Retreat

Using the power of the Nine-Turn Elixir, the Sky Daoist forced out the Gu poison in his palm. "Nangong doesn't have that kind of ability. The Divine Sect is too busy to spare any time right now, so they probably don't pay much attention to me, let alone suspect or test me."

The person who preceded me used incredibly advanced and unfathomable methods of restriction, employing many obscure algorithms that were hundreds of years out of date. I had no idea how to crack them for the time being. Moreover, their schemes were so ruthless that they were probably from the Xuanmen sect, ancient beings who had reincarnated several times."

Liu Qing frowned. "Fei Mountain? Could they be from Hengshan? Could they have already discovered our plans? Will the Abbot be in danger going to Ganguo?"

The Sky Daoist still shook his head, but he had already digested the pill's power and could stand up. "It's hard to say now. The worst-case scenario is that someone stole the Demon God's egg, intending to hatch a demon god to wreak havoc on the world. Or perhaps we were just unlucky enough to run into an old monster exploring Lei Marsh Swamp, who, out of boredom, sealed and strengthened it, and then turned around and tricked me..."

"That's it, fate is such, no need to say more. What are you doing here? What's the situation outside? How many people have arrived? Are there any people from the mountain gate?"

Liu Qing said, "A sword immortal from Hengshan is wreaking havoc. He has already defeated the Blood Fang King three times, even shaving off half of its scalp, which has caused the cultivators on both sides to fight True Cultivator other."

All the fellow disciples from the sect went to lend a hand. Only the Nangong Family said they were coming to check on the safety of the Demon-Suppressing Platform, and I knew something must have happened on your side, so I secretly followed to provide support. Luckily, I made it in time.

There are only some Nangong people outside the barrier now. You should still be able to fight your way out, but you need to leave as soon as possible. A legitimate princess has also arrived and is currently presiding over the reopening of the barrier at the Vermilion Bird Platform. There are also Shangqing Sect members protecting her. I'm afraid the Demon God Palace will be completely sealed off soon."

The Sky Daoist, "Hengshan Sect... tsk, my strength has been greatly diminished, I'm afraid I won't be able to retrieve this Demon God's Egg in a short time. I've missed my chance this time, I can only try again next time."

Please inform Lou Guan about what's going on here, and ask the abbot to calculate who is interfering and ruining our plans. Please take care of things in the mountains."

Liu Qing nodded, clasped her hands in a fist salute to him, and said, "Take care."

The Sky Daoist nodded and put on his veil. "By the way, Jade Toad Granny has also fled to Lei Marsh."

Liu Qing was startled, momentarily losing control and unleashing a terrifying demonic aura. However, he quickly regained his composure, gritted his teeth, and shook his head, saying, "Matters come first."

The Sky Daoist seemed to glance at her. "This time I spread rumors that a Demon Race Cultivation Method had been born, but it didn't dare to come and compete for it. It seems that it was seriously injured by the mountain lord back then. It is probably afraid that we will attack it, so it dares not go back to its lair and has been hiding in the Lei Marsh Water Mansion to heal its wounds. I'm afraid that if there is any disturbance, it will flee to the South China Sea to live in seclusion."

I've also heard that the Guo Family's Taotie egg was stolen by the monsters. If it really falls into their hands, that old monster might even advance further. If we miss this opportunity, it will be very difficult to catch it again.

"Senior sister, surviving is the most important thing, and so is taking revenge."

Then the Sky Daoist said nothing more. The Donghua Changchun Pill was naturally sufficient to cure the Gu poison. He regained his strength and decisively flew out of the hall, probably to support the monsters outside who seemed to be fighting a fierce battle with the Nangongs.

Liu Qing stood there, his expression shifting between light and dark for a while, before finally gritting his teeth, transforming back into a snake, and darting into the crevices of the rock above the demon god's head.

What exactly is going on? Is there some secret collusion between Ink Bamboo Mountain and the Divine Cult? Or is this a clandestine operation by Liu Qing and his Southern Faction? But it seems they're acting under the abbot's orders.

Li Fan hadn't expected that just as his sword was about to strike the cult leader's head, he would suddenly receive a "Sorry, I'm an undercover agent" stunt. He was now a bit confused, unable to figure out who was on whose side, or who was the one he could kill...

