Immortal-Demon War

Immortal-Demon War

War was a great millstone, sifting out the weak while tempering the strong and making them stronger.

Clearly, Yan Ru was one of those who had been tempered.

"Congratulations, Senior Sister Yan. You've advanced to Qi Refining Layer 6," Han Yi said with a smile.

Yan Ru's cultivation had impressively advanced to Qi Refining Layer 6, and she was already a seasoned sixth-layer cultivator. Han Yi was sincerely happy for her.

Yan Ru shook her head without replying, then turned and led Han Yi into the trading room.

A moment later.

The two emerged again. Han Yi had fewer pills in his pouch and more spirit stones.

"Oh, right, Junior Brother Han, I need to thank you. Your Breakthrough Pill kept me alive during the slaughter in the Demon Cave."

"I owe you a favor."

As if recalling something, the icy expression on Yan Ru's face softened slightly, and she even forced out a rare trace of a smile.

It was clear that Yan Ru had hardly smiled at all over the past three years. That faint smile seemed far too forced.

"No need. This was a transaction; there's no favor involved."

Han Yi shook his head. Yan Ru had paid for every pill he sold her.

Moreover, he would not give away pills for free just because Yan Ru or Chu Jinmo were women he knew. At most, he could offer them a discount, but he still had to make money.

The Breakthrough Pill was one of the six kinds of pills Han Yi had frequently refined over the past few years.

Breakthrough, breakthrough—this pill could not actually help someone break through. Rather, it contained violent spiritual energy that could temporarily force open one's current realm and raise one's cultivation by a minor level.

It was a combat-type pill.

Naturally, its side effects were severe as well.

Before Yan Ru left three years ago, she had come to Han Yi to buy some pills. Han Yi had sold her a freshly refined batch of Standard Quality Breakthrough Pills.

So strictly speaking, Yan Ru was not wrong to say that she owed Han Yi a favor.

Without that bottle of Standard Quality Breakthrough Pills, Yan Ru would have died in the Demon Cave.

Still.

Han Yi classified it as business, avoiding the entanglement of too much affection between man and woman.

"Oh, right, Senior Sister Yan, what exactly was the Demon Cave like?"

Before leaving, Han Yi could not help stopping and voicing the question that had been weighing on him.

Yan Ru tilted her head slightly, as though something had come to mind. Her face instantly turned pale, then returned to normal in the next moment.

"Terrifying. Extremely terrifying."

"Heavenly Demons originally had no physical bodies, but in the Demon Cave, every Heavenly Demon that possessed a cultivator gained a physical body. Once they had bodies, Heavenly Demons no longer merely tempted others—they possessed true combat strength."

"One Qi Refining Layer 6 Heavenly Demon required three Qi Refining Layer 6 cultivators to contend against it."

"The dead were everywhere. Cultivators' corpses covered the ground."

Having said that much, Yan Ru clearly did not wish to say more, and she shook her head.

"Junior Brother Han, you should be grateful you weren't chosen."

With that, Yan Ru said no more and turned to head up the mountain.

Han Yi remained where he was, his eyes narrowing slightly as he gained a deeper understanding of the things he had heard before.

"The Immortal-Demon War truly is terrifying. It is the most terrifying war in this world, far more dreadful than sectarian slaughter."

"Because in the battle between immortals and demons, cultivators have no road of retreat. If the Heavenly Demons cannot be destroyed, the entire cultivation world may gradually be infiltrated and eventually turned into a breeding ground for Heavenly Demons."

Han Yi descended Little Sea View Peak and made a trip to Overseas Peak.

Among the people Han Yi knew, Ma Yu, whom he had met on Vermilion Bird Peak three years ago, had died in the Demon Cave.

Chu Jinmo, who had originally lived on Little Sea View Peak, broke through to Qi Refining Layer 7 three years ago and moved into White Tiger Peak, one of the Inner Peaks. She remained in the sect afterward and did not march out with the expedition.

Guan Di, with whom he had a fairly good relationship and who could be considered half a friend, had also been selected to join the expedition. He had returned alive half a month ago and, as he had wished, broken through to Qi Refining Layer 7.

After returning to the sect, Guan Di moved from Little Dragon Beard Peak to Overseas Peak, one of the Inner Peaks.

Of Mystic Pill Sect's nine Inner Peaks, Azure Dragon stood first, Vermilion Bird second, followed by White Tiger, Black Tortoise, Zhurong, Golden Court, Red Sun, Overseas, and Sword Pill.

There were over a hundred Outer Peaks. Han Yi had only visited around twenty of them. Aside from Little Spirit Void Peak, Little Sea View Peak, Little Firm Rock Peak, and Little Dragon Beard Peak, the rest were Outer Peaks where market districts were located.

At the foot of Overseas Peak, Han Yi met up with Zheng Hai, who had long been waiting there, and the two headed up the mountain together.

