Chapter 832: No Fish Escapes the Net

It is undeniable that the demons still alive were the strongest among the countless ones who had previously attended the banquet; otherwise, they could not have endured the heavenly tribulation. However, undergoing such a tribulation is inherently an extremely dangerous ordeal, hence its name. Consequently, these demons were now at the end of their tether, and their condition could not improve significantly.

With both their strength and confidence diminished, the demons faced immortal cultivators who, acting as cohesive sects, could combine their powers and complement each other to unleash divine abilities and spells. The outcome was predictable.

Nevertheless, the demons' ferocious nature was slowly ignited. At least, facing immortal cultivators was different from enduring the heavenly tribulation; they could resist, they could kill, and they could vent their fear and malevolence with their powerful demonic energy.

As soon as the battle commenced, the demons were forced into a desperate fight for survival, unleashing an unexpectedly strong resistance.

Ji Yuan traveled alone on the clouds, holding the Azure Vine Sword behind his back. Unless a demon was particularly conspicuous, he ignored other fiends and monsters, specifically targeting the Revelation Alliance's stragglers. Having lingered for so long on the eve of the Myriad Demon Banquet, Ji Yuan had already thoroughly understood which members of the Revelation Alliance were present, their distinct characteristics, and their auras.

As he flew over a mountain peak, Ji Yuan, who had already traveled a considerable distance, suddenly drew the Azure Vine Sword from behind his back.

"Zheng..."

Ji Yuan unsheathed his sword with a backhand strike, not even turning his head. Amidst the ringing sound of the immortal sword being drawn, the arc of its light instantly flashed across the mountainside, severing it in half with a "rumble."

The mountain peak collapsed with a roar, and surprisingly, its cross-section glowed blood-red. It turned out the entire peak was the manifestation of a formidable, wicked spirit, a fact few could discern.

Flying over another hilltop, Ji Yuan waved his wide sleeve, which gave the illusion of ceaseless expansion. The shadow from its cuff enveloped a mountain hollow, directly drawing the four trembling individuals—Lu Shanjun, Niu Batian, and their two companions—into his sleeve.

At that moment, the four finally felt truly at ease, knowing that being taken in by Mr. Ji meant they would not accidentally get caught in the battles with the immortals.

"You four did well. Shi Jiu, I will speak a few good words for you before your master and grand-master."

Ji Yuan's voice resonated within the sleeve. Shi Jiu, still savoring the feeling of surviving the ordeal, was instantly overjoyed. Even though he knew there was no possibility of him ever returning to his sect, if Mr. Ji spoke a few good words, his master and grand-master might at least view him in a slightly more favorable light.

"However, if I discover that you habitually consume the blood of mortals, I wouldn't mind cleansing your sect on their behalf."

Ji Yuan's words were spoken in an even, serious tone, yet they dashed a bucket of cold water over the overjoyed Shi Jiu, who understood deep down that Mr. Ji had already given him an opportunity.

Shi Jiu dared not be remiss and agreed repeatedly.

"Shi Jiu obeys Mr. Ji's decree and thanks Mr. Ji for his magnanimity! Shi Jiu will engrave this in his heart and never forget it!"

Old Niu and Lu Shanjun's reactions went without saying. Beside them, Wang Youhong cast a thoughtful glance at Shi Jiu, her heart instantly feeling much more at ease. It turned out that Shi Jiu's status among the four of them was not as elevated as she had imagined.

Subsequently, the four's attention turned back to their surroundings. Apart from Ji Yuan's voice, the sounds of battle from outside were no longer audible. They were exceptionally curious about the ethereal environment, which offered no sense of distance or space. Just how vast was Mr. Ji's sleeve?

What the four did not know was that while they perceived only a profound darkness stretching into the distance, within the sleeve, there were entities that observed them clearly. These included the small characters from the Sword Intent Scroll, the Xiezhi depicted on the painting scroll, and even a qiu-chi sealed within a painting by Ji Yuan, its gaze appearing vacant. These presences sometimes caused the group to feel an inexplicable unease.

Amidst the clash of immortal light and demonic arts, battles raged both on the ground and, simultaneously, around the small grotto-heaven. Comparatively, the demons hidden within the grotto-heaven had, surprisingly, escaped Ji Yuan's previous lightning spell.

Ji Yuan continued his journey on the clouds, striking with his drawn sword, slaying with his flying sword, or delivering a freezing spell to assist immortal cultivators in eliminating specific demonic creatures. After confirming that all members of the Revelation Alliance had been killed, Ji Yuan's advance remained unceasing. He spared no demon's life wherever he went, ultimately arriving above the foul-smelling swamp.

This swamp was enveloped in immortal light and sealed by an immortal formation, belonging to a sect under the jurisdiction of the Qian Yuan Sect. On the swamp's surface, a shimmering, multicolored light constantly flickered and changed, actually reflecting the immortal light from within the grotto-heaven.

After notifying the surrounding immortal cultivators, Ji Yuan stepped directly into the formation. As he descended towards the swamp's surface, the boundless filth on the water automatically parted in all directions, remarkably forming a spreading area of clear water centered on his landing spot. Ji Yuan stepped onto the water, and as the surface dipped, he submerged beneath it.

The next moment, Ji Yuan leaped upwards, bursting out of the water and soaring into the sky. He was now inside the demonic grotto-heaven, where dazzling immortal light and raging demonic winds stretched as far as the eye could see.

