Immortal Lord's Protection

Ren Xiaoyao sat cross-legged on the sea surface, his feet lightly touching the azure waves like feathers, without even causing a ripple. The golden-white immortal light surrounding his body seemed to solidify, slowly inhaling and exhaling with his breath—when he inhaled, the Spiritual Qi on the sea surface surged into his acupoints like swimming fish; when he exhaled, the immortal light overflowed, scattering fine particles of light on the sea surface, like stars falling. The pure energy of the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit continued to flow through his limbs and bones, like a warm spring stream flowing through his parched meridians. Wherever it reached, the Damaged Meridians walls were repeatedly nourished, and the originally minute cracks not only completely healed but also grew a pale golden protective layer, making his meridians several times stronger and wider than before.

The Pure Yang Immortal Energy within his dantian had expanded to near perfection, showing signs of breaking through the shackles of the Mid-stage Golden Immortal Pattern engraved on the walls of his dantian shone even more brilliantly, each Dao Patterns shimmering as if alive. As the immortal power flowed, a metallic clang resounded within his body, causing the surrounding Spiritual Qi to tremble. The fine golden ripples on the sea surface refracted a seven-colored halo under the midday sun, resembling scattered immortal diamonds floating on the azure waves. Even the spiritual mist on the distant islands was tinged with a pale gold by this halo.

Just as he was about to finish his practice and stand up, a wisp of shimmering white immortal power condensed at his fingertips and, like a fine thread, probed towards the seabed—that wisp of immortal power carried his spiritual sense, carefully exploring the White Jade Cave Mansion deep within the Penglai Blessed Land, following the mysterious icy aura he had sensed earlier. But just as the immortal power was about to touch the mysterious ice on the seabed, a strange fluctuation suddenly appeared on the surface of the sea beneath his feet: that fluctuation was definitely not the remnant of the Dragon Phoenix Progenitor Beast of the Dragon-Phoenix Dragon Phoenix Origin —that kind of aura that carried heat and domineering power, but rather a chilling and piercing Demonic Essence, like Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice falling into the boiling immortal sea, instantly making the surrounding gentle Spiritual Qi stagnate and obscure, even the immortal Immortal Sheen floating in the air seemed to be frozen, turning into tiny ice particles that fluttered down, landing on the sea surface with a crisp "ding" sound, and then merging into the seawater, leaving behind specks of black demonic energy marks underwater.

"Ren Xiaoyao, you brat! Three years ago, you destroyed half of my Devil Palace, causing me to lose all face in the Demon Realm; the other day, you killed my spy in the Immortal Realm, cutting off my eyes and ears to spy on the Immortal Realm! Now you dare to venture into this Penglai Secret Realm to spy on the Immortal Destiny? Do you really think there is no one in the Demon Realm who can deal with you?"

A deep, hoarse voice exploded from the void, like a rusty iron saw grinding away at withered bones. Every word carried a chilling ferocity and venom, shaking the sea and causing black waves to rise. Before the words had even finished, the void above Ren Xiaoyao's head suddenly distorted, and dense black demonic mist surged out like a burst dam, churning and condensing in mid-air—within the demonic mist, countless vengeful spirits could be faintly heard howling; these were the souls of cultivators devoured by the Nine Ancestors of the Demon Realm, now serving as nourishment for the demonic mist. Finally, the demonic mist condensed into a ten-foot-tall phantom, its body... Clad in a dark Demonic Robe, the hem embroidered with intricate blood-red Demonic Runes, each Dao Patterns writhing as if alive, wisps of black mist seeping from between the patterns, exuding Evil Qi that Devour Vitality; his face was obscured by a thick black mist, only a pair of eyes gleaming with a scarlet light were exposed, his gaze like a knife coated with deadly poison, where it swept, a thin layer of black ice would condense on the sea surface, even the immortal energy in the air seemed to be frozen by this gaze, forming fine black frost flowers, melting upon touch, leaving behind a pungent fishy smell.

