"The Demon Cult Ancestor sneered under Luoyang Tian's feet."
Luoyang Tian stood with his hands behind his back, speaking slowly, "You've been trampled under my feet for so many years. Even if you managed to get out, so what?"
With his hands still clasped behind his back, Luoyang Tian's palms were slick with sweat.
The starry river shook. He was still a bit panicked—what if the Demon Cult Ancestor really broke free...
No way, no way. Unless the formation trapping him was broken.
Yet the formation trapping him was set beneath the spiritual veins of Xiaoyao Peak. Few people knew about it; who could possibly break it open?
Keep it together, don't panic!
"Hmph, if you hadn't all ganged up on me back then, could I have been captured? Ridiculous!" the Demon Cult Ancestor sneered.
"I don't care about that. Anyway, you've been trampled under my feet for many years," Luoyang Tian replied calmly.
"Stop struggling. Even if you come out, this Sect Master will slap you to death in a split second!"
Amidst the turbulent starry river, a wisp of black mist drifted out, solidifying into a human figure.
"Luoyang Tian, guess when I'll be coming out?" the Demon Cult Ancestor sneered.
With his back to the Demon Cult Ancestor, Luoyang Tian felt even more nervous.
No way, no way. The demonic energy was leaking already—was he really about to break out?
Once the Demon Cult Ancestor came out of seclusion, he couldn't defeat him either.
What had emerged right now was merely an avatar of the Demon Cult Ancestor.
"Great Elder, go investigate quickly and see if there's a problem with the spiritual veins of Xiaoyao Peak," Luoyang Tian hastily ordered.
"Sect Master, regarding the Demon Cult Ancestor here, should we call for reinforcements?" the Great Elder asked.
Hearing this, Luoyang Tian put on a look of utter disdain on the surface. "A mere Demon Cult Ancestor? This Sect Master can suppress him with a flip of my hand!"
Once the Demon Cult Ancestor came out of seclusion, whoever came wouldn't matter.
Luoyang Tian had already prepared himself to bolt at any moment.
Watching Luoyang Tian's retreating back, the Great Elder felt a deep wave of emotion.
As expected of the Sect Master—unflinching in the face of danger.
Cupping his hands in a salute, the Great Elder quickly departed.
"He's merely an avatar. This Sect Master can shatter him with a lift of my hand!" Luoyang Tian raised his right hand and struck the avatar dead with a single slap.
No sooner had he slapped it away than the starry river churned once more.
Black mist billowed, and a terrifying aura swept across the entire grand hall as the Demon Cult Ancestor materialized behind him.
Enveloped in black mist from head to toe, he exuded an endless, soul-chilling pressure.
"Come on, try striking me one more time!" the Demon Cult Ancestor chuckled softly.
He was already out!
Luoyang Tian felt a chill in his heart. With his back turned to the Demon Cult Ancestor, he didn't dare to turn around.
Holy crap, dammit, he actually broke out of seclusion!
Who the hell broke open the spiritual veins of Xiaoyao Peak?
No can do, no can do. Time to run, time to run.
Luoyang Tian looked completely calm on the outside, but inside he was panicking like crazy.
Facing the Demon Cult Ancestor meant facing pure terror!
Even the previous Sect Master couldn't beat him, let alone himself.
The black mist around the Demon Cult Ancestor surged violently, shrouding the top of the Stellar River Sect like a canopy that blocked out the sky.
The entire Stellar River Sect seemed to plunge into absolute darkness, devoid of a single ray of light.
Within the Demon Cult Ancestor's domain, he could absorb everyone's spiritual power for his own use.
"Jiejiejiejie... Let your Stellar River Sect become my food!" the Demon Cult Ancestor laughed sinisterly, devouring the spiritual power of everyone present.
Just as Luoyang Tian stood with his hands behind his back, preparing to make a run for it, he heard the voices of the disciples below.
"The Demon Cult Ancestor is out, run!"
"Run! If we don't run, we're all going to die!"
"What are you afraid of? Didn't you see the Sect Master still standing tall above the starry river, with his back turned to the Demon Cult Ancestor?"
"That's right! As long as the Sect Master is here, he will definitely suppress the Demon Cult Ancestor. We must trust the Sect Master!"
The crowd spoke in unison. Looking at the Sect Master's back, they weren't quite as terrified anymore.
