Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

Elder Wudao's command resounded throughout the main peak, its echo lingering and striking all the disciples present with a jolt of awareness, leaving them with no distracting thoughts.

The inner disciples accepted the order one after another, their spiritual energy surging as they returned to their positions to await further instructions. The originally solemn atmosphere in front of the council hall instantly became filled with a tense and war-prepared atmosphere.

The Grand Elder Wudao's gaze shifted, landing directly on Lin Yan. His eyes held a mixture of approval and entrustment as he spoke in a deep voice: "Lin Yan, you have successfully established your foundation, possess a calm and composed nature, and are well-versed in Hailan's methods. I hereby appoint you as the leader, to lead Yunxi and the other inner disciples to immediately proceed to Spirit Immortal Valley in Ink Mountain to investigate the whereabouts of the demons, treat the surviving disciples, and protect the remaining foundation of Spirit Valley!"

"Your disciple obeys!"

Lin Yan bowed and accepted the order, his tone firm and resolute, without the slightest hesitation. Having gone through seclusion to build his foundation and achieve initial success in alchemy, he was no longer the disciple who needed to endure. Now, bearing the sect's mission, he had to protect his companions and completely settle this old grudge.

Yunxi and the others stepped forward together, standing shoulder to shoulder with Lin Yan, and replied in unison, "We are willing to go!"

They stood tall and straight, with firm eyes, and had long since developed a perfect working relationship after weathering numerous storms.

"Be extremely cautious on this journey. The evil spirits are ruthless, and the old thief Hailan is well-versed in the defenses of Laoshan. Do not underestimate them," Elder Wudao warned, casually waving out five beams of spiritual light. "I bestow upon you communication jade talismans. In case of danger, crush them immediately, and reinforcements from the main peak will arrive in an instant."

Lin Yan accepted the jade talisman, distributed it to everyone, bowed again, then turned around and led his team into the air, speeding towards the Spirit Immortal Valley of Ink Mountain.

Figures streaked across the sky, riding the snow and wind at incredible speeds.

Along the way, the surrounding mountains and forests became increasingly quiet. The forests, where spirit beasts used to occasionally appear, were now devoid of life. A faint, fishy, ​​demonic aura gradually permeated the air. The closer they got to Mount Mo, the stronger the demonic aura became, mixed with a faint trace of malevolence, which was the lingering aura of Hailan.

"The Spirit Immortal Valley of Ink Mountain is just ahead, everyone be careful." Lin Yan lowered his voice, signaling everyone to slow down, conceal their spiritual energy, land quietly, and stealthily move forward.

Everyone held their breath and followed closely behind Lin Yan, passing through the dense forest. Before long, the devastated Lingxian Valley came into view.

The protective barrier at the valley entrance was already broken and incomplete. The ground was littered with shattered pieces of the barrier jade and fragments of blood-stained Daoist robes. The once thriving wintering spiritual herbs were trampled to a pulp, and the spiritual soil was churning, creating a scene of utter desolation.

Several surviving outer disciples huddled in a corner of the valley, covered in wounds and trembling. The valley still bore the claw marks of evil spirits and lingered with dark demonic energy, the air thick with the stench of blood and decay.

In the center of the Spirit Valley, several hunched-over demons covered in black fur were frantically devouring spirit herbs. Beside them, two disheveled figures were sternly rebuking the demons. They were none other than Hai Lan and Su Chen, who had been expelled from their sect!

Although their cultivation was completely destroyed, they used some kind of evil magic, and a faint, eerie black mist surrounded them. They were able to control these low-level demons, their faces were sinister and ferocious, and their eyes were full of vengeful madness.

"Laoshan Immortal Sect, you discarded me like trash! Today I will destroy the foundation of your spiritual herbs and make you pay the price!" Hai Lan laughed wildly, her voice venomous and piercing. "Lin Yan, if it weren't for you, how could I have ended up like this? I will tear you to pieces!"

Su Chen stood to the side, his eyes filled with malice, directing the demons to wreak havoc, his heart filled with twisted pleasure: "Elder, after we deal with these disciples left behind, we'll storm Laoshan and make everyone pay with their lives!"

Seeing the tragic scene before him and hearing the two men's arrogant words, Lin Yan's eyes turned cold, and his spiritual energy suddenly erupted, no longer concealed.

"Hailan, Su Chen, you traitors! You have been expelled from the sect but have shown no remorse. You dare to collude with evil spirits, harm your fellow disciples, and destroy the sect's sacred grounds. Today is your death day!"

A cold shout echoed throughout Lingxian Valley.

Yunxi instantly drew her sword, its light as sharp as snow, aimed directly at the demons and traitors; Chen Dagang clenched his fists, his spiritual energy surging, ready to strike at any moment; Ye Qing and Yi Azhu stood on either side, focused and on guard, protecting their left and right.

