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

He could sense that the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal was indeed in poor condition. If he forced a pursuit, and something unexpected happened, it would be a loss.

The Golden-Patterned Demon Ancestor raced wildly until he finally burst into the chasm between heaven and earth, disappearing into the chaotic gray space.

He knew that they had suffered heavy losses today; the Withered Demon Ancestor was dead, and the Golden-Patterned Demon Ancestor was seriously injured.

Only he and another demon ancestor remained, both severely weakened and no longer able to contend with human cultivators.

"Human cultivators, the grudge we inflict today will be avenged by my demon race! One day, my Demon Abyss army will return to raze your world and make you pay for your blood debt!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the spatial turbulence in the chasm between heaven and earth gradually subsided, and the remaining Demon Ancestor led the remaining Demon Army back to the Star Sea Demon Realm.

The hole that had been pierced through the heavens and earth began to slowly heal under the nourishment of the primordial power of heaven and earth. The spiderweb-like cracks gradually shrank and eventually disappeared.

The sky returned to its usual appearance, but the air was still filled with a strong demonic aura and the stench of blood.

The war was finally over.

Ye Yang stood there, looking at the sky that had returned to calm, his heart still unable to find peace.

The scenes of Qinglian Sword Immortal unleashing his secret technique and Ren Taxian ambushing and killing the Silver Armor Demon Ancestor kept replaying in his mind.

He could clearly sense that the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal had transcended the realm of the Thunder Tribulation Dao Ancestor.

Ren Taxian's bizarre and ruthless sneak attack techniques, as well as the unwillingness and despair of the two demon ancestors before their deaths, all greatly shocked him.

He looked down at his hands, feeling the slightly trembling Dao power within his body, and for a moment seemed to gain some insight.

Previously, he thought that the Void Refining Realm was already a pretty good realm.

After killing the Black Scale Demon Lord, he felt a sense of pride.

But today I witnessed the power of cultivators at the Dao Ancestor Realm or even beyond.

He then realized how shallow his previous understanding had been.

There is an insurmountable gap between the Refining Void Realm and the Dao Ancestor Realm.

Above the Dao Ancestor Realm, there is an even wider world.

The new realm displayed by the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal filled him with even greater longing.

"The power that Senior Azure Lotus Sword Immortal just displayed is probably close to the Mahayana realm."

Ye Yang let out a breath.

"Even a demon ancestor at the tribulation level is no match for him. Indeed, the higher one goes in cultivation, the more terrifying it becomes."

Ye Yang muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with a burning light.

"Senior Qinglian's sword intent is pure to the extreme and powerful to the extreme. It is a power that can sever the laws of heaven and earth."

"And that legendary emperor Ren Taxian's sneak attack, the timing was just right, a fatal blow, these are things I need to learn."

Ye Yang closed his eyes and began to process his insights from the battle just now.

He could feel that his Dao heart had become more resolute at this moment, and the Dao power within his body was also trembling slightly.

And it was clear that Ye Yang was not the only one; the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal had just unleashed power far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

Xuan Shui Daoist and Yan Huo Zhenren, among others, also gained a great deal. Xuan Shui Daoist, in particular, had his eyes slightly closed, a look of enlightenment flashing across his face, as if he had learned even more from the experience.

"Fellow Daoist Ye, today's trip has truly been worthwhile."

Xuan Shui Dao Ren sighed.

"Having witnessed the strength of Fellow Daoist Qinglian and Senior Ren Taxian, we realize that our previous cultivation was nothing more than that of frogs at the bottom of a well."

Master Yanhuo nodded and said.

"Yes, the realm that Senior Qinglian has displayed has completely overturned my understanding. I never knew that the path of a cultivator could go so far."

Shi Jian said in a deep, muffled voice:

I must become stronger! Next time I encounter demons, I will personally slay them!

Just then, the Nine Heavens Ancestor walked over, looked at everyone, and showed a satisfied smile.

"It's wonderful that you have such insights. The path of cultivation is a process of continuous exploration and breakthroughs. Today's experience is a rare trial and a precious opportunity for you."

