One Monk, One Dao, One Blood Fiend

The Lesser Yang Division Refuge is located in a burial area east of Chunze, surrounded by Concealment Formation and Defensive Formation set up by the Saint Mind Master, who are elders of the Ancient Years Clan.

It is hidden in the formless, yet as solid as a rock.

Although it is called a refuge, it actually covers an area of 100 acres and has cave dwellings embedded in the mountain. There are also a cluster of pavilions and a large training ground. Over the past hundred years, countless young disciples of the Ancient Years Clan have cultivated here.

A hundred years outside is a thousand years inside the underworld.

It is evident how many powerful individuals the Ancient Years Clan have cultivated in the last century.

With such a surge in strength, no matter how much one tries to conceal their abilities, their true intentions will eventually be revealed.

Unfortunately, while the power of time can rapidly create a large number of Longevity Realm Martial Cultivator, the Stored Son of Heaven and the Martial Path Son of Heaven cannot be born simply through the accumulation and selection of time.

Moreover, the Netherworld was completely eradicated 20,000 years ago, leaving only mist. Every Longevity Realm Martial Cultivator enters it for cultivation consumes the Netherworld's energy, causing the Netherworld to shrink and perish continuously.

If a transcendent expert were to enter the Netherworld for cultivation, the consumption of Netherworld spiritual energy would only accelerate. A third Netherworld like the Tiandu River Nether Domain, which covers an area of eight hundred miles, would likely vanish within a few decades.

Time has painted a picture that adorns the entire view to the west of the shelter.

Under the moonlight, Qing Ziqin, beautiful and slender, carefully tended to the Chun Silkworm.

The Chun Silkworm are now in their fifth instar, entering a period of rapid growth and consuming much more food. They are enormous, already eight inches long, and their bodies radiate a glow like lanterns.

Mo Duanfeng sat on the stone steps beside the training ground, repeatedly wiping his silver battle blade, striving to achieve the state of perfect harmony between man and blade. Unfortunately, the Blood Pool Silver Sea was ultimately not the Gangang Saber.

Tang Wanzhou had returned from the border a quarter of an hour ago and was now recounting the news she had brought back to everyone. She said, "The Ancient Kingdom of the Years Ruin will be in extreme danger from now on. The Du'e Temple, the Dao Palace, and the Demon Race are already evacuating one after another, preparing to retreat to the Netherworld near the border, ready to leave at any time. Everyone, the situation has deteriorated severely, and the Dongxu Camp has asked us to consider whether we should also evacuate."

Liu Ye calculated the time. "From the discovery that the Withered-Prosperous Belt had entered a weak cycle until now, it should have been more than seven months and ten days outside. Each weak cycle lasts about a year. Subtracting the time it takes for us to leave and various uncertainties, in other words, we can stay here to cultivate for a maximum of three more years."

"Given the speed at which the Demon Kingdom's altar is being built, they should attempt to cross over within a month. Once they succeed, the one who will arrive in Chun City will likely be the Transcendent One, or even the Devil Lord himself. Will we be able to escape then?" Yan Zhiruo, wearing a veil and carrying a pipa, stood on the rooftop, her figure appearing and disappearing in the mist.

All eyes turned to Chang Yujian.

Chang Yujian stood beside the weapon rack, her white robes spotless, and said with a wry smile, "Don't underestimate me. The Chang family's influence in the army is weak. If the Chang family's enemies discover me, I'm afraid I'll be dealt with too."

Tang Wanzhou was dressed in black robes as hard as iron, with a cloak over them. Her figure possessed both the grace of a woman and the sharpness of a capable and heroic spirit. The aura and magical energy she exuded were enough to subdue everyone present.

She said, "The Dongxu Camp informed us that the beings appearing outside the border of the Ancient Kingdom of the Years Ruin are One Monk, One Dao, One Blood Fiend from the Demon Kingdom."

"Just three people?" Liu Ye asked.