This was a projection of the Nine Ancestors of the Demon Realm. Although not his true form—his true form was still trapped in High Antiquity Ten Thousand Demon Cave in the Demon Realm Abyss by an ancient Demonic Essence array, requiring him to break free by daily attacks on the seal with his thousand-year demonic energy—this projection had already condensed thirty percent of his thousand-year Demonic Essence, enough to unleash the peak combat power of Mid-stage Golden Immortal. An ordinary Golden Immortal cultivator would probably not even last three moves against him, after all, this Demonic Essence energy was mixed with the Netherworld Death Qi of the Ten Thousand Demon Cave, which was specifically designed to counter immortal power. With a wave of his Demonic Robe, countless black Demonic Threads as thick as hair shot out from his sleeves, like venomous snakes poised to strike, coiling around Ren Xiaoyao's major acupoints— the Demonic Threads were entwined with a viscous, ink-like "Immortal-Corroding Demonic Qi," which corroded the air wherever it passed, creating tiny black holes. The edges of these holes continued to expand, and even a trace of demonic energy could cause a cultivator's immortal Immortal Vein to become disordered and rampant: at best, their cultivation would regress by ten years, at worst, their meridians would be completely severed, turning them into a cripple incapable of cultivation.

Ren Xiaoyao's pupils constricted sharply, and his recently calmed immortal power instantly surged violently. His hands formed hand seals at lightning speed—golden-white immortal light burst forth from his fingertips, and Tai Chi Phantom, about ten feet in diameter, instantly appeared before him. Within the phantom Yin and Yang Energy flowed ceaselessly like living things, and the golden-white immortal light intertwined to form an impenetrable defensive barrier. In the past, when dealing with Golden Immortal- level Devil Cultivator, this Tai Chi Phantom could not only withstand attacks but also purify the opponent's Demonic Essence. But this time, the moment the black Demonic Threads collided with the phantom, it was like a red-hot iron needle piercing thin paper, directly corroding tiny Black Hole. Black Demonic Qi seeped wildly into the holes, like ink dripping into clear water, quickly polluting the phantom's golden-white immortal light. The originally brilliant defensive barrier gradually became dim and turbid, and even the flow of Yin and Yang Energy began to stagnate, as if bound hand and foot by demonic energy.

"The Demonic Essence of the Ninth Ancestor is so domineering! Even the Purifying Power of the Tai Chi Immortal Method is difficult to suppress..." Ren Xiaoyao was secretly shocked. He felt that the Pure Yang Immortal Energy in his dantian was slightly agitated due to the erosion of the demonic energy, as if it was about to break free of control and go berserk. He had to divert half of his Immortal Power to reinforce the Tai Chi Phantom, trying to force out the infiltrated demonic energy—but the number of Demonic Threads continued to increase, like a tidal wave, layer upon layer, some bypassing the front of the phantom and wrapping around his ankles and neck. It looked like it was about to break through the defense and wrap around the "Taiyuan Acupoint" on his wrist. That was the key acupoint for the flow of Immortal Power from the dantian to the limbs. Once it was invaded by the demonic energy that Immortal-Corroding Demonic Qi, the circulation of Immortal Power would be completely disordered. At that time, he would even have a problem protecting himself, let alone resisting subsequent attacks.

At this critical moment, a dazzling golden light suddenly shone from the sea. The golden light shot straight into the sky from the deep abyss, like a golden pillar piercing the heavens and earth, instantly enveloping the entire Penglai Blessed Land—even the spiritual mist on the distant islands was dyed golden. The spirit birds in the mist, startled by the golden light, were not afraid, but instead cried out towards the pillar of light, as if in worship. The previously stagnant and obscure Spiritual Qi instantly revived in the golden light, transforming into gentle streams that flowed around Ren Xiaoyao, constantly washing away the remaining demonic energy within him; the black demonic mist, under the golden light, melted at a visible speed like snow meeting the blazing sun, hissing and dissipating into wisps of black smoke, even filling the air with a faint smell of burning—the scent of purified demonic energy; the black Demonic Threads that were about to wrap around Ren Xiaoyao's wrists turned to ashes the moment they touched the golden light, leaving not a trace of demonic energy, as if they had never existed.

