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

Just as everyone was marveling at the scene, a sharp, piercing roar suddenly came from the distant horizon, shattering the tranquility of the valley.

The demon reinforcements that were originally gathering towards the Demon Cave suddenly stopped as if frozen in place, looking in terror toward the direction of the Soul-Severing Valley.

The leader, a demon general at the Refinement of Void realm, wore black armor covered in bone spikes. The demonic patterns on the armor flickered violently with fear, and the demonic energy emanating from it became chaotic.

He stared wide-eyed at the blue pillar of light, his eyes filled with disbelief, and roared.

"That aura...is a cultivator breaking through? How is that possible! A breakthrough to the late stage of the Void Refinement realm could trigger such a celestial phenomenon? This is absolutely impossible!"

Further away, the Black Scale Demon Lord, who had just escaped the entanglement of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal, was leading his demons toward the Ten Thousand Demon Cave.

When he sensed this breakthrough aura, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. The black demonic flames around him surged uncontrollably to a height of hundreds of feet. The surrounding demons were affected by this aura and knelt down one after another.

"Damn it! Someone actually broke through to a higher realm at this time! The Dao power within him even contains a purifying power that restrains my demon race! If he stabilizes his realm and grows stronger, he will surely become a major threat to my demon race!"

The Black Scale Demon Lord suddenly turned around and roared at the demons behind him, his voice carrying an unquestionable command.

"Pass on my order! Abandon support for the Ten Thousand Demon Cave, and all demons are to launch a full-scale attack on the Soul-Severing Valley! You must kill that man before he stabilizes his cultivation! If he leaves the Soul-Severing Valley alive, you will all die!"

Ye Yang, who was inside the cave, was completely unaware of this.

He was immersed in the enlightenment of the breakthrough, and the power of the Dao within his body was like a rushing river, rapidly circulating in his meridians along a completely new trajectory.

The power formed by the fusion of the Green Bamboo Sword Intent and the Evil King Blade's malevolent energy, guided by his mind, continuously washed over his meridians and dantian, thoroughly clearing and refining the originally stagnant Dao power.

The Dao Pill in the dantian was originally light blue, but now it was gradually dyed into a blue-black color. The Dao Pill rotated faster and faster, and the Dao power it emitted became purer and stronger.

He could clearly feel that his connection with heaven and earth had become closer than ever before.

With a simple gesture, one can draw upon the surrounding spiritual energy to create a vortex.

When the sword is swung, even the space itself seems to tremble with the sword's intent, and tiny cracks appear.

The Yin-Yang principle he had comprehended while slaying demons on the battlefield had now been completely integrated into his Dao power, deepening his understanding of the "Dao".

It turns out that the righteous path and the demonic path are not absolutely opposed, but like yin and yang, they can transform into and merge with each other. The key lies in the user's true heart.

After an unknown amount of time, when the Dao Pill in his dantian had completely stabilized into a bluish-black color and the Dao Power in his meridians circulated smoothly and freely, Ye Yang slowly opened his eyes.

The sword-shaped mark between his eyebrows gradually faded, and the vortex of spiritual energy around him also dissipated. However, the righteous energy that had merged into his Dao foundation did not disappear. Instead, it was engraved into his Dao foundation like a brand.

He slowly stood up, stretched his limbs, and his bones made a crisp "crack" sound.

With each breath, one can feel the spiritual energy of heaven and earth flowing into the body like a stream, nourishing the new Dao power.

"Finally, I've broken through to the late stage of the Void Refinement Realm."

Ye Yang said softly, his voice carrying a hint of relief and determination.

He walked to the entrance of the cave, looked at the huge rock that sealed the entrance, and gently waved his hand.

A streak of dark blue sword energy shot out from his fingertips, instantly turning the boulder sealing the cave entrance into dust, leaving not even a tiny piece of rock behind.

As soon as Ye Yang stepped out of the cave, he saw Xuan Shui Dao Ren, Yan Huo Zhen Ren, Shi Jian Men Zhu, and Yan Qing Ying standing not far away. The four of them had eyes full of joy and admiration, and even their breathing was filled with anticipation.

