“You demon… Your mother was a demon, and so are you! These creatures come from the Demon Sealing Array! The Nan clan of Yin State, entrusted with guarding the array, has betrayed us. Their hearts truly lie with the demon race!” Six States High Priest exclaimed.
Among all the states, Yin State had the most complex relationship with the demon race. Particularly Sovereign Nan, whose mother was from the demon royal bloodline, had half Chongming bird blood flowing in her veins. Some conservative old-school cultivators, including Six States, always believed that those of different races couldn’t be trusted.
Nan Yan angrily retorted, “So Dao Sheng Tian admits to plotting against Sovereign Nan?”
Six States countered, “You collude with demons and dare to slander our Dao Sheng Tian? I’ll take you back to uphold our principles!”
Before Nan Yan could move, Yin Qie, hands on his hips, started cursing, “Slander? What a moldy old tangerine peel from the golden age! Always talking about collusion this, collusion that. Are you colluding with your ancestral master? At your age, with one foot in the grave, you still can’t behave. Here’s a curse for you: may your health be good enough for your entire lineage’s graves to explode for five thousand years!”
Six States, nearly a thousand years old, had never been insulted like this to his face. Enraged, he shouted, “How dare you, you impudent brat! Heavenly Cycle Chant – Final Array, Fall!”
Despite being injured from the earlier battle at Suspended Mountain, he was still at the third decay of the Nascent Soul realm. As he activated the sword array, the entire area was filled with killing intent, countless sword shadows pressing down on the giant turtle’s head in the sea.
Feeling the oppressive sword energy, the giant turtle raised its upper body slightly, resembling a massive sea fortress as it surfaced. It opened its mouth and let out a low roar towards Six States and the people behind it.
“Roar—”
The turtle demon race’s defense was unparalleled in the world. As the sword energy approached, a purple turtle shell phantom suddenly appeared. The sword rain struck like locusts, constantly creating ripples on the shell’s surface, but never breaking through.
“This isn’t an ordinary turtle. It’s… it’s a small Sumeru Turtle!”
The oldest and most powerful royal bloodlines of the demon race were revered as Ancestral Spirits. The Sumeru Turtle was currently one of these Ancestral Spirits. Though few, they were all enormous – the smallest like islands, the largest comparable to States. In wartime, they served as mobile fortresses carrying demon troops.
Chu Ning and the others from Yi State retreated in shock. “To be able to command a Sumeru Turtle… which demon clan are you from?”
Not only the Sumeru Turtle they were on, but countless massive shadows also appeared in the sea behind them. Demonic energy formed patches of dark purple mist, and numerous demon fish surfaced, causing Six States to look grave.
“It seems you’re from the demon royal bloodline. But the demon realm is still sealed within the Demon Sealing Array. How dare you challenge our Dao Sheng Tian with these remnant demons from the outside?”
A faint purple demonic light flickered in Yin Qie’s eyes as he said, “That used to be true, but I just came from the Demon Sealing Array. It seems something happened to your Dao Sheng Tian. The spiritual energy of the array’s core, Demon Sealing Mountain, has greatly diminished, causing a small crack. This little Sumeru Turtle escaped with me during the array’s disturbance.”
“High Priest, what should we do?!” The Yi State group panicked.
Six States said, “Young Master Chu, return to Dao Sheng Tian and inform them of the demon rebellion. I will temporarily seal off this area.”
…Meaning he wanted to fight alone?
Nan Yan watched Meng Ying hurriedly leave with the Yi State people, assuming she had her plans. She then turned her attention to Six States.
“I alone am enough to deal with your demons!” Six States pointed to the sky and declared, “Ya Spring River! Appear!”
Yin Qie narrowed his eyes, “So you’re also one of the Nine Hells’ masters.”
“I obtained the Ya Spring River in Shen State over 300 years ago. My mastery of it is no less than the original master’s! Today, I’ll use it to capture your demon souls!”
Ghost clouds gathered in the sky above. The Ya Spring River, representing official halls and ancestral temples, manifested as stern-faced humanoid ghosts. Guillotines stood in rows. At Six States’ command, the souls of the first wave of slain demon fish were directly absorbed into the Ya Spring River. Simultaneously, Six States seemed to be nourished by some ghostly power, his previously injured form straightening slightly.
Nan Yan finally understood the terrifying aspect: on a battlefield with a Nine Hells master present, death meant soul absorption, transforming into powerful support for the Ya Spring River.
Nan Yan said gravely, “Second Brother, this man is at the third decay level, comparable to a state ruler. Do you have a strategy?”
