Hunted by the Nine Ancestors of the Demon Realm

As Ren Xiaoyao stepped out of the dungeon's Stone Steps, a sharp, tingling pain suddenly shot through his fingertips—the last vestige of sensation left after the Demonic Curse dissipated. It burned like a fuse lit by a raging fire, coursing through his meridians to his heart, even his breath carrying a slightly sluggish warmth, as if an invisible fire was burning in his chest, causing a faint burning sensation in his throat. He abruptly looked up. The clouds behind Cang Xuan Mountain, which had been pale white like cotton, now had a Black Demonic Markings seeping out from a gap in the clouds, spreading rapidly like ink dripping into water, condensing into a three-foot-tall phantom within moments. Black mist surged from the phantom, even the wind blowing through the mountains was stained a chilling, inky color. The pines and cypresses on the cliff instantly lost their green, a thin layer of White Frost forming on their branches, even the pine needles becoming brittle and breaking at the slightest touch, crumbling into fine powder on the ground.

The phantoms wore Demon-Bane robes identical to those of the Nine Ancestors of the Demon Realm. The frayed edges of the robes danced wildly in the wind, each Demonic Threads entwined with a subtle, Evil Qi. Approaching them, one could almost hear the faint howls of remnant souls, like countless tiny insects buzzing in one's ear, sending shivers down one's spine. Black mist churned around them like boiling water, within which countless twisted phantoms could be vaguely seen struggling—a corner of a cultivator's tattered robe, Mortals's withered, clenched hand, even a broken horn of a celestial beast. Each phantom exuded endless pain, each holding a Demon Blade gleaming with a ghostly green, poisonous light. The blades were covered with crisscrossing blood grooves, within which remained dark brown bloodstains. The poisonous light fell upon the grass on the ground, instantly withering and turning it black, even corroding the soil into tiny Black Hole Black Hole. A faint black smoke still lingered in the Black Hole, its stench as pungent as rotting flesh, clearly from the "Soul Devouring Poison" specially crafted by the Demon Realm. "Ren Xiaoyao! You dare to ruin my grand plan! Today I will capture you and take you back to the Demon Realm, refining your soul into Lamp Oil to burn for me day and night!" The Incarnation on the left roared first, its voice like a rusty iron saw cutting through rock, so piercing that it startled the birds in the mountains, their wings flapping and their roars adding to the eeriness. The three phantoms leaped up simultaneously, their Demon Blade slicing through the air with a hissing sound, hurtling towards the ground with the force to tear apart souls. The remaining power of the Demon Blade cleaved the bluestone on the ground into fine cracks, from which a faint black mist seeped out. Even the moss in the cracks instantly turned to ash, leaving not a trace.

Ren Xiaoyao's eyes sharpened, and his immortal power instantly taut like a fully drawn bowstring. His robes fluttered without wind, rustling and scattering small pebbles as they swept across the ground. The Creation Spear in his hand hummed, and the "Extinction" runes on its shaft suddenly blazed with silver-white lightning. The lightning danced like living things at the spear tip, emitting a crackling sound. The chilling aura in the air was dispelled by the lightning, and even the White Frost on the ground began to melt, leaving specks of water. He spun and swept the spear horizontally, the tip precisely striking the first Demon Blade that attacked, a crisp clang resounding... The air trembled. The eerie green poisonous light on the Demon Blade sizzled as it was burned by lightning, turning into wisps of black smoke and dissipating. However, the other two Incarnation seized the opportunity to flank from both sides. Countless hair-thin Demonic Threads suddenly seeped out from the black mist, wrapping around his limbs like a spider web. The Demonic Threads glowed with a dark purple light. When they touched the immortal energy barrier on his sleeves, they could slowly corrode the barrier, leaving black spots. The immortal energy at the black spots dissipated rapidly like melting snow, even staining his clothes black and emitting a faint fishy smell. They felt cool and sticky against his skin.