Chang Yujian's expression was solemn, as if three mountains had suddenly been placed on her shoulders. She waved her hand and said, "It should be the three demon armies led by these three terrifying beings. The Demon Kingdom's attack this time is fierce and seems different from the past. It's not a probing attack."

"The monk refers to Monk Qu Qiao, one of the three demonic figures."

"The 'One Path' refers to Wenren Miedao, one of the nine Demon Minister."

"The Blood Fiend, everyone surely knows him, the Old Ancestor of the Sacred Dark Family, the Blood Fiend Ancestor."

"In the Southern Yingzhou, the Blood Fiend Ancestor's research on Spatial Power is either among the top three or top five. Only a few Martial Path Son of Heaven Emperor Mind Master are stronger than him. He is indispensable in breaking the Withered-Prosperous Belt and Flourishing Belt."

"The Monk Qu Qiao is the strongest Saint Spirit King Mind Master of the Demon Kingdom, and he has considerable knowledge of the power of time. It is said that he collects Years Stone during each weak cycle, intending to set up a time array in the Demon Aspect Mansion's Mansion."

At Song Yulou's 60th birthday banquet, the Demon Child boasted that any Demon Minister or Demon Minister who arrived could wipe out all the transcendent Lingxiao Shengjing, demonstrating the power of the Demon Minister and Demon Minister.

However, as it turned out, even with the Demon Country Crown Prince personally taking action, he suffered a crushing defeat.

Tang Wanzhou said, "There's another piece of news: Gu Zhenxiang is personally overseeing the border altar, with a large number of soldiers from the Five Seas and Daoist warriors protecting him. The situation there is now settled."

For the younger generation, the name of Gu Zhenxiang is an insurmountable peak.

"Although we have obtained the Chun Silkworm from the Ancient Years Clan, the current situation is beyond our control," Yan Zhiruo said quietly, expressing her intention to retreat and agreeing to withdraw.

Scholar Zhao Tang nodded slightly. "Over at Netherworld Spirit Mountain, we have already done our best to buy the Ancient Years Clan a great deal of time. To fight any further would be like throwing an egg against a rock, utterly overestimating our own strength."

Before entering the Ancient Kingdom of the Years Ruin, Yan Zhiruo and Zhao Tang were already at the Peak Third Realm.

After years of cultivation in the underworld, they have found the White Tiger Lock and weakened it considerably through repeated impacts.

The two were confident that, with the help of the Chun Silkworm, they would soon break through to the Fourth Realm after leaving, becoming Great Longevity and ranking high on the Longevity Earth Ranking. They had already achieved their goal of coming to the Ancient Kingdom of the Years Ruin: to complete the path that other martial cultivators would take ten years to walk.

Qing Ziqin said, "I also agree with the withdrawal. With my cultivation level, I can't be of much help anymore. But I suggest waiting a few more months, at least until the Chun Silkworm are fully mature. I'm afraid they might encounter accidents when passing through the Withered-Prosperous Belt."

When the Chun Silkworm was mentioned, everyone immediately reached a consensus—to evacuate as soon as it matured.

What takes a few months in the underworld is only half a month in the outside world; they can afford to wait that long.

Seeing several gazes fall upon him, Mo Duanfeng forced a smile onto his stern face, "Don't look at me! I will not leave until I kill Chu Yutian and retrieve the Gangang Saber. I have no face to return to the Holy Capital."

Tang Wanzhou let out a soft "hmm," sensing something, and turned to look towards the gate. There stood a tall, handsome figure outside the array's Light Veil, who said lightly, "Our great hero has returned!"

Liu Ye walked over quickly and activated the formation.

Li Weiyi stepped into the array's Light Veil, looked at the crowd gathered in the training ground, slightly surprised, and smiled, "Isn't anyone here cultivating? Don't tell me you all came out of seclusion specifically to welcome me."

Tang Wanzhou stood under the eaves, sword in hand, his tone slow and deliberate. "You are different now. You killed Huangfu Song, cleaved through the Xue Sanguan with your sword, repelled Chu Yutian, defeated Great Longevity, and killed more than a dozen Departed Spirit Marquis in a single battle. Your exploits have become legendary. The young martial artists of Du'e Temple and Dao Palace have elevated you to a level on par with Gu Zhenxiang and Shenji."

