Chapter 858. Enemies Blocking the Path

"Screech—"

Before the crowd could even catch their breath, the void was torn asunder once more as a crimson phoenix soared into the sky, diving straight toward the Gu Yuan Mountain Range.

"The Fire Phoenix of the Southern Sea?"

Maris the Sea Steader (Person Name)'s pupils contracted slightly as he asked with some hesitation.

Lyra (Person Name)点了点头，便说起此妖的来历：“火凤妖祖本是一尊占巢鸠，窃取了仙人遗留凤凰卵的部分本源之后，才化作了血脉不纯的火凤。”

"This scourge was originally enlightened by an eldritch god from beyond the heavens, a calculated scheme against the Fire Phoenix Demon Immortal. Its descent into corruption, transforming into a Crimson Blood Phoenix, was within expectations."

Maris the Sea Steader (Person Name) finally grasped the chain of events and sighed deeply. "Judging by His demeanor, I fear His soul has already fallen under the dominion of an extraterrestrial demon god. Today He came with no other purpose than to die while eliminating Brother Eldrin (Person Name)."

As the words fell, Maris the Sea Steader (Person Name) soared into the air, summoning the Sea-Calming Divine Pearl (Magic Treasure) to strike across the void, intercepting the Blood Phoenix Demon Ancestor (Demon).

And in that very instant, a demonic vessel tore through the void from the depths of space.

Upon that demonic vessel stood a dozen or so figures of Outer Realm Demons. The leader, whose aura was overwhelmingly powerful, was none other than the Garuda Heavenly Demon.

"Beware! We shall defend according to the formation!"

Lyra immediately alerted everyone, gathering them to activate the Mountain Protection Array as they clashed with a dozen or so Outer Realm Demons.

Fortunately, the Outer Demons were also not at full strength. Of the 3 Primordial Spirit, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) experts, 1 remained to guard the Zhou Tian Archipelago of Stars, another blocked the path beyond the Endless Sky Pavilion, leaving only the Garuda Demon—a single Primordial Spirit, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm)—to confront them.

Relying on the mountain-protecting formation, the crowd barely managed to hold off the Outer Realm Demon.

The Nāgalou Heavenly Demon saw that the mountain-protecting formation was impenetrable and feared the might of the Refining Immortal Furnace. He let out a cold laugh and declared, "All you onlookers, if you won’t act now, then when will you?"

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to rush!"

A cold laugh echoed through the void as 3 figures emerged from the depths of emptiness, stepping forth 1 after another.

At the forefront stood a man clad in crimson robes, his features peerlessly elegant and majestic—none other than the Blood God Patriarch, whose name shook the world. The 2 figures behind him were the Mystic Yang Daoist and the Dawn Dao Lord of the Fang Immortal Clan (Organization).

In the instant he spotted the figures, Dorian’s gaze turned icy. Holding the Refining Immortal Furnace aloft to intimidate his foes, he swept a murderous glare across them and declared, “Gentlemen, dare you test the might of the Refining Immortal Furnace?”

"This..."

For a moment, even the Blood God Patriarch and the 2 Dao Lords of the Fang Immortal Clan (Organization) could not help but reveal looks of astonishment.

As 1 of the world's mere 6 near-immortal treasures, the Refining Immortal Cauldron's power was beyond doubt. When this treasure fully awakened, even a Ninth-Level Primordial Spirit cultivator would be severely wounded. 1 would require at least Primordial Spirit, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) strength to withstand it.

Though they possessed extraordinary strength, none dared to directly confront the Refining Immortal Furnace.

In that very moment of the crowd's hesitation, a cold sneer echoed from the void.

"Although the Refining Immortal Furnace possesses remarkable power, without a Primordial Spirit, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) expert to activate it, how many times can it truly awaken?"

He arrived clad in black and red robes, his stature imposing and extraordinary, exuding an aura of transcendent majesty that seemed to overshadow heaven and earth.

He strode forth with seemingly casual steps, his gaze icy as he declared, "When the time comes to face the calamity of the Demonic Abyss, this treasure shall awaken to its full power once."

