Translator: AnubisTL
"How dare you destroy the demonic seed!"
As the words echoed, two ferocious, hulking figures burst forth, their bodies wreathed in dense demonic qi.
These were two demons covered in sharp spines, their bodies as black as ink and their faces twisted into hideous grimaces. A mysterious purple sigil adorned their foreheads, radiating an eerie, otherworldly aura.
The moment Chi Feng and Chi Yan appeared, the Lingyun Sect elders tensed, as if facing a formidable enemy. Though they couldn't understand the ancient demonic language, they sensed the intense fury and murderous intent in the demons' voices.
"So these are the ancient demons? Only two of them?"
"Their aura isn't weak—equivalent to mid-foundation establishment stage cultivators."
"Hahahaha! Is this all they've got? And we were so terrified before!"
"Heh, ancient demons are nothing special after all."
Before the two ancient demons could even react, some Lingyun Sect elders activated their magic artifacts, launching direct attacks at the demons who had emerged to investigate the disturbance.
Many were eager to join the fray, but others remained calm, refraining from hasty action and patiently observing how the situation would unfold.
"Kill! Ancient demon, meet your end!"
A brilliant golden light suddenly erupted in the deep darkness, so dazzling it was almost blinding.
It was a golden long blade, slashing through the air with tremendous force, cleaving through half the demonic qi in its path.
Swish!
With a single strike, the ancient demon Chi Feng was instantly slain. His demonic body was cleanly split from head to toe, unleashing a torrent of purple liquid and black demonic qi.
Boom!
The residual power of the golden blade talisman treasure continued its descent, carving a deep fissure into the earth.
The might of a talisman treasure was truly terrifying!
"Chi Feng! No!"
Chi Yan, standing nearby, hadn't even had time to react. He roared in grief and fury, then glared hatefully at the Lingyun Sect elders ahead.
This was the first time since his birth that he had ever felt such intense hatred for a group of people.
"Ah!"
Realizing he was outnumbered, Chi Yan immediately turned and fled, daring not face so many human cultivators.
Whoosh!
"What's he babbling about? Can't understand a word—probably nothing good!"
"Hmph, where do you think you're going?!"
"The ancient demonic race is nothing more than this. Even if they've survived all these years, they're likely just clinging to life by a thread."
"Die, ancient demon! Pay with your life for the great cultivators of the past!"
Many Lingyun Sect elders were already brimming with excitement. Before entering, their spirits had been tightly suppressed. Now, seeing the ancient demon that had haunted their nightmares so weak, their pent-up emotions erupted.
Of course, some remained calm.
Shen Ningbing, for example, frowned slightly, choosing not to join the elders chasing the fleeing ancient demon. Instead, she meticulously examined the corpse of the one that had just fallen.
"Only this much demonic qi dispersed after its death? That doesn't make sense. Given the power of that demonic qi seed earlier, there must be even stronger ancient demons lurking here!"
Shen Ningbing analyzed the situation with icy detachment, a sense of foreboding creeping into her heart.
The elders who had rushed ahead were acting too impulsively. With the group now scattered, future exploration would undoubtedly be compromised.
"Let's follow slowly and try to persuade our fellow disciples ahead to be cautious," someone suggested uneasily.
Others quickly agreed. "Yes, it's best to proceed. We were going to continue exploring anyway, and now that someone has cleared the path, we can push our exploration further."
After a brief discussion, the group decided to continue forward.
Outside the Cold Wind Pool, the Lingyun Sect members who had been waiting grew increasingly impatient.
"It's been so long. Could something have gone wrong?"
"Be patient. The second group has to traverse the previously explored areas, so it will naturally take longer."
"That's right. The further we go, the more time it will take."
"..."
Nearby, Li Qing remained patiently seated in meditation, pondering inwardly.
"Entering the Cold Wind Pool leads to the Cold Wind Secret Realm, and the Netherworld Cold Fire lies deep within that realm."
"However, the secret realm isn't the place where the ancient demon is sealed. It's a separate grotto-heaven. I wonder if we'll even have a chance to subdue that spirit fire on this trip."
As he spoke, the Cold Wind Pool began to tremble violently once more.
Rumble!
In an instant, Ancestor Devourer of Heaven and Ancestor Bing Yun reacted, immediately opening the passage to the secret realm.
"Cough, cough! Ancient demons! A massive number of ancient demons!"
"Quick, someone come! There are over a hundred powerful ancient demons within the grotto-heaven of the sealing formation!"
"Senior Brother Jia Miao died at the hands of the ancient demons! Many fellow disciples are trapped! Requesting reinforcements!"
Several wounded elders rushed out, their words tumbling over each other as they described the situation below, plunging the scene into chaos.
"Cough, cough! Cough, cough, cough!" Some of the elders' wounds were severe, their bodies wracked by violent coughing fits that splattered blood across the ground.