And the moment those demon ancestors in the sky dispersed.

On the ground, the surviving cultivators all breathed a sigh of relief.

The battle just now shook the heavens and earth, shattered space, and unleashed raging demonic flames.

They thought they were doomed and were filled with despair.

Gu Xuan stood side by side with several core elders of the Flying Heaven Sect, with a water mirror about ten feet square floating in front of them.

A faint spiritual light flowed across the mirror's surface, clearly reflecting the scene in the direction of the cavern between heaven and earth.

In the chaotic gray space, the remaining demon army, like stray dogs, swarmed around the demon ancestor who had never appeared, and hastily retreated back to the rift in the Star Sea Demon Realm.

The Golden-Patterned Demon Ancestor's venomous roar could be heard even from a great distance.

"Finally... they withdrew."

Elder Li let out a long sigh, his voice filled with undisguised exhaustion.

During the battle with the demons, the white hair at his temples was already stained with blood.

The tattered Taoist robe revealed gruesome wounds, clearly indicating that a considerable price had been paid.

Gu Xuan stared at the gradually healing hole in the water mirror, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the sword at his waist.

He could clearly feel it at that moment.

The nauseatingly dense demonic energy in the air was slowly dissipating, replaced by a faint but tenacious life force.

Looking down, tiny green shoots were now emerging from the cracks in the rocks on the earth that had been scorched and cracked by the demonic flames.

These tender shoots, topped with scorched earth, stubbornly unfurled their leaves amidst the lingering smell of blood and demonic energy, as if proclaiming the revival of life.

In the distance, beneath several dried-up riverbeds, the faint sound of flowing water could be heard—water that had been re-gathered under the nourishment of the primordial power of heaven and earth.

The sky was once shrouded in the miasma of the demon race.

As the clouds gradually dispersed, a ray of golden sunlight pierced through them, casting a warm glow upon the ravaged plain, bathing this land that had just survived the catastrophe. "A survivor..."

Just as Gu Xuan was sighing, the Vitality Sword Immortal flew to Gu Xuan's side, looked at the vibrant scene in front of him, and sighed.

He raised his hand to wipe the bloodstains from his face, his eyes holding an indescribable look.

"I never thought we could actually hold out until this moment. Seeing the Demon Ancestor's imposing presence before, I thought the Flying Heaven Sect was going to be destroyed here today."

Gu Xuan nodded slowly, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He recalled the fiercest moment of the battle, when demonic flames raged, space shattered, and countless fellow cultivators fought to protect the array's defensive line.

They charged headlong into the demon army, eventually turning into wisps of dissipating Dao souls.

Those young faces and determined eyes were now clearly visible in his mind, making his heart heavy.

"The reason why the demons were defeated this time was the result of all the cultivators fighting to the death."

"The peace on this land was bought with the lives of countless people."

Just then, several figures rushed towards Gu Xuan and the others. The one in the lead was the steward of the Flying Heaven Sect who was in charge of counting the casualties.

His clothes were stained with blood, his face was pale, and his expression was full of grief. When he ran to Gu Xuan, he knelt down with a thud and reported in a trembling voice.

"Sect Master! Elders! Your subordinate... Your subordinate has completed the count. The Flying Sky Sect suffered heavy casualties in this battle!"

Gu Xuan's heart sank, and he quickly helped him up.

"Tell me slowly, what are the specifics?"

The deacon took a deep breath and, forcing back his grief, spoke.

"Our sect sent a total of 1,320 cultivators to participate in the battle. After counting, a total of 287 cultivators died in battle, 139 were seriously injured and on the verge of death, and 572 were slightly injured... leaving less than 200 cultivators unharmed."

"what?"

Gu Xuan exclaimed in surprise, his face instantly replaced by shock and grief with relief.

"Nearly three hundred dead? How many cultivators above the Purple Mansion True Person level were lost?"

For a sect, cultivators at the Purple Mansion True Person realm and above are the true middle force.