"During the incident at the Edge of the World Pavilion, the Immortal Refining Furnace exhausted its full power to slay the Purple-Blooded Heavenly Demon. How much combat efficacy could it possibly retain now?"

Blood Demon Patriarch

No sooner had the visitor spoken than the crowd finally snapped to attention.

Blood God Ancestor’s face instantly turned ashen as he exclaimed in utter terror, “Blood Demon Old Freak, you’re not dead?”

"My dear disciple, your master has been thinking of you for thousands of years."

The instant he laid eyes on Blood God Ancestor, the Blood Fiend Elder let out a cold sneer. Immediately, several streaks of crimson light shot forth from his head, lunging straight toward the Blood God Ancestor.

The Blood God Ancestor let out a strange shriek and attempted to tear through the void to flee for his life.

But what manner of figure was the Blood Demon Ancestor? This fiend was once the foremost figure in the demonic path of the Violet Realm, a colossus capable of contending with Emperor Jiang and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Emperor Dong. Naturally, he had left behind countless contingencies.

The Blood God Fiend cultivated the Blood Demon Rebirth Art, and was destined to become the cultivation resource for the Blood Demon Fiend. Just as he attempted to flee, he suddenly felt his spiritual power reverse. In an instant, a crimson glow enveloped him completely.

Just a few breaths later, the Blood God Elder's divine consciousness flickered and faded, becoming another Blood God Avatar of the Blood Demon Elder.

After refining the Blood God Fiend, the Blood Demon Patriarch felt his magical power surge dramatically, having already recovered to the level of the seventh layer of the Nascent Soul realm.

He let out a cold sneer, his gaze fixed upon the Refining Immortal Furnace as he declared, "Today, I, the Blood Demon Patriarch, have returned to this world. I shall bathe the Eastern Wastelands in blood and restore the glory of the Blood Demon Divine Sect!"

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

As the Blood Demon Patriarch's voice fell, he instantly manifested several Blood God Doppelgangers, each possessing combat prowess at the Primordial Spirit, Early Stage (Cultivation Realm).

Chaos erupted once more as the battle grew increasingly intense.

This was highly unfavorable for Eldrin. Relying on the Mountain Protection Array, the group had barely managed to hold off the attacks from the Outer Realm Demons and the other assailants.

Now, with the arrival of Patriarch Blood Demon and his followers—particularly Patriarch Blood Demon himself, a founding master of the demonic path—not only had his true body regained the combat prowess of the Primordial Spirit, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm), but his several avatars were also no less formidable than those at the Primordial Spirit, Early Stage (Cultivation Realm).

At this very moment when the situation had taken a dire turn, the void was torn open once more, and an earth-shattering dragon's roar erupted.

All eyes beheld a dazzling purple thunder dragon soaring through the void, charging toward the legion of demonic cultivators.

But the Purple Radiance Thunder Dragon was not the only threat. Close behind it, an exquisitely beautiful woman with dragon horns sprouting from her forehead strode through the air. With a mere lift of her hand, she summoned a celestial sword and sent it cleaving toward the Blood Demon Patriarch.

Frost Hydra Demon Ancestor

Seeing the arrival of a Primordial Spirit, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) powerhouse to aid them, the crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief, their fighting spirit blazing even fiercer within their hearts.

Then, another figure soared through the endless void—it was actually the Green Taoist, who had now chosen the path of a ghost immortal.

After the Green Taoist transitioned to cultivating as a Ghost Immortal, he faced no competition for faith offerings from other ghost cultivators in the Violet Realm. His cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, and he had now astonishingly reached the fourth level of the Nascent Soul realm.

He also brought a vast host of Yin Soldiers and Ghost Generals, momentarily holding back several Soul Monsters, which greatly alleviated the pressure on everyone.

At that very moment, the golden sun in the boundless heavens descended with increasing urgency. Only 1 final moment remained before the Celestial Soul's return.

"Breaking through to the Nascent Soul?"

