Immortal Envoy

Heart Calming Seclusion Cave, the Spirit Vein energy flowed like fine silver gauze between the rocks, accumulating into a thin halo on the bluestone platform. The halo undulated gently with the pulse of the Spirit Vein, like the breath of a slumbering monk, each rise and fall infusing Ren Xiaoyao with strands of pure Spiritual Qi. He sat cross-legged in the center of the halo, his eyes slightly closed. The pale golden barrier around him resonated with the halo, firmly locking the pulsating black demonic mark beneath his skin— the Chain Demonic Seal on his left arm was still faintly burning. Every few breaths, the remnant soul of the Ghost Bone Demon Emissary would crash into the barrier, each impact causing ripples to spread across it. But these ripples were quickly smoothed out by the surrounding Spirit Vein energy, leaving only a fleeting chill that dissipated into the Spiritual Qi within the cave.

He had just exhaled a breath of stale air, and the stagnant immortal energy in his chest began to flow smoothly again. He was preparing to guide the power of his Spirit Vein to reinforce the weak point on the west side of the barrier—the location of the Corrupted Heart Demon Emissary's Mist Demonic Seal. His divine soul had been severely depleted here when suppressing the demonic shadow, making the barrier nearly half as thin as other areas—when suddenly a clear bell rang out from outside the cave. The bell's sound pierced through the thick mountain walls, echoing within the cave. Each note carried a regular yet rapid fluctuation of immortal energy—the very sound that the Qingyun Sect had not rang for a hundred years. The "Immortal Cry Bell." According to the sect's ancient text, <Azure Cloud Records>, this bell must be activated by a cultivator at the Golden Core Stage or above using their immortal power. Moreover, it will only be rung when a high-level immortal is detected to be descending and whose immortal power fluctuations far exceed those of the sect's elders. Ordinary cultivators do not even have the qualification to make the bell tremble. However, the interval between the bell's tones is half a breath shorter than recorded in the Classics, and the rhythm is so rapid that it seems to be urging people on, as if waiting even a moment longer would lead to unforeseen changes. Clearly, the person who has arrived is not only of noble status but also carries a certain urgency that cannot be delayed.

Ren Xiaoyao subconsciously tightened his grip on the Creation Spear. The "Life" pattern on the spear instantly lit up, emanating a wisp of Emerald Spiritual Light that spread from between his fingers to his wrist, seemingly reminding him to be vigilant with its spiritual Spiritual Charm. The Demonic Curse had not yet been lifted, and his soul was still connected to the remnants of the four demonic envoys. His perception of Evil Qi was ten times more acute than that of ordinary cultivators. At this moment, he even managed to detect a faint trace of gloom, originating from the same source as the Demonic Curse, within the lingering echoes of the bell's tolling—an aura hidden deep within the fluctuations of immortal power, like ink mixed with clear water, imperceptible without careful observation. Only when one... Only those entangled in demonic energy for a long time can sense it. He rose and walked to the cave entrance, gathering a faint trace of immortal power at his fingertips, and gently pushed open a crack in the Stone Gate —as soon as he peeked out, he saw two golden streaks of light falling from the sky, like two fallen stars, their long tails tearing through the clouds of Cang Xuan Mountain. Where the tails of light swept, even the mountain mist was evaporated and dissipated. The streaks of light crashed heavily onto the main peak plaza, and the shockwave of spiritual light they generated upon landing caused the Spirit Tree around the plaza to sway slightly, and dewdrops dripped from their leaves.

As the light faded, two cultivators dressed in moon-white immortal robes stood side by side. The hems of their robes were embroidered with intricate "Soaring Cloud Pattern," the edges of which shimmered with a faint golden light, flowing gently with their breath. With each rise and fall, it seemed as if clouds and mist were drifting along the patterns, as if a small world had been embroidered onto their robes. The mutton-fat jade pendants hanging at their waists were warm and translucent. Sunlight fell on the pendants, reflecting a soft halo. The two characters "Immortal Court" on them were directly engraved with pure immortal power, and a faint immortal aura remained between the strokes. Even without getting close, they could make the cultivators with lower cultivation levels in the square subconsciously hold their breath, and even slow down the circulation of their spiritual power.

"It's someone from the Immortal Court!" The plaza instantly erupted in commotion as cultivators crowded around, their eyes filled with awe and anticipation. The white-haired elder, leaning on a cane inlaid with spirit jade, quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply. His white beard trembled slightly with excitement, and even his voice trembled slightly. "We were unaware of Immortal Envoy Celestial Envoy's arrival. Cang Xuan Mountain has failed to greet you properly. Immortal Envoy forgive any shortcomings in our etiquette!"

