Chapter 271 Taicang the Venerable Sage (Person Name), Crisis Situation

The beautiful consort beside Taicang the Venerable Sage (Person Name) cast a glance at the pair, her gaze settling on Eldrin (Person Name) as she remarked.

"You must be the renowned Sword Immortal of Chu Kingdom, Fellow Daoist Chen?"

"Indeed."

With a gentle smile, Lyra spoke, then addressed Eldrin, "This is the esteemed Taiqing Zhenren from the Cangqing Immortal Sect."

Greetings, Esteemed Immortal Master.

Although cultivators generally maintained their own social hierarchies, Eldrin's extraordinary potential and strength, coupled with his connection to Lyra, made even these Golden Core cultivators willing to treat him as their peer.

After the group exchanged greetings, Lyra (Person Name) turned her gaze toward the Devil's Abyss Cave, her expression turning grave as she spoke.

"How is the situation?"

"Brother Taicang has brought the Cangqing Ancient Plate and the Heavenly Flame Demon Refining Array, and I have brought the Vault Heaven Immortal Sword."

"Now, not even a fly could escape from this Demon Cave Abyss."

Elder Zhang stroked his beard, a trace of solemnity flashing in his eyes.

Eldrin nodded slightly; there was no need to elaborate on a demon-refining supreme treasure like the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss.

The Cangqing Ancient Plate was a fifth-tier formation array. This artifact had once served as a Demonic Refining Array, but during the cataclysm of the Demonic Abyss over 3 100 years ago, it suffered severe damage. Its grade had now fallen to the quasi-fifth-tier level.

However, the might of this Cyan Array Disk, when combined with the Heavenly Fire Demon Refining Grand Array, was still sufficient to suppress and slay a Golden Core, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) demonic cultivator.

At that moment, Taicang the Venerable Sage (Person Name) also approached. He was a lean elderly man, emanating an aura of transcendent elegance.

He glanced at Lyra and couldn't resist asking, "Aside from the Mirror of the Vast Heaven, have you managed to invite any other seniors?"

"Mm." Lyra gave a slight nod, speaking calmly, "I've invited the senior to assist. However, the Mirror of the Vast Heaven hasn't fully restored its power yet. He won't intervene unless absolutely necessary."

"That is more than enough."

Taicang the Venerable Sage (Person Name) nodded. Among the 5 Golden Core (Cultivation Realm) Elders present, Sect Leader Zhang had reached Golden Core, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm), while Taicang the Venerable Sage (Person Name) himself possessed cultivation at the sixth layer of Golden Core (Cultivation Realm).

If 2 of us join forces, augmented by the Skyward Sword, it should suffice to handle most situations. Summoning the Mirror of the Vast Heaven (Magic Treasure) is merely a precaution against unforeseen circumstances.

After all, the Demon Cave Abyss was a forbidden ground for demonic cultivators. Even 3 to 5 Golden Core cultivators entering together might not emerge alive, let alone succeed in pacifying the demonic practitioners.

"Best to remain cautious."

Elder Zhang’s expression turned grave as he spoke, “That Demon Abyss Cave possesses profound and unfathomable foundations, with means capable of countering even the supreme Demon-Subduing Artifacts. Otherwise, it would have long been eradicated by our ranks.”

"5 100 years ago, even my master, wielding the Celestial Sword of the Firmament, could only manage to escape in utter disarray after storming into that place."

Everyone nodded upon hearing this, a trace of gravity flashing through their hearts.

The group fell silent and continued to await the arrival of the Violet Abyss Sect.

After waiting a full 10 days with no sign of Yang Ziji, Elder Lin of the Vast Heaven Sword Sect finally remarked, "What could have delayed our 2 fellow cultivators from the Abyssal Violet Sect today? They've never been this late before."

As the 2 were speaking, several streaks of light flew over from the horizon.

The newcomer was Spirit Princess, who flew closer with over 20-some Golden Core cultivators before arriving beside the crowd.

Lyra’s eyes flickered slightly as she couldn’t resist asking, “Sister Lingji, why hasn’t Zidao come today?”

"I was just about to say."

Spirit Princess took a deep breath, her expression turning grave as she said, "The demon ape of the Eldrin Mountain has descended into demonic madness."

"What?"

Everyone’s expressions shifted to 1 of horror, and they couldn’t help but cry out in alarm.

