Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 500 Who says sailing the sea is fraught with danger? Let's see the sword's wings shine brightly at the crest of the tide! (Seeking donations and subscriptions!)

The two sides had some acquaintance, but although exploring secret realms was common for cultivators, deaths and injuries were not uncommon. There were also many intrigues and conflicts of interest involved. Therefore, Lu Cheng did not immediately agree to Jin Shande's request to explore the Sea Abyss Maze, but only said that he would consider it.

With a warm smile on his round face, Jin Shande took his leave without a care in the world, his slightly plump figure quickly blending into the flowing glow of the sunset and the crowds of people in the market.

The conditions he offered were indeed quite generous: the status of a guest elder, the opportunity to advance in the Sea Abyss Maze, and the clues to the innate golden essence, which were extremely rare even among high-level cultivators. These were all promises that would tempt ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators.

However, Lu Cheng's resolve to remain calm was even stronger.

After Jinshan De's aura completely disappeared from his divine sense, the Taoist did not turn around immediately, but instead seemed to be admiring the scenery of the mountains and forests.

A casual flick of the fingertips left behind subtle, almost imperceptible fluctuations of magical power.

Lu Cheng's indifferent voice suddenly rang out, not loud, but exceptionally clear, reaching behind a lush, verdant fairy flower adorned with glistening dewdrops:

"Fairy Yuqiong, since you have been watching for so long, why not show yourself?" The tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable will.

After a brief silence, the space around the celestial flower rippled gently like water, and a female cultivator dressed in a light-colored gauze robe with wide sleeves stepped out.

She was slender and graceful, with a beautiful face and a pure and ethereal aura emanating from her. She was none other than the Jade Fairy of the Flower Clan, who had previously presented the "Moon Soul Fragrance Balm" to Lu City as an envoy of the Flower Clan.

At this moment, she wore a slightly embarrassed expression, as if her true intentions had been exposed, and gave Lu Cheng a graceful curtsy:
"Lord Lu's spiritual perception is unparalleled; it was Yuqiong's rudeness. It was absolutely not my intention to spy, but did the owner of Wanbao Trading Company invite you to search for the Sea Abyss Maze?"

Lu Cheng's gaze narrowed slightly, not expecting that she would also be interested in this matter.

He remained calm and said, "Since you are paying attention to this, could there be another reason behind it?"

Upon hearing this, Fairy Yuqiong took a deep breath, paused slightly, and seemed to be thinking to herself: "If it really is for this matter, my Flower Clan happens to have some clues that may help the Divine Lord avoid danger and seek good fortune in this maze."

Every time the Abyss Maze opens, it attracts many cultivators vying for opportunities. While a few may succeed, many more perish in the deep sea.

'This Flower Clan has been entrenched on Aurora Island for a long time. Wanbao Trading Company can find many clues there; they might be able to as well.'

"Oh? I'd like to hear the details," Lu Cheng replied.

Fairy Yuqiong remained silent, only bowing slightly and gesturing for them to proceed.
"This matter involves many secrets that cannot be fully explained in a few words. It also concerns a fellow Daoist of my clan who has a very deep connection with the Mysterious Land. If you trust Yuqiong, please come with me to the Flower Clan's 'Blessed Land of a Hundred Flowers.' The clan leader has recently emerged from seclusion. If you come in person, it would be more prudent to discuss this in detail."

Lu Cheng pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Very well, then I'll trouble you to lead the way, Fairy."

The Flower Clan has a good reputation on Aurora Island. Most of them are upright and have few bad deeds. He originally intended to buy members of the Flower Clan who were skilled in cultivating spiritual plants to enrich the variety of spiritual plants in the Nine Li Cauldron.

Two streaks of light flew one after the other through the air, and half an hour later...

The Flower Clan's Blessed Land of a Hundred Flowers is located in the southwest corner of Aurora Island, in a secluded and wondrous island landscape nourished by the rich essence of Yi Wood.

The moment you step inside, you are greeted by an intensely rich fragrance of grass and trees and a powerful sense of vitality.

Under the glow of the sunset, ancient trees reach for the sky, and exotic flowers and rare herbs abound, some absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, others radiating a mesmerizing and illusory glow.

Flower creatures flitted among them like colorful butterflies, each with its own unique form; some even transformed into human shapes, dancing gracefully in colorful clothes.

Some retain their original spiritual plant form, with their branches and leaves outstretched, emitting a soft, gentle glow.