When they saw Guan Di, an intimidating pressure also seeped unconsciously from his body. Mixed within that pressure were sharp sword intent and killing aura, making every hair on Han Yi's body stand on end in reflex.

Zheng Hai had it even worse. He was still only at Qi Refining Layer 4, and when faced with the unconsciously emitted might of a Qi Refining Layer 7 cultivator, his face immediately went pale.

"Senior Guan, hurry and withdraw that Qi Refining Late Stage aura. It's making my heart tremble with fear."

Guan Di froze for a moment, then withdrew his aura and said apologetically, "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention."

Only then did Zheng Hai feel a little better.

He smiled and cupped his hands in congratulations. "Senior Guan, congratulations! You finally got your wish, advancing to Qi Refining Layer 7 and moving into an Inner Peak."

"From now on, you'll soar into the heavens. Qi Refining Layer 8, Layer 9, even Foundation Establishment on the immortal path—none of it will be just a dream."

Han Yi also offered his congratulations at the right moment.

Guan Di nodded. Zheng Hai and Han Yi coming to congratulate him truly made him happy from the bottom of his heart.

"How have you two been these past three years?"

"Eh? Junior Brother Han, your progress has been remarkable. You're already nearing the peak of Qi Refining Layer 5, and Qi Refining Layer 6 isn't far away. But don't go swallowing pills recklessly, kid. Damaging your foundation would be more loss than gain."

Guan Di saw Han Yi's current realm at a glance and could not help offering a warning.

"Junior Brother Zheng, your cultivation is quite solid."

Zheng Hai gave a bitter smile. What Guan Di meant by solid was that his cultivation had not made much of a breakthrough.

Actually.

This was the normal rate of progress for the Qi Refining Middle Stage. People like Han Yi, who directly consumed spirit stones and cultivated like mad, were still in the minority.

And if there were any, they were certainly Immortal Second Generations or Immortal Third Generations who did not lack money.

"By the way, Senior Guan, did you advance to Qi Refining Layer 7 amid the fighting?"

"What exactly was the Demon Cave like?"

Han Yi asked Guan Di the very same question he had asked Yan Ru.

Zheng Hai was clearly interested as well. His eyes widened as he stared eagerly at Guan Di.

To disciples like them who had never gone to the Demon Cave, the Demon Cave was an unimaginably terrifying slaughter. They could only rely on their imaginations to recreate that dreadful battle.

Now that they had finally encountered someone who had been there, they naturally wanted to hear what he had to say.

"The Demon Cave..."

Guan Di paused, fear surfacing in his eyes.

The instant he mentioned those two words, he fell silent. Only after a long while did he continue.

"Heavenly Demons manifest, cultivators perish."

"Even Foundation Establishment cultivators are as insignificant as ants in the battle of the Demon Cave. Only great cultivators at the Golden Core Stage can play even a slight role."

"You—no, we—are still far too weak. Cultivate well."

Guan Di shook his head, then changed the subject.

"Oh, right. The sect suffered grievous losses this time. More than two hundred Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators alone perished, so many positions in the Inner Peaks will be left vacant."

"I suspect it is not impossible that Outer Peak disciples at Qi Refining Layer 6 will be allowed to move into the Inner Peaks early, using the Third and Fourth Order Spirit Veins there to accelerate their cultivation."

"Junior Brother Han, this opportunity comes once in a thousand years—indeed, it may be utterly unprecedented. You must seize it."

The moment Guan Di said this, Han Yi's whole body trembled.

That was right. Previously, one had to advance to the Qi Refining Late Stage before being allowed to live in an Inner Peak. That was Mystic Pill Sect's rule.

But things were different now.

The battle in the Demon Cave had absolutely wounded Mystic Pill Sect to the bone. More than a hundred Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators had died in the Inner Peaks this time, meaning more than a hundred courtyards had become available.

The spirit veins beneath those courtyards were not First and Second Order Spirit Veins, but Third and Fourth Order Spirit Veins.

Even Foundation Establishment cultivators could cultivate with the aid of Third Order Spirit Veins, let alone cultivators in the Qi Refining Middle and Late Stages.

An opportunity that came once in a thousand years—absolutely an opportunity that came once in a thousand years.

Coming to Overseas Peak today had been the right choice.

Han Yi was inwardly exhilarated.

Zheng Hai, beside him, was somewhat envious. But he was only at Qi Refining Layer 4, still some distance from Qi Refining Layer 5, let alone Qi Refining Layer 6. This time, he had absolutely no chance.

"Of course, Junior Brother Han, don't get too excited yet. Though this opportunity comes once in a thousand years, the competition will be equally fierce."

"From what I know, there are more than sixteen hundred Qi Refining Layer 6 cultivators in the Outer Peaks. That means more than sixteen hundred people competing for just over a hundred slots, roughly a ten-to-one ratio."

"What you need to do now is break through to Qi Refining Layer 6 as soon as possible."