"Finally, I've broken through!" Ye Yang was overjoyed and couldn't help but clench his fist. He knew that after breaking through to the late stage of the Void Refinement realm, his position among righteous cultivators would be more secure, and he would be more capable of protecting the Star Sea Demon Realm and resisting the invasion of the demon race.

He stood up, stretched his body, and felt the surging Dao power within him, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. Then, he pushed open the door of the secret chamber and flew towards the direction where Xuan Shui Daoist and the others were.

At this moment, Xuan Shui Dao Ren and the others were vigilantly watching the surrounding movements, fearing that some demons might come to disturb Ye Yang's breakthrough. Upon seeing Ye Yang approach, everyone gathered around him, their faces full of anticipation.

"Senior Brother Ye, you've successfully broken through?" Yan Qingying asked hurriedly, her eyes filled with surprise.

Ye Yang nodded, a smile appearing on his face. "I have successfully broken through to the late stage of the Void Refinement realm. I'm sorry to have worried everyone."

Upon hearing this, everyone smiled with relief. Xuan Shui Dao Ren said, "Dao Zu Ye's breakthrough is truly a great joy! With a powerful figure like Dao Zu Ye here, our confidence in fighting the Demon Race is even stronger!"

Master Yanhuo exclaimed excitedly, "Great! Daozu Ye has broken through to the late stage of the Void Refinement realm, and our strength has increased significantly! Next time we encounter a powerful demon, we'll be able to kill him much more easily!"

Sect Master Shi Jian nodded as well, "Ye Daozu's breakthrough is undoubtedly a timely help for us. Now we can better deal with the demon reinforcements."

"Master Ye! Congratulations on your breakthrough!"

Xuan Shui Daoist was the first to react. He quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting to Ye Yang, and his face was full of excitement.

"The extraordinary phenomena that occurred when you broke through astonished us all! Now that you've reached the late stage of the Void Refinement realm and have comprehended a completely new Daoist principle, our chances of defeating the Demon Race have increased considerably!"

Master Yan Huo also rushed over, his face full of excitement. He reached out to pat Ye Yang's shoulder, but was blocked by an invisible force.

He chuckled and withdrew his hand, saying...

"Master Ye, your aura is now more than twice as strong as before! Those demons could hold their own against us for a while before, but now that you've broken through, you'll be able to kill them with a single sword strike if you encounter them again!"

Yan Qingying stepped forward, her eyes full of concern.

"Senior Brother Ye, was the breakthrough process smooth? Did you encounter any danger? Were you injured?"

Ye Yang smiled and shook his head, bowing to the four people in return, his voice gentle yet firm.

"Thank you all for protecting me. Although there were a few setbacks and disruptions in my Dao power during the breakthrough process, it was still relatively smooth. I have now broken through to the late stage of the Void Refinement realm, and my Dao power is several times more refined than before. Next, we will set off immediately to support Senior Qinglian and completely eradicate the demons from the Star Sea Demon Realm!"

Just then, a violent surge of demonic energy suddenly came from the distant horizon, accompanied by the roars of the demons, which exploded like thunder in the valley.

"It seems we're in trouble."

A cold glint flashed in Ye Yang's eyes as he slowly drew the Azure Dragon Sky-Splitting Sword from his back.

The moment the sword was drawn, the azure and black sword energy surged, the sword trembled slightly, and it exuded a world-destroying aura, causing the surrounding air to distort slightly under this aura.

After his breakthrough, Ye Yang's aura became even more unfathomable. The spiritual energy around him gathered like a tide, merging into his body and making his Dao power even more condensed.

He could clearly feel that his strength had increased several times over.

Both the Green Bamboo Sword Intent and the Evil King Blade's murderous aura became even more formidable. Moreover, his understanding of the Dao deepened, and his sensitivity to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth became more acute.

At this moment, the Azure Dragon Sky-Splitting Sword in Ye Yang's hand hummed incessantly, and the azure and black sword energy intertwined to form a semi-transparent light shield, protecting Xuan Shui Daoist and the other three behind him.