Ren Xiaoyao's heart sank. He knew all too well that a prolonged battle would be dangerous: these Incarnation, though only possessing thirty percent of the Ninth Ancestor' true strength, could continuously recover using the sparse demonic energy remaining in the air of Cang Xuan Mountain. Even if scattered into black mist, as long as a trace of demonic energy remained, they could reassemble, like indestructible vines. Meanwhile, he had just been freed from the Demonic Curse, and the immortal power in his dantian was still somewhat weak, stagnant like undercooked porridge, its circulation always slightly sluggish. The Soul Power he had expended in the battle with the Ninth Ancestor had not fully recovered, and a faint fatigue lingered deep within his sea of consciousness, even slowing his thinking. If he continued the fight, he would only be worn down, and might even have his divine soul invaded again by demonic energy, repeating the Demonic Curse. "I must..." "Get out of here as soon as possible!" With a thought, he suddenly stepped into the Qingyun Sect's "Cloud Treading Steps"—a footwork that emphasizes "lightness as a feather and speed as a flowing wind." His figure instantly transformed into a pale golden afterimage, drifting backward like willow catkins. When his toes touched the bluestone, they left only shallow marks, barely raising any dust, as if he had never landed. At the same time, his fingertips quickly formed the hand seal for the "Illusionary Footprint Talisman," and three Golden Runes flew out from his fingertips, exploding in the air into dozens of afterimages that were exactly the same as his. The afterimages held the Creation Spear, assuming an attack stance, even mimicking the lightning at the spear tip perfectly, and even emitting a "sizzling" sound of electricity. Their auras were identical to his, temporarily blocking the vision of the Incarnation.

Taking advantage of this brief respite, Ren Xiaoyao turned and rushed towards the Uninhabited Secret Realm deep within Cang Xuan Mountain. Hidden behind a series of cliffs, this Secret Realm was perpetually shrouded in an impenetrable white fog. The fog was so thick that one could not see their own hand in front of their face; even with immortal power, one could only see within a three-foot radius, beyond which lay a blurry white expanse. The faint sound of flowing water could be heard within the fog, tinkling like jade striking stones, yet no one had ever seen the source of the water. It was as if the sound came from the void, attracting many cultivators to explore, only to return empty-handed. Sect Classics stated that the Secret Realm realm was surrounded by Ancient Times "Illusion Array," trapping those who strayed into it within their own Heart Demon, condemning them to an eternal cycle—some would witness their loved ones dying tragically under the claws of demons, others would be trapped in... He had been engaged in endless battles yet could never achieve victory. Even his master, Elder Xuanzhen, only dared to explore the edge of the Secret Realm, never venturing into its depths. Every time he mentioned it, he would warn his disciples, "Within the Secret Realm, there are only Heart Demon. Do not enter lightly, lest you lose your Dao Heart." The sound of Demon Blade slashing behind him continued, and black mist followed closely like a tide. Wherever it passed, trees withered, rocks turned black, and even the vines on the cliff walls turned into charcoal. They crumbled at the slightest touch when they fell to the ground, and the powder was blown by the wind, carrying a faint smell of burnt earth. Ren Xiaoyao dared not turn around. He felt his immortal power gradually stagnate in his chest, and cold sweat seeped from his forehead, sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto his clothes, spreading dark stains. Even his breathing became heavy, each inhale feeling like he was inhaling a lump of lead, and his chest ached with a suffocating pain.

Just then, a slight tremor suddenly came from the ground beneath his feet. It wasn't the chilling cold of demonic energy, but rather a warm, gentle sensation, like a stone basking in the spring sun. A pale golden light seeped from a crack in the ground, spreading upwards from his ankle as if it were alive—the light carried the fragrance of grass and trees, like the scent of freshly picked spiritual herbs. When it touched the remaining demonic energy within him, the demonic energy instantly dissipated, melting like snow meeting the sun. Even the stagnation in his chest lessened, and the immortal energy in his dantian became smoother, no longer as stagnant as before, circulating with more fluidity. Ren Xiaoyao subconsciously stopped, and the thick fog in front of him suddenly seemed to be... An invisible hand parted, slowly revealing an ancient Stone Gate covered in Green Moss: the Stone Gate was about three zhang high and two zhang wide, its surface carved with blurred cloud patterns and mythical beast designs. Although the scales of the Qilin and the wings of the Immortal Crane were blurred by time, and some even peeled off at the edges, the exquisite craftsmanship of the carving was still evident. Every stroke revealed the ingenuity of the High Antiquity cultivators, and even the eyes of the mythical beasts were carved lifelike. Only the complex "immortal" pattern in the center was clearly visible, with a faint Spiritual Qi remaining in the pattern, like a sleeping old man breathing slowly. Each "breath" had a subtle spiritual light that flickered, feeling warm and comfortable on the skin, like soaking in warm water.

