Longevity: My Talents Are a Bit Abundant

Shen Xuan’s Divine Thought stirred.

A Geography Jade Scroll flew out.

Marked within was a Demon Realm space at a canyon in Yan Country.

Demon Venerable Wan Meng had once been trapped there for seven years.

Inside, there was not only a Blackwater Demon Flood Dragon, but also a very formidable Blazing Flame Firebird.

When Demon Venerable Ming Yu temporarily resided on Starlight Island, Shen Xuan had asked her about it.

That Blazing Flame Firebird possessed a trace of Divine Bird Phoenix bloodline.

The demonic flames it spewed were astonishingly powerful.

Even the Supreme Yin Profound Water that Demon Venerable Ming Yu refined with endless toil could not suppress it.

As a Late Stage Holy Pill Demon Venerable, she could only flee in disarray with Demon Venerable Wan Meng and the other four.

"If Supreme Yin Profound Water can’t restrain it, what about my Ice Soul Spirit Crystals?"

Shen Xuan pondered inwardly.

The Five Elements generate and counter one another; using ice to subdue fire is the orthodox path.

Every Ice Soul Spirit Crystal was condensed from a thousand-zhang ice mountain.

The Profound Ice Cold Qi contained within was extremely pure.

To refine a single Ice Soul Spirit Crystal, Shen Xuan expended nearly half of his Power of Pill Essence.

Crystals of this kind, he had refined over a thousand.

"So long as they can be brought to bear, this quantity should be enough to suppress the Firebird’s demonic flames."

Primordial True Water was extremely rare.

The Yue Country Lingxi Immortal Forest Secret Realm was something he was determined to obtain.

Now, his Fire Technique Qi Cultivation had reached Perfection.

It was the perfect time to refine the Blazing Flame Firebird, seize the Divine Bird Phoenix Fire Spirit Body, and forge an Upper Grade Dao Foundation.

"As for all other matters, they can be set aside. Only Yan Country..."

What Shen Xuan worried about most was still the attitude of the Yan Country sects toward him.

"As long as the Nascent Soul True Monarchs do not take action, there’s no need to be overly concerned."

After his Realm breakthrough and rise in sect status, Shen Xuan gradually came to understand the situation of High Tier Cultivators.

Nascent Soul True Monarchs were the pillars of their sects and would not act lightly.

Upon reaching the Nascent Soul Realm, one touches upon the Heaven and Earth Laws.

Their every move would give rise to Karma Force and invite Celestial Tribulations.

Indiscriminate slaughter would shroud them in karma, cloud their Dao Heart, and erode their cultivation.

When the Celestial Tribulation descended, its power would be multiplied, and they would be slain as those not tolerated by the Heavenly Dao.

Moreover, in the unseen, Heaven’s will existed, and cause and effect turned in cycles.

A casual strike from a Nascent Soul True Monarch might entangle them in grudges of love and hate, inviting fatal calamity.

Since they had already condensed their Nascent Soul and become the supreme existences of their sects, they naturally refused to be reduced to chess pieces.

Their true opponents were the Heavenly Dao and other Nascent Soul cultivators.

For them, every move was a tremendous gamble, requiring sufficient benefit as compensation.​

The higher one’s Realm Cultivation, the more deeply one understood the Dao of preserving oneself.

Every action carried the risk of exposing trump cards, generating karma, and increasing karmic force.

Thus, in the Xuan Yuan World, a delicate balance was maintained among High Tier Cultivators of the Human Race, Demon Race, Sea Race, and Demon Cultivators.

Unless it was a last resort, Nascent Soul cultivators would not easily make a move.

Their intervention could trigger chain reactions, disrupt inter-race balance, and lead to large-scale wars spiraling out of control.

If that happened, the Xuan Yuan World would sink into chaos, and none would remain unscathed.

Precisely because of this, the High Tier Cultivators of the Xuan Yuan World adhered to tacit rules.