The Immortal Envoy on the left stepped forward, his figure as upright as a pine tree, his robes fluttering without wind, his voice booming like a bell, carrying an undeniable majesty. When his gaze swept across the plaza, even the air seemed to freeze under the pressure of Invisible Power: "Where is cultivator Ren Xiaoyao? We are here on the orders of the Immortal Court, carrying the ' Demon Purifying Immortal Talisman,' specifically to lift his Demonic Curse and restore Taiping to Cang Xuan Mountain, preventing the demonic energy from spreading and affecting the Immortal Realm."

Upon hearing this, the cultivators in the square were immediately overjoyed. A young cultivator in a blue robe couldn't help but exclaim, "Great! With the Immortal Court's intervention, Senior Brother Ren's Demonic Curse can finally be lifted! Cang Xuan Mountain can finally return to peace!" The cultivators around him echoed his sentiments, even the fear they had felt from the demonic shadow dissipated considerably, and smiles returned to their faces. The white-haired elder was so excited that he repeatedly clasped his hands, the wrinkles on his forehead smoothing out a bit. "Thank you Immortal Envoy, for your compassion for the cultivators of the lower realm! Junior Nephew Ren is currently in seclusion in the back mountain, focusing all his efforts on suppressing the Demonic Curse, not daring to relax even for a moment. I will send someone to invite him out immediately; I dare not trouble you, Immortal Envoy go to the back mountain."

"No need for trouble." The Immortal Envoy on the right suddenly raised his hand to stop them. His sleeve swept across the spiritual grass beside him, and the originally unfurled leaves instantly drooped slightly, as if suppressed by Invisible Power, unable to lift their heads. Even the spiritual light on the leaves dimmed slightly. A barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, a smile so fleeting it was almost an illusion, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes. This cold light was hidden beneath his gentle exterior, like ice crystals mixed in warm water, making it difficult to catch. "The Demonic Curse is dangerous. Every moment of delay increases the risk of it invading the soul. At that point, let alone lifting it, his soul might be completely devoured by the demonic energy. We will go with you to the secluded cave. Only by casting the spell on the spot can we ensure that nothing goes wrong, lest we miss the best opportunity."

Before they finished speaking, the two headed straight for the Heart Calming Seclusion Cave. Their steps seemed slow, yet each step precisely landed on the Spirit Vein Nodes of Cang Xuan Mountain. The Spiritual Qi along the way automatically parted to the sides, and even the pebbles on the ground floated slightly, as if an invisible path extended beneath their feet, allowing them to avoid all obstacles without deliberate searching. Ren Xiaoyao, inside the cave, took in all of this, and alarm bells suddenly rang in his mind—he had read in the sect's ancient book, <Secret Chronicles of the Immortal Realm>, that the Immortal Court was always indifferent to cultivators of the lower realms, regarding them as "Mortal World dust." Unless it involved the safety of the Immortal Realm, they would never easily send celestial Immortal Envoy descend. Moreover, although the immortal energy of these two seemed pure, it contained a very faint stagnation when circulating. That stagnation was seven-tenths similar to the feeling of demonic energy hindering the flow of immortal energy when a Demonic Curse was in effect, as if they had forcibly concealed the sinister nature of their aura with some secret technique, leaving only the surface purity.

He dared not delay, quickly holding the Creation Spear horizontally in front of him, his fingertips continuously channeling immortal power into the spear. The "Life" pattern emitted a rich Emerald Spiritual Light, which wove into a dense vine barrier on the cave walls. The vines intertwined, forming a natural barrier, and even blossomed into tiny white Spirit Flower. When the Spirit Flower bloomed, they released a faint purifying aura, making the air inside the cave fresh. The "Extinction" pattern flashed with silver-white lightning, which disappeared between the vines, leaving only a faint crackling current in the air. It was almost imperceptible unless one listened carefully, but it could erupt instantly when danger struck. The "Devour" pattern released a deep blue suction force, gathering the scattered Spirit Vein energy within the cave into a small vortex. The vortex surrounded him, like a protective layer, capable of converting external forces into defensive or offensive energy at any time. The "Immortal" pattern emitted a faint golden light, which merged with the divine soul barrier around him, forming a double protection. Even his divine soul was enveloped in the golden light, leaving no opportunity for Sinister Power to take advantage.