In the distance, the demon army led by the Black Scale Demon Lord pressed down on the Valley of Broken Souls like a dark cloud that blotted out the sun.

The sound of the demon's hooves shattering the clouds made the rocks on both sides of the valley rustle. Dense demonic energy spread with the wind, and even the weeds that stubbornly grew in the valley began to wither and turn black.

"Master Ye, the Black Scale Demon Lord is at the peak of the late stage of the Void Refinement realm, and he also has three demon generals at the early and middle stages of the Void Refinement realm under his command. Should we retreat to the Ten Thousand Demon Cave first and reunite with Senior Qinglian?"

Ye Yang's eyes were sharp as he stared at the approaching demon army.

"We cannot retreat. We are currently on the front lines. If we retreat, the enemy will rush into Wanmo Valley, and the situation will definitely become even worse."

He turned to look at the four people, his voice steady and powerful.

"Master Xuanshui, rearrange the trapping formation and reinforce the core with the remaining spiritual energy in the valley; Brother Yanhuo, guide the remaining Explosive Flame Talismans to the path the demons must take, and detonate them when they step into the formation."

"Sect Master Shi Jian, use the power of earth to build three layers of earthen walls to slow down the demons' charge; Qing Ying, control the six-winged demon corpse to lurk on the flanks and launch a surprise attack on the demon generals when the demon formation is in disarray, thus diverting their attention."

Upon hearing this, the four men's eyes instantly ignited with fighting spirit.

Xuan Shui Daoist immediately took out the array plate, and spiritual energy surged at his fingertips. Water-like runes spread along the ground and merged into the rocks and ancient trees of Broken Soul Valley. The originally dim array eyes lit up with golden light again.

Master Yanhuo moved with lightning speed at the entrance of the valley, burying the remaining Blazing Flame Talismans at specific locations. The moment the talismans came into contact with the demonic energy, a faint red light appeared at their edges.

Master Shi Jian pressed his hands to the ground and gave a low shout. Three layers of earthen walls, each over ten feet thick, rose from the ground. The surface of the earthen walls was covered with sharp stone spikes, like three insurmountable barriers.

Yan Qingying gently stroked the head of the six-winged demon corpse and whispered an incantation. The demon corpse spread its wings and turned into a black shadow, disappearing into the dense forest of the valley.

In less than half an incense stick's time, the defenses of Broken Soul Valley were set up again. This time, the formation was even more powerful than before, thanks to the spiritual energy drawn in by Ye Yang's breakthrough.

When the Black Scale Demon Lord led his demon army to the valley entrance, all they saw were three earthen walls covered in stone spikes, and golden array patterns faintly visible behind them. The scorching heat of the Explosive Flame Talisman still lingered in the air. "Hmph, the same old trick!"

Black Scale Demon Lord snorted coldly, and the black demonic flames around him surged, transforming into a giant demonic claw that slammed towards the outermost earthen wall.

The demonic claws carried a devastating force, scorching and distorting the air wherever they passed, and instantly dissipating the mist in the valley.

"boom!"

The demonic claw slammed down on the earthen wall, causing it to tremble violently. The stone spikes on the surface broke off, and countless cracks appeared on the wall.

Sect Master Shi Jian's face turned pale, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, but he gritted his teeth and persevered, constantly forming hand seals and continuously injecting the earth element power in his body into the earthen wall.

"Master Ye, act quickly! I can't hold out much longer!"

Ye Yang's eyes narrowed, and he slashed out with the Azure Dragon Sky-Splitting Sword in his hand. A streak of azure and black sword energy shot towards the Black Scale Demon Lord like a shooting star that pierced the sky.

Wherever the sword energy passed, the surrounding demonic energy retreated as if it had encountered its nemesis, and even the demonic flames of the Black Scale Demon Lord were suppressed and dimmed.

"what?!"