Damn it, who is setting me up on a pedestal?
Is this me turning my back on him? I'm just too terrified to turn around, okay?!
Projecting his divine sense to gaze at the newly emerged Demon Cult Ancestor, the Sect Master grit his teeth and spoke up:
"Demon Cult Ancestor, even if you've come out, this Sect Master can still annihilate you!"
"Look at that, the Sect Master said he can wipe out the Demon Cult Ancestor with a single slap. Everyone, don't panic!" The Second Elder steadied the crowd's morale.
Gazing at Luoyang Tian's back, the Demon Cult Ancestor sneered, "You and what army?"
With that, black mist engulfed Luoyang Tian.
"Hmph, nothing more than crooked, heretical tricks," Luoyang Tian snorted coldly, having already found the optimal escape route.
Screw it, after one slap I'm out of here.
I can't beat him!
Luoyang Tian was well aware of his own limitations. He and the Demon Cult Ancestor were simply not in the same league; there was no way he could fight him.
His only option was to flee and bide his time for a chance at a comeback.
"Astral Annihilation!" Luoyang Tian roared, thrusting his palm outward.
Stars flickered and bloomed with brilliance, becoming the sole ray of light in this endless darkness.
Taking advantage of the gap before his attack landed, Luoyang Tian flickered and vanished from the starry river.
Forget it, time to run. Saving his own skin came first!
The moment Luoyang Tian's figure vanished was witnessed by everyone.
"Why did the Sect Master run away?" the crowd muttered in confusion.
Up on Xiaoyao Peak.
Gazing into the distance, Yekong sensed the aura of the Demon Cult Ancestor.
"He managed to get let out even like this?"
Yekong shook his head with a sigh, flipping his hand to produce the Heaven-Encompassing Mirror.
Channeling his spiritual power into it, he projected its beam onto the Demon Cult Ancestor.
The figure of the Demon Cult Ancestor appeared within the mirror, shrouded in terrifying black mist.
"Who is peeping at this old ancestor?" The Demon Cult Ancestor sensed that someone was watching him.
Just as the stars were about to crash down, the Demon Cult Ancestor smiled faintly and mobilized the spiritual power within his body to resist.
"To think the leader of the Stellar River Sect has only this much ability! This old man can suppress him using just thirty percent of my power!"
However...
The moment he tried to channel it, his expression changed drastically.
Where did my spiritual power go?
He felt his strength had been suppressed by ninety percent!
Worse still, he couldn't absorb anyone else's spiritual power for use!
What was going on?
While the Demon Cult Ancestor stood there in shock and suspicion, the starlight pierced through the darkness.
The black mist around the Demon Cult Ancestor was shattered instantly by the starlight.
The Demon Cult Ancestor tried to resist with all his might, but faced with Luoyang Tian's attack, he couldn't summon any spiritual power to defend himself.
Boom!
With a deafening crash, the Demon Cult Ancestor was slammed straight back into his seal by the stars.
"Ah, I refuse to accept this!" the Demon Cult Ancestor roared in fury.
The demonic energy dissipated, and the starry river gradually returned to peace.
Staring at the falling stars, the crowd widened their eyes in shock.
"The Sect Master... resealed the Demon Cult Ancestor with a single slap! Such formidable power!"
"So the Sect Master wasn't running away at all; he suppressed the Demon Cult Ancestor with a flip of his hand and simply left the cleanup work to others!"
"All hail the Sect Master! Long live the Sect Master!" the crowd cheered in unison.
Having just fled to the foot of the mountain, Luoyang Tian stood beside a cluster of beggar shacks.
Inside the shacks, a beggar child of seven or eight years old stared at Luoyang Tian with bewildered eyes.
Luoyang Tian glanced back, shook his head, and sighed.
"Sigh, it's not that I don't want to save you, it's that I can't beat him. Everyone in the Stellar River Sect, run for as many as you can," Luoyang Tian sighed, shaking his head.
Just as he was about to leave, he noticed the black mist over the Stellar River Sect had vanished.
Sweeping the area with his divine sense, he found the Demon Cult Ancestor was gone too...
What on earth was going on?
He really had suppressed him with a single slap?
Was he actually this strong?
No, the Demon Cult Ancestor had probably been locked up for too long and hadn't recovered his strength yet.