As soon as everything was arranged, the Stone Gate of the secluded cultivation cave was pushed open by a gentle yet irresistible force of immortal energy. The Stone Gate slowly moved to both sides, emitting a slight rumbling sound, and dust fell from the cracks in the stone. The two immortal Immortal Envoy walked into the cave side by side. When their gazes fell on Ren Xiaoyao, they scrutinized him from head to toe without any attempt to conceal it. Their eyes did not look at a cultivator of equal standing, but rather at an object that needed to be examined, with scrutiny and assessment, as if confirming whether he met some kind of "standard".

The Immortal Envoy on the left spoke first, his tone carrying an arrogant, almost condescending tone. When his gaze swept over the demonic mark on Ren Xiaoyao's arm, a barely perceptible glint of greed flashed in his eyes, a greed as swift as a shooting star across the night sky. "Ren Xiaoyao, the Demonic Curse upon you has penetrated deep into your three souls and seven spirits, and the demonic energy is even more entangled in your divine soul. If we hadn't arrived in time, within seven days, your divine soul would have been completely devoured by the demonic energy, turning you into a demonic puppet that only knows how to kill. At that time, not only would you be in grave danger, but the entire Cang Xuan Mountain would be implicated, and it might even affect the surrounding areas, bringing even greater disaster."

The Immortal Envoy on the right added at the opportune moment, his fingertips subtly twitching within his sleeve, seemingly gathering power in secret, yet deliberately concealing it. His tone remained as gentle as a spring breeze. "However, you are lucky. The ' Demon Purifying Immortal Talisman ' treasured by the Immortal Court is an High Antiquity artifact that can instantly dispel Demonic Curse, even purifying the demonic energy deep within one's soul. However, you must fully cooperate when casting the spell, releasing your soul barrier and not resisting the entry of celestial power into your body—if there is even the slightest resistance, the power of the talisman will backfire, and then no one can save you. Do you understand the implications?"

As he spoke, the Immortal Envoy on the left took out a golden talisman from his sleeve. The talisman was about the size of a palm, its edges neatly trimmed without a single rough edge. Intricate runes were drawn on it with crimson cinnabar, the runes layered upon each other like a coiling dragon, each stroke containing rich Spiritual Qi, its edges gleaming with dazzling golden light, seemingly containing world-destroying Purifying Power. As soon as the talisman was taken out, even the air in the cave was filled with a faint fragrance, a fragrance that calmed the mind and seemed to dispel all evil. The cultivators outside the cave, smelling this fragrance, all showed expressions of reassurance.

Ren Xiaoyao stared at the talisman, his pupils slightly contracting—his divine soul had become exceptionally sharp due to the Demonic Curse. Even from several steps away, he could clearly perceive a very fine black line hidden between the runes. The line was as thin as a hair, its color so pale that it almost blended into the gold of the talisman. If he hadn't long been fighting against demonic energy and was extremely sensitive to this Evil Qi, he would have been completely unable to detect it.

That's the "Soul Devouring Patterns"! He had seen it recorded in the <Demon Realm Secret Records>. This mark requires the remnant souls of a hundred cultivators to refine, and the refining process is extremely cruel. Under the cover of immortal power, it can perfectly conceal its own aura, seemingly harmless. In reality, the moment immortal power enters the body, it transforms into countless fine needles that pierce the soul. Once it enters the body, it not only cannot remove the Demonic Curse, but also allows the caster to control the soul of others like a puppet through the "Soul Devouring Patterns," turning the controlled into a tool to be manipulated at will.

"Thank you for your kindness, Immortal Envoy. Ren Xiaoyao and Cang Xuan Mountain will remember this favor." Ren Xiaoyao remained outwardly calm and respectful, but his fingers subtly gripped the tassel of the Creation Spear. The current in the "Extinction" pattern on the spear instantly intensified, but it remained hidden among the vines, leaving no trace. "However, the ' Azure Cloud Immortal Art ' that I cultivate is different from ordinary Cultivation Method. It requires one's own soul as a guide, with immortal power and soul closely connected, like one. If an external force forcibly enters the body, it may trigger a backlash of immortal power. In that case, not only will it fail to break the Demonic Curse, but it will also damage one's own soul, and may even cause the Demonic Curse to erupt prematurely. Perhaps it would be better if Immortal Envoy -Demon Purifying Immortal Talisman ' behind, Immortal Envoy? I will study the method of casting the spell myself and will certainly not let down the Immortal Court's kindness and your hard work, Immortal Envoy."