Black Scale Demon Lord's pupils shrank sharply. He hadn't expected Ye Yang to be able to unleash such a powerful attack so soon after his breakthrough. He quickly withdrew his demonic claws, formed hand seals, and a huge black demonic shield appeared in front of him.

"Clang!" The sword energy slashed fiercely at the magic shield, producing a piercing metallic clang. A deep sword mark appeared on the surface of the magic shield, and the black demonic flames flickered violently, almost dissipating.

The Black Scale Demon Lord was forced back several steps by the impact of the sword energy, his heart filled with horror.

"This sword energy contains not only the purifying power of righteous cultivators, but also a domineering baleful aura. The two powers are fused together so perfectly!"

He turned around abruptly and roared at the demons behind him.

"What are you all standing around for? Charge! Whoever can kill Ye Yang, I'll reward him with a 'Transformation Demon Pill'!"

Upon hearing the words "Demon Transformation Pill," the demons' eyes flashed with greed, and they roared as they charged into the valley.

"Do it!"

At Ye Yang's command, Xuan Shui Dao Ren immediately activated the array plate, and the trapping array was instantly activated. Countless golden chains of light surged from the ground, coiling around the demons charging at the forefront like venomous snakes.

The demon entangled by the chains of light let out a shrill scream. The demonic energy within its body was rapidly purified by the chains of light, and its body gradually withered away, eventually turning into a pool of black water.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, True Man Yan Huo detonated the Exploding Flame Talisman, and scorching flames shot into the sky like fire dragons, rushing towards the demon horde.

The flames contain spiritual energy that can suppress demonic energy. Once a demon is touched by the flames, it will be engulfed in flames that it cannot extinguish no matter how hard it struggles, and it will soon be burned to ashes.

Yan Qingying's six-winged demonic corpse launched a surprise attack from the flank. The demonic corpse's claws were like sharp blades, easily tearing through the armor of a late-stage Nascent Soul Dao Realm demonic general. Death energy surged into the demonic general's body through the wound.

The demon general's expression changed drastically. He tried to activate his demonic energy to resist, but found that the death energy had already sealed his meridians. He could only watch helplessly as his body gradually stiffened, and finally he collapsed to the ground, losing his life.

However, the number of demons was simply too great. Even with the obstruction of formations and traps, many demons still broke through the defenses and rushed towards Ye Yang and his group.

A demon at the mid-stage of the Void Refinement realm dodged Yan Huo Zhenren's flames and slashed at Ye Yang's back with a demonic blade. The demonic flames on the blade flickered, carrying an aura of destruction.

As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Ye Yang calmly dodged to the side, and with a backhand slash of his Azure Dragon Sky-Splitting Sword, the dark blue sword energy instantly severed the demon's demonic blade and pierced through the demon's chest.

The demon's eyes were filled with disbelief as his body gradually turned to ashes, leaving only a black demon core on the ground.

"Ye Yang, you dare to kill my men!"

Seeing his demons fall one after another, the Black Scale Demon Lord's eyes were filled with savagery. He suddenly burned the demonic energy in his body, and the demonic flames around him transformed into a giant demonic bird, which swooped down on Ye Yang.

The demonic bird spread its wings, obscuring half the sky, and spewed black demonic fire from its beak, burning even the light chains that bound the formation wherever it passed.

Ye Yang took a deep breath and circulated his internal Dao power to its limit. The Green Bamboo Sword Intent and the Evil King Blade's baleful aura intertwined violently on the sword, forming a sword energy vortex with a diameter of more than ten feet.

He gripped his sword with both hands and slashed fiercely at the demonic bird. The vortex of sword energy was like a black hole that devoured everything, sucking in all the demonic fire spewed out by the demonic bird, and then slamming into the demonic bird.

"Oh!"

The demonic bird let out a shrill scream as its body was torn apart by the vortex of sword energy. Black demonic flames scattered and fell to the ground, corroding the ground into deep, bottomless pits.

The Black Scale Demon Lord suffered a backlash, spitting out another mouthful of black demonic blood, and his aura became chaotic.

"Impossible! You just broke through to the late stage of the Void Refinement realm, how could you possess such immense power!"