The entire blessed land is filled with spiritual energy, with flowing springs and waterfalls, exuding an ethereal atmosphere, like a secluded paradise.

In a magnificent palace naturally woven from thousands of celestial vines and spiritual flowers, Lu Cheng met the current patriarch of the Flower Clan: Peony Fairy, a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator with unparalleled beauty that could topple kingdoms.

She sat regally on a huge, pure white flower throne, dressed in a bright red and gold brocade palace gown embroidered with peonies. Her face was dignified and noble, her temperament dignified and imposing. She seemed to be the embodiment of the essence of a hundred flowers, outshining all others, yet possessing a deep and majestic majesty.

Before the two arrived, a talisman had already sent a message. Seeing Lord Lu Cheng enter the main hall led by Fairy Yu Qiong, Fairy Peony gracefully rose, her face blooming with a smile that could make all flowers pale in comparison:

"The arrival of the divine lord brings glory to this blessed land of a hundred flowers. In recent years, the reputation of the 'Four Seas Treasures Pavilion' on Aurora Island has been widely known. Please, have a seat."

Flower Clan cultivators at the lower levels are not good at fighting, but after cultivating to the Nascent Soul stage, they possess strange and extraordinary supernatural abilities, but they still dislike fighting by nature.

Because of their clansmen, the Flower Clan also suffered a lot of bullying on Aurora Island.

In the two hundred years of interaction, Lu Cheng happened to encounter the Flower Clan once or twice and spoke up to help them out of a predicament. In his view, it was nothing more than disapproval and a small favor, but the Flower Clan treated him as an honored guest because of it, and the Peony Fairy was even more willing to get close to him.

She possesses a special supernatural power similar to the Buddhist concept of telepathy, enabling her to sense that the Lu City Divine Lord had helped the Flower Clan out of trouble several times before. This was indeed simply due to his nature, but it also made it all the more precious.

The exquisite nectar was served, its fragrance refreshing and delightful. After some pleasantries, the conversation settled into the main topic.

"What Yuqiong spoke of concerns a bloodline of an old friend of my Flower Clan, and she is also a key figure in unraveling the mystery of the Sea Abyss. That bloodline of my old friend is already here, and I will summon her here now." After speaking, the Peony Fairy gently beckoned with her fair hand, and a soft ray of light entered from outside the hall.

A moment later, the light faded, revealing a figure.

She was a woman dressed in a simple blue robe, about twenty years old. Her appearance was not stunningly beautiful, but she was pretty and gentle.

Her eyes were clear, and she possessed a dignified and unyielding air. She walked with a scholarly air, but deep within her brows lay a lingering weariness and resilience.

The woman's cultivation level was around the peak of the late Nascent Soul stage, but her magical power appeared quite weak in this place.

The female cultivator bowed to Peony Fairy, Jade Fairy, and Lu Cheng in turn, her voice clear and melodious: "Junior Yu Yi greets the clan leader, Senior Jade Fairy, and Lord Lu."

The Peony Fairy's voice was gentle, and she got straight to the point:
"Yu Yi, this is Lu Cheng, the Divine Lord of the Four Seas Treasures Pavilion, a powerful figure with profound cultivation. Recently, the stars have been orbiting and the maze has been appearing and disappearing. If your Yu family wishes to prosper again by taking advantage of the maze in the sea abyss, then tell the Divine Lord everything you know."

The Peony Fairy glanced at Lu Cheng and explained:
"The ancestors of the Yu family were only at the Nascent Soul stage back then, but they ventured into the Sea Abyss Maze several times and escaped unscathed, even gaining some benefits. It was through this that the Yu family lineage prospered for thousands of years!"

However, several thousand years is too long for the human race. The Yu family also went from prosperity to decline. I had some connections with her ancestors, and this child wanted to revive the Yu family, so she came to me for help. But my Flower Clan doesn't like exploring and adventuring, so I acted as the middleman.

Lu Cheng nodded upon hearing this, his gaze falling on Yu Yi. The invisible pressure made her breath catch in her throat, but she still straightened her back.

Yu Yi took a deep breath, met the Taoist's all-seeing gaze, and slowly began to speak:
"Lord Lu, I dare not conceal anything. My ancestors are from the lineage of Yu Cangbai, the 'True Elder of the Sea Abyss'. The Yu family was once very powerful in the Earth Immortal Realm and on the edge of this Aurora Island. If you are willing to take me to the secret realm, I will surely gain something and will not disappoint you."