A majestic yet gentle voice echoed between heaven and earth, unlike the words of ordinary cultivators, more like the whisper of High Antiquity Immortals and Gods overlooking all living beings, carrying the celestial might that could cleanse all things. Every word seemed to contain the Supreme Principles of Heaven and Earth, inspiring awe in all. "Demon Realm dare to trespass into my Secret Realm and disturb my selection of successors? Do you really think that the legacy of the Emperor Donghua is a place where you can act so presumptuously?"

Ren Xiaoyao followed the sound and saw a white-robed figure slowly emerge from the golden pillar of light. The figure was surrounded by a faint Primordial Violet Qi —the aura of High Antiquity Immortals and Gods, containing the Origin Power World Creation. As his robes fluttered, golden fragments scattered, which landed on the sea and condensed into crystalline Golden Lotus, their petals shrouded in a faint Immortal Sheen that lingered for a long time. Though his face was blurred by the golden light, he exuded an unparalleled immortal might that overlooked the Three Realms —a profound power accumulated over countless ages, as if it had existed since the World Creation. Even Dao Intent commanded the heavens and earth to submit, calming the waves of the sea and causing the ancient trees on distant islands to tilt slightly in a bow. Ren Xiaoyao instantly understood: this was the will of the High Antiquity Immortals and Gods, Emperor Donghua!

The projection of the Nine Ancestors of the Demon Realm trembled uncontrollably the moment the white-robed figure appeared. The illusory body beneath the dark Demonic Robe shook violently, making it difficult to even maintain its form—the blood-red Demonic Runes on the Demonic Robe even stopped writhing, as if intimidated by the celestial might. Its crimson eyes were filled with undisguised fear and dread. Although it had never seen the Emperor Donghua in person, it knew of the terror of this High Antiquity Immortals and Gods from the ancient texts of the Demon Realm: when the Emperor Donghua was still alive, he used only the Demon Slaying Sword to cut down 100,000 demon troops invading the Immortal Realm outside the South Heaven Gate. The demon army's commander—a Devil Cultivator at the Late-stage Golden Immortal stage—could not even withstand a single sword strike from him and had his soul shattered. Even the former emperor of the Demon Realm had to avoid his sharp edge, not daring to easily set foot in the Immortal Realm for a hundred years. Now, even if only his will remained, it was by no means something that a projection could contend with.

"Dong... Emperor Donghua? You... you still retain a will in this Secret Realm!" The voice of the Nine Ancestors of the Demon Realm trembled noticeably, yet he still forced himself to utter harsh words, attempting to intimidate the other party with the power of the Demon Realm. "This boy has an irreconcilable hatred for me, and today I will surely kill him! If you insist on obstructing me, Emperor, you will be making an enemy of the entire Demon Realm Immortal Realm! When my true body breaks free from its seal, I will lead ten thousand demons to raze the Immortal Realm to the ground, destroy your Penglai Blessed Land, and ensure that your remaining will never find peace!"

"My Secret Realm, my heritage, how dare you, mere Demon Realm scoundrels, lay a finger on it?" Emperor Donghua's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable majesty, as if stating a given fact. "Since you know no reverence, then let you taste the methods of High Antiquity Immortals and Gods." Before his words had even finished, he raised his hand and gently waved it—the movement slow, yet carrying the Heaven and Earth Rhythm, as if each moment of raising his hand was mobilizing the surrounding immortal power. A golden immortal power, condensed to its extreme, flew from his fingertip, rapidly gathering in the air and transforming into a ten-foot-long immortal light sword: the sword's blade flowed with a faint primordial Primordial Violet Qi, and its edge shimmered with a cold light capable of Demon-Bane and destroying evil. As soon as it condensed, the surrounding Demonic Essence retreated frantically as if encountering its nemesis, even the air became incomparably pure, and the sea surface, previously polluted by demonic energy, gradually returned to its clarity under the sword light.