Ye Yang didn't answer, but instead gave a wink to the four people, including Xuan Shui Dao Ren.

The four instantly understood and quickly moved to Ye Yang's side, taking their positions according to the Five Elements Demon-Slaying Sword Formation. The water element power of Xuan Shui Dao Ren, the fire element power of Yan Huo Zhen Ren, the earth element power of Shi Jian Men Zhu, and the wood element power of Yan Qing Ying, combined with Ye Yang's metal element sword intent, instantly converged, forming a huge five-colored sword shadow in the air.

Above the sword shadow, the power of five attributes intertwined, exuding a world-destroying aura, and the surrounding space was slightly distorted under this aura.

When the Black Scale Demon Lord saw the five-colored sword shadow, his eyes were filled with fear. He knew that the power of this sword was far greater than any of his previous attacks, and if he were hit, he would surely die.

"I am not reconciled! I am the Black Scale Demon Lord, how can I die at the hands of you lowly races!"

The Black Scale Demon Lord roared, fiercely burning his own primordial demonic energy. The demonic flames around him surged to hundreds of feet high, and his figure became several times larger.

Within the demonic flames, countless wronged souls howled in agony, their aura growing ever more terrifying.

He formed a hand seal, and a demonic shield made of countless demonic bones appeared in front of him. The shield was covered with hideous runes and exuded a chilling pressure.

"Five Elements Slay Demons, One Sword Shatters All Laws!"

Ye Yang roared and controlled the five-colored sword shadow to slash towards the Black Scale Demon Lord. The sword shadow carried an unstoppable force, piercing through the demonic flames and striking towards the demonic shield.

"boom!"

The multicolored sword shadows collided violently with the magic shield, producing a deafening explosion.

A massive shockwave spread outwards, causing the mountain peaks on both sides of the valley to tremble violently. Countless rocks tumbled down, smashing the demons who rushed in into pieces.

The magic shield shattered inch by inch under the impact of the five-colored sword shadows, demonic bones flew everywhere, and the black demonic flames quickly dissipated. The remaining power of the five-colored sword shadows did not diminish, and they slashed towards the Black Scale Demon Lord.

Despair filled the Black Scale Demon Lord's eyes. He tried to dodge, but found that his body was locked in place by the oppressive force of the five-colored sword shadows, and he was unable to move at all.

"No! I don't want to die!" he screamed in agony, but it was too late to change his fate.

"Pfft!"

The five-colored sword shadows slashed fiercely at the Black Scale Demon Lord, splitting his body in two.

Black demonic blood gushed out, landing on the ground with a sizzling sound, corroding small holes in the ground.

The Black Scale Demon Lord's demonic energy and soul were instantly devoured by the purifying power within the five-colored sword shadows.

Not a trace was left, only a demonic core radiating intense demonic energy lay on the ground.

After killing the Black Scale Demon Lord, the demons in the valley were instantly thrown into panic. They had lost their leader and were intimidated by the strength of Ye Yang and the others, so they all turned around and tried to escape.

A cold glint flashed in Ye Yang's eyes, and he unleashed the Azure Dragon Sky-Splitting Sword once more, sending streaks of dark blue sword energy raining down on the demons.

The four Xuan Shui Daoists also launched an attack simultaneously, their trapping formations and flames intertwining to confine the demons in the valley, where they were killed one by one.

Half an hour later, the demons in the valley were finally wiped out. The ground was covered with the corpses of demons and fragments of demonic artifacts. The thick stench of blood and demonic energy was nauseating.

Ye Yang stepped forward and picked up the infant spirit of the Black Scale Demon Lord. The infant spirit emitted a black light and contained a huge amount of demonic energy, but it was suppressed by the power of the Evil King Blade in his body and could not move.

"Master Ye, the Black Scale Demon Lord is dead. What should we do next?"

Xuan Shui Dao Ren stepped forward, his face full of exhaustion, yet unable to hide his excitement.

The fierce battle just now had left the four of them extremely exhausted. (End of Chapter)