"This is... the entrance to Ancient Cave Heaven?" Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat. The roar of his Incarnation behind him was already close at hand, and the sound of Demon Blade slicing through the air almost grazed his ear. The chilling killing intent made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, and even his scalp tingled, as if he would be pierced by the Demon Blade at any moment. Without hesitation, he stepped forward and placed his palm on the "Immortal" pattern in the center of the Stone Gate. He slowly poured the immortal power from his dantian into it— the Immortal Pattern was instantly activated, emitting a soft "hum." Pale golden spiritual light spread along the pattern to the entire Stone Gate, Green Moss on the surface of the Stone Gate quickly receded, revealing the smooth Azure Jade Stone surface underneath. Faint Spiritual Qi could be seen flowing on the jade, rippling like water. The Stone Gate gleamed softly in the light. It slowly opened inwards, releasing a rich, almost impenetrable, warm Spiritual Qi. This Spiritual Qi carried a faint fragrance of grass and earth, like a forest after rain—fresh and healing, a stark contrast to the demonic energy outside. It eased his tense nerves, making his breathing easier and the tightness in his chest gradually disappear. He leaped through the Stone Gate, Stone Gate slammed shut behind him with a loud bang, completely shutting out the roars of his three Incarnation and the black mist. The Immortal Pattern on the Stone Gate faded again, Green Moss once more covered the surface, as if it had never been opened. Only the faint Spiritual Qi remaining in the air proved that someone had been here.

The Cave Heaven was brightly lit, with countless fist-sized luminous crystals floating in the ceiling, twinkling like stars in the night sky. Their soft light illuminated the entire space, leaving no shadows in any corner. The light from the crystals reflected faint rainbows onto the White Jade Stone floor, which was paved with smooth, jade-like White Jade Stone. Intricate patterns of a "Spirit Gathering Formation" were carved into the stone surface, and Spiritual Qi flowed slowly along these patterns, murmuring like a babbling brook. Stepping on it, one could clearly feel the Spiritual Qi flowing into the body through the soles of one's feet, and the immortal power within one's dantian would surge like a river encountering a stream. The river became fuller, its previous ethereal quality completely vanished, flowing smoothly like clouds and water. Dozens of celestial statues stood on either side, each with a unique form: some were benevolent Daoist priests holding whisks, the silver threads on their whisks gleaming with a faint spiritual light, swaying gently as if alive, creating subtle fluctuations of Spiritual Qi as they brushed against the air; some were warriors clad in armor, their sharp eyes gleaming with metallic scales, dazzling like sunlight, as if ready to draw their swords at any moment and slay demons; and some were elegant fairies holding Jade Qin, the strings of Jade Qin A faint spiritual light emanated from the zither, and when the wind blew through the strings, it produced a soft "tinkling" sound, like celestial music, soothing the soul. The magical implements held by each immortal statue glowed faintly; the Daoist's whisk shimmered with tiny specks of light, and the warrior's spear was enveloped in a pale golden aura, as if they might awaken at any moment to guard this Cave Heaven. Ren Xiaoyao walked slowly forward, his gaze drawn to the White Marble Altar at the end of the Cave Heaven —a piece of yellowish silk was laid on the platform, its edges embroidered with delicate cloud patterns, adorned with tiny gold threads; though weathered by time, it still... Soft and smooth, it felt like flowing water to the touch, the silky smoothness coming from the fingertips was very comfortable; on the silk lay an ancient thread-bound book, the cover of which was embroidered with the four large characters "Ancient Immortal Scripture" in gold thread, the characters were vigorous and powerful, carrying a bit of High Antiquity majesty, each character exuding a faint Spiritual Qi, as if it was about to jump out of the cover and fly into the sea of consciousness; the cover also shimmered with a faint golden light, the Spiritual Qi swirling around the pages like a thin mist, forming a thin light shield, the shield felt warm to the touch, like being wrapped in a layer of Warm Sun, obviously containing extremely powerful immortal power.

He walked to the stone platform and carefully reached out his hand. The moment his fingertips touched the cover of the ancient book, a stream of pure Spiritual Qi flowed into his body, like a clear spring flowing through his meridians. The previously floating immortal power in his dantian instantly became stable, as smooth and even as well-cooked porridge, circulating without any stagnation. The fatigue from the previous battle vanished as if blown away by the wind, and even his consciousness became clearer, as if the fog before his eyes had been blown away, making his thinking more agile. He gently turned the pages of the ancient book, the pages rustling softly. Although the paper was yellowed, it was still tough, not easily torn even when pinched between his fingers, the texture as delicate as if woven from silk. On the pages, the profound meaning of the Cultivation Method was recorded in Ancient Seal Script, the ink as fresh as if it had just been written, each character exuding a faint Spiritual Qi. Staring at it for a long time would... The words seemed to spin before my eyes, as if they were coming to life. The opening sentence was, "Use immortal power to transform yin and yang, use the divine soul to govern all things, one can Demon-Bane, and stabilize the universe." Below were detailed annotations, explaining in more understandable language how immortal power is divided into "yin" and "yang" —Yang Power is fierce, like the midday sun, scorching and dazzling, mainly for purification Evil-Breaking, directly burning demonic energy, leaving demons nowhere to hide; Yin Power is gentle, like the moonlight at night, tender and tranquil, mainly for nourishing the divine soul, repairing damaged consciousness, and making the Dao Heart more stable; then, through the guidance of the divine soul, the two powers complement each other, forming "Yin-Yang Immortal Power" that can both purify demons and evil and nourish oneself. There was even a simple diagram of airflow, marking the key points of each acupoint with Red Thread, and even the speed of the flow of breath was explained in detail.

