Chapter 557: Chapter 557

"Master Hanguang," Yin Hanguang, with a Nascent Soul Sixth Stage cultivation, hails from the Great Brightness Immortal Palace and masters the supreme Yang fire, "Bright Holy Flame."

"Vermilion Bird Demon King," Zhu Zizhen, a Tier Six Middle-grade Demon King, comes from the Wilderness Jungle. His true form is the True Saint Vermilion Bird Descendant, "Vermilion Feather Crane," capable of unleashing the pure "Vermilion Bird True Flame" using the "True Vermilion Bird Blood" within his body.

These two, human and demon, are the allies Lu Xuanji has sought.

And with the addition of these two, Lu Xuanji has gathered the "Profound Yang True Flame," "Qianyang True Flame," "Sun Golden Flame," "Bright Holy Flame," and "Vermilion Bird True Flame," five supreme Yang fires that suppress the power of the Demon Dao.

The fusion of these five supreme Yang fires into one flame is indeed something to be anticipated!

Zhouyang, who originally felt not very optimistic about this venture, now found his confidence boosted.

He had dealt with many demonic cultivators before, and had even used an enhanced version of the "Qianyang True Flame" to injure a Late-stage Nascent Soul Demon like the Celestial Killer Corpse King. He knew very well how strong these supreme Yang fires were at countering demonic powers.

If Lu Xuanji’s secret technique that fuses multiple flames is genuine, then the fire formed by the fusion of five supreme Yang fires could surely slay demons across realms without issue.

The only concern now is that if the True Demon from the Demon Race could fake its death and escape from a Lower Realm True Immortal, and also remain undefeated by the Tribulation Crossing True Immortal of the Spirit Realm, who could only seal it, its power certainly ranks among the strong even at the Tribulation Crossing Stage.

In that case, it is indeed uncertain whether Lu Xuanji’s fused Demon Refining Fire could refine and kill it.

After joining Yin Hanguang and Zhu Zizhen, who were waiting in the desolate mountains, the group set off again and finally stopped outside a small mortal city.

"We’ve reached it. Underground of this city lies one entry to the Dome Heaven Immortal Realm. Currently, our Profound Sun Immortal Sect guards this entrance. We can enter through here without alerting others!"

In mid-air, Lu Xuanji released Zhouyang and others from a flying boat spiritual artifact and earnestly pointed out the information about the mortal town with a population of about ten thousand.

As he spoke, a white light suddenly shot out from underground, landing in front of the group and revealing the form of a white spirit cat about the size of an ordinary housecat.

The white spirit cat stopped before the group, its pair of golden cat eyes sweeping over everyone before finally resting on Lu Xuanji. It spoke human words, "Senior Brother Lu, you’ve finally arrived. I’ve checked the teleportation array and it can be activated to enter at any time."

"Thanks, Junior Sister Zhang. Please lead the way now."

Lu Xuanji nodded slightly, indicating for the white spirit cat to guide them.

Zhouyang looked at the white spirit cat, whose aura was only equivalent to that of a Tier Five Demon Beast, and couldn’t help but gaze at it a few more times.

He couldn’t discern the origin of the white spirit cat, but he guessed that this white spirit cat was likely a clone cultivated by a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator.

Clones dwelling in beast bodies using Divine Fragment are the lowest form of clone techniques, the only option for most Nascent Soul cultivators who practice clone divine techniques.

Yet even so, finding a suitable beast for a clone is not easy, and not every Nascent Soul Stage cultivator can achieve it.

The group followed the white spirit cat underground, descending to the magma layer several thousand feet below, arriving at the entrance to the Dome Heaven Immortal Realm Lu Xuanji mentioned.

Here, Zhouyang and his companions saw the true form of the white spirit cat, a middle-aged beauty clad in a white dress.

Among the nine Nascent Soul cultivators of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect, there’s only one female Nascent Soul cultivator, the sixth Supreme Elder of the sect, "Master Huayang," Zhang Yuhua.

"Master Huayang," Zhang Yuhua achieved Nascent Soul Formation over eight hundred years ago, yet her cultivation is on par with Master Cyan Yang, who formed his Nascent Soul over two hundred years ago, remaining at the Second-Layer Nascent Soul.

