Chapter 594: The Surging Demon Tide
After scanning the venue with Divine Sense, Shen Xuan summoned the Sect Steward.
After confirming repeatedly, his seat was to the right of Mysterious Trace True Master.
Only then did Shen Xuan slowly walk to his seat.
"Sect Leader Brother? This..."
Shen Xuan glanced at the seat, looking puzzled.
"Brother Profound Ice is here! Please be seated. The meeting is about to begin."
Mysterious Trace True Master said cheerfully.
The seating arrangements for the Sect True Masters were not based on seniority.
Instead, they were determined by sect merits.
Shen Xuan mused silently.
In the sect war between Yan Country and Song Country, the merits he earned were second only to Spirit Sword True Master.
Later, under the name of Starlight Island, he engaged in large-scale trade with the Wilderness Demon Race.
The profits gained were half shared with the Cyan Cloud Sect.
Additionally, he consistently completed sect alchemy tasks at Starlight Island.
Overall, his accumulated sect merits exceeded those of Hidden Image True Master.
Shen Xuan’s gaze swept across.
Seeing Hidden Image True Master and Spirit Sword True Master both nod slightly.
Only then did he sit down with a smile.
Soon, all the True Masters attending the meeting had arrived.
They exchanged greetings with each other.
At this moment, Shen Xuan noticed that all the True Masters in the sect treated him more favorably than before.
The same principles apply in both the Cultivation Realm and the mortal world.
Once you become powerful, you’ll find everyone around you seems kind.
Cyan Cloud Sect now has nineteen True Masters.
True Master Changsheng and Duobao True Master have fallen.
New additions include True Master Zhi Yi and True Master Xuan Yuan, accompanying the lower seats.
True Master Ling Xiao’s seat has been moved to the inner circle.
This also signifies True Master Ling Xiao’s entry into the core circle of the sect.
Cyan Cloud Sect has now formed a new structure of seven inner peaks and twelve outer peaks.
The meeting commenced.
Mysterious Trace True Master announced that True Master Changsheng went mad and died, recommending True Master Cold Jade to take over as the Alchemy Hall Master.
The proposal was unanimously passed.
During the approval vote, many True Masters looked at Shen Xuan with smiles.
Shen Xuan nodded in return.
"Well then. Sister Cold Jade, as the Alchemy Hall Master, everyone please lend your support."
Mysterious Trace True Master spoke, glancing at Shen Xuan.
Everyone agreed in succession.
Shen Xuan solemnly stated: "With Master Cold Jade as the Master of the Pill Hall, Profound Ice will certainly give full support."
After the meeting, the True Masters dispersed.
Shen Xuan stayed behind.
Mysterious Trace True Master shared some news with him.
This news was only circulating at the high levels of major sects across the nations.
The five sects in Yan Country are gradually losing control over the magic tide.
The seals of the passages to the Demon Realm are increasingly breaking.
The Demon Beasts emerging from inside are not only increasing in number but their tiers are progressively rising.
Tier Three Demon Beasts are becoming more common.
Some have even developed intelligence, commanding Demon Beasts to besiege.
Shen Xuan asked, "Would the True Monarchs of Yan Country’s sects just sit idly by?"
"How could they!"
Mysterious Trace True Master sighed.
"They are powerless. As soon as they seal one passage, another to the Demon Realm opens up."
"They estimate that the Demon Infant ancestors of the Demon Realm are exerting themselves simultaneously, deliberately driving these Demon Beasts this way."
Shen Xuan’s heart leaped instantly.
"Wouldn’t the Yan Country sects..."
Mysterious Trace True Master nodded and said, "You guessed right. The sects of Yan Country have already issued a proposal to our Song Country, as well as Liang Country and Lu Country, asking us to send people to collectively annihilate these Demon Beasts."
Shen Xuan remained silent.
Never did he expect that the Yan Country sects, which invaded Song Country years ago, would now shamelessly seek assistance from them.
After a while.
Shen Xuan asked, "Would the Profound Celestial Sect agree?"
"The Profound Celestial Sect will agree."
Mysterious Trace True Master explained, "If left unchecked, the rampant Demon Beasts on the Profound Origin Continent might attract the Demon Realm’s Demon Race army, making it even harder to resolve."
"Aren’t the Heaven and Earth Laws of the Profound Origin Continent supposed to repel and restrict the Demon Realm’s Demon Race?"
