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

The stone surface was rough yet unusually neat, clearly cut by an ancient cultivator with great magical power.

Everyone followed Ye Yang's gaze to the tomb, and even their breathing became unconsciously softer.

Although the dark stone door was not opened, wisps of grayish-white aura, like mist but not quite, slowly seeped out from the cracks.

The tomb guardian beasts wrapped around the stone gate reliefs seemed to come alive, their eyes faintly glowing with a dark red light.

"That is……"

The white-haired old cultivator from the Flowing Cloud Sect suddenly raised his hand and pointed to the void inside the stone gate.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a grayish-white aura gathering behind the door, gradually outlining a blurry figure.

At first, it was only ten feet tall, but as the breath continued to flow in, the figure grew taller and taller, eventually transforming into a towering phantom.

He wore a black robe that trailed on the ground, with mysterious demonic patterns embroidered on the cuffs, but he wore a plain Taoist crown on his head, with a bright white jade bead embedded in it. He exuded the thick, dark aura unique to demons.

In addition, it was also filled with the refined and elegant Daoist aura of cultivators.

The two completely opposite auras intertwined, not only without conflict, but also exuding a strange and unsettling harmony.

"The Dao... the dual cultivation of Dao and Demonism?"

One of the cultivators cried out in alarm, his voice trembling.

In the cultivation world, the Dao and the Demon have always been irreconcilable. Even cultivators at the Refining Void Realm only dare to specialize in one path. Who would have thought that the Demon Ancestor in this tomb could cultivate two paths at the same time and even merge them into one body!
What's even more captivating is that the aura flowing around the phantom faintly reveals the fluctuations of inheritance.

When the demonic patterns flicker, they possess the demonic power to devour heaven and earth; when the Taoist crown shines, it manifests the Taoist mental cultivation method of breathing in and out spiritual energy.

Whether one cultivates demonic arts or Taoist arts, one can glean opportunities for breakthroughs from this.

"Such a legacy... if one could obtain even one aspect of it, what would prevent one from cultivating the Great Dao!"

"This person possesses such powerful Dao and demonic energy that he is far from being as simple as we imagine. He must be an unparalleled master."

Among the crowd, three cultivators dressed in Qingmu Sect robes had greed in their eyes.

They came from a small sect and had been stuck at the bottleneck of their cultivation level for many years.

Seeing such an opportunity, how could one possibly hold back?

Elder Wan Sen of the Green Wood Sect suddenly summoned a whisk, and as he poured his Dao power into it, the whisk threads transformed into steel needles, rushing towards the stone gate.

"Fellow Daoists, please don't be offended! This inheritance is destined for my Green Wood Sect, so we've taken it first!"

The other two followed closely behind, one conjuring a fireball and the other summoning a thick stone shield, rushing forward as if to force their way through the door and seize the inheritance within the phantom.

Ye Yang frowned slightly, about to speak and stop him,
But then the demon ancestor's phantom suddenly moved.

The phantom did not open its eyes or raise its hand; it merely tilted its head slightly, emitting a low hum from its throat.

The voice was not human, yet it carried countless sounds of ferocity and annihilation.

As soon as the sound waves spread, the Green Wood Sect cultivators at the forefront were struck as if by a heavy blow.

The whisk shattered instantly, the protective Dao power cracked like paper, and the physical body exploded with a "bang" in full view of everyone, turning into a sky full of blood mist.

The other two cultivators turned pale and tried to turn back, but the sound waves had already arrived. Their primordial spirits had just escaped from their physical bodies when they were shattered into pieces by the sound waves. They didn't even have time to let out a scream before they dissipated into the grayish-white aura.

In the blink of an eye, the three Nascent Soul Realm cultivators vanished without a trace.

The field fell silent instantly; everyone froze in place, their eyes filled with disbelief and fear.

Although a cultivator at the Nascent Soul Realm is not considered top-tier, he is still a formidable expert, yet he couldn't even withstand a single attack from that illusory figure.
"It's not a phantom...it's a restriction!"

"That phantom was merely the residual aura of that ancient venerable being!"

Ye Yang suddenly spoke, his gaze falling on the tomb guardian beast in the stone gate relief.

At this moment, the dark red light in the stone beast's eyes shone even brighter, and the gray-white aura around its body transformed into fine light patterns, connecting with the Daoist and demonic aura surrounding the phantom.

"That phantom was formed by the restriction. When those three cultivators rushed up, they triggered the restriction's counterattack. That buzzing sound just now was the restriction's killing move!"

Everyone then came to their senses and looked at the light patterns on the stone gate.

Those light patterns were previously hidden in the patterns of the stone beast and could not be noticed without careful observation. Now that Ye Yang pointed it out, it was discovered that the light patterns actually formed a huge array.

The intertwining of demonic and Daoist runes enveloped the entire tomb. Not only would anyone rush up to it, but even getting within three feet of the stone gate would result in being locked onto by the light runes.

"No wonder the Blood Demon Prince didn't dare to force his way in before..."