The longsword, carrying the power to Sky-Rending Strike, slashed towards the projection of the Nine Ancestors of the Demon Realm —wherever it passed, subtle ripples appeared in the void, and the black demonic mist rapidly dissipated like melting ice and snow, even slowing down the projection's rate of gathering Demonic Essence several times over. With a soft "whoosh," the Golden Long Sword effortlessly cleaved through the demonic mist, striking the projection's left arm directly—the left arm, which had gathered Ninth Ancestor' Demonic Essence, was as fragile as paper before the celestial longsword, instantly dissipating into a sky full of Black Demonic Qi, without even a shred of resistance. The chilling aura in the air also lessened somewhat, and the black ice on the sea surface began to melt, revealing the clear seawater below.

The Nine Ancestors of the Demon Realm let out a shrill scream, his voice filled with pain and resentment. His projected body grew increasingly illusory, and even the outline shrouded in black mist began to destabilize, as if it might collapse at any moment. "Old Ghost Donghua! How dare you harm my projection! When my true body breaks free from its seal, I will lead ten thousand Immortal Realm to raze the Immortal Realm to the ground, crushing your remaining will into dust, and turning Penglai Blessed Land into a demonic wasteland! All cultivators of the Immortal Realm will pay for this day! Ren Xiaoyao, you just wait—even with Old Ghost Donghua protecting you, I will find you! I will grind you to dust and make you suffer the most excruciating punishments of the Demon Realm, making you wish you were dead!"

Before the words were even finished, Emperor Donghua raised his hand again. This time, the golden immortal power surging from his palm was no longer a condensed longsword, but a torrent of immortal power like a raging river—with specks of golden light floating in the torrent, the primordial immortal power purifying demonic energy, sweeping towards the projection of the Nine Ancestors of the Demon Realm. Wherever the torrent passed, the black demonic mist was completely washed away, even the last trace of demonic energy remaining in the air was cleansed, and the sea surface returned to its former clarity, even purer than before; the projection struggled and roared wildly in the torrent of immortal power, its Demonic Robe torn apart by the torrent, revealing a body formed from demonic energy, but it was constantly dissipating under the scouring of immortal power. It couldn't even hold on for a moment before being completely swallowed by the golden torrent, turning into specks of black energy and dissipating in the golden light, without even having time to utter a harsh word, leaving only a faint trace of demonic energy, which was also purified by the golden light in an instant.

As the projection dissipated, the chilling aura on the sea surface also faded away, leaving only a gentle golden immortal light enveloping Ren Xiaoyao, like a thin immortal cocoon. The immortal light continuously nourished his Damaged Meridians from resisting the Demonic Essence, and the restless immortal power in his dantian gradually calmed down, becoming more condensed. His immortal power, which was originally almost perfect, actually grew stronger under the nourishment of the immortal light, bringing him one step closer to the Late-stage Golden Immortal.

Ren Xiaoyao quickly stopped his cultivation and stood up, bowing deeply to the white-robed figure in the golden light. His posture was extremely respectful, his waist bent very low, and his hands were clasped in front of his chest. "Thank you for saving me with the Emperor's will. I, Ren Xiaoyao, am deeply grateful! If it weren't for the Emperor's help today, I fear I would have already fallen victim to the Ninth Ancestor' poisonous hands. Not only would I have failed to obtain the inheritance, but I would also have endangered the safety of the Secret Realm, allowing demonic energy to pollute this immortal land."