"Oh, if the Yu family really had such abilities, how could they have fallen to such a state?" Lu Cheng felt that Yu Yi's words were a bit too grandiose.

There will definitely be some gains, and it will not disappoint a Nascent Soul cultivator.

This is not something a Nascent Soul cultivator should dare to say. Either she has something to rely on, or she is just boasting.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yi's expression revealed a hint of bitterness and reminiscence. After a moment of organizing her thoughts, she said:

"I dare not deceive my seniors. Our ancestor, True Monarch Yu Cangbai, relied on the family's cultivation techniques and sea charts to explore the Sea Abyss Maze three times! He gained much on the first two expeditions, bringing back many rare treasures and incomplete ancient alchemical formulas and Daoist books, which enabled our Yu family to become a powerful clan in just three thousand years. As a result, we received strong support from the predecessor of Wanbao Trading Company, 'Wantong Pavilion'. However... our ancestor went deep into the sea for the third time, but never returned, along with several family elites, all of whom perished in the process."

Her voice lowered: "Since then, most of the core family heritage has been lost. After Wantong Pavilion was transformed into Wanbao Trading Company, it cut off all support for my Yu family. The remaining elders in the family explored the Haiyuan Ruins several times in an attempt to continue the family's fortune, but most of them ended up with serious injuries and death."

The Yu family rose to prominence by taking risks, and thus their rise was swift, and their fall was equally sudden.

This is actually one of the two major systems in the cultivation world: inland cultivators and overseas cultivators.

Inland cultivators engage in various cultivation arts such as alchemy, weapon crafting, talisman making, and array formation. Of course, the most numerous are spirit plant cultivators, who have toiled for generations, exhausting the family's resources to elevate their most talented child to a position of strength, whether the family prospers or fails, though failure is more common.

However, the inland areas are relatively stable. As long as the overall environment does not change drastically, the family will gradually accumulate wealth and become stronger, but its ability to withstand risks is extremely weak.

Overseas cultivators also engage in various arts of cultivation, but the largest group consists of those who venture into the sea, as the ocean contains far more spiritual objects, spiritual veins, and dangers than the inland areas.

Some lucky overseas cultivators can find mountains of high-level demon beast remains on a single voyage, using this as a step to ascend to the heavens.

There are also cultivators whose fate is not good. Even though their magical power is not weak and they are at the Foundation Establishment, Purple Mansion or even higher realms, they die inexplicably overseas after a single voyage, and their remains are never found.

The Yu family was a typical example of cultivators who followed the seas, sometimes poor and sometimes rich, but when their luck ran out, their family fortunes declined.

Neither of these two methods of seeking the Dao is inherently superior. Overseas cultivators are often wealthier than those inland, but they frequently suffer bloodline decline due to excessive danger, and are replaced by inland cultivators who migrate overseas. Thus, the cycle repeats itself.

The Yu family lineage has declined to the point that only this female cultivator, Yu Yi, still has some potential.

However, exploring the maze of the abyss was still beyond the capabilities of a Nascent Soul cultivator like her, so she sought help from the Peony Fairy of the Flower Clan, who had a long-standing relationship with her ancestors.

The Peony Fairy preferred quiet to activity, so she entrusted the matter to Lord Lu Cheng.

Because she knew in her heart that, compared to others, the person the Yu family needed to rely on most right now was a kind and virtuous cultivator who was honest and kind, would not be easily tempted by money, and whose eyes showed a fierce glint.

Compared to this, other aspects such as magical power and background can be temporarily set aside.

“I know that words alone are not enough to convince you, senior. Therefore, I am willing to open my heart and let you set up restrictions and explore the mystery of the abyss. After that, you can choose all the spiritual items you obtain. I only need 30% of the value of the spiritual items you obtain.”

Although Yu Yi was a woman, she possessed a decisive and ruthless nature. She was even capable of being cruel to herself.

'If that's the case, it seems worth a try. Although Wanbao Trading Company is wealthy and powerful, I would only be a guest advisor there. If I go with Yu Yi, she's willing to let me set up restrictions, and I can completely control the situation.'

Finally, Lu Cheng nodded slightly, and with a flick of his finger, a subtle stream of light, blending five colors, condensed with indescribable profound Daoist charm, silently entered Yu Yi's brow.