'I understand the Dao of the Profound Heaven Sword Intent.'

Oh? You understand now? Here, take the microphone and tell me what you think.

The Profound Heaven Sword Intent said, "That middle-aged man, who's not good at arithmetic, is going to bring three demons to join the Divine Cult as an inside agent for Ink Bamboo Mountain, just in case."

Oh, that's it? He could even tell that! Is there anything more shocking?

"Profound Heaven Sword Intent said, didn't I already tell you? Joining the Divine Sect is probably Ink Bamboo Mountain's only way out. Look at Liu Qing just now; that's Ink Bamboo Mountain's last resort. Don't you see the difference, or the similarity?"

What does that mean? What's different and the same? The hand is back together? Hmm? Wait a minute!

Wasn't Liu Qing's Dao Body transformation supposed to be a giant feathered serpent? Then what about the human -Head-Snake and half-serpent-bodied Dao Body from before? Could it be that Liu Qing also practiced the introductory mountain god Dao Body of Fuzi Peak, the serpentine transformation? But her aura and physical form are quite different from Li Fan's own cultivation, especially there's a certain something about her...

"The Profound Heaven Sword Intent says, 'That's right, it's demonic energy! She didn't just transform from a human body into a snake tail; she transformed from a snake's body into a human form!'"

The biggest difference between your Tai Su transformation and the general Dharma of Heaven and Earth is that the Dao body is not simply a manifestation of magical power! Instead, it constructs a true body that can continue to be cultivated!

Although the female cultivator hadn't learned the Nine Li Diagram, judging from the aura emanating from her body, she was clearly cultivating the serpentine Dao body that Tai Su had transformed into as a demonic form! And look at this demonic Dao body, it's already taking shape and is almost becoming human! This magical power is much stronger than her previous human form!

Heh heh! Ink Bamboo Mountain really knows how to hide! I bet every Golden Core Stage cultivator here has at least two bodies, one human and one demon, two lives!

Holy crap?

' The Profound Heaven Sword Intent said, hehe, if we speculate like this, as long as we have this kind of incarnation secret technique, when the Ink Bamboo Mountain is in danger of being wiped out by the Three Great Sects, we can directly have our disciples disguise themselves as demons, slip away like cicadas, and hide in the Ten-thousand-mountains or Kunlun for refuge! Hehehe, it seems that those three exceptionally clever ones from earlier, whether they were originally human or demon, is really hard to say...'

Holy crap!?

'The Dao of Profound Heaven Sword Intent cannot be considered mere conjecture; after all, I heard of the trick of human-demon transformation back when the Luo Sect was at its peak.'

Holy crap!

"Profound Heaven Sword Intent said, 'Hmph, what else could it be? Didn't you see that fox before? That dog actually joined the Luo Sect to learn heretical methods in order to be reborn as a demon.'"

If it weren't to extinguish his hopes, would I have bothered to steal the Heavenly Book of the Void Star? Ancestor Luo doesn't even use a sword. I just didn't expect that this brat would still manage to do it...

Holy crap???

"Profound Heaven Sword Intent said, 'Hmph, no wonder I couldn't find him anywhere in Lei Marsh back then. He was probably already entangled with Ink Bamboo Mountain. Lou Guan's fortune teller probably helped cover for him... What a busybody...'"

Well, the thing has been in front of him for so many years and he still can't find it. It seems our fate has truly run its course...

For a while, all Li Fan could think about was "Holy crap."

What's wrong with this world? He just wanted to ambush someone, and before he knew it, he'd been fed a whole bunch of gossip. Let's sort this out...

So, Profound Heaven Sword Intent has a disciple, nicknamed "Dog Thing Cough Cough," whose name is Yan Xingyun.

Yan Xingyun betrayed his sect for a nine-tailed fox, and even transformed into a demon to give birth to a little fox. He joined the Luo Sect to learn the Tai Su Dao. Later, the Ancestor Luo Temple and the Void Star went mad, and the Luo Sect was besieged and wiped out by the Three Great Sects. Yan Xingyun and his family fled to Ink Bamboo Mountain for refuge.