"No need for formalities." The will of the Emperor Donghua spoke slowly, a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction in his voice, as if he saw hope for the inheritance. "You were able to survive the fierce attack of the Dragon Phoenix Progenitor Beast, and even draw the Dragon Phoenix Origin into your body without being devoured—you should know that the Dragon Phoenix Origin clashes, and an ordinary cultivator would explode and die if they inhaled even a trace of it; moreover, you were able to barely withstand the Ninth Ancestor Demonic Essence with the Tai Chi Immortal Method. Such temperament and talent are truly rare in the current Immortal Realm. Entrusting the inheritance of my Penglai Blessed Land to you is not a failure to live up to the entrustment of the High Antiquity Immortals and Gods."

Having said that, golden light surged, and a fist-sized golden Light Orb flew out from the will of the Emperor Donghua. Ancient Light Orb flowed across the surface of the Ancient Runes, shimmering with a faint light. Like a shooting star, it flew towards Ren Xiaoyao's brow, its speed not fast, but carrying an irresistible force. The moment the Light Orb touched his brow, it transformed into countless tiny Golden Light Spots that merged into his sea of consciousness. Ren Xiaoyao instantly sensed that the Light Orb not only contained the complete contents of the <Donghua Immortal Scripture>, from basic Inhale and Exhale techniques to the profound mysteries of cultivation at the Golden Immortal Peak realm, but also included the insights and experiences of the Emperor Donghua when he broke through to the Golden Immortal Peak realm. The words were full of unique insights into the circulation of immortal power. It also recorded in detail the activation method and taboos of the High Antiquity magic weapon, the Demon Slaying Sword. It even had clear deductions on how to fuse one's own immortal power with the sword's Demon Breaking Power, and how to use the sword to draw upon the Immortal Sheen of heaven and earth. It even included combat footage of the Emperor Donghua using the Demon Slaying Sword, as if he had been personally instructed.

At the same time, a muffled tremor came from the seabed, like an ancient behemoth awakening. The Xuanbing aura that Ren Xiaoyao had sensed earlier suddenly became denser, and even the air felt slightly chilly, but no longer icy cold; instead, it carried a faint Immortal Sheen. He looked down and saw the sea surface a hundred miles below slowly parting—the seawater seemed to be lifted up by Invisible Power, revealing the dark seabed below. Black-Ice Archway, radiating a bone-chilling cold, rose from the seabed. The archway was engraved with dense Ancient Immortal Markings, Immortal Pattern shimmered with a pale blue light. Each Immortal Pattern seemed to tell an High Antiquity story, which was the seal of the White Jade Cave Mansion. As the Black-Ice Archway slowly opened, a silver-white immortal light flew out of the cave, circled once in the air—as if confirming Ren Xiaoyao's presence—and then landed steadily in front of him.

It was a long sword: the blade was three feet and seven inches long, and the hilt was carved from Thousand-Year Warm Jade, with Dragon Phoenix Auspiciousness patterns engraved on it. A faint spiritual Spiritual Qi lingered in the patterns, and it felt warm to the touch. The blade shone with a silvery-white immortal light and flowed with Demon-Bane aura. Wherever it passed, the surrounding Spiritual Qi became purer, and a faint "humming" sound could even be heard. That was the sound of the Demon Breaking Power within the sword resonating with the immortal power—it was the High Antiquity magical weapon left behind by Emperor Donghua, the Demon Slaying Sword.

The hilt of the Demon Slaying Sword trembled slightly, as if actively recognizing its master. The aura it emitted resonated subtly with the Pure Yang Immortal Energy within Ren Xiaoyao's body, even echoing the Dragon Phoenix Origin within him. He reached out and grasped the hilt, and a pure Demon Breaking Power instantly surged into his body through his palm, flowing like a warm current throughout his limbs and bones—this power was neither impetuous nor agitated, yet it carried the resolute determination to slay all evil spirits. It resonated strongly with the Pure Yang Immortal Energy in his dantian, causing the immortal power in his dantian, which was already nearly perfect, to stir again, showing faint signs of breaking through to the Mid-stage Golden Immortal and advancing to the late stage. The dragon and phoenix patterns on the sword also lit up, echoing the Dragon Phoenix Origin within him, as if this sword was meant to belong to him, waiting for countless ages, only to meet him at this moment.