Yu Yi's body trembled slightly as she felt a gentle yet powerful warm current flow through her entire body, eventually converging around her nascent soul deep within her sea of ​​consciousness. It transformed into a miniature halo of intertwined five colors, slowly rotating. Far from feeling uncomfortable, she felt her mind become clearer, and her nascent soul seemed to be gently covered by an invisible protective force.

Lu Cheng could clearly sense the existence of this magical power, which was closely connected to Yu Yi's aura yet did not interfere with each other.

At this point, the agreement between the two parties was finalized.

“Good.” Lu Cheng’s tone became more serious. Although he considered himself to be free from moral constraints, he was still willing to put in some effort for things he had promised.

With that decision in mind, it was time to settle another matter that had been lingering for days.

Lu Cheng turned to the Peony Fairy and got straight to the point:

"Besides the matter of hide-and-seek, I have another request to make of the Flower Clan. I recently acquired a treasure of a grotto-heaven, which is vast and full of spiritual energy. It is necessary to recruit many talented people and cultivate spiritual roots. I have long heard that the creatures of the Flower Clan are naturally close to plants and trees, are skilled in the art of cultivation and harmony, and even have the talent to communicate with the spirits of plants and trees."

"I wonder if there are any members of your noble family who are willing to join me in the New Realm, to establish a medicinal garden, cultivate celestial treasures, and even comprehend the mysteries of plants within the Dao Palace? I am willing to sign a celestial contract and offer ten times the market price as a generous reward!"

These words caused a slight shift in the atmosphere within the hall. Even among the relatively enlightened Flower Clan, the act of buying and selling clan members was a sensitive matter.

However, Lu Cheng spoke earnestly, offered an astonishing price, and more importantly, he had previously demonstrated magical power and temperament, and had done a favor for the Flower Clan.

Upon hearing this, the Peony Fairy did not immediately refuse, but a solemn expression appeared on her beautiful face:

"What the Divine Lord seeks concerns the path and lives of our people. Although our Flower Clan are spirits of plants and trees, we are inspired by the creation of Heaven and Earth, and we regard our fellow clansmen as brothers and friends. There is absolutely no possibility of us selling ourselves into servitude!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Cheng almost thought that the matter was impossible.

However, the Peony Fairy's tone was solemn at first, but seeing that Lu Cheng's expression did not change, she slowly said, "However... if both parties are willing, it is not impossible to form a spiritual contract and accompany the Divine Lord to other places to cultivate as an elder or guest Daoist, to manage medicinal plants and comprehend the Great Dao together."

Then, with a light tap of her delicate hand, a beam of light projected into the air, revealing a scene of a refreshing valley in a blessed land.

The valley is filled with blooming trees and flowing streams, its spiritual energy pure and pristine: "This valley is our clan's 'Valley of Spiritual Wisdom.' It is inhabited mostly by young clansmen who are exceptionally intelligent, lively, and eager for greater experiences. You, Divine Lord, may enter the valley for a visit. If you gain the favor of any of them, and both parties agree on the terms, establish a spiritual pact, address each other as fellow Daoists, and work together on our Daoist endeavors, our clan will certainly offer our full support."

These conditions were far better than he had expected. Lu Cheng readily agreed: "Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Clan Chief. Such an arrangement truly reflects the spirit of camaraderie."

Accompanied by Fairy Yuqiong, Lu Cheng then entered Linghui Valley.

The place is full of life, with butterflies fluttering about. Many flower-born young men and women either chase and play among the flowers or sit quietly and breathe in the air under the trees.

Upon noticing the arrival of Lu Cheng, a powerful cultivator whose aura was both unfamiliar and unfathomable, many young men and women were filled with curiosity and eagerness.

Lu Cheng scanned them with his divine sense, not forcibly probing their origins, but silently sensing their spiritual attributes and innate characteristics.

Then Lu Cheng laid out the future of the Dao Palace, its resource supply, its development direction, and even his vision for the Great Dao of Grass and Trees in a frank and open manner.

This is a large-scale recruitment drive. The inner world of the Nine Li Cauldron is boundless and has no realm restrictions, and Lu City can guarantee safety.

In fact, it is more stable and conducive to spiritual cultivation than living on this Aurora Island.

Once inside the Nine Li Cauldron, one can never escape unless one gains Lu Cheng's great approval, so it can be considered a trade-off.