This phenomenon is normal among Nascent Soul cultivators; achieving another layer of cultivation after two hundred years like Master Cyan Yang is rare.

Most Nascent Soul cultivators see their cultivation stagnate at either the Early or Mid-Stage Nascent Soul.

As a pocket secret realm, the Dome Heaven Immortal Realm is semi-independent from the Spirit Realm, requiring special teleportation arrays to reach.

What Zhang Yuhua guards is precisely such a teleportation array.

According to Lu Xuanji, there are only three such teleportation arrays in the Liuyun Continent’s cultivation realm, guarded by Nascent Soul cultivators from the top major sects in rotation.

Moreover, using these teleportation arrays requires not only specific tokens but also unique activation spells.

Tokens are generally held by the sect responsible for guarding the teleportation array during that period, strictly prohibited from being carried by the cultivators overseeing the array.

Thus, even if a demonic cultivator discovers the location of the teleportation array, and seizes and kills the cultivator guarding the array, without the token it is simply impossible to activate the teleportation array.

However, no one expected that this time, the Profound Sun Immortal Sect would mobilize the full force of their sect to charge into the "Dome Heaven Immortal Realm" with the intent to slay the sealed true demon of the demon race.

The courage of man goes as far as the bounty of the land.

This move by the Profound Sun Immortal Sect undoubtedly gambles the fate of the sect; if it fails, the entire sect’s strength will sharply decline, unable to recover primordial qi without thousands of years.

However, if they succeed, merely slaying the demon race’s true demon and recovering the "Dome Heaven Immortal Realm" would be enough for them to garner countless advantages from other sects.

And if Lu Xuanji, with the celestial favor gained from slaying the demon race’s true demon, successfully breaks through to the Tribulation Crossing Stage, then the Profound Sun Immortal Sect will undoubtedly become the foremost major sect in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, with their sect’s strength multiplied innumerably.

Since Zhouyang has already involuntarily been drawn into this gamble, caught up in the momentum of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect’s war chariot, he naturally hopes the Profound Sun Immortal Sect will win the gamble.

If the Profound Sun Immortal Sect wins, having made significant contributions, the rewards he receives certainly will not be few.

Thus, amidst such complex feelings of anxiety and excitement, he, along with Lu Xuanji and four others, entered the teleportation array, transmitting into the "Dome Heaven Immortal Realm."

The sky was gray and hazy, a scene of utter chaos.

On the earth below, raised mountains and rivers sprouted everywhere with precious spirit elixirs. Many spirit elixirs even grew contrary to their normal environments, such as a Yang attribute Tier Five spirit elixir "Fiery Sun Vermilion Fruit," now growing in an open spot between mountains, although no trace of sunlight was present here.

Zhouyang was aware of the reason why.

The reason is that the spiritual energy here is too rich, so rich that any spirit elixir with strong adaptability can thrive here by absorbing the abundant spiritual energy.

The richness of the spiritual energy at the Tier Six Top-Grade Spirit Mountain of Profound Sun Peak had been the densest spiritual energy Zhouyang had encountered in his life; he had believed it to be the limit of what the "Spirit Realm" could achieve in terms of spirit vein’s spiritual energy.

Perhaps he was not wrong to think so at the time, as to his knowledge, the "Spirit Realm" had yet to see the emergence of a so-called Tier Seven spirit vein, even at Liuyun Immortal City, the most prosperous place in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, was merely built upon a Tier Six Top-Grade Spirit Mountain.

But now he was no longer in the "Spirit Realm," but had entered the "Dome Heaven Immortal Realm" established by lower realm true immortals from the True Immortal Realm.

Being called an "Immortal Realm," if anything, the richness of spiritual energy here is naturally extraordinary compared to normal places outside.

Here, just a breath draws a substantial amount of spiritual energy into Zhouyang’s body.

In this environment of dense spiritual energy, even mortals with spiritual roots, regardless if they understood cultivation techniques, could harness the rich spiritual energy to forcefully cultivate magical power, becoming a Qi Cultivation Stage cultivator.

"The spirit elixirs here are all recorded; every few years, we sects unite to send people to harvest them, so please, fellow Daoists, refrain from reckless actions."

Noticing how Zhouyang and others displayed peculiar expressions, Lu Xuanji issued a reminder to prevent anyone from being tempted to pick those spirit elixirs.