Ren Xiaoyao bowed again, his eyes filled with unwavering determination. His voice was strong and clear. "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will certainly inherit your will, diligently cultivate the <Donghua Immortal Scripture>, and quickly master the power of the Demon Slaying Sword. If the Demon Realm dares to invade Immortal Realm again in the future, I will wield this sword, lead cultivators to wipe out all demons, and protect the peace of the Immortal Realm. I will never fail your trust, and I will never fail the legacy left by the High Antiquity Immortals and Gods!"

The will of Emperor Donghua nodded slightly, his white-robed figure gradually becoming transparent in the golden light. His voice grew increasingly distant, as if it came from beyond the ages, carrying a hint of entrustment. "The seal of the Nine Ancestors of the Demon Realm has loosened. Within a hundred years, their true forms will break free, and at that time, the Immortal Realm may face a catastrophe. You must digest the inheritance as soon as possible and improve your strength—there are still rare and heavenly materials and earthly treasures left by me in Penglai Blessed Land that can help you cultivate. Do not waste the immortal opportunities of Penglai Blessed Land, and even more so, do not waste your own talent." As his voice fell, the golden light that enveloped the heavens and earth completely dissipated, and the sea returned to calm. Only the Demon Slaying Sword in Ren Xiaoyao's hand still emitted a faint silver-white immortal light, reflecting a sharp glint in his eyes.

Ren Xiaoyao gripped the Demon Slaying Sword tightly, feeling the increasingly pure immortal power within his body and the detailed inheritance within his sea of consciousness. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. The threat of the Nine Ancestors of the Demon Realm echoed in his mind like a warning bell, preventing him from being the slightest bit negligent. "Ninth Ancestor Old Devil, you pursued me today using your projection. If it weren't for the Emperor's will intervening, I would Death and Dao Annihilation. I, Ren Xiaoyao, will remember this grudge! Once I break through to the Golden Immortal Peak realm and fully control the Demon Slaying Sword's power, I will definitely storm the Ten Thousand Demon Cave Old Devil, drag you out of your seal, and make you pay a bloody price for today's pursuit! Let the entire Demon Realm know that Immortal Realm Immortal and Demon are Distinct and demons, and that good will never prevail over evil!"

Without lingering, he turned and flew towards the White Jade Cave Mansion at the bottom of the sea, carrying the Demon Slaying Sword —his figure transformed into a golden-white streak, stirring up layers of golden ripples as he swept across the surface of the sea. He knew that the cave not only contained the cultivation insights left behind by Emperor Donghua, but also rare and heavenly materials and earthly treasures that could accelerate his cultivation breakthroughs: the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus could purify impurities in the body, the Nine-Turn Immortal Ganoderma Mushroom could stabilize the foundation of his cultivation, and there might even be rare treasures containing Primordial Violet Qi. These were all key to improving his strength. Only by quickly digesting the inheritance and breaking through his realm could he protect those he wanted to protect and safeguard this Demon Realm Immortal Realm he deeply loved during the future calamity of the Demon Realm, living up to Emperor Donghua's trust and this weighty inheritance.

His figure swept across the sea, leaving a silvery-white trail behind him as the Demon Slaying Sword's Demon-Bane aura shone brightly. The trail intertwined with the golden ripples on the sea, resembling a Immortal Path leading to the pinnacle, gleaming in the sunlight.

As Ren Xiaoyao approached the Black-Ice Archway, he felt a pure, Immortal Sheen wash over him—the air around the archway seemed to be imbued with celestial power, and each breath caused the celestial power within his dantian to tremble slightly. He raised his hand and lightly touched the Xuanbing, but instead of a biting chill, he felt a warm, serene celestial power. The Ancient Immortal Markings on the archway seemed to sense this, emitting a faint blue light and automatically making way for him.