Today, the Demon Ape Mountains are the territory of the demon race, but a 1000 years ago, like the Demon Cave Abyss, they were forbidden grounds for demonic cultivators.

In those years, the cultivation world of the Chu Kingdom exhausted the nation's resources to eradicate the Demonic Ape Mountain in a single campaign. A master cultivating the Pure Yang Dao Art employed divine powers to refine the mountain, transforming it into a Ruin of Tribulation.

The Violet Abyss Sect had carried on its legacy for over 8 100 years. 8 centuries ago, their territory was once dominated by the Violet Sun Sect, which cultivated the Pure Yang Dao Method. Their domain even extended to encompass the lands of the Demonic Ape Mountains.

A supreme expert was stationed at the demon ape mountain's spiritual vein, continuously refining the demonic spring with pure yang dao techniques, seeking to transform it into a spiritual mountain.

But later, the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor (Demon Beast) broke through to the late Nascent Soul stage, annihilating the Purple Sun Sect in a single battle and seizing this human race's spirit mountain. This caused the demonic spring, which had only been half-refined, to ultimately fail in its refinement process.

Later, the spiritual vein of the Demonic Ape Mountain was handed over to the Demonic Ape Clan by the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor (Demon Beast).

The Violet Abyss Sect had inherited a portion of the legacy from the Violet Sun Sect, and for generations, they had been locked in conflict with the Demon Ape Mountain.

At this moment, Fairy Lingji wore a grave expression, her face etched with solemnity as she spoke, "That Demonic Ape King has fallen into demonic madness by harnessing the power of the Demonic Spring. After his descent into darkness, his power has increased tremendously, allowing him to break through to the Golden Core, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm)."

To guard against the Demon Ape King, Sister Zi Ji took the Abyssal Purple Crucible to the borderlands.

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged uneasy glances, their faces paling considerably.

The Demon Ape King had broken through to the Golden Core, Late Stage. Even more terrifying, he would restore the Demon Ape Mountain to a forbidden land for demonic cultivators. This posed a grave threat to the Chu Kingdom.

The Supreme Purity Elder by his side couldn't help but remark, "With the demon kings under your command succumbing to demonic corruption, is the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor (Demon Beast) simply going to stand by and do nothing?"

"Demons and monsters are all in cahoots, sharing an age-old enmity with our human race. In the eyes of the Azure Flood Dragon Demon King, so long as they pose no threat to him and continue to heed his commands, there is fundamentally no distinction between them."

Moreover, after the Demonic Ape Monster King underwent demonic transformation, he was no longer considered a pure demon beast. This allowed him to circumvent the covenant between the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor (Demon Beast) and the Ji Clan, enabling him to attack our Chu Kingdom (Location) without waiting for the 100-year pact to expire.

Elder Zhang had lived for over 8 100 years and understood the intricacies of it all.

He sighed, casting a glance at the assembly before saying, "Without the Violet Abyss Cauldron, should we still proceed with this battle?"

Everyone fell into a hushed silence. The Violet Abyss Divine Flame of the Violet Abyss Furnace was the bane of demons and devils, serving as their primary weapon in assaulting the Devil's Cave.

The battle had yet to begin, yet the most crucial supreme treasure could not be activated. This was undeniably an ill omen from the start—a piece of exceedingly grim news.

Seeing the others hesitate, Taicang the Venerable Sage (Person Name) rose to his feet and declared, "Honored allies, if we do not strike against the Demon Caverns now, I fear it shall become a calamity of unimaginable proportions in days to come."

"The beast tide will erupt in a dozen or so years. If we fail to slay 1 or 2 fiends, I'm afraid we'll face grave consequences."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions shifted slightly.

The Venerable Sage Taicang observed the expressions of the assembly and seized the momentum to declare, "With the addition of a new Golden Core cultivator to the Demon Cavern, their strength has surged exponentially.

"My Azure Heaven Sect is already caught between the Black Eagle Demon King and the Demon Cave's assault. I fear we may struggle to hold our ground."

The others nodded in agreement. The Black Eagle Ridge was guarded by 2 Demon Kings, while the Devil's Cave housed an old demon at the Golden Core, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm).

However, Taicang the Venerable Sage (Person Name) was only at the Golden Core, Sixth Layer (Cultivation Realm), while the other 2 Golden Core cultivators of the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect (Sect Name) were merely at the Golden Core, Early Stage (Cultivation Realm). Their strength likely wouldn't be enough to hold them back.