Actually, there would be little issue if Zhouyang and others picked those spirit elixirs; if Lu Xuanji’s plan succeeded, and he breaks through to the Tribulation Crossing Stage, this "Dome Heaven Immortal Realm" would inevitably belong solely to the Profound Sun Immortal Sect, the spirit elixirs previously harvested jointly by various sects would naturally follow suit.

Yet, Lu Xuanji had to consider the consequences in case of failure; should he fail, unauthorized movement of even one spirit elixir here could turn into an excuse for other sects to attack them afterward.

Zhouyang and the others understood this reasoning, so after receiving his warning, no one dared to act rashly.

But the "Vermilion Bird Demon King" Zhu Zizhen squinted phoenix-like eyes, staring at Lu Xuanji while speaking pointedly, "Fellow Daoist Lu, you claim the demon race’s true demon is suppressed here, yet I, the King, find not a trace of demonic qi here. That seems inconsistent with your words."

Upon hearing, Lu Xuanji couldn’t help but wave his hand and say, "Fellow Daoist Zhu, don’t be anxious, I’ll take Daoist friend to meet the demon right away."

Then he promptly led the way. New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novelꞁire.net

Following him, Zhouyang and others naturally hurried along.

This way, after flying for dozens of miles, they followed him to land in a cave mansion located within the mountain abdomen and then saw the true demon of the demon race he had mentioned.

Deep inside the cave mansion was an enormous underground hall, with a central location featuring a massive underground altar, around which thirty-six silver-white pillars carved with dragons and phoenixes stood tall, each towering over a hundred zhang.

Thirty-six silver-white pillars formed a circular encirclement around the altar, each pillar extending chains as thick as a human waist. One end connected to a pillar, the other locked onto the massive creature sprawled on the altar.

It was a monstrous creature resembling a giant rhinoceros, its body length reaching two to three hundred zhang, lying down it still stood nearly forty zhang tall.

This creature possessed a head but no tail, horned but hairless, its body covered in scale armor, six legs, a mouth akin to a wild boar, baring fangs ferociously; though its eyes were closed as it lay there, an overwhelming aura naturally spread out from its body.

"This true demon is called ’Heaven-Sundering True Demon’, and what you’re seeing now is its true magical body. In the past, this fiend wreaked havoc across the cultivation realm, devouring dozens of Nascent Soul stage cultivators!"

"Later, it was the Tribulation Crossing True Immortal, Master Yan Hua, from our Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, who took action. He teamed up with hundreds of Nascent Soul stage cultivators to design a scheme that transmitted it into the ’Dome Heaven Immortal Realm’. Using the environment rich in spiritual qi here, they arranged the Tier Seven Grand Array ’Celestial Spirit Demon Suppression Array’ from the True Immortal Realm, sealing and trapping it here, averting a catastrophe!"

"Now, the true magical body of this ’Heaven-Sundering True Demon’ is trapped by the ’Celestial Spirit Demon Suppression Array’, and its demon soul is also suppressed by the immortal treasure ’Celestial Dragon Soul-Sealing Seal’, allowing us a prime opportunity to annihilate this fiend!"

As Zhouyang and others stared wide-eyed at the colossal creature on the altar, Lu Xuanji’s deep and powerful voice suddenly resonated in the hall.

Zhouyang’s mind raced, recalling the legends and chronicles he had read about the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, yet he found no record of this figure.

The only possibility for such a scenario is that this person was active far too long ago, so distant that, except for the major sects like the Profound Sun Immortal Sect with their long-standing legacies, no external sources have records of this person.

Such circumstances are not unusual, after all, there are no historians in the cultivation realm; there’s no historical compendium recording all major events and the feats of every mighty figure in the cultivation realm.

Only major sects with long-standing legacies possess scripture pavilions that collect the top cultivators’ information from various eras, hence understanding these ancient figures’ biographies clearly.

"The true magical body of the Demon Race is no weaker than the true spirit battle body of my Demon Race. Fellow Daoist Lu, do you know the origins of this ’Heaven-Sundering True Demon’? Perhaps we can utilize its roots and background to our advantage."

Vermilion Bird Demon King Zhu Zizhen’s pair of phoenix eyes tightly fixed on the colossal creature on the altar, a flash of fervor crossing her gaze.