This was one of the grotto-heaven's entrances, the most heavily guarded area by the demons. Consequently, the battles against them here were naturally the most intense.

Somewhat ironically, the demons within the grotto-heaven were initially thought to offer negligible resistance. However, due to Ji Yuan's lightning spell, the demonic forces here were unexpectedly intact, making the battles between them and the entering immortal cultivators more balanced and back-and-forth.

However, this was only the initial phase. As this entrance was eventually seized under the leadership of powerful cultivators, the immortal offensive would radiate in all directions, and the demons within the grotto-heaven would be utterly unable to withstand it.

Interestingly, these demons genuinely regarded the mortals within the grotto-heaven as "their own property." Near this major river entrance, there was a large city containing many common people from Tianyu Continent.

However, while immortal cultivators in such battles would prioritize protecting the common people, the demons surprisingly and subconsciously avoided the city, rather than attempting to use it to threaten their opponents. This was partly due to their lingering self-confidence and complete ignorance of the brutal events unfolding outside, and partly out of a desire to protect their "property."

As Ji Yuan entered, several True Immortals were engaged in battle with two colossal demons in their original forms. The pervasive demonic energy stirred the winds and thunder, creating a grand and powerful spectacle.

Then, Ji Yuan casually pointed his sword-finger. The Azure Vine Sword unsheathed with a ringing sound, transforming into a streak of sword light that circled. With the immortal sword's keen edge and the demons completely unprepared, the sword light revolved a few times around the great demons before directly beheading them. Two massive heads flew into the sky, propelled as if by fountains of demonic blood.

Once the two great demons fell, ordinary demonic creatures had no chance of resisting the Azure Vine Sword. Ji Yuan, riding on a clear breeze, had already departed, but the Azure Vine Sword lingered nearby, darting wildly with its light, slaying every demon it encountered. Only then did it transform into a white rainbow and follow Ji Yuan, leaving the nearby immortal cultivators slightly stunned.

"Master, which sect does that master belong to?"

"I'm not entirely clear. Such an extraordinary sword cultivator should be very famous in our Tianyu Continent."

Because Ji Yuan did not pause from his arrival to his departure, cloaked in a layer of clear breeze and moving with great speed, the immortal cultivators present hadn't even caught a clear glimpse of him before he was gone, and all the demons he had engaged were already slain.

The common people of Tianyu Continent in the riverside city also looked up at the distant sky. Due to their limited vision and the distance, they could only discern raging winds, thunder, dazzling immortal light, and two colossal, distinct, and terrifying demons. They nervously anticipated the immortals' victory, and when they saw the two demonic heads fly up, spurting blood, their spirits were instantly uplifted.

For Ji Yuan, it could be generally concluded that this demon-slaying campaign was largely over. The outcomes both inside and outside the grotto-heaven would not significantly deviate from expectations.

Although it might not be considered a deep foray into the Black Barren, the effect achieved by this campaign against evil had unexpectedly far exceeded what was imagined. A large number of human-and-beast nations were rescued, including the one Ji Yuan had learned about years ago when he obtained the dark wood token.

Given these results, and Ji Yuan's understanding of the Tianyu Continent's cultivators, particularly the leading Qian Yuan Sect, they would likely not delve any deeper. The remaining task was to lead all mortals out.

However, before that, Ji Yuan intended to meet Zuo Wuji, Yan Fei, and Lu Chengfeng, making sure to reach them before any other powerful cultivators from Tianyu Continent.

These three would certainly be discovered by some powerful cultivators in Tianyu Continent. In the future, they might be encountered by an increasing number of immortal masters, and none would remain unmoved; many would undoubtedly wish to take them as disciples.

To be honest, Ji Yuan would not object to Zuo Wuji and the others learning some immortal arts. However, martial arts had truly broken through their previous limitations. He feared these three, especially Zuo Wuji, might be tempted by the immortal path to longevity, thus neglecting the essential for the trivial.

From this perspective, Ji Yuan almost imagined those immortal cultivators as devils tempting all beings. However, he also deeply understood the principle that it is better to guide than to obstruct.

In the city where Zuo Wuji and the others resided, the common people remained unaware of the earth-shattering changes occurring both inside and outside the grotto-heaven. Aside from secretly practicing martial arts daily, many also harbored worries about the demons.

At this moment, Zuo Wuji and his two disciples were seated at a table in a dilapidated house. Each of them held raw corn, raw radishes, and sweet melons, gnawing on them incessantly. Beside the table were two large wicker baskets: one filled with similar food, and the other with peels and cores. Their eating speed was significantly faster than that of ordinary people.

Now that their martial arts had achieved significant breakthroughs, hunger frequently plagued the three. In this short period, they had noticeably thinned down. However, there was no fine meat or fish available; only these kinds of provisions were delivered daily. Furthermore, they dared not leave the city, so they could only eat ravenously.

Lu Chengfeng shoved the radish stem he held into his mouth, chewed, and then reached for his wine gourd. After shaking it twice, he could only sigh. Zuo Wuji chuckled and said,

"Fourth Master, you should just quit drinking!"

"Alas..."

At that moment, a clear breeze swept past the doorway, and Ji Yuan's figure appeared outside.

"Oh, so the great heroes who have achieved breakthroughs in martial arts and slain great demons are eating *this*?"

As soon as Ji Yuan's voice was heard, the three turned their heads towards the doorway, then immediately rose to their feet.

"Mr. Ji!"

The three spoke excitedly and in unison. Since Mr. Ji was here, surely that meant everything was alright?