Mount Sumeru

Li Xuan and the four others swiftly flew into Black Marsh Mountain.

Under the gaze of numerous Mystic Immortal-level Demon Cult lesser demons, they entered a cave within Black Marsh Mountain.

The cave was brightly lit, and the first thing that met the eye was a large black banner inscribed with the five big characters "Demon Cult Black Marsh Altar."

Seated directly above was a lean, wiry man.

His face was cold and stern, his gaze utterly sinister, as he voraciously devoured fresh flesh and blood.

This man was the Black Marsh Altar Master.

He was a Black Serpent who had attained sentience, with a Golden Immortal realm aura.

"Greetings, Altar Master!"

Li Xuan and the four stepped forward, and the four bowed first to the man in salute.

Seeing this, Li Xuan also gave a slight bow and said, "This Humble One is Huang Feihong. Greetings, Altar Master!"

The Black Marsh Altar Master lifted his head slightly, his cold gaze appraising Li Xuan.

"Altar Master, this fellow daoist is named Huang Feihong, who cultivates in Foshan. He has come today to join our Demon Cult. What does the Altar Master think?"

The leading cultivator among the four stood up and introduced Li Xuan with a beaming smile.

The Black Marsh Altar Master looked at Li Xuan for a moment, then said indifferently, "You've come at a fortunate time. Today, the Cult Leader's decree has been issued: henceforth, every living being our Demon Cult encounters shall be slaughtered! No more recruits!"

"Altar Master, why is that?"

Hearing the Black Marsh Altar Master's words, the four were puzzled and asked in confusion.

The Black Marsh Altar Master gave a cold smile, glaring fiercely at Li Xuan. "The Cult Leader has obtained a supreme treasure of heaven and earth; the Demon Cult is destined to flourish! The Cult Leader has already commanded an assault on the East, to completely unify the Primordial Beings! Those living beings will all become blood food for our Demon Cult followers! How could we allow them to join!?"

Li Xuan seemed intimidated by the Black Marsh Altar Master.

He quickly bowed his body, not daring to meet the Altar Master's gaze.

But the corner of his mouth was twisted almost to the back of his ear...

Utter disdain!

There were countless billions of Primordial Beings—did they think they could eat them all?

You're all waiting for death...

"Excellent! Excellent! Haha! Our Demon Cult is finally going to break out!"

The other four, however, were fired up with excitement, their blood boiling.

"Alright, pack up. We're setting out."

The Black Marsh Altar Master nodded calmly.

Then he looked at Li Xuan and said, "This one, Huang Feihong, is it? Don't worry. Since you've come today, it's fate! This Altar Master accepts you into the cult! From now on, you are a follower of the Demon Cult's Black Marsh Altar!"

Hearing this, Li Xuan quickly wiped the contempt from his face and replaced it with elation.

He raised his head and shouted, "This subordinate thanks the Altar Master!"

"Hmm! You'll come with us too!"

The Black Marsh Altar Master was quite satisfied with Li Xuan's attitude.

He nodded and stood up.

He declared arrogantly, "Demon Cult followers, today we shall gather at Mount Sumeru! To receive the Cult Leader's inspection! And then! To campaign against the Mystic Gate!"

"Campaign against the Mystic Gate!"

The four shouted in excitement, raising their voices.

Li Xuan had no choice but to raise his hand and join their shouts.

Campaign against the Mystic Gate...

A moment later.

The Black Marsh Altar Master, along with his four Primordial Unity Golden Immortal subordinates and his new Primordial Unity Golden Immortal subordinate Li Xuan, as well as several dozen Mystic Immortal minor cultivators, set off in a grand procession from Black Marsh Altar, heading for the Magic Cloud Branch headquarters.

The Demon Cult's Magic Cloud Branch governed thirteen sub-altars within a radius of thirteen million li.

Black Marsh Altar was the most remote and had the fewest members.

If not for the Black Marsh Altar Master's Golden Immortal strength, Black Marsh Altar might have been swallowed up by the other altars long ago.

Because of the distance, they were the last to arrive at the Magic Cloud Branch.

Thus, the Black Marsh Altar Master inevitably received a scolding from the Magic Cloud Branch Master, a Primordial Unity Golden Immortal of the third level.