As the pages turned, more refined Spiritual Qi surged from the ancient book, slowly swirling around Ren Xiaoyao's body, forming a pale golden Light Cocoon. The Light Cocoon felt warm to the touch, like being wrapped in cotton, so comfortable it made one want to sigh. He could clearly feel the Spiritual Qi seeping into his body through his pores, repairing the meridians previously Demonic Qi Erosion. The blockages in his meridians gradually disappeared, becoming unobstructed, and even the minor wounds left by the Demonic Curse were slowly healing. The immortal power within his dantian became increasingly abundant, rising like a surging tide, almost overflowing. His sea of consciousness also expanded accordingly; the gloom left by the invasion of the Ninth Ancestor' demonic energy completely dissipated, even expanding his sea of consciousness... The deep weariness within him was soothed, and his soul felt lighter than ever before. "So this immortal scripture can not only enhance immortal power and Spirit Transformation, but it can also specifically suppress demonic forces—if I cultivate ' Yin-Yang Immortal Power,' the next time I encounter a Demon Realm cultivator, I can directly use my immortal power to purify demonic energy, without needing to passively defend myself!" Ren Xiaoyao was overjoyed. His fingertips flew across the pages, memorizing the Cultivation Method Mnemonic and annotations one by one. He dared not miss even the subtle changes in each hand seal or the nodes of each flow of energy, for fear of missing any crucial information. He even silently deduced the path of the energy flow in his mind, simulating cultivation in his sea of consciousness to ensure that he could fully master it without the slightest deviation.

Just as he turned to the last page of the ancient book, a dazzling golden light suddenly shone from the page. The light was as radiant as the sun, yet not blinding; instead, it carried a warm aura. From within the golden light, a white-clad phantom slowly emerged—the phantom wore a wide-sleeved white robe in the style of High Antiquity, the hem embroidered with flowing cloud patterns. The clouds seemed to move within the golden light, swaying gently with the phantom's movements. Its face was gentle and jade-like, its brows held a hint of Bei Min, and it was surrounded by a faint aura of auspicious clouds. Its eyes held a touch of satisfaction, like an elder seeing a satisfied disciple, inspiring awe in those who beheld it. This was the original owner of this immortal scripture. "Young friend, you were able to break the Demonic Curse without falling into the Demonic Dao, resist demonic temptations and uphold your true heart. This shows your resilient character and steadfast Dao Heart. Giving this scripture to you is a fitting reward for its thousand-year-old mission." The phantom... His voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, yet carried an undeniable authority, like an elder's admonition to a younger generation. It warmed the ears, providing reassurance, as if a force was supporting them. "Remember, the power of the Demon Realm far exceeds your current imagination. The Ninth Ancestor is merely one of the weaker of the Demon Realm Progenitors. Behind him are eight other Progenitor. The First Ancestor commands the ' Immortal Destruction Hall,' which houses the ' Immortal Destruction Cannon,' capable of directly destroying Immortal Soul —a single shot can shatter the souls of a hundred cultivators. The Second Ancestor controls the ' Soul Erosion Valley,' which overflows with ' Soul Erosion Water,' capable of corroding immortal power. Even Immortal Venerable Realm Cultivator would instantly lose their immortal power upon contact. Their strength far surpasses that of the Ninth Ancestor. Only by mastering the immortal Cultivation Method, cultivating ' Yin-Yang Immortal Power,' can you truly possess the power to protect the Human Realm and resist the invasion of the Demon Realm."

