As the Yin Prayer drifted closer, its bone-chilling aura penetrated the skin and froze souls. Nan Yan began to tremble slightly, and she wasn’t alone. A Qi Condensation demon cultivator disciple, closest to the Yin Prayer, was visibly shaking. When the Yin Prayer was merely twenty zhang away, the disciple suddenly leaped up, summoning his flying sword to escape.
“He’s done for…” Elder Deng Ba mouthed silently.
In an instant, the jellyfish-like Yin Prayer’s ghostly eyes flickered. Its semi-transparent body vanished like mist, reappearing above the fleeing disciple and swallowing his entire head.
The disciple’s flying sword flickered weakly before falling from the sky. Without a chance to struggle, the disciple’s skin turned from rosy to deathly pale. After the Yin Prayer released him, he plummeted lifelessly to the ground.
Those consumed by a Yin Prayer lost even their souls, let alone any chance of reincarnation.
Nan Yan’s scalp tingled. Though her Seven Buddha Karma Scripture could counter all evil entities, it was powerless against Yin Prayers, at least before reaching the Golden Core stage.
Having devoured one cultivator, the Yin Prayer seemed barely satisfied. It drifted aimlessly for a while before moving towards them again.
From the corner of her eye, Nan Yan noticed Diezan secretly grabbing Ji Yang’s arm… She likely planned to sacrifice him to the Yin Prayer to buy time for her escape.
The cultivation world was ruthless—one’s death meant another’s survival.
Golden spiritual energy flickered in Nan Yan’s eyes. If Diezan made a move, she’d unleash the Vairocana Purification technique, even if it meant perishing alongside the demon cultivators.
Just as the Yin Prayer drew perilously close, the distant clouds suddenly churned. Countless shrieks echoed from all directions as innumerable Yin Prayers surged from the ground, forming a massive grey torrent chasing a small cloud carriage emerging from the clouds.
A Dao-Born Heaven… mini cloud carriage?!
Despite trailing countless Yin Prayers, the small cloud carriage raced recklessly through Huigu’s inner area, where others dared not release spiritual energy. Only the cloud beast pulling the carriage showed signs of panic, roaring as it galloped on clouds toward Huigu’s core.
The Yin Prayers quickly swarmed the carriage. Within moments, they drained its spiritual light, and even the late Golden Core stage cloud beast began to falter, visibly distressed.
The nearby Yin Prayer was also drawn to the small cloud carriage, vanishing and reappearing near it, joining the Yin Prayer army that threatened to engulf the tiny vehicle.
Just as everyone thought the small cloud carriage would be consumed, a cold laugh emerged from within. A ripple spread through the surrounding clouds, followed by a blinding light erupting from the Yin Prayers encircling the carriage.
“—Cycle of Heaven Chant.”
The voice seemed to echo from ancient times. An incomparable spiritual pressure descended like a vast ocean, forcing all cultivators and demon beasts in Huigu’s inner area to prostrate themselves.
At the zenith, a sacred Eight Trigrams Dao disc descended. Atop the disc, amidst mountains and waters, a sage-like figure seemed to sing while wielding a sword. The pure light transformed into sword rays, raining down like locusts, piercing every shrieking Yin Prayer without fail.
Moments later, the smoke and clouds dissipated, and tranquility returned to heaven and earth. The cloud carriage departed gracefully.
After its departure, the Yin Prayers gradually reappeared. Though not dead, their limited intelligence prevented them from giving chase, and they vanished back into the ground.
The onlookers were momentarily entranced. Someone sighed, “This is true cultivation! Summoning wind and rain with a mere gesture!”
Diezan, still shaken, said, “We’ve heard rumors of a Dao-Born Heaven mini cloud carriage appearing, suspected to belong to the Law Enforcer of Zi State… Elder Deng, could you discern the cultivator’s level?”
Despite being the highest-ranked among them, Deng Ba shook his head. “Like you, I felt as if facing the heavens and earth when that technique was unleashed. I couldn’t discern their cultivation level. However, you all heard the ‘Cycle of Heaven Chant.’ This is a hereditary technique of Dao-Born Heaven’s main sect, indicating the carriage occupant’s extraordinary status.”
Diezan, pale-faced, asked, “Should we still investigate?”
“Of course!” Deng Ba replied. “Friend Yin, you saw how the Yin Prayers were dispersed by that single technique. It will take days for them to reform. Now is the safest time to explore Huigu’s inner area!”
Yin Ya fanned himself vigorously. “If you demon cultivators aren’t afraid of that powerful Dao cultivator, why should I be? Let’s go!”
With nearby Yin Prayers distracted by the cloud carriage, the group extended their spiritual senses and swiftly traversed the wilderness. Within an hour, they arrived at the foot of a towering, desolate mountain.
