm be so heavy?"

A young disciple couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice. When he came to explore the secret realm with his elders last year, the demonic energy at the entrance was strong, but it was far from being this terrifying.

Li Qingyun frowned. He could clearly sense that the violent aura contained in this demonic energy was several times stronger than the demonic cultivators he had encountered before. If he were to actually meet them, it would likely be a fierce battle.

Lin Yan stepped forward, carrying the Crimson Fire Dragon Spear. Crimson-gold magic power condensed into a dancing flame at the tip of the spear, instantly dispelling the surrounding demonic energy.

He glanced at the disciples behind him and said in a deep voice.

"Squad as planned! Li Qingyun, you lead a team of Li family sword cultivators, carrying the Demon-Slaying Sword Talisman bestowed by the sect."

"You are responsible for clearing the way. If you encounter a low-level demonic cultivator, kill them on sight. If you encounter a strong one, do not linger in battle. Send a message immediately!"

"Yes, sir!" Li Qingyun responded and stepped forward. Dozens of Li family disciples behind him drew their longswords in unison, each sword bearing specially made talismans that emitted a faint blue light.

It was precisely the Demon-Slaying Sword Qi, specifically designed to counter demonic cultivators, that revealed its full power.

"Zhang Lingwei, you take the Zhang family's array cultivators and follow closely behind with the Heavenly Evolution Array Disc to investigate the traps and illusion arrays along the way."

"If a trap set by the demonic cultivators is discovered, immediately use a formation-breaking talisman to break it and ensure the team's safe passage!"

"Please rest assured, Senior Brother Lin, my Zhang family has been studying array formations for many years and will not let the demonic cultivators' tricks succeed!"

After saying that, she took out several array plates that were shimmering with spiritual light from her storage bag and distributed them to the array cultivator disciples around her.

"Changsun Hu!"

Lin Yan turned to the burly cultivator from the Changsun family.

"You will lead the third team of body-refining cultivators from the Changsun family to cover the rear. Wear heavy armor made of black iron. If any demonic cultivators launch a sneak attack, you must stand in front of the support cultivators and ensure that no one is injured!"

Soon, the five teams quickly assembled and lined up neatly in front of the gate of light.

Meanwhile, on a mountain peak several miles away, Ye Yang was bending down to bury the last few Demon-Devouring Vine seeds into the soil.

Several high-grade spirit stones at his fingertips shattered, turning into countless fragments.

As spiritual energy was injected, the Demon-Devouring Seed instantly sprouted from the soil.

The slender vines spread towards the secret realm.

And far away.

The moment the portal opened in the Blackwater River Secret Realm, a vast surge of demonic energy erupted forth.

Even from several miles away, Ye Yang could clearly sense the bloodshed and violence contained within.

Ye Yang's spiritual energy had not yet been fully withdrawn.

Within that vast demonic energy surging from the portal to the secret realm.

A completely different aura pierced his senses like a needle.

The demonic energy was so pure it was almost solid, lacking the violent chaos of ordinary demonic cultivators, but instead carrying a sense of oppressive stillness.

Like a giant beast in the deep sea, though its full form has not yet been revealed, it already makes one's heart tighten.

"This is... the aura of a demon race member at the Nascent Soul Dao Realm or higher?"

Ye Yang's brows furrowed suddenly, and his fingertips unconsciously tightened around the storage bag at his waist.

He clearly remembered that he had previously cleaned up the demonic cultivators in the secret realm.

How come such a powerful demonic cultivator has appeared again?

Ye Yang looked up at the portal to the secret realm. The portal, which was ten feet wide, now resembled a giant maw ready to devour anyone.

Dense demonic energy continuously emanated from it.

It collided with the spiritual energy emitted by the surrounding Demon-Devouring Vines, creating fine ripples of spiritual light in the air.

Before the gate of light, Lin Yan was leading five teams of disciples into the gate in an orderly fashion, while Li Qingyun led a large number of cultivators from the Li family to clear the way ahead.

The moment the sword energy cleaved through the demonic energy, the distorted shadows of trees inside the door could be vaguely seen, unaware that danger was lurking in the shadows.

"Go over and have a look."

Ye Yang pondered for a moment.

The next moment, his figure suddenly swayed.

Immediately afterwards, Ye Yang's cold aura vanished, and his aura was reduced to its lowest level.

His entire body quickly blended into the shadow in the air, silently darting towards the portal.

The demon-devouring vines along the way seemed to sense his presence.