By then, with 2 great demonic forbidden realms running rampant, even the Skyreach Sword Sect would likely struggle to subdue them.

Now the Violet Abyss Sect faced yet another forbidden land of demonic cultivation, and soon the Heavenly Ruins Alliance would be caught between Celestial Python Lake (Location) and the Earthlion Ridge.

This situation is truly ominous. 1 careless misstep, and the cultivation world of the Chu Kingdom could suffer unprecedented devastation.

At this thought, everyone exchanged glances. The Eldrin (Person Name) made up his mind and declared,

"Even at a certain cost, we must eradicate the Demonic Abyss Cavern completely."

"Even if we cannot achieve that, we must slay 1 or 2 Golden Core old fiends."

Chapter 1 The Azure Clouds Sect's recruitment ceremony had just concluded. Lin Yan stood at the foot of the mountain, gazing up at the mist-shrouded peaks. His fingers gently brushed the worn jade slip in his palm—the only legacy his father had left him. "Next!" The deacon's voice echoed coldly. Lin Yan took a deep breath and stepped forward. Just as he was about to present the jade slip, a sneer came from behind. "A mere mortal with no spiritual roots dares to seek immortality?" A young man in brocade robes approached, surrounded by attendants. The crowd immediately parted, whispering, "It's Young Master Wang from the Wang Clan!" Wang Feng glanced disdainfully at Lin Yan, then turned to the deacon. "Elder, this kind of waste is not worthy of the Azure Clouds Sect." Lin Yan's grip on the jade slip tightened, his knuckles turning white. But then, a warm current surged from the jade slip, and a system interface materialized before his eyes: [Detected host's spiritual roots have been severed. Initiating reconstruction...] [Reconstruction progress: 1%] A sharp pain shot through his meridians, but Lin Yan suppressed a cry. He raised his head, meeting Wang Feng's arrogant gaze, and spoke calmly, "The path of cultivation values the heart, not innate endowment." Wang Feng laughed mockingly, about to retort, when suddenly, a majestic pressure descended from the sky. "Enough." An elder in azure robes descended on a flying sword, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before settling on Lin Yan. "Since you've come, you may stay as an outer sect disciple." Wang Feng's expression changed, but he dared not speak further. Lin Yan bowed deeply, concealing the shock in his eyes. The system interface flickered once more: [Host: Lin Yan] [Cultivation: None (spiritual roots reconstructing)] [Technique: None] [Spirit Stones: 0] He clenched his fists. This was his only chance to reclaim everything he had lost. --- Chapter 2 The outer sect disciple quarters were simple and crude. Lin Yan sat cross-legged on his stone bed, sensing the spiritual energy slowly gathering around him. The reconstruction of his spiritual roots had reached 10%, and he could already faintly detect the presence of spiritual energy. "Lin Yan, come out!" A harsh shout came from outside the door. 3 outer sect disciples barged in, led by a scar-faced man. "Hand over your spirit stones, rookie," the scar-faced man sneered. Lin Yan recognized him—Zhang Hu, a lackey of Wang Feng. It seemed Wang Feng hadn't given up on making things difficult for him. "I have no spirit stones," Lin Yan said coldly. Zhang Hu laughed grimly. "Then you'll have to learn the rules the hard way!" He threw a punch, carrying a faint spiritual energy. As an outer sect disciple who had just entered the Qi Refining stage, this strike was enough to severely injure an ordinary person. But at that moment, Lin Yan's eyes flashed. The system interface suddenly lit up: [Spiritual root reconstruction complete. Initiating cultivation technique: Primordial Chaos Codex] A powerful spiritual energy erupted from Lin Yan's body. Zhang Hu was sent flying, crashing heavily against the wall. "How is this possible?" Zhang Hu spat out a mouthful of blood, his face filled with terror. Lin Yan slowly stood up, the spiritual energy around him swirling like a vortex. He looked at Zhang Hu, who was trembling on the ground, and said coldly, "Tell Wang Feng that if he wants to deal with me, he'd better come himself." After Zhang Hu and the others fled in panic, Lin Yan closed his eyes to inspect his condition. The system interface displayed: [Host: Lin Yan] [Cultivation: Qi Refining 1st Layer] [Technique: Primordial Chaos Codex (Level 1)] [Spirit Stones: 0] A faint smile appeared on his lips. The path of cultivation had finally truly begun.