It's likely that Yan Xingyun had connections with the Mountain Lord and his generation. Judging from how familiar the Mountain Lord and his group were with the affairs of the Void Star, it's possible that Yan Xingyun also brought some of the Luo Sect's experience and participated in the Mo Shan lineage's deduction and improvement of the Thousand-Faced Immortal's Way of Transformation.

Therefore, the Inner Sect disciples of Ink Bamboo Mountain can not only transform their Dao bodies, but also use them as cultivation clones or substitutes like those of the Demon Race. They may even be cultivating their demon bodies to conceal their true cultivation level as rogue cultivators in human form, thus avoiding the discovery of Ink Bamboo Mountain's true strength by the Three Great Sects.

In the worst-case scenario, they wouldn't all be martyred like the Luo Sect. They might all have a chance, like Yan Xingyun did before, to escape and find a way out!

Believe it or not, there really is a glimmer of hope. While the Three Great Sects ruthlessly suppress the lesser-known cultivators, they utterly despise the demons, even utterly ignoring them. After all, who knows how many Demon Race in the Ten-thousand-mountains are actually incarnations of cultivators from Ink Bamboo Mountain! These are truly 'demon paths'...

However, speaking of that Brother Yan, he probably thought that he had betrayed the sect and even reincarnated as a demon, angering Master Xuantian. He felt ashamed to face the sect and was so ashamed that he abandoned his child and went to his death with the sect.

In truth, that arrogant old Profound Heaven Sword Intent probably forgave him long ago. Otherwise, why would he have gone through all the trouble of seizing the Void Star, engraving it in his sword box, and sending it all the way to Lei Marsh? He probably still hoped that Xu Xing could turn back into a human to fulfill his filial duty...

' The Profound Heaven Sword Intent says, Bah! Who did this for him! I merely happened to be traveling here and, on a whim, left behind this legacy to find a destined person!'

Yes, yes, you're right...

However, the world is truly full of wonders. The dignified leader of the Sword Sect, a disciple of the top master of the Xuanmen, actually betrayed his sect and joined the Demonic Sect for a fox. It seems that the tribulations of love are truly powerful...

"The Profound Heaven Sword Intent said, 'What love tribulation does my Sword Sect have! Xingyun, that damned blockhead, isn't even moved by so many female cultivators from the Three Great Sects, yet he'd fall for a demon!? That fiend must have seduced him!'"

Yes, yes, you're right...

"Profound Heaven Sword Intent said, 'Hmph! Boy! I'll make three rules for you! It's fine if you fall in love with men, but don't get involved with demons again! This old man really can't take it anymore!'"

Sigh, yes, yes, for the sake of sword intent's mental health, even if it's with a man... Ugh! Who wants to have a romantic entanglement with a man?! It's disgusting!

After bickering with Profound Heaven Sword Intent the whole way, Li Fan returned the way he came, swam to the temple exit, and tentatively observed the situation outside.

His first Vermilion Bird Talisman attracted the Nangong Family. Although the Nangong Family was trash, with human cultivators fighting against the Demon Race and they coming to ask for opportunities, to be fair, they weren't exactly deserters.

After all, the Demon God Palace is located above Nangong's own Vermilion Bird Demon Suppression Platform. Therefore, Nangong Wuqing only sent two useless people down to check the situation in Gonggong Palace. They probably went to the Vermilion Bird Platform first to understand the defense mechanism for suppressing the Demon Race, so that if any demons appear in the world, they can activate the seal to prevent any unforeseen events.

Now that they've seen the second Vermilion Bird Talisman, even the most useless person should react.

Li Fan could now clearly sense that the three guardian demons outside were trapped. They had transformed into avatars over ten feet tall, with human-shaped bodies and limbs, but heads that resembled a bear, a wild boar, and a lynx. They were indeed mortal demons, and were now clad in armor and armed with weapons, back to back, facing three sides in a fierce battle.

Yes, it's a fierce battle! These three Nascent Soul Stage demons are locked in a high-level battle with the Nangong Family on the Vermilion Bird Platform! Looking up, there are over a dozen colossal bronze statues, each over ten feet tall, forming a killing formation to encircle and annihilate the demonic beasts! The battle is earth-shattering and awe-inspiring!

"Profound Heaven Sword Intent said, what high-level stuff... This is the signature Twenty-Eight Heavenly Star Guardian Divine Weapons of the Immortal Palace."