The true spirit battle body, the realm she dreams of achieving.

"According to the investigations by our sect ancestors throughout the ages, the roots of this ’Heaven-Sundering True Demon’ should originate from the upper-rank demon clan Taowu Race within the Demon Race, possessing the bloodline of the Taowu Ancestral Demon!"

Lu Xuanji seemed to understand Zhu Zizhen’s intent, and couldn’t help but shake his head, speaking softly of the information he knew.

Indeed, after hearing him out, Zhu Zizhen frowned, also shaking her head as she said, "It turns out to be the infamous Taowu Race. No wonder it managed to fake death and escape from the Lower Realm True Immortal’s hands, leaving Master Yan Hua and others helpless, only capable of suppressing and sealing it!"

Zhouyang’s understanding of the Demon Race came from Lu Xuanji’s prior explanation and introduction. As for the Taowu Race, he had never heard of it.

However, he did know that the Demon Race referred to as upper-rank in the True Demon Realm are nobles among demons, demons among demons.

Even the weakest of the upper-rank demons possess Purple Mansion stage strength, and each upper-rank demon clan has the bloodline of an ancestral demon flowing within.

Ancestral Demon, an existence within the Demon Race equivalent to the Harmonious Celestial Immortal Realm, reputed as immortal!

"Elder Lu, what is the Taowu Race? Is this demon clan very powerful?"

Eyes gleaming, Zhouyang actively inquired about Lu Xuanji, being straightforward about his unfamiliarity.

To him, acquiring more knowledge about the ’Heaven-Sundering True Demon’ on the altar is undoubtedly beneficial; in case of change, he would not be totally clueless.

"The Taowu Race refers to demons carrying the bloodline of the ancestral demon Taowu of the True Demon Realm. Ranked as upper-rank demons in the True Demon Realm, ten cultivators in the same realm may not match even a single member of this demon clan."

"This demon clan is renowned for its powerful physical strength, reportedly stronger than some same-realm barbaric beasts, naturally possessing soul-capturing divine techniques, their roar can shake a cultivator’s primordial spirit, leaving them motionless."

"In the past, the ’Heaven-Sundering True Demon’ wrought chaos in the cultivation realm, with just a roar, could directly seize the primordial spirits of cultivators below late-stage Nascent Soul, leaving them powerless and being swallowed up whole!"

"However, now this demon’s true magical body is sealed by the ’Celestial Spirit Demon Suppression Array’, and its demon soul is suppressed by the immortal treasure ’Celestial Dragon Soul-Sealing Seal’. Regardless of its world-shattering demon might and immense divine power, it can’t move an inch from the altar, nor can it roar!"

Lu Xuanji, not dismissing Zhouyang’s query due to his low cultivation, patiently explained the origins and specialized divine techniques of the Taowu Race.

This made Yin Hanguang and Zhu Zizhen give Zhouyang a few extra glances, bewildered as to what might make this first-layer Golden Core junior cultivator worthy of Lu Xuanji’s regard, solely because he possessed the ’Qianyang Treasure Body’ and mastered the ’Qianyang True Flame’?

Yet their pride kept them from asking further.

After resolving Zhouyang’s doubts, Lu Xuanji clapped his hands together, addressing the outsiders invited to assist with a cupped-fist salute: "Fellow Daoists, the matters promised by Lu to the fellow Daoists are all settled. Next, it’s time for the fellow Daoists to fulfill your promises!"

"As long as we successfully eradicate the demon this time, Lu will certainly offer substantial rewards post-factum, hoping fellow Daoists can join forces with Lu to eliminate this demon!"

Just as he said, the outsiders here to help were all recipients of his favors; aside from Zhouyang, others had signed special blood contracts with him, permitting no reneging.

Therefore, upon hearing his words, Yin Hanguang and Zhu Zizhen exchanged a glance, both solemnly cupping their hands in return, saying, "We will give it our all."

"Good, with the assistance of all esteemed Daoists, I believe this time we will surely succeed," Lu Xuanji nodded and immediately started assigning tasks to everyone.

Before long, Zhouyang and his companions learned the entire process from Lu Xuanji’s mouth and together sat cross-legged on the open ground outside the underground altar.