As the words fell, the illusory figure transformed into a ray of golden light, merging into Ren Xiaoyao's consciousness like a stream flowing into the ocean. Instantly, countless insights into the application of "Yin-Yang Immortal Power" flooded his mind—from basic breath guidance techniques, how to control the ratio of Yin and Yang Energy with intention, to how to use Yin and Yang Energy to activate magical artifacts, such as using Yang Power to activate the "Extinction" pattern on the Creation Spear, doubling the power of lightning, and using Yin Power to nourish the spear body, repairing the minor damage left by battle; and then to the advanced "Yin-Yang Demon Breaking Array" technique. The text details the transformations, how to use one's own immortal power to set up the array, where to choose the array's core, how to guide the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to enhance the array's power, and how to adjust the array when encountering different demons and evil spirits. Every detail is as clear as if he has personally practiced it hundreds of times. It's as if an Ancient Great Power is personally instructing him in his sea of consciousness, teaching him how to use it step by step, imparting even the most subtle techniques. Ren Xiaoyao grips the ancient book tightly, feeling his immortal power surging and flowing throughout his body, nearly fifty percent stronger than before. His sea of consciousness has also expanded, and even his eyes have become more focused. His eyes were sharp, as if he could see through the fog before him, even vaguely sensing the flow of demonic energy outside the Stone Gate, and discerning the strength of the Incarnation ' auras. He turned to look at the Stone Gate, where three Incarnation were continuously striking it with a series of "thump-thump" sounds. The Immortal Pattern on the surface of the Stone Gate Stone Gate flickered slightly, yet remained as solid as ever, without even a crack. On the contrary, the impacts were getting weaker and the intervals were getting longer, clearly indicating that the Incarnation ' power was being consumed and the demonic energy was becoming increasingly thin. Ren Xiaoyao's lips curled into a cold smile, and his palm... The power of the immortal mind quietly circulated, dividing it into yin and yang according to the method recorded in the immortal scriptures. The pale gold Yang Power carried a scorching purifying aura, flickering like a small flame, and one could feel a distinct warmth when approaching it; the silvery-white Yin Power radiated a soft, nourishing halo, as gentle as moonlight, making one feel at ease just by looking at it; the two powers intertwined and rotated in the palm, forming a small Tai Chi Pattern, emitting a reassuring aura, and even the Spiritual Qi in the air flowed with the Tai Chi Pattern, forming a tiny Spiritual Energy Vortex.

"With the Ancient Immortal Scripture, the next time I encounter demons, I will no longer be passively hiding, but will be able to take the initiative to attack." He murmured to himself, his gaze falling on the immortal statues on either side of the Cave Heaven —the spear held by the warrior statue on the left, its shaft engraved with "immortal" patterns similar to those on the Creation Spear, only the patterns were more ancient, the lines more rugged, and the aura more profound, as if containing even greater power; the Jade Qin held by the fairy statue on the right, its strings still gleaming with a faint spiritual light, the words "Clear Heart" engraved on its body, the calligraphy delicate and graceful, clearly having the effect of calming the soul and dispelling Heart Demon. His soul, which had been somewhat agitated by the battle, calmed down a bit when he approached the Jade Qin. He A thought suddenly occurred to him: perhaps this Cave Heaven contains other Ancient Inheritance, such as the magical artifacts held by the immortal statues. If he could compare the warrior's spear with his own Creation Spear, he might unlock more secrets of spear techniques and elevate his spear skills to a higher level. Or perhaps there are undiscovered treasures on the jade platform, such as hidden compartments beneath the stone platform containing High Antiquity Pills or magical artifacts, or other Classics pressed under the silk, such as secret scrolls recording formations or alchemy. He reached out and gently brushed his hand across the surface of the stone platform, his fingertips touching the coolness of the White Jade Stone. Suddenly, he noticed a tiny crack at the edge of the platform, from which a faint Spiritual Qi emanated—clearly, the platform was not solid.

Ren Xiaoyao's heart stirred. He placed his palm on the side of the stone platform and, following the "Energy-Guided Object Detection Method" method recorded in the Ancient Immortal Scripture, slowly injected a wisp of yin-like immortal power into the crevice. The immortal power seeped into the stone platform like a stream, quickly touching a thin barrier. The patterns on the barrier faintly echoed the "immortal" pattern on the Stone Gate. He circulated his immortal power along the patterns of the barrier, and after a moment, with a soft "click," a jade plate on the surface of the stone platform slowly rose up, revealing a hidden compartment below.

The hidden compartment was covered with a layer of dark red velvet, on which lay two items: a jade pendant emitting a pale blue glow, inscribed with the words "Evil-Suppressing," its Spiritual Qi carrying the aura of suppressing evil; and a palm-sized silk book, its cover bearing the title "Demon Breaking Array Manual," its pages woven from High Antiquity silkworm silk, Invulnerable to Water and Fire. He picked up the jade pendant, and the moment it touched his palm, a cool aura flowed from his fingertips into his sea of consciousness, instantly calming his previously agitated soul due to the perception of demonic energy—this was indeed a "Evil Suppressing Pendant" capable of stabilizing the soul and resisting demonic energy.