At this thought, Luoyang Tian flickered and reappeared above the starry river.
Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, facing away from the entire Stellar River Sect, his hair fluttering in the wind, he presented everyone with nothing more than the mighty silhouette of a figure in white.
"Bearing the weight of all living beings and saving the common people from fire and water is the duty of us immortals!" Luoyang Tian said softly, his voice echoing across the entire Stellar River Sect.
"All hail the Sect Master!!!" The members of the Stellar River Sect cheered in unison from top to bottom.
Hidden in the shadows, a secret guard watched Luoyang Tian in silence.
"Impossible. There's no way Luoyang Tian is this strong!" The guard flatly refused to believe that Luoyang Tian could seal the Demon Cult Ancestor with a single slap.
Holding a black long nail, the Great Elder appeared beside Luoyang Tian and said, "Sect Master, this is the demonic artifact that sabotaged the spiritual veins of Xiaoyao Peak."
Without changing his expression, Luoyang Tian accepted the item and gently nodded.
Chapter 23: The Disciple is on Her Period
At the foot of the Stellar River Sect's mountain.
A child of seven or eight years old, dressed in coarse hemp clothing, drifted through the streets, surviving by begging, his eyes glazed and murky.
Unaware of how much time he had spent in a daze, the little beggar's eyes suddenly grew exceptionally bright.
"This Emperor is actually still alive?" The little beggar crouched in a corner, eyeing his surroundings.
"It seems this Emperor wasn't meant to die!" the little beggar sneered.
He was once the Demon Emperor Bai Wuchen, suppressing all directions, dominating the demonic path, and serving as the lord of the demon realm!
The largest demonic faction in the Lianyun Continent, Molue Palace, was nothing more than a minor force established by his subordinates.
Not worth mentioning!
Yet when he was cultivating the final level of the Nirvana Demonic Canon, something went wrong.
His physical body shattered, and his divine sense was destroyed.
He had thought he would perish right there, but to his surprise, he had been reborn.
Moreover, he had retained a sliver of strength, roughly equivalent to the Foundation Establishment stage.
"Since this Emperor is still alive, I still have a chance to start over!" Demon Emperor Bai Wuchen muttered in a deep voice.
His top priority was to infiltrate a sect and cultivate in seclusion.
The spiritual power outside was too thin to cultivate effectively.
Only within a sect, by utilizing the dense spiritual veins inside, could one cultivate rapidly.
This was why countless cultivators sought to join sects in the first place.
"I can't go to the Demonic Cult. Now that I've been reborn, the moment the Demonic Cult finds out, I'm finished," Bai Wuchen whispered.
The Demonic Cult had always been ruthless: if you had strength, they revered you; if you had none, you were nothing.
Once discovered by people from the Demonic Cult, they wouldn't revere him—they would capture him and interrogate him for the Nirvana Demonic Canon and other treasures.
Only someone with strength was a Demon Emperor; without strength, one was simply a walking treasure vault.
"Hey, did you hear? Qin Shou of the Stellar River Sect apparently captured quite a few people from Molue Palace!"
"The news has spread everywhere. Molue Palace tried to invade the Stellar River Sect, but ended up getting caught by Qin Shou!"
"Yeah, word is that the ancestor of Molue Palace broke through the seal, only to be slapped right back into it by the Sect Master of the Stellar River Sect! Too awesome!"
"The Stellar River Sect is truly formidable, but their Xiaoyao Peak is absolute trash. The Peak Master is only at Qi Condensation, and the disciples can't be much better. I heard the people from Molue Palace actually snuck in through Xiaoyao Peak."
Passersby discussed animatedly.
Xiaoyao Peak?
A Qi Condensation trash heap?
I've found my hiding place!
"Even a garbage demonic sect like Molue Palace managed to invade and yet they can't handle this Emperor?" Bai Wuchen laughed sinisterly.
The Stellar River Sect was holding the ancestor of Molue Palace captive; once I sneak in and devour him, my strength will surely recover in no time!
By then...
All the mortals in the world will kneel at my feet!
"This child must be starved silly. Here, take a copper coin and go buy a sesame flatbread to eat."
A passing pedestrian saw Bai Wuchen squatting by the wall grinning and assumed he had gone simple from hunger.
Bai Wuchen clenched the copper coin tightly in his tiny fist, crushing it into powder.