Yin Qie replied, “No worries.”
Nan Yan: “…”
Nan Yan: “That may be so, but could you stop hiding behind me?”
Yin Qie, suddenly realizing he was cowering behind Nan Yan like a thief, closed his eyes with a disgusted expression and drew a messy talisman. The talisman flew skyward, instantly transforming into a cloud vortex.
Opposite the Ya Spring River, the You Spring River also appeared in the sky.
“So you’re the master of the You Spring River! Then… him and the demon race? You all?!” Six States’ mind was in chaos. He knew Ji Yang’s capabilities; without an extremely close relationship with the You Spring River, how could he possibly command its ghost tides to suppress Dao Sheng Tian?
He truly could involve the demon race as well!
“How presumptuous, daring to disrupt our Dao Sheng Tian’s thousand-year great cause. Today, I shall reclaim the You Spring River!”
…
“What on earth are those things?!”
A hundred miles away from the battle zone, Chu Ning could still see ghost energy engulfing the sky. Terrified of drawing attention, he quickly ordered the dragon-horse carriages to land. He sent someone to report the situation to Dao Sheng Tian. Moments later, a Yi State cultivator came rushing from afar.
“Young Master,” the cultivator bowed, “Dao Sheng Tian is currently in chaos. They likely can’t deal with the demon situation for now.”
Chu Ning asked in surprise, “How is that possible? Didn’t they say the Mystic Ruler had returned? Is there anything in this world the Mystic Ruler can’t handle?”
“The Mystic Ruler…” The Yi State cultivator looked uncomfortably at the pale-faced Meng Ying, then said, “The current ruler of Yin State, Master Yi Gu, and the Dragon Lord of Chen State… It seems they suspect Dao Sheng Tian killed Sovereign Nan and have engaged the Mystic Ruler in battle.”
“What?!”
The cultivator’s face turned ashen as he continued, “The fallen Suspended Mountain has been shattered. Dao Sheng Tian’s elders forbid outsiders from prying. We didn’t dare get close…”
Chu Ning’s expression changed several times. One of his eyes was blind, but the other shot towards Meng Ying like a sharp blade.
“Ying’er, why does your Chen State dare to defy the Mystic Ruler?”
Meng Ying lowered her gaze and replied, “I don’t know.”
Chu Ning, recalling the words of the Six Venerable Masters, demanded, “Do you truly not know? Or… are you not the daughter of the Ao family?”
Meng Ying replied, “Why would my husband say such a thing?”
The concubine beside Chu Ning, momentarily composed, timidly said, “Master, the Six Venerable Masters mentioned that the Ao family has some secret dragon protection techniques. How come the mistress doesn’t know them?”
As Meng Ying remained silent, Chu Ning harshly continued, “I’ve always found it strange. You kept saying your body was unfit for cultivation due to an accident, but the Ao bloodline is so special. How could you not know even a bit of their secret techniques? You must be an impostor.”
Meng Ying clasped her hands behind her back, maintaining an obedient smile, but her words were sharp as steel: “I was personally escorted by the Chen Region’s elder to marry you in the Hai Region. Does it matter whether I’m genuine or not? You only married me for the Chen Region’s sake. Even without that connection, as the young master of a region, couldn’t your household accommodate someone like me? You’re just trying to use me as a token now that you’ve seen the Dragon Lord and Xuanzai fight.”
Chu Ning turned away, saying, “An impostor is an impostor. Considering your years of service, transfer your cultivation to Meizhu and leave.”
The concubine named Meizhu’s eyes lit up at these words. She quickly jumped off the carriage, kowtowed in gratitude, and said with a smile, “Sister, don’t worry. I’ll make sure to pass on the source spirit energy, hard-earned from the mountains and seas, to the master’s legitimate son.”
“I obtained this source of spirit energy thanks to the Hai Region’s grace. Since the master has spoken…” Meng Ying approached the concubine, suddenly slamming her palm onto the concubine’s crown.
Amidst the concubine’s shrill scream, Meng Ying released a cloud of poison mist, then retreated swiftly towards the previous battlefield.
Splattered with blood, Chu Ning was stunned before exploding in rage: “Capture that wretched woman for me!!!”
The Hai Region’s people obeyed, immediately giving chase. However, Meng Ying seemed prepared, riding some leaf-shaped treasure that matched the speed of an early Yuanying stage cultivator.
Meng Ying fled frantically without looking back, eventually resorting to a blood escape technique. In an instant, she reached the previous battle circle.