"That’s because there are plenty of Spiritual Lands here. If the entire continent becomes rich in Demonic Qi, the Heaven and Earth Laws would change accordingly."
Shen Xuan suddenly realized.
The purpose of these Demon Beasts is to alter and corrupt the Spiritual Lands of the Profound Origin Continent.
When the Demonic Qi flourishes to suit the Demon Race’s survival.
The Demon Race from the Demon Realm can then organize an army to grandly invade the Profound Origin Continent.
"This matter is not yet decided. I’m informing you first. If the four countries’ sects reach a consensus to send out troops, I fear it will trouble Brother Profound Ice."
"Sect Leader Brother, can someone else be dispatched? You know, I don’t quite get along with the Yan Country sects."
"Very difficult."
Mysterious Trace True Master spoke sincerely: "Among the sect, those suitable for the expedition are only Spirit Sword, Celestial Wind, Celestial Thunder, Ling Xiao, you, and Sister Cold Jade."
"Even if others are willing, I would not delegate them."
"Brother Profound Ice, do you understand my meaning?"
Shen Xuan smiled wryly.
"I understand."
Going to Yan Country to battle the Demon Beasts entails considerable risk.
The Cyan Cloud Sect sending a True Master on an expedition must consider their safety.
Every True Pill True Master is a precious asset to the sect, raised with immense resources.
When it’s time to reciprocate and contribute back to the sect, they cannot be allowed to fall easily.
In the thirty-plus years of sect war between Yan and Song Country, the Cyan Cloud Sect only lost Duobao True Master, a single True Pill.
"If I can avoid going to Yan Country, it would be better not to go."
Shen Xuan thought for a while, then said, "If it is unavoidable, I will comply with the sect’s arrangements."
"Brother Profound Ice truly has a big-picture perspective."
Mysterious Trace True Master said with a smile: "It’s still early. Once the four countries’ sects make a decision, we’ll discuss it again."
...
Cold Jade Peak, guest cave mansion.
Shen Xuan examined the Yan Country Intelligence Jade Scroll.
Just as Mysterious Trace True Master said.
The demon tides in Yan Country are growing increasingly intense.
Some events are not clearly detailed on the Intelligence Jade Scroll.
Evidently, the sects in Yan Country are concealing the true situation of the demon tides.
"With my current strength, even if I can’t defeat a Tier Three Demon Beast, I can definitely protect myself."
Shen Xuan’s True Spirit Dharma Aspect, Ice Technique, and Thunder Technique are inherently effective against Demon Beasts.
He does not fear Demon Beasts with powerful flesh bodies.
Relatively speaking, the divine powers of Yan Country’s True Masters pose a greater threat to him.
True Master Hai Xuan, also a Water Technique Golden Core cultivator, has combat strength on par with him in the East Sea.
"It’s a shame that the three Profound Ice Treasure Talismans have only been nourished for fifteen years, far from enough time."
Shen Xuan estimates that activating the Profound Ice Treasure Talismans at close range could unleash power equivalent to a full-force attack from a Golden Core at the Middle Stage.
Simultaneously activating three Profound Ice Treasure Talismans would force even a Late Stage Golden Core to avoid their sharp edge.
He glanced at the Mysterious Jade Talisman.
[Lifespan: 185/1096]
[Dragon Blood Boiling Perfection (2468/3200)]
The progress of [Dragon Blood Boiling] becomes slower as one progresses.
Now, after a year of hard cultivation, the increase in skill points is less than fifty.
Moreover, it is evidently slowing down.
Even if he activates [Dragon Blood Boiling] to its limit, consuming two years of lifespan.
"If I rely only on daily practice, reaching the bottleneck of the Dharma Realm will still take more than a decade!"
Shen Xuan still has an Ice Chi Dragon Demon Pill in hand.
This is a treasure from the descendants of a quasi Tier Four Divine Dragon.
He plans to refine it and break through the bottleneck when the time is right.
"I wonder how Wan Meng Demon Sovereign is doing."
Shen Xuan’s heart stirred.
He released the Demon Eye from the restrictive Jade Box.
"A thousand eyes greet True Master Shen."
"Is there any news about Wan Meng Demon Sovereign?"
The Demon Eye replied with a fawning tone.
"Recently, Wan Meng Demon Sovereign escaped from the Demon Realm in Yan Country with the help of her mentor Mingyu Demon Sovereign and has returned to Hehuan Sect to recuperate."