This dignified Demon Emperor did not need charity!
Bai Wuchen wore a cold expression, but because he was fair and tender with a hint of baby fat on his face, he looked utterly adorable when trying to look fierce.
...
Up on Xiaoyao Peak.
Holding a fishing rod in his right hand, Yekong sat on the left bank of the Bitter Sea, beginning his daily fishing routine.
If fishing had rankings, Yekong would undoubtedly be at the absolute pinnacle.
The Great Elder suddenly appeared behind Yekong.
After inspecting the other eight peaks, he had saved Xiaoyao Peak for last.
He had originally intended to come up the mountain to question Yekong, but upon arriving, he felt there was no longer any need.
There was nothing to ask.
Yekong fished all day and possessed weak cultivation; even if something went wrong with Xiaoyao Peak's spiritual veins, he probably wouldn't even know.
After casting a glance, the Great Elder turned and left to conduct his own investigations.
Watching the Great Elder leave, Lin Yaoyao wore a look of suspicion.
"Master, what did the Great Elder come to see you for?" Lin Yaoyao asked.
Hearing this, Yekong turned his head back and frowned, asking, "Where did you say the Great Elder is?"
His attention had been entirely focused on the pond, completely oblivious to others.
Up on Xiaoyao Peak.
Master, oh Master, would you please grow some brains?
Fishing was one thing, but to be so completely absorbed—what would happen if someone sneaked up behind you and stabbed you in the back?
No, she couldn't let her master continue to slack off.
Watching her master continue to fish, Lin Yaoyao's gaze unconsciously drifted toward the fishing rod.
Tonight, she would hide his little fishing rod so he wouldn't be able to fish anymore!
Unaware of what Lin Yaoyao was plotting, Yekong continued to fish.
A day passed: Qi Condensation +1...
That night,
taking advantage of her master being asleep, Lin Yaoyao slipped out quietly.
Walking over to the edge of the Bitter Sea, she stared at the little fishing rod her master used.
"Master, your disciple will temporarily keep your fishing rod safe for you. From now on, you should focus properly on your cultivation."
Taking the fishing rod, Lin Yaoyao crept away.
She dug a hole and buried the fishing rod.
Without his fishing rod, her master should actually cultivate properly, right?
Without a rod, he couldn't fish; without fishing, he would have nothing to do, and then he could finally focus on his cultivation.
Thinking this and covering her tracks carefully, Lin Yaoyao sneaked away.
The spot where she buried the fishing rod happened to be right next to an ant nest.
The next day,
Yekong stepped out of the Xiaoyao Pavilion, faced the sun, stretched lazily, and with his hands behind his back, strolled leisurely toward the bank of the Bitter Sea.
As soon as he sat down and reached out for his fishing rod, his hand met empty air.
Looking down, he saw the ground was completely bare—the fishing rod had vanished.
"Who took my little fishing rod?"
Yekong frowned, unleashing his spiritual power to cover the entire Xiaoyao Peak.
Wherever his spiritual power reached, not even a blade of grass could escape Yekong's divine sense.
After sweeping the area once, the fishing rod was found.
It had been buried in a pit right next to the colony of black ants.
"Xiao Hei, are your skin itching for a beating?"
"How dare you steal my little fishing rod!"
With a wave of Yekong's hand, the little fishing rod burst through the soil and flew straight into his grip.
Inside the ant nest, Xiao Hei, who was resting while cuddling the queen ant, was suddenly yanked out by a suction force.
Opening its eyes, Xiao Hei felt the source of this suction force and didn't dare resist, obediently letting itself be sucked out flying.
Yekong reached out, and Xiao Hei landed in his palm.
By now, Xiao Hei had grown to the size of a fingernail, complete with antennae on its head.
"Xiao Hei, you stole my little fishing rod. Is your skin itching for a beating?" Yekong held Xiao Hei, speaking in a slightly irritated tone.
Xiao Hei: ???
It had no idea what Yekong was talking about; it had been evolving inside the ant colony these past few days.
"You steal my fishing rod and won't even admit it. No, I have to give you some punishment."
After pondering for a moment, Yekong attached Xiao Hei to the fishhook and used him to fish for a while.
The Carp Dragon in the pond soared into the air, frightening Xiao Hei so badly it trembled, terrified it would get eaten.