But soon, this Branch Master led his thirteen Altar Masters and several thousand followers, setting out for Mount Sumeru!

Among these thousands of people, Li Xuan instantly became indistinguishable from the crowd.

A Mystic Immortal cultivation?

There were over a hundred of those here!

Li Xuan was happy enough with this, simply flying along with everyone toward Mount Sumeru.

Surely that bastard Luohu couldn't possibly spot him among millions of cult members with a single glance, right?

But just as he was flying, a Mystic Immortal who looked like an old man quietly sidled up beside Li Xuan.

This naturally couldn't escape Li Xuan's notice.

But Li Xuan could only pretend not to know.

And after the old man got close to Li Xuan, he took the initiative to speak softly: "Daoist friend, you look quite unfamiliar. Did you just recently join the Black Marsh Altar?"

Li Xuan was a bit confused and could only reply: "Uh, This Poor Daoist indeed joined not long ago..."

"What is your esteemed name, Daoist friend?"

The old man asked again with a smile.

"Uh..."

Li Xuan felt like this old geezer was a bit too forward?

But it wouldn't do to stay silent, so he said: "This Poor Daoist is Changshan Zhao Zilong..."

"Changshan Zhao Zilong... Not a bad name."

Hearing this, the old man nodded in praise.

Then he introduced himself: "This Poor Daoist is Ku Wa of the Wushan Altar."

"This... Ku Wa Daoist friend, is there something you need?"

Li Xuan's forehead was dotted with black lines.

"Daoist Zhao, are you interested in joining my Wushan Altar? The altar master of my Wushan Altar is a peak Golden Immortal powerhouse, controlling many Spiritual Veins—far superior to a barren place like the Black Marsh Altar..."

Li Xuan finally understood.

So this guy had been circling around just to poach people?

Immediately, Li Xuan said with righteous indignation: "I, Changshan Zhao Zilong, value loyalty above all. Having joined the Black Marsh Altar, I am now a cult member of the Black Marsh Altar. I appreciate your goodwill, Daoist friend! But I, Zhao Zilong, will never act as an unfaithful man!"

Hearing such impassioned words, Ku Wa felt a bit awkward for a moment.

He could only wave his hand and say: "Daoist Zhao is truly... loyal. This Poor Daoist has disturbed you."

With that, he turned his head and flew back to his original position.

He began whispering and pointing at Li Xuan with a group of Mystic Immortal cultivators from the Wushan Altar, occasionally letting out a snicker.

Clearly, they had already taken this Zhao Zilong for a complete fool...

They continued flying forward.

After flying with this group of painfully slow Mystic Immortals for most of a day, a massive, sky-supporting black shadow suddenly appeared on the horizon ahead.

It was an enormous mountain!

In the ancient Primordial Wilderness, there were two great mountains in the east and west, the tallest in all the wilderness!

The eastern one was called Buzhou!

The western one was called Sumeru!

Later, one of the two mountains was completely destroyed under attack during the Xuan-Demon War.

The other was snapped in half by the Ancestor Witch Gonggong.

Buzhou Mountain, due to its extremely steep terrain, thin spiritual energy, and intense cold, had no powerful beings occupying it.

After all, aside from being tall, Buzhou Mountain seemed to have no other advantages.

So even Hongjun chose Kunlun Mountain as his Dao field, not Buzhou.

But Mount Sumeru was different.

Mount Sumeru was tall and stable, with exceptionally rich spiritual energy!

Moreover, connecting heaven and earth, it was surrounded by countless Dao principles!

It was a supreme sacred ground for cultivation.

Thus, it became the Dao field of the Demon Ancestor Luohu.

And the center of the Demon Cult!

Li Xuan's wave of several thousand people formed a single branch's worth of followers, regarded as one group.

Yet from every direction, there were dense, no less than several thousand groups.

All were surging toward Mount Sumeru in a mighty tide!

The Demon Cult had seven hundred and twenty branches!

The Magic Cloud Branch was one of the weakest!

Li Xuan, gazing at the enormous peak, curled the corner of his mouth slightly.

Mount Sumeru, finally here.