Hailan and Su Chen turned around upon hearing the sound, and upon seeing Lin Yan and his group, their expressions changed drastically, before they revealed a maniacal smile.

"Lin Yan? You've come at the right time! I've been waiting for you!" Hai Lan glared venomously at Lin Yan, waving her hand and roaring, "You demon cubs, kill them all!"

As the roar subsided, several demonic creatures, their eyes gleaming with ferocity, roared and pounced towards Lin Yan and the others, a foul stench filling the air and a terrifying demonic aura rising to the sky.

Lin Yan's eyes were icy cold, and a pale blue, watery spiritual energy surged around him. The Guanhai Inkstone in his storage ring at his waist shone with a faint spiritual light, and the innate alchemical fire danced at his fingertips, fully revealing the aura of cultivating both alchemy and swordsmanship.

"Yunxi, slay the demon! Dagang, Ye Qing, Azhu, heal the surviving disciples and protect the remaining forces in the valley!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Yan rushed out first, his fingertips shooting out flames. The innate flames were specifically designed to extinguish evil demons and monsters, instantly igniting the demon at the forefront. The demon let out a miserable scream, its body engulfed in golden flames, and in an instant, it turned into a pool of black ash.

Yunxi followed closely behind, her pure white figure stepping out through the snow. Her sword light was like a shooting star chasing the moon, and her fierce sword energy directly slashed at the demons. Her sword heart was clear and her moves were sharp. As the sword light flew, she pierced through the bodies of the demons one after another. Her sword energy swept across, repelling all the demons that rushed at her. Blood mist splattered, but not a drop of it touched her white clothes.

Chen Dagang roared, his physical body bursting with spiritual power, standing like an iron tower in front of the surviving disciple. He slammed his fists out, sending the demon that attempted to sneak attack flying. Ye Qing moved nimbly, her fingertips forming hand seals, setting up a simple defensive aura to protect the injured disciple. At the same time, she used her magic weapon to remotely restrain the demon. Yi Azhu's palm glowed with a warm green light, and her spiritual energy flowed gently, covering the disciple's wounds, stopping the bleeding and relieving the pain.

In an instant, spiritual energy surged within Lingxian Valley, sword cries, demonic roars, and the winds of fists mingled, and the battle was fierce.

Although these low-level demons were ferocious, they were no match for Lin Yan, who had successfully established his foundation, and Yun Xi, whose cultivation had improved. In just a short while, most of them were killed. The remaining demons, seeing that the situation was not good, turned around and tried to escape, but they were all trapped by the water spirit chains thrown by Lin Yan. The innate pill fire swept over and completely wiped them out.

The demonic aura in the valley gradually dissipated, leaving only a mess and the lingering stench of blood.

Hai Lan stared at the annihilated demons, his face deathly pale, his eyes filled with disbelief, which quickly turned into endless despair and resentment. He staggered back, watching Lin Yan approach step by step, and roared, "Impossible! I clearly colluded with the demons! I could have taken my revenge!"

Su Chen was so frightened that he trembled all over. He tried to turn around and run away, but Yun Xi blocked his way with a sword aura. The tip of the sword was pointed directly at his throat, and he could not move.

Lin Yan stepped forward slowly, his spiritual energy contained, his eyes calm yet carrying an undeniable authority, coldly looking at the two: "You are ambitious and greedy, first plotting and causing trouble, and after being expelled, you did not repent, colluding with evil spirits to harm your fellow disciples, violating the great taboo of the immortal sect, today is your final destination."

"If it weren't for you, how could I have ended up like this!" Hai Lan's eyes were bloodshot, and he still wanted to use the remaining evil magic to fight back, but his cultivation was completely destroyed, and the eerie black mist around him had long since dissipated, so he had no power to resist at all.

Lin Yan slightly raised his fingertips, and a wisp of pale golden flame flickered, directly sealing the meridians of the two, rendering them completely unable to move: "Your resentment and bitterness are all caused by your own greed, and have nothing to do with others. After returning to Laoshan, wait for the sect's judgment."

After saying that, he turned to look at everyone and said in a deep voice, "Clean up the scene, settle the injured disciples, and escort the two traitors back to the main peak to be dealt with by Elder Wudao and the other elders."

Everyone responded in unison and quickly got to work.

Yunxi sheathed her sword and stood beside Lin Yan. The coldness in her eyes faded, replaced by a sense of relief: "Finally, this matter can be put to rest."

Lin Yan nodded slightly, gazing towards the main peak of Laoshan Mountain, his eyes clear and bright.

The old rebels are about to be subdued, and the demonic calamity has been temporarily averted, but he knows in his heart that this may only be the beginning. However, he has already cultivated both alchemy and swordsmanship, and has companions by his side. No matter what storms may arise in the future, he can face them with composure.

Sunlight pierced through the clouds, scattering across the ravaged Lingxian Valley, dispelling the lingering demonic aura and gloom, and bringing a long-awaited warmth.