The mountain wasn’t entirely barren. Though lacking vegetation, it boasted numerous exposed spirit materials, captivating everyone’s attention.
“Extinct Cliff, also known as Treasure Mountain, has fire essence, ghost fire rock, jade light sand, and more just at its base. Unfortunately, it’s home to sandworm nests. These worms excel at concealing their presence and ambush any cultivators who approach.”
Yin Ya pressed his brow. “I sense it. The other half of the technique should be near Extinct Cliff’s peak.”
“Friend Yin,” someone cautioned, “jumping from Extinct Cliff’s peak leads directly into Huigu’s core. Even Nascent Soul powerhouses wouldn’t survive down there. Are you certain?”
“As I said before, your human sects’ conflicts benefit us demon clans. What would I gain by deceiving you?”
After a moment of silence, Deng Ba suggested, “This Treasure Mountain isn’t impossible to climb. Let’s ascend and look. Even if we don’t find the other half of the technique, we can still gather some treasures. It won’t be a wasted journey.”
Everyone agreed, eager for some reward after their arduous journey.
The mountain’s lower slopes were sandy, making noise with each step. No one knew if sandworms lurked beneath.
“Why not fly up?”
“Those sandworms, like Yin Prayers, are highly sensitive to spiritual energy. They’re at least early Foundation Establishment level, and survivors claim there’s even a pseudo-Golden Core sandworm king. Flying is forbidden.”
Left with no choice, they tread lightly up the sandy slope, occasionally pausing to use minimal spiritual energy to extract spirit ores from the ground.
Perhaps due to the earlier shocking display from the small cloud carriage, they encountered no sandworms and successfully reached the mountain’s midsection. However, looking upward, their faces darkened.
“Someone’s been here!”
They had ascended from the western path, but footprints on the eastern path indicated recent visitors. Above the midpoint, all treasures had been swept clean as if by a fierce wind.
The demon cultivators, least adept at controlling their emotions, cursed loudly. “After all our efforts, someone beat us to it! We must shed blood today to uphold our demonic way!”
Diezan examined the footprints closely. “Only about a dozen people, moving cautiously. Likely a small sect that noticed the sandworms’ dormancy and seized the opportunity… Well, they’ve gathered these treasures for us. We should take them back!”
The demon cultivators’ bloodlust surged as they charged upward. In the distance, they spotted a group in purple robes, including five Foundation Establishment cultivators, examining a rock wall. Tension mounted as they noticed the approaching demon cultivators.
“Demon cultivators!” someone shouted.
Nan Yan and her companions had planned to observe before acting, but the familiar purple robes caught their attention. To their surprise, it was the Yangyue Sect.
Sure enough, someone from the Yangyue Sect exclaimed, “Elder, isn’t that Mu Zhanting?!”
A Foundation Establishment elder of the Yangyue Sect extended his spiritual sense and gasped, “It is… Mu Zhanting, though the sect was unwilling to waste effort curing your dantian poison, you shouldn’t have fallen so low as to associate with demon cultivators!”
Mu Zhanting remained silent.
Nan Yan recognized the familiar voice and looked up. It was Fu Lang, the senior disciple from the inner sect. Excited, as if he had caught someone red-handed, Fu Lang pointed at Mu Zhanting and exclaimed:
“Uncle Master, the situation is clear. This ungrateful wretch harbors resentment against our sect. Now he’s in league with demonic cultivators, surely having sold out our plans. Disciple Chu must have seen through his treacherous heart and acted justly! Today, we must cleanse our sect and vindicate Brother Chu!”
“But he looks like he’s being held hostage—”
Fu Lang hastily interrupted, “Demonic cultivators are notoriously brutal. What benefit would they gain from coercing a mere Qi Condensation cultivator? He must have fallen to the dark path. Uncle Master, we can’t let this tiger return to the mountain!”
The demonic cultivators below were stunned. Deng Ba, the eldest among them, faced the four Foundation Establishment cultivators calmly. He glanced at Mu Zhanting with interest.
“The Mortal State is so petty, wasting good talent. Friend Yin, I intend to recruit him into our Divine Coffin Sect. Remove his illusion spell and let him witness the world’s suffering.”
Before Yin Ya could act, Mu Zhanting lashed out, “Fu Lang, spout one more bit of nonsense and see what happens!”
The demonic cultivators were puzzled. Nonsense?
Fu Lang summoned his spirit sword and sneered, “It’s crystal clear now. You’re consorting with demonic cultivators. What defense do you have? Our Yanyue Sect has no place for ingrates like you. Fellow Uncle-Masters, we have five Foundation Establishment cultivators. Let’s eliminate these demons and uphold righteousness!”
His voice boomed, but the four Yanyue Sect Foundation Establishment cultivators grew increasingly solemn.