The armory of the Three Enclosures Immortal Palace contains these guardian divine weapons, specifically designed to deal with large demons. With the entire Immortal Palace providing immortal power support, any Golden Core Stage cultivator, even those mere filler vessels, can hide within and operate these Magic Treasure.

Even Nascent Soul Stage demon could be subdued and suppressed by force. Not to mention so many of them, who can form the Twenty-Eight Constellations Killing Formation; those three weaklings are in real danger.

Ahem, okay, it's not high-powered, it's giant-powered divine weapon ('Profound Heaven Sword Intent, it's the Guardian Divine Weapon!'), anyway, this scene, wow, it's like Super Robot Wars GoPro, the battle is earth-shattering! It's earth-shattering! It's awe-inspiring! Oh my, what a grand scene!

... However, it seems there aren't as many as the Twenty-Eight Mansions? Li Fan only counted twelve, and there were no formations or combinations; it was just a chaotic brawl.

"The Profound Heaven Sword Intent says, ' The Nangong Family probably doesn't have enough manpower; there are likely not many disciples left who can wield ancient divine weapons.'"

It's clear that the Nangong Family is quite wealthy, but their disciples are poorly trained. Although the armory in the Vermilion Bird Platform is full, only twelve bronze warriors were actually brought out to fight. The rest were just watching from the rooftops. Moreover, even with so many warriors ganging up on them, they couldn't defeat the mere three demonic beasts. They could only circle around them and use a series of attacks to wear them down.

But while the bronze figure was getting hammered and stabbed, the pilot hiding inside was completely unaffected. However, if the bronze figure were to strike the demons with a couple of blows, even Nascent Soul Stage demon couldn't withstand the heavy impact of such weapons. After more than a dozen earth-shattering rounds, the three demons were already bruised and battered, their faces swollen and covered in bumps, looking utterly pathetic...

"The Profound Heaven Sword Intent said, 'Alas, the Nangong Family is about to lose again. Look, their path to survival has been broken open.'"

Following the direction indicated by the sword intent, Li Fan checked and indeed found that one of the divine weapons had malfunctioned, leaving a large opening in the siege formation. It was probably the Sky Daoist had intervened earlier. But how could one be destroyed so easily?

"The Profound Heaven Sword Intent said, 'This divine weapon, to put it bluntly, is also a kind of Magic Treasure, specifically used to suppress large demons. It's quite complicated to operate, usually requiring a divine general to accompany and protect it. How long has it been since the Nangong Family has used this mechanism? Don't they practice such a basic tactic?'"

What's the point of a drill? The mountain patrols and demon-slaying duties have all been outsourced to Ink Bamboo Mountain...

As expected, neglecting daily training caused them to falter when it came to real combat. The Sky Daoist was really going all out; a fortune teller who had just been cured of poison actually managed to break through three high platforms single-handedly, cough cough divine weapons. The three great demons also roared in unison, switching from defense to offense, and rushed out of the formation to escape.

The Nangong Family's divine soldiers were thrown into chaos by the monster's sudden attack. Some hastily gave chase, some retreated in panic, and some, wary of a sneak attack, crouched down to defend. Two of the divine soldiers even mishandled their weapons and crashed into each other. They were like headless flies, and the scene was utterly horrific...

At this moment, it was actually the registrar Chen Bin rushed out of the Vermilion Bird Platform. A civil official flew out first, encouraging the crowd to pursue the Demon Race. Seeing that Nascent Soul Stage cultivator was leading the way, the disciples of Nangong finally had a backbone and, with the cover of the imperial guards, followed suit. They chased after the demon race like flies chasing a dung cart, getting further and further away.

"The Profound Heaven Sword Intent said, 'That snake darted out from the northwest corner of the Vermilion Bird Platform. This demonic aura went undetected; there must be a secret entrance to the palace there.'"

Did Liu Qing go to support that Sky Daoist? Indeed, a large group of people from the Nangong Family chased after him.

Li Fan's eyes suddenly lit up. That's right! The Nangong Family members have all gone to chase the monster! Then Nangong Wuqing should not have many guards left!

He immediately transformed into human form, activated the invisibility function of the Gui Xu Dao Yi, and rushed straight towards the secret passage in the northwest corner of the Vermilion Bird Demon Suppression Platform.