Chapter 717: Nine-headed Great Sage

"Yu Lian's resistance didn't seem very strong."As the head of the Sword Cultivation Department, Xie Yuntian had extensive combat experience. After examining the battlefield, he quickly discovered a suspicious point.

"No, it's just that the opponent was too powerful, which made his resistance seem weak," Zheng Deming offered a different opinion. Having spent nearly a century fighting in Yunmengze, he was more familiar with various combat traces.

"Was it Kong Lingling?!"Upon hearing him, that name appeared in the minds of the other three. In their estimation, only the Core Formation cultivator from Chui Xue Palace could make it impossible for Yu Lian—a Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivator who had spent many years by Chen Mobai's side and received sword dao instruction—to put up any resistance.

"There's demonic energy with earth and fire spiritual power at the scene; it should be a high-level demonic beast," Zheng Deming stated. After casting a secret art and meticulously re-examining the battlefield traces, he presented another astonishing conclusion.

"The high-level demonic beasts in the Eastern Wilderness should have been cleared out by our major sects. Could it be that one slipped in from the Desolate Ruins?" Quan Shanlin said with a frown. Although Chui Xue Palace's strength was not comparable to theirs, they had managed this territory for thousands of years, so it was impossible for high-level demonic beasts to still be alive here.

"Let's check the vicinity again. Junior Brother Yu Lian's soul lamp hasn't shattered yet; hopefully, we can rescue him before the demonic beast devours him," Yue Zutao suggested. None of the three objected.

Soon, Zheng Deming discovered traces of demonic energy on the snow that had not yet dissipated. It seemed the beast had run in that direction after capturing Yu Lian.Was it the demonic beast's hidden lair?Realizing this, Zheng Deming did not act rashly. Instead, he immediately summoned Yue Zutao and the other two.

"If it's a Tier 3 demonic beast, the four of us might not be able to subdue it." Although Xie Yuntian was very confident in his combat prowess, he knew that a significant difference in cultivation realms could not be compensated for by numbers.

"It could also be a peak Tier 2 demonic beast. After all, Junior Brother Yu Lian is only at the mid-stage Foundation Establishment and wouldn't be able to handle such a beast," Quan Shanlin suggested, holding onto hope. However, those present were all prudent individuals. Knowing that their opponent might be a Tier 3 demonic beast, none of them intended to charge straight into its lair.

"Let's notify True Monarch Fu and Senior Brother Meng."At this point, their only option was to invite nearby Core Formation cultivators. As soon as Xie Yuntian spoke, his suggestion was unanimously approved.

North Abyss City.Chen Mobai had waited a long time and finally received a proactive visit from Ye Qing!

"So, a demonic cultivator from the Beast Gathering Demonic Sect was hiding in the Desolate Ruins!" Chen Mobai was shocked to hear Ye Qing explain the purpose of his visit.

The Beast Gathering Demonic Sect was one of the eighteen demonic sects. Initially, its cultivators betrayed humanity and dedicated themselves to demonic beasts. This lineage was unremarkable at first, with its highest figure being an old Nascent Soul demon. That was until they took in a half-demon disciple. The half-demon's father was an elder from a human cultivation family, and his mother was a captured demoness concubine. He was born during an accident.

As a half-demon being, he was naturally not tolerated by either humans or demons. Initially, the half-demon's existence was concealed, but as he grew, his half-human, half-demon features could no longer be hidden. Upon learning of this, the Eastern Lands Imperial Court immediately dispatched experts from the Ten Directions Hall to eradicate the entire family to which the half-demon belonged. However, the half-demon managed to escape.

Untolerated by humans, the half-demon fled the Eastern Lands, went to Dongli, and was then discovered by an elder of the Beast Gathering Demonic Sect, who took him in as a disciple. Demonic cultivators, naturally, harbored ill intentions. The half-demon was subjected to various experiments, with powerful demonic beast bloodlines infused into his body. The elder wanted to see if a human body could withstand and refine these bloodlines, allowing human cultivators to possess rapid cultivation speeds while also mastering the innate divine abilities of demonic beasts.

Ultimately, after numerous near-death transformations, the eight royal demonic beast bloodlines infused into the half-demon's body achieved a peculiar balance with his own maternal bloodline, evolving into a nine-headed, nine-tailed demonic god body. Immediately after his transformation, the half-demon devoured his master whole.

Three hundred years later, the half-demon's demonic god body reached completion. He had also cultivated the Beast Gathering Demonic Sect's demonic arts to the unprecedented Divine Transformation realm. Combined with his nine innate talents, he possessed immense divine powers and boundless magical energy! After his cultivation reached perfection, the half-demon proclaimed himself the Nine-Headed Great Sage, integrating the Demonic Dao with the Eight Great Demonic Royal Courts, and waged a protracted war against the Eastern Lands Imperial Court.

The Human Emperor personally led the expedition, and both sides confronted each other at the border for a full eight hundred years. In the final battle, the Nine-Headed Great Sage unleashed all nine of his divine abilities. Although he slew the contemporary Human Emperor, he was also beheaded by a Divine Transformation True Monarch from the Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Sect, using the Taihe Sword, and fell into the vast expanse.

This battle was also the most tragic decisive battle between humans and demons! Besides that generation's Human Emperor, two Divine Transformation Hall Masters from the Ten Directions Hall and one Divine Transformation True Monarch from a holy land of the Eastern Lands Imperial Court perished. On the demonic side, three of the Eight Great Royal Courts vanished forever, and two Demonic Dao Divine Transformation cultivators also fell in this battle. Almost half of the high-level cultivators in the Eastern Domain died on this border battlefield.