Zhouyang, Yin Hanguang, Zhu Zizhen, and Master Jinyang sat in the four corners, with Lu Xuanji himself in the center, and Master Baiyang sat a foot behind Zhouyang.

When everyone was ready, Master Baiyang was the first to deploy the Dharma Transmission Secret Technique.

As this Nascent Soul Stage cultivator formed a series of hand seals, he abruptly let out a low shout, and suddenly, a plump, white infant emerged from the top of his head.

The infant was about seven inches tall, with complete eyes, ears, mouth, nose, hands, and feet, resembling Master Baiyang exactly—a miniature version of Baiyang, albeit appearing somewhat illusory.

This was because a Nascent Soul is a pure energy form, not a flesh-and-blood body.

This was Zhouyang’s first time witnessing the legendary Nascent Soul, and it aligned with the descriptions he had read in books.

According to ancient records, when a cultivator first forms a Nascent Soul, it is only three inches tall. As the cultivation progresses to the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul, it grows to five inches, Late-Stage Nascent Soul would be seven inches, and it is said that the Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul at the Half-Step True Immortal Level can reach nine inches.

Zhouyang noticed that after the Nascent Soul’s emergence, Master Baiyang’s physical vitality began to drop sharply, and his already aged body started to age rapidly.

Normal Nascent Soul emergence would not be .

Although Nascent Soul Stage cultivators rarely let their Nascent Souls out of their bodies for fear of being ambushed.

But in usual Nascent Soul emergence, a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator’s physical vitality does not suffer any loss; it simply takes a little time to eliminate any disconnection that occurs if the Nascent Soul stays outside the body for a long period.

Evidently, the Dharma Transmission Secret Technique was already commencing when Master Baiyang’s Nascent Soul left his body.

The low shout entered Zhouyang’s ears, making his heart tremble, and he quickly redirected his attention away from examining the Nascent Soul, focusing intently on receiving Master Baiyang’s influx of magical cultivation.

He didn’t have to wait long; the Nascent Soul of Master Baiyang, reluctantly glancing at its aging physical form, suddenly appeared above Zhouyang’s head, where it sat cross-legged.

Then, the infant’s tiny hand struck, applying a palm to Zhouyang’s Baihui acupoint atop his head, and instantly, a vast and overwhelming magical power like mountains and seas poured through the infant’s hand into Zhouyang’s body.

Zhouyang emitted a low growl akin to a beast, his long hair fluttering wildly, and his facial muscles twitched and trembled, as though experiencing immense pain.

It was indeed a great pain.

Master Baiyang was a Late-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator; with his cultivation level employing the Dharma Transmission Secret Technique, he infused magical power into Zhouyang akin to that of a Third-Layer Nascent Soul cultivator.

And Zhouyang’s cultivation was now only at the First-Layer Golden Core!

Enduring the magical power equivalent to that of a Third-Layer Nascent Soul cultivator with a First-Layer Golden Core’s body, even though his physical meridians were stronger than those of ordinary Golden Core cultivators, he was subjected to unbearable pressure.

The difference between Nascent Soul and Golden Core Stage cultivators spans many aspects; otherwise, the old ghost Xu Song wouldn’t be so thrilled when obtaining the remains of a "Fake Infant" cultivator, as if acquiring a great treasure.

"Don’t overbear, quickly employ Divine Techniques to consume the magical power within!"

Lu Xuanji’s voice timely reached Zhouyang’s mind, awakening him from the immense pain.

Immediately, he hurriedly injected the seemingly endless magical power within into the "Qianyang Treasure Pearl," utilizing this Tier Seven Immortal Artifact’s help, he raised his hand to release a pure golden flame pillar towards Lu Xuanji facing him not far away.

Looking at Lu Xuanji, he had already summoned a golden pill furnace spiritual artifact hanging above his head, and the golden flame released by Zhouyang was instantly absorbed into the furnace by the golden pill furnace spiritual artifact.

Simultaneously, the golden "Sun Golden Flame," white-gold "Bright Holy Flame," and vermilion "Vermilion Bird True Flame" respectively flew from the hands of Master Jinyang, Yin Hanguang, and Zhu Zizhen — two humans and one demon — converging upon the golden pill furnace spiritual artifact in front of Lu Xuanji.