Nascent Soul cultivators must not casually act to slaughter True Masters, Demon Venerables, and Demon Kings.

In the Yan Song War, the sects of Song Country were comprehensively defeated and were pushed by the Yan Country sects to the core hinterlands of their sect territory.

Even so, the Nascent Soul True Monarchs of Song Country’s sects still maintained their composure.

Even at the most critical juncture, they had only dispatched the sects’ Golden Core True Masters.

After mulling over it for a long time, Shen Xuan ultimately decided to head for the Yan Country Demon Realm space.

...

Yan Country, deep within a certain Grand Canyon.

The blazing sun hung high, yellow sand billowed, and violent winds howled.

This place was rarely visited by people.

There was no water source nearby, only barren, bald hills everywhere.

Not the slightest trace of Spiritual Qi.

In the eyes of cultivators, this Grand Canyon was a place of absolute depletion of Spiritual Qi.

Shen Xuan, disguised as a solitary, elderly cultivator, stood upon an old Flying Ship, wobbling as he arrived at this place.

"According to the Geography Jade Scroll, the entrance to the Demon Realm space is nearby."

Shen Xuan spread out his Divine Sense and perception, examining the surrounding environment.

"Oh? What a coincidence? I can even run into cultivators here?"

And there were quite a few of them.

Shen Xuan quickly employed Concealing Breath and Invisibility.

Soon, a sect’s Spaceship shot past his side.

On the spaceship’s deck stood three True Masters, two men and one woman.

"A spaceship of the True Intent Sect?"

"Why is she here?"

After the spaceship passed.

Shen Xuan revealed his figure, gazing at the receding silhouette of the spaceship, lost in thought.

Just now, the female True Master on the deck was surprisingly Mu Ling’Er, with whom he had once spent a period of warm days.

Fifty years had passed.

Mu Ling’Er had condensed an Inner Core.

Though it was a Fake Pill, it was already quite good.

Mu Ling’Er was an Array Master.

A Tier Three Array Master would be valued and protected in any sect.

It had to be said, the Sect Family Mu Clan’s foundations were indeed deep.

In Shen Xuan’s eyes, the Fake Pill condensed by Mu Ling’Er was somewhat watered down; its grade was mediocre.

Most likely, certain rare Heavenly and Earthly Treasures had been used to forcibly solidify a pill.

As for the man beside Mu Ling’Er, Shen Xuan had some impression of him.

Xu Ningtie, the Core Formation Seed of the Xu Clan of the True Intent Sect.

Now, he was already a True Pill True Master.

The one standing in the very center, a Middle Stage True Pill True Master with a firm face and sharp eyes, was someone Shen Xuan did not recognize.

He should not have met him before.

"Tsk, what a hassle!"

This time, Shen Xuan had come alone to scout out the Demon Realm space.

If that Blazing Flame Firebird proved formidable.

With the Immortal Ice Lotus and Ice Soul Spirit Crystals protecting him, it would be no problem for him to retreat unscathed.

If he wanted to protect others, however, he would have to expend a bit more effort.

Mu Ling’Er and he shared deep feelings.

Since they had met, he ought at least to see her safely through.

"This girl is still so foolish, not knowing how high the heavens are or how deep the earth is!"

A mere Fake Pill True Master daring to venture into a Demon Realm space.

It had to be said, Mu Ling’Er had been sheltered far too well by the Mu Clan.

Her courage was too great, and she did not know how treacherous people’s hearts could be.

Shen Xuan turned into a streak of cyan light and quietly followed after the True Intent Sect’s spaceship.

After one incense stick’s time.

The True Intent Sect’s spaceship came to a halt in an open area.

Ahead, a black demon ship was parked.

Three Demon Venerables stood in a line, having waited for a long time.

The Demon Venerable in the center said, "Fellow Daoist Xuan Yi, you’ve come late."

"Not late. You just arrived too early."