Because of this, the inheritance of the Beast Gathering Demonic Sect, even in Dongli and the demonic royal courts, was a name that evoked fear. No one wished to experience such a tragic war again. However, the Nine-Headed Great Sage of that era was recognized as supreme in divine abilities, physical prowess, and profound magical energy. Everyone coveted the inheritance he left behind. Its appearances throughout history had repeatedly stirred up bloody storms in the Sky River Realm.

Although it was unknown whether this demonic cultivator from the Beast Gathering Demonic Sect possessed the Nine-Headed Great Sage's inheritance, the Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Sect always preferred to kill mistakenly rather than let go when dealing with such matters. After all, the Nine-Headed Great Sage was slain by their sect's patriarch. If a second Nine-Headed Great Sage were to appear, with the Eastern Lands Imperial Court already scattered, the Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Sect would certainly be the first target of revenge.

"What is the cultivation level of this demonic cultivator from the Beast Gathering Demonic Sect?" Chen Mobai immediately asked, realizing the seriousness of the situation.

"He was once a Nascent Soul cultivator, but his original body was slain by an elder of my sect. What is currently hiding in the Desolate Ruins is a Celestial Demonic Avatar that he refined beforehand, which awakened and reincarnated after his true body died. Although we don't know its exact origins, it's impossible for him to reform a Nascent Soul after nine-tenths of his essence, spiritual consciousness, and true spirit were severed." Chen Mobai was slightly surprised after hearing Ye Qing's explanation.

He hadn't expected that the Sky River Realm also possessed reincarnation techniques similar to 'Disembodied Transformation'. However, they seemed less precise and complete than the ancient Dao traditions of the Immortal Sect. After reincarnation, the Nascent Soul demonic cultivator of the Beast Gathering Demonic Sect could only cultivate to the peak Core Formation realm. No wonder the Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Sect dispatched Ye Qing. For this heavenly prodigy, there were no longer any opponents in the Core Formation realm. Indeed, only a demonic cultivator who was once at the Nascent Soul stage could pressure his sword. Perhaps this mission was his final tempering before forming his Nascent Soul.

Realizing this, Chen Mobai's expression became solemn, and he spoke righteously, "If there's anything I can assist with, True Monarch Ye, please do not hesitate to command. Although my sect's strength is ordinary, in this Eastern Wilderness region, our words still carry some weight."

"I was just about to ask Sect Master Chen for help. The Desolate Ruins are vast, and many areas still retain ancient geographical features, with numerous groups of demonic beasts. While I don't fear them, I don't wish to waste too much spiritual power before engaging the demonic cultivator, so I hope Sect Master Chen can lead cultivators from the Five Elements Sect to escort me," Ye Qing said. He had come today to seek assistance, and as soon as Chen Mobai spoke, he took the opportunity to state his request.

"I will immediately summon the cultivators of the Five Elements Sect and assemble a large army of cultivators to escort True Monarch Ye." Chen Mobai sighed inwardly, realizing he couldn't avoid this. However, no sect or power in the Sky River Realm dared to refuse a request for assistance from the Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Sect, especially when it was a demon-slaying mission.

"Sect Master Chen, may I ask how many cultivators your esteemed sect can dispatch? I will bear the cost of the spirit stones," Ye Qing asked. Fortunately, Ye Qing was also very perceptive of etiquette. Hearing Chen Mobai's swift agreement, he smiled slightly and offered to cover all expenses for the escort mission.

"I must remain stationed in North Abyss City. Recently, a great tide of demonic beasts has formed in Yunmengze, so Senior Brother Nujiang and the two Core Formation combatants of my Wood Meridian cannot leave. Senior Brother Mo is in secluded cultivation, and Senior Brother Fu is also in the Snow Kingdom overseeing the unification of the mortal realm..." Chen Mobai immediately presented the facts to Ye Qing. After calculating, he found that only Zhou Ye and Sheng Zhaoxi from the Earth Meridian were available.

"Doesn't your esteemed sect also have True Monarch Zhou Shengqing?" Ye Qing suddenly asked.

"Senior Brother Zhou was too reckless in his last attempt to break through to Nascent Soul and is currently recuperating, so he truly cannot act," Chen Mobai immediately offered the excuse he had prepared. Given Ye Qing's status, it was impossible for him to know about Zhou Shengqing. It was likely Yu Hai from Bathing Sun Sea who told him, perhaps intending to use Ye Qing to probe whether Zhou Shengqing was alive or dead. After all, the stance Zhou Shengqing displayed with the Reverse Longevity Art was indeed that of a Nascent Soul cultivator. However, for so many years, he had remained in secluded cultivation without appearing, which had made the neighboring major powers, who kept an eye on the Five Elements Sect, begin to grow suspicious. Ye Qing's visit provided a perfect opportunity for them to test the waters. Chen Mobai's reply was very carefully worded, conveying that Zhou Shengqing was alive but injured, so if Zhou Shengqing were to emerge from seclusion in the future and display Nascent Soul strength, it would simply mean his injuries had healed.

Ye Qing paid no mind to this, as in his view, it was virtually impossible for a Core Formation cultivator like Zhou Shengqing, who grew up in the Eastern Wilderness, to form a Nascent Soul. "Once the army is ready, please inform me, Sect Master Chen. I'm staying at the Wu Merchants Pavilion," Ye Qing said. After speaking, he turned to leave.

"True Monarch Ye, I greatly admire the Eastern Lands. May I have the honor of asking you about some of its customs and culture?" Chen Mobai immediately called out to him. This was a cultivator from the true core of the Eastern Domain, a holy land of the Eastern Lands. He seized the opportunity to ask about the "One Origin Dao Palace"!