Only after dangling Xiao Hei for a bit did Yekong reel him back up.
"Scram. Don't steal my little fishing rod again, or next time you won't just be used as bait."
Dropping to the ground, Xiao Hei bowed to Yekong before turning and flying away.
Though it had no idea what had happened, for now, it seemed safe.
The moment Xiao Hei flew back into the ant nest, Lin Yaoyao stepped outside.
Seeing her master fishing again, she noticed an ant nest right where she had hidden her fishing rod earlier.
Damn ants! She had gone to so much trouble to hide her master's little fishing rod, only for them to dig it right back up.
Lin Yaoyao cursed inwardly, blaming the ants for wasting all her effort.
She had originally planned to come and teach her master how to cultivate.
Instead, her master had gotten his little fishing rod back and was sitting right back down by the Bitter Sea to fish.
All her preparation had gone to waste.
Damn ants! They ruined her attempt to properly hide her master's fishing rod.
Lin Yaoyao stomped angrily on the ant nest.
"Disciple," Yekong called out, having seen her throw a tantrum at the ant nest.
Recovering her composure instantly, Lin Yaoyao casually said, "Good day, Master! Bye-bye, Master!"
With that, she turned and bolted.
"Did my disciple take the wrong medicine today?" Yekong looked bewildered.
Or could it be her special time of the month?
The problem was, did women in this world even have that?
Given how furious her disciple was—even kicking an ant nest—she probably did.
Since his disciple was on her period, should he brew her a pot of brown sugar water?
Yekong pondered the thought.
Inside the ant nest, Xiao Hei looked completely bewildered.
Who did I offend? Did you really have to kick my front door in?
Chapter 24: Disciple, Drink More Hot Water
Xiaoyao Peak.
In his courtyard, Yekong collected the purest water between heaven and earth, adding medicinal herbs and the finest brown sugar, before refining it with boundless true flames.
His disciple wasn't feeling well, and as her master, it was only right to take care of her.
After simmering the pot of brown sugar water for half an hour, he finally reduced it down to a single bowl.
Holding the freshly brewed brown sugar water, Yekong walked up to Lin Yaoyao's door.
"Disciple, disciple," Yekong called out twice.
Lin Yaoyao, who was right in the middle of cultivation, was suddenly interrupted, feeling a small surge of annoyance.
Master, oh Master, you might not cultivate, but I need to!
With a trace of displeasure, Lin Yaoyao got up to open the door.
"Master, what is it?" Lin Yaoyao asked.
"Disciple, Master brewed you a bowl of brown sugar water," Yekong said, lifting the bowl.
Why on earth is he suddenly brewing me brown sugar water when I'm perfectly fine?
My vital energy and blood are abundant; I don't need any nourishment either, do I?
Lin Yaoyao couldn't fathom why her master would brew her brown sugar water when she was in perfect health.
Was he... simply bored out of his mind?
"Master, this disciple's body is in great health; I don't need any brown sugar water," Lin Yaoyao politely declined.
Hearing this, Yekong became even more certain that Lin Yaoyao was feeling unwell.
"Be a good disciple and drink the brown sugar water. It's good for your health," Yekong said with a calm smile.
Frowning slightly, Lin Yaoyao took the bowl and drank it down in one gulp.
Sweet and delicious.
Her first impression was that the brown sugar water tasted quite nice and sweet.
Before long, the spiritual power contained within the brown sugar water erupted inside her body. Lin Yaoyao felt warmth spread through her entire being—it felt comfortable, accompanied by a faint heat.
"Thank you, Master!" Lin Yaoyao offered a respectful bow of gratitude.
"Get some rest, Disciple. Tomorrow Master will bring you another bowl of brown sugar water."
With that, Yekong took the bowl and walked away.
After taking two steps, he suddenly remembered something, turned around, and added:
"Oh, and Disciple, remember to drink more hot water."
Lin Yaoyao: ???
Drink more hot water?
After Yekong left, Lin Yaoyao stripped off her clothes and stepped into the pond.
She practiced the Nine Dragons Tyrant Body Technique, supplementing it with simultaneous cultivation of the Xuanhuang Formula.
As the effects of the brown sugar water took hold across her jade-like body, the phantom of a phoenix blazed even brighter crimson upon her skin, resembling an indelible mark.