"Oh. Trapped in the Demon Realm of Yan Country. What is the current situation in Yan Country?"
"Bad. Really bad."
Thousand Eyes Demon Sovereign told Shen Xuan that the small and medium sects in Yan Country are a complete mess, being torn apart by the demon tides.
Yan Country’s five sects have also been greatly affected and are requesting the joint resistance of Liang, Song, and Lu countries against the demon tides.
Otherwise, the five sects of Yan Country will drive demon beasts into the other three countries.
Shen Xuan asked, "How does your Demon Sect in Liang Country view this situation?"
"Most likely, we will join hands and send capable Demon Sovereigns to Yan Country to exterminate the demon beasts."
"Oh, why is that? Aren’t your Demon Sect cultivators welcoming to demons from the Demon Realm?"
"Welcome? How could that be!"
Thousand Eyes Demon Sovereign explained that the relationship between Demon Cultivators in Liang Country and demons from the Demon Realm is complex.
The cultivation techniques of Liang Country’s Demon Cultivators mostly originate from the Demon Race.
However, these Demon Sect techniques almost all have fatal flaws.
They are equivalent to a "backdoor" in the past life.
The Demon Race views Demon Cultivators as slaves and blood food.
Once the Demon Race descends onto the Profound Origin Continent, they either control Demon Cultivators as slaves or devour them as blood food.
Therefore, most Demon Cultivators from Liang Country fear the arrival of the Demon Race even more than Spirit Cultivators do.
The relationship between Demon Cultivators and the Demon Race is incredibly complex.
It depends on the strength of both sides.
Some powerful Demon Cultivators will cooperate with the Demon Race.
They will also hunt down and refine Demons weaker than themselves to enhance their own Realm Cultivation.
This left Shen Xuan speechless and amused.
Therefore, many things are not as simple as they seem on the surface.
Demon Cultivators are those who practice Demon Techniques, while the Demon Race is inherently demonic.
Their relationship still follows rules of interest.
Enslavement, devouring, cooperation, utilization, competition, hunting, and so forth ultimately depend on the strength and interest orientation of both sides.
According to Thousand Eyes Demon Sovereign.
The Demon Sovereigns of the six major Demon Sects in Liang Country largely resist the invasion of the Demon Race.
After all, at their status, none wish to become slaves to the Demon Race.
...
Several days later.
Ding Qing Feng arrived at Cyan Cloud Sect.
Shen Xuan first took him to meet True Master Cold Jade.
True Master Cold Jade had a favorable impression of Ding Qing Feng.
Ding Qing Feng and Shangguan Ming Yue, serving as Shen Xuan’s Alchemy Apprentices, lived at Cold Jade Peak for over twenty years.
While Shen Xuan, Li Ruyi, and True Master Cold Jade were developing the Cold Jade Pill, the two assisted diligently, working tirelessly.
In a blink of an eye, sixty years passed.
Ding Qing Feng is now a Tier Two Pill Master.
True Master Cold Jade encouraged Ding Qing Feng.
Telling him to act freely.
If problems arise, he can report them anytime.
After leaving Cold Jade Peak, Shen Xuan took Ding Qing Feng straight to the Alchemy Hall.
As his figure appeared in the grand hall of the Pill Hall, the bustling hall instantly fell silent.
All the disciples of the Pill Hall, young and old, stopped their tasks and bowed in greeting to Shen Xuan.
Shen Xuan’s gaze swept over everyone, nodding slightly in return.
"Huang Yuan, Li Qi, Zhou Dan, you three stay, everyone else, withdraw."
Soon after, Shen Xuan sat in the Hall Master’s Mansion, with Ding Qing Feng attending by his side.
The three direct disciples of True Master Changsheng – Huang Yuan, Li Qi, and Zhou Dan – stood below, looking anxious.
"Sit down."
Shen Xuan said lightly.
Huang Yuan glanced at Shen Xuan’s expression and sat down obediently.
Li Qi and Zhou Dan exchanged looks and sat behind Huang Yuan.
"Recently, the sect decided that my mentor, True Master Cold Jade, will serve as the Alchemy Hall Master."
Shen Xuan paused, using his Divine Sense to scan the three.
"All three of you are direct disciples of Senior Brother Changsheng, holding positions in the Pill Hall for a long time."
"The past is the past, don’t dwell on it."
"In the future, do your work well. If you perform well, I will help you seize the opportunity for Core Formation."