As long as these pillars of the sect remain alive, the sect's foundation will endure.

"Twenty-eight cultivators at the Purple Mansion True Person realm or above perished in the battle, including three elders..."

The deacon's voice lowered even further, tears welling in his eyes.

"Elder Zhao and Elder Sun detonated their Dao Foundations to cover their fellow disciples' retreat, perishing together with the demons; Elder Wang, while guarding the core of the formation, had his body torn apart by the phantom of a demonic wolf..."

As one familiar name after another was uttered by the steward, Gu Xuan and the elders' expressions grew increasingly solemn.

Elder Zhao was calm and kind, and he usually taught his disciples with great care.

Elder Sun is of a fierce temperament and is brave and fearless in battle; Elder Wang is proficient in formations and deserves much credit for holding the outer defense line this time.

Now, these comrades who have fought side by side for many years are forever left on this battlefield.

Gu Xuan closed his eyes, let out a long sigh, and two lines of clear tears slid down his cheeks.

They were all pillars of my Flying Heaven Sect... and they're gone just like that.

"We will remember this blood debt."

Gu Xuan's voice was icy and chilling.

"The demons have retreated today. If we have the chance in the future, we will surely take back everything!"

"Pass down the order to do everything in our power to treat the wounded cultivators and mortals, and to properly bury our fallen comrades. The families of the fallen cultivators will receive triple the compensation from the sect and be properly settled. In addition, strengthen the defenses to prevent a counterattack from the remnants of the demon race."

"Yes! I obey my orders!"

The deacon respectfully responded, rose, wiped away his tears, and hurriedly left.

High above, after the hole between heaven and earth completely closed, the remaining turbulent energy flow gradually subsided.

The Azure Lotus Sword Immortal swayed, his originally straight back slightly hunched, and the azure aura surrounding him that had transcended the Tribulation Realm completely dissipated, revealing a Daoist robe covered in bloodstains underneath.

He raised his hand and took out a pure white pill from his storage ring. The surface of the pill shimmered with a faint glow, and then swallowed the pill.

Soon, the medicinal power of the pill transformed into a warm energy that slid down the throat into the dantian.

A trace of color finally returned to the pale face of the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal.

He sat cross-legged in mid-air, his eyes closed, his hands forming a mudra. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth around him gathered like a tide, forming a huge vortex of spiritual energy in front of him.

The Nine Heavens Ancestor, holding a golden short staff, stood quietly beside the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal, his gaze warily sweeping across the surroundings.

Although the Dao power around him was still chaotic, it had now spread out completely, forming an invisible barrier that protected the Azure Lotus Sword Immortal and prevented any potential danger from approaching.

"Fellow Daoist Qinglian, rest assured and heal your wounds. With me here to protect you, I will not allow anyone to disturb you."

Just then, a faint purple halo appeared around Ren Taxian, who was not far away, and his figure standing in the sky began to become illusory.

The once solid imperial phantom gradually became transparent, like smoke blown away by the wind, and the oppressive aura emanating from it also gradually weakened.

"Is this... a phantom?"

Xuan Shui Dao Ren's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

"The power that Senior Ren Taxian displayed when he killed the Silver-Armored Demon Ancestor was so terrifying, yet it was just an illusion?"

Master Yanhuo was also shocked and murmured.

"If a mere phantom possesses such power, just how strong must Senior Ren Taxian's true form be?"

Ren Taxian seemed to sense everyone's gaze, and her illusory figure turned towards them.

"My true self is tied up with other important matters and was unable to come here in person. This time, I have done my best."

"During Fellow Daoist Qinglian's healing process, the Star Sea Realm will need to put in a lot of effort."

After uttering those words, his figure completely transformed into specks of purple light and vanished into the air, leaving only a faint trace of imperial aura.
Ye Yang stared in the direction where the illusory figure of Ren Taxian had disappeared, his heart filled with shock.

However, having heard of this legendary emperor's reputation since childhood, his behavior today was somewhat within his expectations. (End of Chapter)