Xue Yan swallowed hard, recalling Xue Mozi's previous fear of the tomb, and now he understood why. This was no tomb; it was clearly a cage filled with killing formations. A slight misstep could lead to the same fate as the Qingmu Sect cultivators.

The white-haired old cultivator sighed and put away his previous contempt.

"Master Ye, you have keen insight. If it weren't for your insight, others would probably have lost their lives in vain. This restriction can even kill a Nascent Soul cultivator with a single blow, so its power is probably boundless. Without a corresponding method to break the formation, it is impossible to get close."

Ye Yang didn't reply, but slowly walked to the stone gate, gathered a wisp of Dao power at his fingertips, and gently touched the light pattern.

As soon as the Dao power touched the light pattern, the dark red light in the stone beast's eyes suddenly lit up, and a small sound wave rushed towards Ye Yang.

He was prepared, and a flash of cyan-gold Dao power around him blocked the sound wave, but a sharp pain came from his fingertips.

The counterattack of this restriction was actually able to penetrate his protective Dao power!
"Indeed extraordinary, such a powerful restriction."

Ye Yang withdrew his hand, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

"This formation can not only trigger the phantom's counterattack, but also absorb the surrounding spiritual energy to replenish itself. If we try to force our way through, we will only be worn down to death. It seems that if we want to enter the tomb, we must first find the key to breaking the formation."

Everyone nodded after hearing this.

At this moment, no one dared to mention "seizing the inheritance" anymore.

The cultivators under the Xuanheishi Sect waited anxiously for three days.

On the first day, some unruly cultivators, not believing in the superstition, even tried to smash the stone gate with brute force.

As soon as they got within three feet, they were entangled by the gray-white light patterns emitted from the stone beast relief, and their Taoist power was instantly drained, turning them into a pile of withered bones. The others were so frightened that they dared not make any more moves.

The next day, the white-haired old cultivator from the Flowing Cloud Sect, together with three Nascent Soul cultivators, attempted to counter the restriction with the Four Symbols Formation. However, as soon as the formation came into contact with the light patterns on the stone gate, it was shattered by an invisible force. All four were shaken so badly that their blood and qi surged and blood spilled from the corners of their mouths.

By the third day, even the most composed cultivators couldn't help but show signs of anxiety. Some leaned against the boulder and closed their eyes to regulate their breathing, while others circled the stone gate, their eyes fixed on the phantom of the Demon Ancestor, filled with resentment and helplessness.

Such an ancient heritage was right before their eyes, yet it was blocked outside by a restriction, leaving everyone feeling resentful.

Ye Yang remained calm. Over the past three days, he had spent most of his time studying the light patterns on the stone gate, occasionally gathering Dao power at his fingertips to probe for weaknesses in the restrictions. Xue Yan stayed by his side, constantly familiarizing himself with the Blood Demon Sword in his hand while remaining vigilant for any potential changes in their surroundings.

On the third day.

As the sun began to set and the clouds were dyed golden-red, a faint yet remarkably clear fluctuation of an array suddenly emanated from the distant horizon.

It wasn't aggressively sharp, but rather carried a mysterious and harmonious quality, like a stream merging into a river or sea, quietly penetrating the surrounding spiritual energy barrier.

"Ok?"

Ye Yang paused, looked up in the direction from which the fluctuation came, and a flash of cyan-gold Dao power passed through his eyes.

"This is... the aura of a grandmaster of formations?"

At this moment, not only Ye Yang, but many people present noticed this strange situation.

Even the white-haired old cultivator suddenly opened his eyes, his withered fingers forming hand seals and his expression changed drastically.

"Such refined array power! Only a veteran who has studied arrays for hundreds of years could unleash this!"

Before the words were even finished, the figure in the distance became increasingly clear.

At first, there were only a few blurry outlines, which came stepping on streams of light. They were not fast, but they carried an indescribable pressure that made all the cultivators present subconsciously hold their breath.

As the figure drew within a hundred feet, everyone finally saw what the newcomer looked like.

There were seven people in total, all dressed in grayish-blue Taoist robes embroidered with mysterious array patterns, with uniform bronze array plates hanging from their waists. The plates were engraved with the words "All Heavens" and gleamed with a faint silver light.

The three people at the front were all elderly men with white hair and beards, but their figures were as upright as pine trees, showing no signs of old age.

The old man on the left holds a peach wood array ruler, the ruler covered with fine star patterns.

The old man in the middle carried a bronze compass that was half a person's height on his back, and the compass needle always turned towards the stone gate.

The old man on the right held a string of black beads, each bead engraved with a different array symbol. As he moved, the beads jingled softly, causing the surrounding spiritual energy to pulsate in rhythm.

"That...that's..."

Suddenly, someone in the crowd let out a short gasp, their voice filled with disbelief.

"Peach wood array ruler, Seven Star Soul-Stabilizing Plate, Mysterious Array Pearl... These are the most treasured artifacts of the Calculating Heavens Sect!"

"The Extraterrestrial Sect?!"

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding among the cultivators.