The True Pill True Master in the middle from the Zhenyi Sect stepped forward to reply.

The two sides exchanged a few polite words and introduced each other.

On the Zhenyi Sect’s side were True Master Xuan Yi, True Master Tie Zhu, and Fairy Qingling.

On the Demon Sect’s side were Dark Night Demon Venerable, Mo Chen Demon Venerable, and Qianfeng Demon Venerable from the Yin Sha Sect.

Shen Xuan, who was watching in secret with Invisibility, couldn’t help but shake his head and smile bitterly when he saw Qianfeng Demon Venerable.

This is why the will of Heaven is hard to fathom.

One should not casually get entangled in karma.

Qianfeng Demon Venerable’s appearance had changed somewhat.

However, the aura on his body could not deceive anyone.

Coupled with that familiar Snake Demon Bow.

Shen Xuan recognized this person as his former classmate Ling Zhenfeng.

"A’Feng’s luck is not bad, he actually managed to condense a True Pill!"

For a Demon Cultivator, Solidifying Pill is far more perilous than for those of the Daoist Sect of Profound Gate.

The chance of success is even smaller.

At the Foundation Establishment Realm, a Demon Cultivator’s combat power is clearly higher than that of a Spirit Cultivator of the same level.

After Core Formation, however, because the grade of their Inner Cores is generally lower, a Demon Venerable’s combat strength is instead inferior to a True Master of the same level.

Zhenyi Sect and Yin Sha Sect each had three people, with comparable strength.

This was also the basis for cooperation between the two sides.

Only when the forces are evenly matched can they cooperate well.

True Master Xuan Yi and Dark Night Demon Venerable discussed for a while.

The trusted disciples of the two sects piloted the spaceship and left.

The six of them continued forward together.

At an unremarkable bend in a canyon.

Mu Ling’Er stopped in her tracks.

"We’re here."

After she finished speaking, Mu Ling’Er activated a Tier Three Talisman.

A layer of golden light shielded her within.

Dark Night Demon Venerable asked, "Fairy Qingling, what is the meaning of this?"

"When the entrance to the Demon Realm space is forcibly opened, not only will there be turbid Demonic Qi filth, various Demon Beasts may also appear."

Mu Ling’Er said calmly.

"So that’s how it is. Your words make sense."

Dark Night Demon Venerable sacrificed a Demon Umbrella, letting it hover lightly above his head.

On the surface of the umbrella coiled a black single-horned flood dragon, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws, vivid as life, condensed almost into substance.

"Senior Brother Dark Night’s Demon Flood Dragon Umbrella grows more formidable by the day. This single-horned flood dragon soul has already been completely refined, hasn’t it?"

Ling Zhenfeng said with an expression full of envy.

Obviously, this Demon Flood Dragon Umbrella Demon Soldier of Dark Night Demon Venerable possessed extraordinary power.

Although Mo Chen Demon Venerable did not speak, his face showed the same look of envy.

True Master Xuan Yi glanced at the Demon Flood Dragon Umbrella, said nothing, moved closer to Mu Ling’Er, and silently activated his Protective Spirit Shield.

True Master Tie Zhu, on the other hand, opened some distance and kept watch on the surroundings.

"It’s not bad. This single-horned flood dragon is only Tier Three Middle Grade, a bit lacking."

Dark Night Demon Venerable said with some regret.

He did not notice the trace of a cold sneer in Mo Chen Demon Venerable’s eyes.

"Alright. Everyone be careful, I will now open the entrance to the Demon Realm space."

As soon as the words fell.

Mu Ling’Er brought out nine Array Flags of different colors, flickering with dazzling Spiritual Light, and, following the Nine Palaces layout, planted them into the earthen wall.

"Yin and yang transform, nine palaces as one—open!"

The nine Spirit Flags slowly rotated.

The surface layer of the earthen wall gradually sank inward and turned into nothingness.