The Immortal Envoy on the right instantly changed his expression. His previously gentle tone turned sharp, as if his sore spot had been touched. His celestial power surged, and the vine barrier on the cave wall trembled slightly, as if it might break at any moment. "You don't trust us? The Immortal Court is the legitimate authority of the Immortal Realm, governing the order of the Three Realms. How could we harm a cultivator from the lower realm like you? Have you been influenced by demonic energy and lost the ability to distinguish right from wrong?" He took a step forward, an invisible pressure bearing down on them, making the air in the cave heavy. "If you refuse to cooperate and delay the opportunity, once the Demonic Curse erupts, the entire Cang Xuan Mountain will be shrouded in demonic energy, and all cultivators will perish with you! Can you bear this responsibility? Can you face those fellow disciples who trust you?"

Before the words were finished, the Immortal Envoy on the left suddenly raised his hand and threw the golden talisman at Ren Xiaoyao. The talisman exploded in the air, and seemingly pure celestial power surged in like a tide, carrying a reassuring warmth that seemed to soothe all pain. However, the "Soul Devouring Patterns" mixed in with it transformed into countless fine needles that were indistinguishable to the naked eye, rushing straight towards Ren Xiaoyao's sea of consciousness like a torrential rain. The speed was so fast that no one could react, giving them no time to dodge.

Ren Xiaoyao was prepared, instantly unleashing his "Cloud Treading Immortal Steps." This footwork was a lost art of the Qingyun Sect, passed down for three hundred years. The steps were as light as feathers, and his figure floated backward like willow catkins in the wind. His robes brushed against the Spirit Vein aura on the ground, creating a string of tiny specks of light. Each speck contained a trace of Spirit Vein energy, forming a temporary shield that blocked part of the "Soul Devouring Patterns" attack. At the same time, he thrust out his Creation Spear, the "Extinction" pattern erupting instantly, transforming into a ten-foot-long silver-white lightning bolt. The lightning, carrying the power to crush all evil, tore through the air with a sizzling sound, striking directly at the two Immortal Envoy.

"You ungrateful wretch!" The two Immortal Envoy' faces darkened, their immortal power surging. Their moon-white robes billowed without wind, the Soaring Cloud Pattern on them instantly lighting up with dazzling golden light, illuminating the entire secluded cave as if it were daytime. Even the shadows on the cave walls were swallowed by this intense light. The Immortal Envoy on the left conjured a long sword burning with Immortal Fire. The Immortal Fire was pale gold and extremely hot. When it landed on the ground, it even scorched the hard bluestone. A faint scorching aura filled the air, making it difficult to breathe. The Immortal Envoy on the right condensed a celestial sword radiating a bone-chilling cold. The blade was crystal clear, as if forged from ten-thousand-year-old ice. When he swung it, tiny ice particles condensed in the air, causing the temperature inside the cave to drop sharply, and even the Spiritual Qi began to freeze.

The two attacked and defended in perfect harmony. Immortal Fire and icy air intertwined, instantly forming a barrier that sealed off the space within the cave. The barrier walls were covered with complex runes, which shimmered with golden light, forming a solid wall that firmly trapped the entire secluded cave, attempting to prevent Ren Xiaoyao from escaping and force him to confront their attacks head-on.

Ren Xiaoyao remained completely calm. The "Swallow" rune suddenly erupted, and a deep blue suction force surged from the spear, like a bottomless pit, forcefully drawing the Immortal Fire and the chilling air towards the spear tip. As the immortal Immortal Fire was drawn into the spear, the lightning of the "Extinction" rune instantly enveloped it, dispelling the hidden Sinister Power within and transforming it into pure energy that merged into Ren Xiaoyao's body. The chilling air, on the other hand, was enveloped by the spiritual light of the "Life" rune, transforming into moisture that nourished the vines, causing the vines on the cave walls to grow even more luxuriantly, and the Spirit Flower on the vines to bloom even more vividly, releasing an even stronger purifying aura.

At the same time, the "Life" rune released more Emerald Spiritual Light, which spread along the gaps in the barrier like a nimble snake, dodging the rune's attack and instantly wrapping around the wrists of the two Immortal Envoy. The Immortal Envoy were shocked and tried to break free, but they found that the light on the vines carried extremely strong Purifying Power, which was constantly dissolving the immortal power in their bodies along their wrists. This was a method that Ren Xiaoyao had specially crafted to restrain immortal power by combining the power of the Spirit Vein in the cave with the life force of the "Life" rune. As long as they were wrapped by the vines, their immortal power would be lost like a flood, and they would not even be able to muster the strength to resist. They could only watch helplessly as their own power dissipated.

The immortal blade of the Immortal Envoy on the left gradually dimmed, its flames growing smaller and smaller, from a blazing fire to a faint Mars, until only a sliver of warmth remained; the immortal sword of the Immortal Envoy on the right also began to freeze, the chill on the blade weakening, even the ice particles in the air began to melt, turning into water droplets that dripped onto the ground. The expressions of the two grew increasingly grim, their initial arrogance turning into obvious panic, fine beads of cold sweat even appearing on their foreheads, their once upright figures slightly hunched.