After some discussion, it was found that about two hundred Flower Clan cultivators in Linghui Valley shared similar ideas with Lu Cheng, especially two of them:
One is a female cultivator specializing in "Healing Dew," whose mind is as clear as morning dew; the other is a young man specializing in "Insightful Eyes," who can discern the essence of all things and is extremely interested in cultivating exotic spiritual plants.

Both yearned for a higher and more distant path, and were willing to go to the Dao Palace to cultivate a medicinal garden, establish a spiritual contract, and treat each other with the courtesy due to fellow Daoists.

Lu Cheng was also generous, taking out a seventh-grade Yi Wood Essence Crystal and a Moon Essence Core as a betrothal gift, and also bestowing two secret manuals on the cultivation of herbs and trees from the Earth Immortal Realm as gifts for the Flower Clan to share.

The two sides immediately signed a spiritual contract and exchanged benefits. Such generosity and sincerity moved even the Peony Fairy, who personally saw off the two hundred members of her clan and urged them to stay true to their original intentions and bring glory to the Flower Clan.

Two hundred young flower clan members, along with the Lingzhi female cultivator and the wisteria boy, transformed into crystalline spiritual light, carrying fresh and vibrant floral and tree spiritual energy. Lu Cheng carefully guided them into the vast world within the Nine Li Cauldron using the "Sleeve Universe" technique.

The primordial energy within the cauldron was activated by Lu Cheng's thoughts, creating a fertile land deep within, imbued with the power of creation, to welcome these new "gardeners." Furthermore, a ring of Five Elements Gu worms secretly protected them from the outside, ensuring their safety.

……

Time flies, and several months have passed in the blink of an eye.

The Aurora Island in the Outer Heavens, a mysterious space suspended in the rift between heaven and earth, brimming with spiritual energy yet possessing its own unique order, has recently become a gathering place for cultivators.

After all, the Taixu Meteorite Star's orbit is cyclical, and recently there have been strange lights shooting into the sky. Such celestial phenomena are noticed by Wanbao Merchants, the Flower Clan, and other forces as well.

The invisible laws of heaven and earth are quietly fluctuating, foreshadowing the opening of a once-in-a-millennium opportunity—the portal to the Sea Abyss Maze is resonating with the spacetime rift in the distant Earth Immortal Realm, slowly opening!

On this day, the magnificent aurora borealis suddenly churned violently like a boiling hot spring, and countless fine, silvery-white cracks containing spatial power tore open out of thin air, spreading like a spider web towards a specific area of ​​the sea deep within the island.

The chaotic void currents were smoothed out by powerful laws. Two completely different, yet equally vast and profound, spacetime energies converged and collided here, eventually forming a stable, deep, star-core-like vortex in the sea, which continued to expand.

"The maze has begun!"

"Hurry inside, lest those barbarians from the Earthly Immortal Realm seize the opportunity first!"

"Treasures from the abyss should belong to the cultivators of Aurora Island!"

The cultivators of all races on the Aurora Island had already taken action upon hearing the news.

Whether it was the powerful alien races that had occupied this place for many years, or the giants and disciples of various sects who had hurriedly crossed the space-time rift from the Earth Immortal Realm, they all transformed into streaks of light and rushed toward the entrance to the deep and unfathomable abyss.

The spiritual energy roared like a hurricane, the magical artifacts shone with dazzling light, and the fluctuations of magic spells rose and fell.

The entrance to the Abyss Maze opened on the Aurora Island, and the local cultivators were naturally unwilling to share the opportunity with outsiders.

However, for cultivators in the Earthly Immortal Realm, your entire secret realm exists in dependence on the main realm. With rare and precious materials right before their eyes, it is natural for the virtuous to reside there.

The powerful aura of a Void Returning Venerable was hidden in the shadows, like a pillar stabilizing the sea, maintaining the most basic order at the entrance. But once you went deep into that vortex, it became a hunting ground where life and death were your own responsibility and everyone had to compete based on their own abilities!

Lu Cheng, amidst the surging torrent, showed no sign of impatience. His Taoist robe fluttered lightly, and a faint layer of Five Elements spiritual energy flowed around him, subtly pushing aside the chaotic energy currents around him several feet.

Beside him stood Yu Yi, the last surviving member of the Yu family. She wore an elegant blue dress, her delicate brows furrowed. In her hand she clutched a peculiar talisman, neither gold nor jade, shaped like a broken seashell. Faint, eerie blue specks flickered on the talisman, subtly echoing the aura emanating from the entrance to the abyss.