Before long, a vortex was revealed, slowly expanding.

Within, the vague scene of the Demon Realm space emerged.

"Ling’Er’s attainments in Array Dao have improved quite a bit, already above that of the Howling Moon Fox."

"Judging from her clothes and bearing, she doesn’t seem to have formed a marriage bond."

"That Xu Ningtie has always kept his distance from her."

"It seems the marriage alliance between the Mu and Xu families has already fallen through."

Shen Xuan, hiding his figure, watched this scene and pondered inwardly.

At this moment, True Master Xuan Yi and Dark Night Demon Venerable exchanged a look.

"I will go in first and pave the way for everyone."

After saying this, Dark Night Demon Venerable held up the Demon Flood Dragon Umbrella and turned into a streak of black light, flying straight into the vortex.

Xu Ningtie followed closely behind,

then came Ling Zhenfeng and True Master Xuan Yi.

Mo Chen Demon Venerable stood where he was, seemingly hesitating for a few breaths.

In the end, he gave Mu Ling’Er, who was maintaining the array, a glance, then quietly flew in without a sound.

Mu Ling’Er did not notice.

Shen Xuan’s heart tightened.

"This Mo Chen Demon Venerable harbors ill intent."

"He’s clearly at the Middle Stage of Demon Pill, yet pretends to be at the Early Stage. His true combat strength is no weaker than Dark Night Demon Venerable."

"Sigh, a Demon Cultivator is still a Demon Cultivator. To expect them to unite and cooperate, now that would be truly seeing a ghost!"

Shen Xuan could not understand why the three from Zhenyi Sect, True Master Xuan Yi and the others, wanted to cooperate with the Demon Venerables of Yin Sha Sect.

It seemed that even within Zhenyi Sect, there were many factions and intense competition.

"Forget it, after some time the truth will surface; no need to overthink it."

At this moment, Mu Ling’Er put away the nine Spirit Flags and, taking advantage of the vortex not yet having disappeared, flew in.

Shen Xuan used Concealing Breath and Invisibility and followed right after.

...

"What dense Demonic Qi!"

As soon as Dark Night Demon Venerable entered the Demon Realm space, he greedily took several deep breaths.

Under the strange dark-red firmament hung a blood-colored demon sun.

The sunlight contained not the slightest warmth; instead, it brought waves of chill.

Within sight.

The mountain ranges were jagged, bizarre rocks jutted everywhere, demonic trees were sparse, and rotting corpses littered the land.

The entire Demon Realm space was filled with deathly stillness and a suffocating atmosphere.

Once Mu Ling’Er came in.

True Master Xuan Yi said, "Fellow Daoist Dark Night, where is the Xuan Yin Demon Water we agreed on beforehand?"

Upon hearing this, Dark Night Demon Venerable smiled faintly. "I prepared it long ago."

He flicked his sleeve.

A black Demon Bottle flew to a stop before True Master Xuan Yi.

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Yi, don’t underestimate this Demon Bottle. Inside is a portion of Xuan Yin Demon Water, enough to deal with that Blazing Flame Firebird."

True Master Xuan Yi opened the bottle.

A faint fragrance wafted out, like the scent of osmanthus in the ninth month.

After sweeping it with his Divine Sense, True Master Xuan Yi nodded slightly.

Dark Night Demon Venerable laughed and said, "The three Fellow Daoists from Zhenyi Sect, our Yin Sha Sect keeps our word. Since we came in together, we should work as one, sharing life and death. If there’s any opportunity, we share it together."

"As agreed beforehand, the Blazing Flame Firebird belongs to you, and the Blackwater Demon Flood Dragon belongs to us."

"Are we going to kill that Blackwater Demon Flood Dragon together?"

True Master Xuan Yi pondered for a few breaths.

"This..."

"To be frank, we would like to first go and kill that Blazing Flame Firebird."

When it came to matters of personal interest, True Master Xuan Yi was unwilling to yield.