The Calculating Heavens Sect is a top-tier array formation sect in the cultivation world, always shrouded in mystery, specializing in array formations and destiny.

Whether it's breaking formations, setting up formations, or repairing ancient formation patterns, these are all top-tier inheritances in the cultivation world.

However, this sect is inherently mysterious, and rumors circulate that several of its most respected elders have already passed away due to the exhaustion of their lifespans.

With no one of the younger generation capable of carrying the torch, the Zhutian Sect is likely to decline. How could the crowd not be shocked to see these elderly figures now?

What happened next was even more chilling. When the old man in the middle carrying the bronze compass looked up, the white-haired old cultivator suddenly trembled, staggered back two steps, and pointed at the old man, shouting in a terrified voice.

"You...you are Senior Seven Lives?!"

Seven Lives Daoist was the chief array master of the Extraordinary Heavens Sect a hundred years ago.

Legend has it that a hundred years ago, he devoted himself to repairing the protective array of an ancient secret realm, and passed away peacefully in the eye of the array, leaving no trace of his body.

At this moment, this legendary figure, who was said to have died long ago, was standing alive right before my eyes.

He stood with his hands behind his back not far from the stone gate, his gaze calmly sweeping over the restrictive light patterns, as if he were just taking a casual stroll.

"Senior Seven Lives?! It really is him!"

“I’ve seen a portrait of the Seven Lives Daoist in the sect’s ancient books. The mole between his eyebrows and this bronze compass are exactly the same!”

"But...but didn't he pass away a hundred years ago? How could this be..."

The crowd erupted in a frenzy, with many cultivators standing up in disarray, craning their necks to look at the Seven Lives Daoist, their eyes filled with awe and doubt.

Some people turned their gaze to the two old men beside the Seven Lives Taoist, and after thinking for a moment, there was another gasp of cold air.

"Is that the one on the left, Senior Su Mo, the 'Array Maniac'? It's said that three hundred years ago, he went into seclusion to study the 'Zhou Tian Star Array,' and the sect said that he had already perished long ago!"

"The one on the right! That's 'King of Breaking Formations' Liu Chengfeng! My grandfather said that when this Senior Liu was breaking the Black Fiend Formation of the Demon Realm, his heart meridian was invaded by demonic energy, and he died on the spot... How could he still be alive?!"

The fact that three legendary masters of the Zhutian Sect, who were thought to have long since turned to dust, appeared together in front of the Demon Ancestor's tomb was far more shocking than seeing the Demon Ancestor's phantom.

The monks looked at each other with disbelief on their faces. Some even rubbed their eyes, wondering if they were hallucinating from days of arduous waiting.

Su Mo heard the crowd's discussion, but only glanced at them indifferently. He tapped the ground lightly with the peach wood array ruler in his hand, his tone flat.

"To pass away peacefully? It's just that he used the array patterns to conceal the secrets of heaven during his seclusion, so that there would be less disturbance from the outside world."

Liu Chengfeng smiled and shook the Xuanzhen Beads in his hand, the beads clinking together with a crisp sound.

"The demonic energy of the Demon Realm is not enough to trap me. Back then, I was just using the pretext of 'fallen' to hide away and study the demonic formations."

Ignoring the shock of the crowd, the group focused their attention on the light patterns on the stone gate. Suddenly, the bronze compass on their backs lit up with a "hum," and after the pointer spun wildly for a moment, it steadily pointed to the tomb guardian beast relief in the center of the stone gate.

"The Dao-Demon Twin Array uses the remnant soul of the Demon Ancestor as a guide and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth as its source. It is a rare ancient array. No wonder it cannot be broken. The array's core is hidden in the left eye of the relief. Ordinary attacks will only trigger the killing move."

His words caused an uproar among the cultivators present.

In the past three days, no one could even grasp the edge of the restriction. However, the Seven Lives Daoist saw through the location of the array's core as soon as he arrived. This was the strength of a top-notch array master.

Ye Yang walked slowly forward and nodded slightly to the three old men.

"Ye Yang of the Flying Heaven Sect greets the three seniors. May I ask whether your visit is for the inheritance of this tomb, or..."

Seven Lives Daoist looked up at Ye Yang, his gaze lingering on the azure-gold Dao power surrounding him for a moment, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.

"Master Ye has good eyesight, being able to see that this is a restriction rather than a phantom power. We have come here not for the inheritance, but for this Dao-Demon Twin Array."

"This formation was created by the ancient 'Yin Yang Formation Master'. Only fragments remain in the ancient books of our Zhutian Sect. Today, we have come to complete the lineage of formations."

As soon as he finished speaking, Su Mo had already walked to the stone door with the peach wood array ruler. The array ruler lightly touched the light patterns, and the originally fierce gray-white aura obediently avoided it, revealing the fine array patterns below.

Liu Chengfeng then took out an array plate from his waist, channeling his Dao power into it. The two characters "All Heavens" on the array plate lit up, subtly echoing the array patterns on the stone gate. (End of this chapter)