Chapter 221: Chapter 221: Unprecedented Crisis at Mount Shu (2nd Update)
Three bundles of black qi came from the north, falling into the Demon Tribe Temple.
As the black qi dispersed, the Sect Masters of Joyous Union Sect, Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons, and Summoning Demon Palace, three great leaders of the Demon Sects, appeared.
Upon seeing these three formidable Demon Sects powerhouses, the Huang State demon race loose cultivators couldn't help but reveal a look of fear.
The three great Demon Sects leaders had cultivation levels of at least the ninth layer of the Void Refinement Realm, towering above the vast majority of the Huang State demon race.
"The three great Demon Sects have actually appeared in the Demon Tribe Temple, Master's premonition was right, the Demon Lord is indeed planning something big."
Shen Xiaoyao didn't dare to emit a hint of his presence.
Once discovered by the Demon Lord and the three great Demon Sects leaders, with Shen Xiaoyao's cultivation at the Dao Palace realm, he would be in grave danger.
Shen Xiaoyao, being the Son of Fortune who could always turn misfortune into fortune and escape from certain death, was frequently sent by Lu Changsheng to gather intelligence.
Shen Xiaoyao's Heaven Rank mid-grade cultivation technique "Technique of Ten Thousand Li Tracking" had reached Great Perfection. He was first-rate both in tracking and escaping for his life.
Lu Changsheng gave Shen Xiaoyao several Spirit Concealment Talismans, Earth Escape God Talismans, Shrinking Earth to Inches Talismans, and one ninth-grade Within Reach, Ends of the Earth Talisman, then sent him to gather intelligence in Huang State as a form of tempering.
"Demon Lord, have you fully recovered from your injuries? If this continues, our three great sects will soon be eradicated by Mount Shu."
"After the Reincarnation Hall was destroyed, our Joyous Union Sect suffered heavy losses again, thankfully I managed to escape in time."
The Sect Master of Joyous Union Sect said discontentedly.
In these ten years, Mount Shu frequently made moves, leading other sects to attack the remaining three great Demon Sects, causing heavy losses to them.
The Demon Lord had been recuperating all along and refrained from any rash actions.
The Palace Master of Summoning Demon Palace said with a sinister tone, "Our Summoning Demon Palace's secret technique was interrupted because of this."
The Valley Master of the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons spoke in a gentle yet sinister voice, "Mount Shu prides itself as the head of the Orthodox Sects and has repeatedly interfered with our cultivation of divine powers. It's time to annihilate Mount Shu."
The interior of the Demon Tribe Temple seemed to hear the complaints of the three great Demon Sects leaders, and the whole temple trembled violently, as boundless demonic qi spread out, covering the sky and blocking the sun.
The Huang State loose cultivators watched the towering demonic qi in shock.
The cultivation of the Demon Lord had reached an inconceivably high level.
Even the complaining Sect Masters of Joyous Union Sect, Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons, and Summoning Demon Palace fell silent.
The Sect Master of Joyous Union Sect's face slightly changed, "The aura of the Demon Lord is so astonishing."
The hidden Shen Xiaoyao didn't dare to make any movement.
The demonic qi quickly gathered and vanished without a trace, as a red-haired demonic man with an air of unrivaled arrogance walked out from the temple, "Now that the Demon Tribe's divine skills have reached Great Accomplishment, Mount Shu can be wiped out with a snap of the fingers."
"Heh, Mount Shu is finished this time."
The Palace Master of Summoning Demon Palace sneered, with the Demon Lord on their side, if he took action, Mount Shu, the obstacle hindering their Demon Sects' cultivation, could be eradicated.
"This is bad, I must quickly return and report to the Sect."
Shen Xiaoyao, sensing the aura of the Demon Lord to be even more terrifying than that of the Mount Shu Sect Leader, was inwardly shocked and broke out in a cold sweat.
Unless the Demon Lord was completely killed, his cultivation would only get higher and higher.
The Demon Lord was injured by the Sect Leader Uncle twice in a row, yet his cultivation soared at an alarming rate, truly a demonic freak.
"Wait, who is that old servant beside the Demon Lord? His aura is second only to the Demon Lord..."