The purple tendrils on the vines drooped slightly, making way for him to take a hidden path.

At this moment, the elders in front of the portal in the secret realm were focused on maintaining its stability.

Elder Xuantong held a seven-colored gourd and occasionally injected a wisp of spiritual energy into the light gate to prevent spatial fluctuations from backfiring on his disciples.

Suddenly, the elder holding the black dragon flag frowned slightly and raised his hand to rub his temples.

"Did something just pass by? I think I sensed a very faint fluctuation of spiritual energy."

"Spiritual energy fluctuations?"

The elder holding the bronze token turned around in confusion, his gaze sweeping over the area around the portal. Apart from the ever-spreading Demon-Devouring Vines, there were only a few disciples on guard.

"No, perhaps you've been holding the flag up for too long, and your magic has malfunctioned?"

Elder Xuantong also put down the gourd and focused his senses for a moment, but he could only detect the pure spiritual energy emitted by the Demon-Devouring Vine and the demonic energy coming from the light gate.

"There is nothing unusual. It may be an illusion caused by fluctuations in the secret realm space."

"However, the demonic energy in this secret realm is indeed much denser than last time. After Lin Yan and the others go in, we need to strengthen the perimeter security to prevent any demonic cultivators from breaking through."

The elders exchanged glances, still harboring some doubts, but did not dwell on it further.

After all, the Blackwater River is protected by the Demon-Devouring Vine which purifies the demonic energy, and by the presence of geniuses like Lin Yan leading the way, as well as the Purple Lightning Flood Dragon and the Heavenly Spirit Ship guarding the area.

Even if there are any unusual movements by demonic cultivators, they can respond in time.

Little did they know that the seemingly illusory fluctuation of spiritual energy they had just witnessed was actually their ancestor, who had just returned from the Demon Realm, silently infiltrating the secret realm.

The moment Ye Yang passed through the portal, he entered the Demon Realm and suddenly felt a bone-chilling cold rushing towards him.

Unlike the clear and bright surroundings, the interior of the secret realm was pitch black.

Only the occasional flash of demonic fire flickered in the distance, and the demonic energy in the air was so dense that it could almost condense into liquid.

He quietly landed on a twisted black tree, concealed his presence, and observed his surroundings. He saw that Lin Yan's team was moving along a narrow path.

Ahead was a group of disciples from the Flying Heaven Sect.

Li Qingyun's Demon-Slaying Sword continuously slashed through the demonic vines blocking his path.

Zhang Lingwei held the Heavenly Evolution Array Disc, stopping from time to time to mark the locations of the traps.

"Fortunately, they weren't walking fast."

in the dark.

Ye Yang's eyes gazed ahead, like guiding lights, constantly extending towards the place where the demonic energy was most concentrated.

The deeper you go, the purer the demonic energy becomes; you can even see black footprints left on the ground.

The footprints were larger than those of ordinary cultivators, and each step sank deep into the ground, clearly indicating that the cultivators were much heavier than ordinary people, a characteristic of demonic cultivators.

"It's right in front."

Ye Yang stopped and hid behind a huge, demonized ancient tree.

Not far ahead, a tall, dark figure was standing in front of a cave.

The shadowy figure was shrouded in dense demonic energy, obscuring its features.

He seemed to sense the movement of the group and slowly turned around.

As the demonic energy surged, a face covered in dark red scales was revealed, its eyes like burning will-o'-the-wisps, staring intently at Lin Yan and the others.

“You little brats from the Flying Heaven Sect have some nerve, daring to trespass on my territory.”

The demon's voice was like two giant rocks rubbing against each other, hoarse and grating.

"The group of cultivators who came to investigate last time have long since become nourishment for me. You... do you want to follow in their footsteps?"

"We've come today specifically to cleanse the demonic cultivators of the secret realm! If you know what's good for you, surrender now, or don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"Anyone caught?"

The demonic figure burst into maniacal laughter, the sound of which shook the surrounding demonic trees.

"You bunch of greenhorns? Today I'll show you what true power is!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly swung his bone staff, and two black beams of light shot out from the skull's eye sockets, heading straight for Li Qingyun at the front of the group.

"careful!"

Li Qingyun's pupils shrank sharply, and he instantly slashed out with the Demon-Slaying Sword in his hand. The cyan-gold sword energy collided with the black light pillar, producing a loud "boom".

The sword energy and the pillar of light dissipated at the same time, but Li Qingyun was so shocked that he took three steps back, his arm slightly numb.

"Everyone, form a battle formation!" (End of Chapter)