Meanwhile, in the starry expanse beyond the domain, the Outer Realm Demon God abruptly opened his eyes.

Yet within his pupils was reflected the scene atop Gu Yuan Mountain, and in the span of a single thought, his gaze turned icy.

Boom—

Meanwhile, far away in the Zhou Tian Star Archipelago.

Within a secluded cultivation chamber, the Nether Phoenix, who was in the midst of secluded cultivation to reconstruct its physical form, opened its eyes, revealing an expression of utter terror.

"Spare me, Your Demonic Majesty..."

“Bang—

A deafening roar erupted as the Nether Phoenix’s primordial spirit instantly shattered, transforming into a colossal cloud of Nether Blood Curse that surged toward the Gu Yuan Mountain Range.

"1 Nether Phoenix at the ninth level of the Primordial Spirit, in exchange for a true Seed of Ascension."

"This account still balances out."

Having completed all this, the Outer Realm Demon God spoke with an utterly detached tone before closing his eyes.

Chapter 1 The biting northern wind swept across the mountain range, howling like countless vengeful spirits. Snowflakes danced wildly in the air, blanketing the jagged peaks in a layer of pristine white. At the summit of the highest mountain, a solitary figure sat cross-legged upon a massive bluestone, motionless as if carved from ice. Lin Feng had been meditating here for 3 full years. His black robes were tattered, his long hair matted with frost, yet his eyes remained closed in deep concentration. The spiritual energy around him swirled like an invisible vortex, causing the falling snow to veer away before touching his robes. "Finally," he whispered, his voice raspy from disuse. "The ninth level of the Frozen Soul Art is complete." He opened his eyes, their depths flashing with azure light. Raising a hand, he watched as frost patterns bloomed across his palm. With a mere thought, the temperature around him plummeted further, freezing the airborne snowflakes into crystalline sculptures that hung suspended in space. A rare smile touched his lips. 3 years of bitter cultivation in this desolate place had borne fruit. The Frozen Soul Art, 1 of the 7 great mystic arts of the Northern Glacial Sect, was notoriously difficult to master. Few disciples dared attempt it, and even fewer succeeded. His moment of triumph was interrupted by a sharp pain in his dantian. Lin Feng's smile vanished. "The soul frost backlash," he muttered grimly. "Right on schedule." Every advancement in the Frozen Soul Art carried this risk. If he couldn't suppress the accumulating soul frost in time, it would freeze his meridians solid, turning him into an ice sculpture forever. He quickly formed a series of hand seals, circulating his spiritual power to counter the invading cold. But the soul frost proved more stubborn than he anticipated. Thin layers of ice began creeping up his arms, their biting cold seeping deep into his bones. Just as the situation grew critical, a warm current suddenly surged from the jade pendant at his chest, spreading throughout his body and melting the encroaching ice. Lin Feng stared at the pendant in surprise. This ordinary-looking accessory had been left to him by his mother before her death. He never imagined it contained such mysterious power. "Feng'er," a gentle, familiar voice echoed from the pendant, "if you hear this, it means you've encountered the soul frost backlash. Don't be afraid. This pendant contains a wisp of my soul power, enough to help you through this crisis once." Tears welled in Lin Feng's eyes. "Mother..." he choked out. The voice continued, "The Frozen Soul Art, while powerful, damages the user's foundation with each advancement. If you continue down this path, I fear... Feng'er, remember my words: seek out the Sun Flame Seed in the Southern Fire Nation. Only by balancing ice and fire can you avoid the art's fatal flaw." The voice faded, and the pendant's warmth gradually receded, its surface now covered in fine cracks. Lin Feng clenched his fists, his expression firming. "Southern Fire Nation... Sun Flame Seed... I will find it." He stood, brushing the snow from his robes. His gaze swept northward 1 last time before turning resolutely south. The blizzard intensified, quickly obscuring his departing figure. Only the imprint on the bluestone remained, a silent testament to 3 years of solitary cultivation. Soon, even this would be buried beneath the endless snow.