Li Weiyi scanned the crowd's eyes; some smiled, while others were filled with respect. He quickly said, "Holy Master, please don't flatter me! Brother Mo knows the truth best."

"The truth is, you have indeed reached the top level of martial arts practitioners under the age of one hundred. With the help of the Chun Silkworm, you can catch up for a while. In the <Longevity Earth Ranking> to be announced next year, you will definitely be in the top ten, and may even be in the top five. You and Tang Wanzhou are still at a disadvantage because you are too young. The gap between you and those top experts who have lived to be eighty or ninety years old cannot be closed in a short period of time." Mo Duanfeng said seriously without smiling.

What Mo Duanfeng wanted to say was that those Ancient Sect True Disciples and Son of Heaven's Disciple at the Peak Third Realm, who seemed to be standing still for years, were actually making progress and constantly breaking the White Tiger Lock, just like Zhao Tang and Yan Zhiruo.

Once they break free, Li Weiyi and Tang Wanzhou will need to chase after them for a very long time.

Yan Zhiruo asked with a soft, charming voice, "Where's your Nangong? Why didn't he come back with you?"

Li Weiyi glanced at Tang Wanzhou, who was looking up at the passing years with his chin slightly raised, and quickly said, "This is no joke."

"Sister Yan, I'm not joking at all. Any man who could escort me through such a life-or-death journey, I would give him my whole heart and follow him for life," Yan Zhiruo said.

Li Weiyi dared not let her continue, and changed the subject. "I have some latest developments that I'd like to discuss with you all."

He then recounted some of the matters concerning the Ancient Years Clan.

After hearing this, everyone was shocked and speechless for a long time.

Liu Ye said, "Has the situation become this dire? If the armies of the Netherworld of the Departed and the Demon Country's Army attack the Sacred Hall Life Realm, how many people will die? Where does the Demon Kingdom place the Declaration of Life and Death for the Hundred Realms?"

"It seems the rumors are true; Yu Baxian is most likely nearing the end of his lifespan," Mo Duanfeng said.

Tang Wanzhou said, "You want to help the Ancient Years Clan buy us a month's time?"

Before Li Weiyi could speak, Mo Duanfeng said, "This isn't about helping the Ancient Years Clan, but about helping those innocent humans in the Sacred Hall Life Realm. They need time to evacuate, and they need time to set up defenses. Right, Li Weiyi?"

Li Weiyi looked at Mo Duanfeng and smiled, "Brother Mo thinks too highly of me. Actually, I have many selfish motives."

We cannot tell them about the Great Palace Master's affairs for the time being.

The Thousand-Year Elixir obtained from Nangong Ao must also be kept secret.

"It's alright. As long as it can save many people, I'll help you. Nobody is a saint, and everyone has selfish motives. If I don't achieve something in the Ancient Kingdom of the Years Ruin, I'll never be able to hold my head high again when I return to the Holy Capital. I won't be able to stand up straight."

Mo Duanfeng picked up the Blood Pool Silver Sea and said, "However, I need to borrow this sword for a while longer."

"Please feel free to borrow."

Li Weiyi gained a deeper understanding of Mo Duanfeng. Although Mo Duanfeng was arrogant, when it came to matters of principle, he was like a sword that had been cleaved out, never wavering or weak, but forging ahead without hesitation.

No wonder even the Sacred Son of Heaven praised it as a fine sword.

"To delay them for a month, we must destroy the altar the Demon Kingdom built on the border, but that's an incredibly difficult task."

Tang Wanzhou then explained the situation at the border.

"The Gu Zhenxiang?"

This enemy was one that Li Weiyi had never considered. However, since he was standing in his way, even if he were a divine mountain, he would still cut him down.

After hesitating for a while, Li Weiyi looked at Tang Wanzhou, "Is Saint Si willing to lend me a hand?"