It must be a legacy from our ancestors, meant to protect future generations.

"go!"

Lu Cheng gave a low shout, his robe sleeves fluttered, and Yu Yi remained motionless, yet his entire being seemed to merge into an invisible spatial ripple, instantly appearing at the edge of the vortex's entrance.

Unlike most cultivators who would force their way in, he activated the triple protective aura of his body, treasure, and technique.

He simply extended a finger, and a spark of light from the fingertip entered the void like a catalyst.

The next moment, Lu Cheng, carrying Yu Yi, stepped into the vortex as if strolling leisurely, their figures disappearing into the deep darkness, leaving only ripples in the space.

Such effortless and skillful use of spatial laws immediately attracted the attention of several powerful old monsters at the entrance, whose eyes flashed with a hint of admiration and apprehension.

"Using force naturally and effortlessly, without the slightest hint of brilliance, whose scion is so outstanding?"

"I don't know..."

"I don't recognize it."

Within the abyss lies a different world.

The moment you step into the whirlpool, instead of the expected icy seawater, you find a vast, desolate, yet distorted space brimming with extremely pure water elemental energy.

Looking out, there is an endless background of deep blue and ink.

Beneath our feet was a constantly surging yet silent "undercurrent".

It was a tangible, extremely dense mixture of primordial magnetic yin energy and water essence, radiating a terrifying chill that eroded life force and froze the soul.

Countless enormous, jagged, and bizarrely shaped "reefs" floated in the void. These reefs were dark in color and covered with strange patterns, resembling the solidified bones or inner core remnants of some kind of giant beast after its death, releasing a chilling and ferocious aura.

This place is fraught with danger at every turn!
"puff!"

"what--!"

"Help…"

Within moments of entering, screams filled the air. Some cultivators who relied on superior protective magic treasures or extraordinary escape techniques, attempting to rush in directly, paid a heavy price the moment they entered this space filled with malevolent energy and water.

The protective magic treasure suddenly dimmed, instantly frozen and shattered by the Yuan Magnetic Yin Sha, and the cultivator didn't even have time to escape with his nascent soul.
Those who couldn't dodge in time were swept by the silent "Yin Wind Water Fiend Blade," and were silently cut in half along with their escape light. The blood mist was instantly frozen into ice crystal red mist, and then quickly swallowed up by the dark current.

Even worse, some might accidentally collide with those suspended "reefs," unleashing the malevolent energy that had been accumulating within them for countless millennia, instantly transforming them into a twisted, rotting mass of flesh and blood...

Bones float and sink, ice crystals are stained red.

The foreground of this abyss, known as "Maze of the Underworld," instantly transformed into a hellish arena, using the most brutal methods to select the strongest individuals qualified to explore it in depth.

What is a celestial abode/secret realm?
It was a detached residence of an immortal from the upper realm that fell to the lower realm due to some special circumstances. Surrounded by the vast immortal power, and after millions of years of changes, even if there were no ruthless restrictions originally set up, using the original immortal power as nourishment, who knows how many terrifying evil spirits it would have bred!

Spiritual energy flows smoothly, but if it stagnates and becomes blocked in one place, even if it was originally spiritual energy, it will turn into malevolent energy or poison.

While most cultivators were still struggling to resist the Yuan Magnetic Yin Sha and dodge spatial traps, several powerful and domineering streaks of light with distinct auras shot out like arrows, surpassing these ordinary cultivators, ignoring numerous dangers, and heading straight for the depths of the sea abyss.

Soul banners blot out the sun, shadows abound—the Netherworld Blood Sea Sect, the Three Black Fiends!
Three gaunt figures shrouded in black cloaks appeared silently in a relatively empty, deep blue current.

The number of cultivators on Aurora Island and in the Immortal Realm who enter here is far less than outside, but their magical power and magical treasures are undoubtedly much stronger.

The leader of the Three Black Demons held a tattered, yet terrifyingly white skull banner that emanated an overwhelming aura of resentment and malevolence. The banner was not made of cloth, but rather woven from countless twisted and struggling vengeful spirits, constantly emitting invisible yet tangible shrieks.

The two people beside him each held a Soul Token of Nether Iron shrouded in black mist.

"It's the Three Black Demons! Everyone, let's join forces and fight them! Otherwise, none of us will survive..."