"You are not from the Immortal Court at all!" Ren Xiaoyao shouted sharply, taking a step forward and pressing the tip of his spear against the throat of the Immortal Envoy on his left. A spiritual light flickered at the spear tip, ready to pierce the man's throat and obliterate his soul. "Speak! Who sent you? What is your purpose?"

The Immortal Envoy on the left was deathly pale, his lips trembling slightly, yet he remained defiant, his voice trembling with fear, but he still managed to maintain his dignity. "We are Immortal Court Immortal Envoy of the Immortal Court Immortal Court? Aren't you afraid of incurring divine punishment? Once the Nine Heavens Thunder of the Immortal Realm falls, the entire Cang Xuan Mountain will be reduced to ashes, and your soul will be scattered, never to be reincarnated!"

"Immortal Punishment?" Ren Xiaoyao sneered, his eyes filled with mockery. He raised his hand and tore off the jade pendant from his waist, channeling spiritual light into it—the two characters "Immortal Court" on the surface of the pendant instantly cracked open, revealing a black Demonic Core inside. The Demonic Core still retained lingering demonic energy, emitting a faint, fishy odor upon contact with the air, identical to the aura of the Demonic Curse emanating from Ren Xiaoyao. The cultivators outside the cave, upon smelling this odor, all showed expressions of shock. "Using Demonic Core to forge Immortal Court jade pendant, and daring to impersonate Immortal Envoy? You are clearly spies sent by the Demon Realm, trying to seize my body, control the Creation Spear, and use its power to open a passage to the Demon Realm, allowing more Devil Creature to flood into the Human Realm, destroy my Cang Xuan Mountain, and disrupt the order of my mortal realm!"

With the truth exposed, a crazed light flashed in the eyes of the two Immortal Envoy, their despair like that of trapped beasts. They exchanged a glance, and their celestial power suddenly reversed, their moon-white robes instantly turning black with demonic energy. Their originally pure celestial power transformed into dense demonic energy, and amidst the surging demonic energy, countless tiny Demonic Runes could be seen flickering within it—they actually intended to self-destruct, using their demonic energy to perish together with Ren Xiaoyao. Even if it meant Jade and Stone Shattered, they were determined to complete the mission assigned by the Demon Realm and prevent Ren Xiaoyao from having the opportunity to disrupt the Demon Realm's plans.

Ren Xiaoyao was already on guard. His "Immortal" runes suddenly erupted, and golden rays of light enveloped the two of them as if they were solid. The Purifying Power contained in the light surged in like a tide, instantly suppressing the agitation of the demonic energy and completely sealing their immortal power and Demonic Core. This prevented them from even gathering the power to self-destruct, and they could only watch helplessly as their own power was continuously purified.

As the afterglow faded, the two Immortal Envoy lay severely wounded on the ground, Black Blood gushing from their mouths. Their breaths were as faint as candles flickering in the wind; they lacked even the strength to lift a finger and could no longer move. The cultivators outside the cave had already gathered around, and upon seeing this scene, they were all stunned, forgetting to breathe, their faces filled with disbelief. The white-haired elder's expression was particularly grave; his hand, gripping his cane, trembled slightly, and his voice was as dry as sandpaper. "I never imagined... even the Immortal Envoy were imposters... The methods of the Demon Realm are so insidious... They wanted to lower our guard so they could launch a sneak attack..."

"Take them away and lock them in the deepest part of the sect's dungeon. Bind their limbs with the Immortal Locking Chains, then set up a triple Purification Barrier. Guard them strictly, and don't allow anyone to touch them, nor give them any chance to self-destruct." Ren Xiaoyao instructed the Qingyun Sect cultivator beside him, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible fatigue—the battle just now had affected his soul, and the Demonic Curse had begun to stir again. A tearing pain shot through his chest, making his face slightly pale, and even his lips had lost some color. "After I completely suppress the Demonic Curse, I will personally interrogate them. I must find out the Demon Realm forces behind them and the Demon Realm's next conspiracy—their elaborate schemes to impersonate immortal Immortal Envoy are far more than just 'seizing bodies and controlling the Creation Spear '."

The cultivators responded in unison and stepped forward to bind the two fake immortal Immortal Envoy firmly with specially made Immortal Locking Chains. The moment the Immortal Locking Chains touched the demonic energy, they emitted a "sizzling" corrosive sound, and the chain body shimmered with a pale golden spiritual light, suppressing the remaining demonic energy.