The Grey Rat's Demon Path

WHOOSH!

A figure wreathed in blue light shot out of the Cyan Yang Secret Realm like a meteor.

"Hahaha, what a heavenly opportunity! I can’t believe the Great Sun Essence, something that only appears once every four hundred and eighty years, has fallen into my hands!"

Ruyi True Monarch of the Linglong Sect was ecstatic.

After years of exploration, the major sects and powers had figured out many of the Cyan Yang Secret Realm’s patterns.

Once the Cyan Yang Secret Realm opened, all the Nascent Soul True Monarchs made a beeline for its core. The Great Sun Essence was gestating there.

The Great Sun Essence was a Tier Four High-Grade Spiritual Item.

Even Great Cultivators at the Late-stage Nascent Soul Realm would covet it.

When the many Nascent Soul True Monarchs rushed to the secret realm’s core, the Great Sun Essence was just shy of being fully formed.

There were other opportunities within the Secret Realm, so several Nascent Soul True Monarchs didn’t linger, instead heading off to seize the other Spiritual Items first.

Ruyi True Monarch was no exception.

The Great Sun Essence was exceptionally precious, an item the Cyan Yang Immortal Sect was determined to obtain.

And indeed, whenever the Secret Realm had opened in the past, it had always ended up in the hands of the Cyan Yang Immortal Sect.

For this exploration, the Cyan Yang Immortal Sect had dispatched one Mid-stage Nascent Soul and three Early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators—an extremely formidable force.

It seemed this time would be no different regarding the Great Sun Essence’s ownership.

With its ownership all but decided, Ruyi True Monarch didn’t pay much more attention to the Great Sun Essence. By the time he had collected various other Spiritual Items, more than eleven months had passed since the Secret Realm opened.

As the Secret Realm was about to close, he took another trip to its core.

On this trip, by a stroke of luck, he actually managed to snatch the Great Sun Essence.

Inside the Secret Realm’s core, the Great Sun Essence had finished forming, and the various Nascent Soul True Monarchs were locked in a chaotic battle to claim it!

Although the Cyan Yang Immortal Sect was powerful, there was another Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator present.

Initially, both sides were exercising restraint, but for some reason, the other Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator got an idea and attacked brazenly.

The Supreme of the Cyan Yang Immortal Sect, a Mid-stage Nascent Soul, naturally moved to intercept.

With the Cyan Yang Immortal Sect’s Mid-stage Nascent Soul expert tied down, the other Nascent Soul True Monarchs also began to entertain thoughts of seizing the Great Sun Essence.

An ordinary Early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, if they could consume the Great Sun Essence with the help of a secret elixir, would have a high chance of advancing to Mid-stage Nascent Soul.

With such an opportunity before them, how could they possibly let it slip away?

So, a massive brawl erupted!

Ruyi True Monarch’s timing was perfect. He had just entered the core of the Secret Realm when, amid the chaotic battle, the Great Sun Essence actually shot toward him.

What incredible luck!

Ruyi True Monarch was instantly overjoyed.

’To refuse a gift from heaven is to invite disaster; to fail to act when the time is right is to court calamity!’

Without a moment’s hesitation, Ruyi True Monarch seized the Great Sun Essence.

Seeing this, the other Nascent Soul cultivators immediately gave chase.

All sorts of Magic and Magical Treasures rained down on him.

Although Ruyi True Monarch had not yet reached Mid-stage Nascent Soul, he was among the most powerful of those at the Early Stage Realm, with deep reserves.

He deployed various trump cards to defend himself, finally self-destructing a Top-Grade Magical Treasure to momentarily halt the assault before using a Secret Technique with severe side effects to escape the scene!

After leaving the core of the Secret Realm, he didn’t linger, heading straight for the exit.

At the exit of the Secret Realm, a Late-stage Core Formation True Man tried to stop him, explicitly warning, "True Monarch, please wait! The Demon Race is running rampant outside, do not go out!"

With the Great Sun Essence in his possession and pursuing cultivators on his tail, Ruyi True Monarch naturally paid no heed to such words!

’The Demon Race!?’

’They should count themselves lucky we don’t go and bully them!’

’So what if the Demon Race is running rampant!?’

’I’m a dignified Nascent Soul True Monarch! What can the Demon Race possibly do to me!?’

’My realm has been stable for many years. Once I leave this Secret Realm and find a secluded place, I can use the power of the Great Sun Essence to advance to Mid-stage Nascent Soul.’

’By then, no matter how unwilling the Cyan Yang Immortal Sect is, there’ll be nothing they can do!’

’I will have already consumed the Great Sun Essence!’

’It’s not a wise move to needlessly offend a Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator for something that’s already gone!’

’The Cyan Yang Immortal Sect will know what choice to make!’

The moment he left the Secret Realm, he was hit by a wave of demonic energy. Ruyi True Monarch was quite astonished.

’When did the Demon Race get so bold!?’

’The situation outside the Secret Realm is tragic! What on earth happened!?’

Though his heart was filled with doubt, he couldn’t afford to worry about it now.

’The Great Dao comes first!’

Under the effects of the Secret Technique, his speed was immense; even the besieging Demon Race couldn’t do anything to him.

BUZZ—BUZZ—BUZZ—

Pillars of light descended from the sky!

Each pillar of light carried the force of a full-power strike from a normal Core Formation Realm cultivator!

To a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, the threat was limited, but there were many pillars, making them extremely difficult to deal with.

"Those who block my path will die!"

Ruyi True Monarch’s Divine Sense pulsed as he summoned another Top-Grade Magical Treasure to clear the way!

’The Demon Race is a secondary concern!’

’My injuries from the previous battle are quite severe. If I’m delayed here and those True Monarchs behind me catch up, that will be real trouble!’

BOOM!

A massive puppet appeared before him.

"A Quasi-Fourth Tier Puppet!?"

Surprise flashed in Ruyi True Monarch’s eyes.

’The Demon Race is weak. When have they ever possessed a puppet of such a high tier?’

’Could it be...?’

’Is a Human Race Cultivator pulling the strings!?’

He smelled a conspiracy.

But in the current situation, he could no longer afford to care whether there was a conspiracy or not.

Escaping this place was the most important thing.

Two more puppets appeared, flanking him on both sides.

’He who fails to be decisive will be plagued by his own indecision!’

Ruyi True Monarch made a snap decision!

Ignoring the puppets on his flanks and the many Demon Kings, he drove his Top-Grade Magical Treasure to blast the Quasi-Fourth Tier Puppet in front of him.

The Demon King controlling this Quasi-Fourth Tier Puppet, the Golden-Feathered Black Flame Bird, looked delighted.

He had only recently acquired the Puppet Control Technique, so his control over this Quasi-Fourth Tier Puppet was far from masterful.

At best, he could just barely manage to make it fight!

If Ruyi True Monarch had chosen to dodge or engage in a drawn-out fight, it would have been extremely troublesome for him.

But now that Ruyi True Monarch had chosen to meet it head-on, things were much more convenient.