“Fu Lang is right. Even a Heaven Spirit Root cultivator becomes a menace when fallen to the dark path. To prevent future calamity, we must end him today! Fu Lang, deal with those two outer sect disciples who’ve been corrupted as well!”
“Gladly!”
There was no time or willingness to explain. Mu Zhanting, still grateful for Yanyue Sect’s nurturing, was reluctant to fight. Suddenly, the old man Deng Ba coldly laughed and cast a restrictive spell, trapping Mu Zhanting.
“So-called righteous cultivators are no different from us demonic cultivators. Young friend Mu, with your exceptional talent, why not join our demonic path? One day, you’ll stand among the geniuses of the Upper State and realize these tiny Mortal State sects are mere ants! Diewan, these five are yours.”
As the five Foundation Establishment cultivators from Yanyue Sect approached, seeing only one female demonic cultivator emerge, they furiously exclaimed, “Such arrogance from demonic cultivators! Brothers, the ground sandworms won’t surface to harm us when startled. Let’s attack with full force!”
Diewan scoffed, “Mortal State cultivators, how dare you challenge us Upper State demonic cultivators?”
Her ferocious coffin flew out, releasing a vicious corpse puppet that lunged at one of the Foundation Establishment cultivators. The cultivator hastily cast a fire dragon spell, but the puppet withstood it, merely singeing its surface. With increased ferocity, it shredded the cultivator’s protective spiritual light with one swipe.
The cultivator’s arm instantly rotted from the wound. He quickly severed his right arm to save himself. Meanwhile, Diewan, surrounded by dancing demonic butterflies, fought the other four single-handedly, holding her ground effortlessly.
The once-formidable Foundation Establishment elders of the sect now seemed utterly outmatched against an Upper State demonic cultivator of the same level.
“Have you ever witnessed the vastness of the Upper State? That’s where you belong. You’ll learn nothing in this tiny Mortal State. The Divine Coffin Sect ranks among the top three in the Si State. If you’re willing to cleanse your foundation and follow me into the demonic path, our sect will give you everything you desire.”
The demonic cultivator’s voice seemed bewitching. Nan Yan listened anxiously, realizing the misunderstanding with Yanyue Sect might be irreconcilable. Yet morally, they couldn’t stand by and watch their sect be slaughtered by demonic cultivators.
“Shao Cang?” Nan Yan transmitted secretly.
“Don’t worry,” Ji Yang replied calmly. “Zhanting’s temperament is too unyielding. This experience will be good for him. In about twenty breaths…”
Ji Yang trailed off, seemingly focused on waiting for something.
Sure enough, within dozens of breaths, all five Yanyue Sect cultivators were injured and retreated in shock.
“Upper State demonic cultivators!”
Meanwhile, the old man Deng Ba continued his enticement: “I can spare some lives for you to experience killing Foundation Establishment cultivators. Once you submit to our sect, you’ll realize this ant-like Mortal State has nothing worth your attachment.”
“You’re wrong,” Mu Zhanting raised his head, eyes blazing. “Yesterday, I sought divination. Lord Guan said that as humans or cultivators if I never owed them anything and they wronged me, I could slaughter their entire clan without remorse. But since I owe them gratitude, even if I must cut flesh from bone to repay it before severing ties, I’ll never side with demonic cultivators!”
As he finished, Deng Ba was astonished to sense righteous energy emanating from this mere Qi Condensation cultivator.
When cultivators first enter the path, their nature is most easily set. In the Upper State, those with such righteousness invariably become pillars of the righteous path!
“Hmph, stubborn fool.” Deng Ba’s face suddenly contorted. “Then you’ll just become another corpse puppet for my divine coffin!”
As he spoke, the sand beneath his feet rumbled. Deng Ba’s expression changed as he dodged. Where he had stood, the ground suddenly collapsed, and a giant mouth emerged, snapping at him!
“How did the ground sandworms suddenly activate?!”
Each sandworm was as thick as two people’s embrace. Unlike the earlier flower stone centipede, the sand worms’ scales were tightly packed like snake scales, deflecting all spells. They moved swiftly, viciously biting at Deng Ba.
As both demonic cultivators and Yanyue Sect disciples scrambled to defend themselves, Yin Ya suddenly laughed. A blue aura surrounded him, completely concealing his presence despite remaining visible. The sandworms passed by him, ignoring him entirely.
Deng Ba, the highest cultivator present but surrounded by the most sandworms, saw Yin Ya’s state and raged, “You dare deceive me, you freak!”
“Ha! Did you think the treasure Silver Shark Gauze could only be used to escape Yin Zhu? The eyeless sandworms rely solely on sensing energy to identify enemies. Thanks to all of you for luring away the sandworms. The treasure atop Absolute Cliff is mine now. I’ll return later to collect your remains.”
Amidst the chaos, Yin Ya soared into the sky, quickly disappearing into the mountain clouds…
“Damn it, that sly fox?!”