Shen Xiaoyao noticed an old man with horns on his forehead beside the Demon Lord. This elder was spirited and had a full forehead, his breath long-lasting—he was certainly no easy opponent.
After the Demon Lord and the three great Demon Sect Masters entered the temple to discuss matters, Shen Xiaoyao used an Earth Escape talisman to flee the place, taking the intelligence back to Mount Shu.
At Misty Peak, amidst the mountains, Su Qian, the Fairy Pavilion Master, clad in white, had arranged a meticulous formation around her, with the Supreme Elders of the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion acting as protectors by her side.
"Master, are you really going to take the final step?"
Xia Ningxue, carrying her Immortal Sword, watched her master Su Qian enter the place for tribulation.
Su Qian still had a thousand years of lifespan before reaching the end limit of the Void Refinement Realm, yet she chose to undergo tribulation at this time.
"I have a premonition that a great disaster is approaching. Only by entering the Unity Realm can I affect the overall situation. As the Pavilion Master, it is my duty to do so. Moreover, I don't want to lose to the Sect Leader of Mount Shu."
Su Qian's eyes were resolute as she stepped into the land of tribulation, ready to face the sixfold Heavenly Tribulation.
Over Misty Peak, dark clouds gathered densely as the terrifying sixfold Heavenly Tribulation brewed.
Boom!
A bolt of lightning tore through the sky, illuminating the gorgeous profile of Xia Ningxue.
The Inquiry Immortal Pavilion sensed the imminent danger, and Su Qian, the Fairy Pavilion Master, resolutely decided to forcedly undergo tribulation without being fully prepared.
In Immeasurable Temple, a towering Heaven-reaching Divine Temple emitted ten thousand zhang of Buddha light that enveloped several countries. A constant stream of invisible power of faith flowed into the temple from the top.
On the highest floor, amid the surrounding sea of clouds, a gaunt, sitting monk was like a terrifying black hole, devouring the faith of the common people.
Footsteps sounded as Master Wuxiang, the abbot of Immeasurable Temple appeared. Seeing the seated monk without any breath of life, yet like an empty vessel, he couldn't help but sigh, "A great disaster is approaching, and you are at a critical juncture in cultivating this secret technique that neither births nor dies. I hope our Immeasurable Temple can survive this calamity."
...
Mount Shu, Shen Xiaoyao returned from Huang State and, according to his master's instructions before retreating, first reported the information he gathered there to the Sect Leader.
At Ten Thousand Swords Peak, Taiyuan the True One and Sect Leader Uncle listened to the intelligence brought back by Shen Xiaoyao with grave expressions.
The Demon Lord's injuries had completely healed, and his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, making his strength unfathomable.
Situ Kong spoke with a heavy tone, "With the Pan Ni Phoenix Physique, plus that ancient cauldron the Demon Lord acquired, it's really difficult to kill him. If this continues, he will become invincible in this world."
Taiyuan the True One had profound eyes, "This time, he must be completely destroyed, both body and soul. The current plan is to deliberately lure the Demon Lord to attack our Mount Shu. Only with the two of us relying on the power of the Mountain Protection Array might there be a possibility to annihilate the Demon Lord.
The formation laid down by the Ancestral Master is the Mountain Protection Array. Even after hundreds of thousands of years, successive Sect Leaders and Supreme Elders have always found ways to repair and maintain the array… The power of the Mountain Protection Array is tremendous, but regrettably, we may not be able to wield the array's full power…"
"Is your disciple in retreat?"
"Hmm."
"Perhaps dealing with the Demon Lord will depend on this disciple. I will do my best to severely injure the Demon Lord."
Situ Kong, changing from his usual laziness, had sharp eyes that looked towards the south.
Shen Xiaoyao returned to Qingyun Peak, where the eldest senior brother was practicing his sword in the bamboo forest, the third senior sister was reading by the stream, and the fifth junior sister lazily dozed off on a wooden table, her fox tail swaying occasionally. Everything seemed normal, with no concern over the approaching disaster.
Above Qingyun Peak, eight thousand li of purple qi twined.
Not long ago, his master had begun his retreat, reportedly aiming to break through to the ninth layer of the Void Refinement Realm.
Once stepping into the ninth layer of the Void Refinement Realm, one would be just a step away from the Unity Realm.