One of the cultivators present recognized the three individuals' backgrounds, his expression changed, and he let out a sharp cry, saying this.

The old man leading the group of three had a flash of ghostly fire in his cloudy eyes. He chanted a mysterious incantation and suddenly shook the skull banner in his hand!
"Ugh——!"

In an instant, countless mournful ghostly howls seemed to break through the barriers of space, piercing the souls of all living beings present!

Within a radius of several hundred feet, whether it was the swimming water spirit dragon fish, the invisible water demons lurking in the shadows, or the cultivators of various races, all their movements froze, their souls were instantly frozen, and they were torn apart by ten thousand ghosts.

The two elders behind him simultaneously formed hand seals, causing the Nether Iron Soul Tablet to blaze with black light, transforming into two swirling black holes. The invisible water demons, which had been suppressed by the bone banner, were forcibly extracted from space and compressed into black ice beads the size of fingernails, within which countless resentful demons struggled.

Immediately afterward, the black water ice beads scattered in all directions, and then exploded violently. The cold and evil power contained within was several times more terrifying than the natural magnetic evil energy!
"Ah ah ah ah..."

The screams and roars of the cultivators quickly subsided. Because apart from the three old demons, there were no other survivors present.

"Hehehe, what pure Xuanming Yin Sha Qi! Condensed into a pearl, its power is truly formidable!" The withered old man at the head of the group spoke in a hoarse voice, like a broken gong:

"The opportunity here is meant to help my two brothers and me reforge the Nine Fiends Skull Banner and step into the Gate of Returning to Emptiness! Those who stand in our way will become nourishment for our banner! Let's go!"

The black mist surged, and the three of them, like three shadowy figures blending into the darkness, stirred up a gust of cold wind and sped deeper into the darkness without slowing down. Wherever they passed, living beings gave way, and even the space itself seemed to be shrouded in a chilling, ghostly aura.

These three are demons from the Netherworld Blood Sea Sect of the Earthly Immortal Realm, known as the "Three Black Fiends." They are skilled in controlling and transforming various kinds of yin and evil energy, having mastered the "Hundred Ghosts Devouring Yin Technique" and the "Soul Refining and Netherworld Connecting Great Method." They are quite adept at this place.

Almost the instant the Black Fiend Three Elders vanished, a blinding golden light tore through the deep blue like the dawn breaking.

Three cultivators dressed in flowing cloud-patterned robes arrived on swords. The leader was a cold-faced youth carrying a sword box on his back, surrounded by four incomparably sharp illusory sword wings formed purely from Gengjin sword energy!
Each flap of the sword wings cut through the viscous magnetic undercurrents and the yin wind and water evil, producing a sharp whistling sound like tearing silk.

Behind him were two people, one of whom held a diamond-shaped mirror in his palm. Wherever the mirror light shone, the distorted spatial traps and the invisible dark currents of Yin energy were clearly visible, guiding him through the path.

The other person made hand seals and chanted incantations. Wherever he went, the thick, cold, and yin-type water elemental energy seemed to be attracted by an invisible force, actively gathering and collapsing in front of him to form a temporary channel with minimal resistance!

"This place is filthy and should be cleansed by the sword techniques of my Great Bright Palace!" The youth with sword wings on his back cast a cold snort as his gaze swept over the churning black shadows in the distance.
"Jin Ming, Jin Xuan, activate the 'Mirror of Fixed Light and Exorcised Evil' and the 'Sea-Swallowing and Water-Drawing Technique' and speed them up! Don't let those demonic cultivators defile the immortal treasure! The ancient 'Sea Marrow Ice Lotus' and 'Heavenly One True Water Pearl' must not be allowed to fall into the wrong hands!"

"Yes, Senior Brother Jin Hong!" The two behind him responded in unison.

The precious mirror shone brightly, illuminating the extremely hidden spatial rift trap in front of them with perfect clarity; the Water-Drawing Technique was unleashed at full power, and the enormous suction force even created a brief vacuum passage in front of the three of them.

The three transformed into a golden meteor that cleaved through the wind and waves, moving so fast that they were closing in on the three Black Demon Elders ahead!
The Great Bright Palace, one of the top Taoist sects in the Earth Immortal Realm, is renowned for its Gengjin Sword Dao and Zhuyuan Secret Techniques. These three people with golden rainbows are clearly elite sword guards of the sect, with orthodox methods and powerful sword energy.

(End of this chapter)