"Quick, bring healing pills!" Sect Leader Xu Yun urged urgently.
Beside him, Ancestor Devourer of Heaven frowned, channeling his divine sense power. "Calm yourselves," he said sternly. "What's with all this panic?"
"Speak slowly! Tell us everything that happened inside."
Soon, one of the elders regained his composure and began to recount the events. "We followed the trail left by the first group of elders. After spotting the spiritual seal, we continued our exploration deeper into the realm."
"We quickly discovered a demonic qi seed. After destroying it, two ancient demons with strength equivalent to mid-foundation establishment stage cultivators immediately appeared."
"They chattered in some incomprehensible language, but their fury was unmistakable."
"Later, one of our senior brothers grew impatient and used a golden blade talisman treasure to swiftly kill one of the ancient demons. The other demon fled immediately."
"Several elders, acting rashly, pursued the fleeing demon deep into the secret realm. To their surprise, they provoked a massive swarm of ancient demons, all at least at the foundation establishment realm!"
A collective gasp swept through the crowd.
"Roughly how many were there? Can you estimate?" Ancestor Devourer of Heaven pressed urgently.
"It's unclear. The interior was pitch-black and utterly chaotic."
"Have any stronger ancient demons appeared?"
An elder immediately replied, "We haven't detected any yet, but it's likely more powerful demons are present."
At that moment, Ancestor Bing Yun's patience snapped. Her voice icy, she demanded, "Where's Ningbing? Why hasn't she emerged yet?!"
At the mention of Shen Ningbing, the crowd grew evasive. "Junior Sister Ningbing retreated too late. She's likely trapped with the other elders, surrounded by the ancient demons."
Ancestor Bing Yun's brows furrowed sharply, and she nearly charged into the secret realm herself.
"Junior Sister Bing Yun, calm yourself. The gap in the formation can only accommodate cultivators at the late foundation establishment realm at most. Your impulsiveness won't help."
"Shen Ningbing possesses a variant spirit root. She wouldn't be easily overwhelmed."
Ancestor Devourer of Heaven calmly advised, quickly formulating a plan. "Next, the third, fourth, and fifth groups of elders will enter together, focusing on rescuing the trapped elders."
"Additionally, if possible, attempt to capture an ancient demon alive!"
"If we can capture one alive, I can use the soul-searching and spirit-refining technique to completely understand the situation within the formation, eliminating the need for further risks."
"The sixth through tenth groups of elders should also prepare to move at any moment!"
Upon hearing this, the elders from the sixth group onward visibly relaxed, their faces showing relief.
There was no time to linger. The entrance to the secret realm remained open, and the three groups of elders who had been called upon stood up nervously.
"Do not fear. Most of the ancient demons we've encountered so far are of ordinary strength. Your mission is to rescue the other elders and capture an ancient demon alive."
"Once the mission is complete, you may return. Ancestor Bing Yun and I will keep the secret realm passage open."
With these words, the rescue operation began.
The three groups of elders entered simultaneously, totaling over forty cultivators, all at the foundation establishment realm!
Despite their numbers, their morale was low, each member's anxiety reaching its peak.
Even the usually composed Li Qing wore a grave expression.
They hadn't expected to confront the ancient demon so soon, leaving them no time to prepare.
With no other choice, Li Qing followed the crowd and leaped into the natural Cold Wind Pool at the mountain's peak.
Boom!
A deafening roar filled his ears as his vision blurred.
Splash!
When his feet touched solid ground, Li Qing knew he had entered the Cold Wind Secret Realm.
"This place used to be Lingyun Sect's private reserve," someone said. "Every two hundred years, we could come here to harvest rare spirit herbs. What a pity..."
Now, rampant demonic qi had tainted the heaven and earth spiritual energy, causing all the spirit herbs in the secret realm to wither and die.
Li Qing scanned the desolate landscape and clenched his fists.
Within this secret realm lay the heavenly spirit fire he needed!
But with his current mission, he had no opportunity to search for it.
"Let's move," someone urged. "The breach in the Extreme Ice Demon-Sealing Formation is in the southern part of the secret realm. Passing through it will lead us into the grotto-heaven where the ancient demon is sealed."
The group quickly advanced southward.
As they approached the breach in the Extreme Ice Demon-Sealing Formation, the demonic qi in the air grew increasingly dense.
As the group approached the breach in the Extreme Ice Demon-Sealing Formation, a sinister, jet-black hand emerged from the gap before they could even pass through.
Snap!
The sight sent a chill down the spines of nearly all the elders, their hearts pounding violently.
"The ancient demonic race is about to break free?!"
Indeed, though they had never seen one before, the shape of the hand left no doubt: this was undeniably a demon!
"Shree-lee-ree-goo."
(End of the Chapter)
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