The area was now filled with howling ghosts, so gray that no human figures could be seen. After a moment’s hesitation, seeing Chu Ning’s furious pursuit, she plunged into the gray mist.
Chu Ning was truly enraged: “That was given to her by my mother! This wretched woman had been planning to escape all along. Kill her and bring her corpse back to Daosheng State to prove our sincerity!”
Over thirty streaks of light chased into the gray mist. Chu Ning led the way, but when he spread his spiritual sense, he found it blocked. Turning to check on his followers, he discovered half of them had mysteriously vanished.
“Where are they?”
Chu Ning turned again, finding the other half of his entourage gone as well. As fear gripped him, he saw Meng Ying’s rigid silhouette ahead. His face contorted with rage as he moved to strike, but something supple wrapped around his wrist.
He felt a cold breath on his head and looked up trembling, seeing only a ghostly woman’s face with distorted features. Her soft, seemingly boneless hand curled around his wrist as she spoke with eerie resentment:
“In life, I hated unfaithful men the most.”
Meng Ying covered her mouth, suppressing her terror as she watched the ghost woman fold Chu Ning’s body over and over, his agonized screams gradually fading. She then felt a weight on her back, icy strands of hair trying to burrow into her neck.
“Hee-hee, mommy’s angry,” giggled a small ghost with similarly distorted features perched on her shoulder. “I’m hungry too. Big sister, you smell delicious…”
This small ghost’s power rivaled that of a Yuanying cultivator, while the ghost mother’s strength seemed unfathomable.
Just as Meng Ying despaired, the small ghost suddenly hissed and leaped to its mother, who had turned Chu Ning into a ball of flesh and was about to devour his nascent soul.
“Wow, mommy, this big sister has the Buddhist aura of that Chongmingbird sister!”
At that moment, a golden figure emerged from the gray mist—it was Nan Yan. She quickly assessed the situation upon seeing Meng Ying, then addressed the ghost mother and child: “Madam, so you’re still in the Youquan River.”
The ghost woman replied, “The Youquan River has sheltered us for years. Since the Prison Lord is battling other Prison Lords, we naturally came to assist.”
Nan Yan pulled out a small, huddled figure from behind her: “Second Brother, they’ve come to help you. Why are you cowering?”
Yin Ya grumbled for a while, his gaze wandering: “How… how could I let women fight? I just didn’t want to trouble the madam.”
Nan Yan retorted: “Then can you let go of my sleeve? You’re about to tear my mother’s keepsake.”
“Oh, this is your mother’s keepsake? I was thinking of borrowing it to wear for a few days…”
Meng Ying watched them in bewilderment when suddenly, she saw the Six Venerable Masters’ figure breaking through the mist: “Be careful! He’s here!”
The Youquan River was in a dire situation, seemingly no match for the Yaquan River and retreating steadily. The Six Venerable Masters arrived with overwhelming force:
“Where do you think you’re escaping to, you rascals!”
As he struck out, the ghost woman coldly snorted and moved to block him. Upon contact with her supple fingers, the Six Venerable Masters’ skin began to rot away in large patches.
“How is this possible?! Daosheng State’s techniques are flawless!” The Six Venerable Masters exclaimed in shock, constantly retreating. It seemed the ghost woman naturally countered Daosheng State’s techniques. Despite both being in the Huashen realm, he was steadily losing ground.
Yin Ya exclaimed in surprise: “Ji Yang said that if we faced Daosheng State’s people and summoned the Youquan River, they wouldn’t be our match. Could this be what he meant?”
“I understand now,” Nan Yan said, recalling what Ji Yang had told her earlier. “Daosheng State’s founder abandoned emotions and affections. To warn himself, he must have ruthlessly eliminated those he once cared for and left a restriction on his techniques. Those who practice these methods will rot and wither if they encounter someone they once loved. Ying… that person did the same to my mother. This madam isn’t my mother, and Daosheng State has only had two generations of founders. So she must be related to—”
Yin Ya remembered the story the small ghost had told him about a husband who sought a great way by killing his wife and child with rocks in a well. The mother and daughter’s resentment was so deep that they became vengeful ghosts. Given the current situation, the identity of that husband seeking the great way was obvious.
The Six Venerable Masters roared: “This is impossible! My techniques come from the Dao Venerable. Even the Xuanzai can’t affect me. You… you can’t be the Dao Venerables… the Dao Venerables…”
The ghost woman let out a hateful, mournful cry: “Dao Venerable… They call you Dao Venerable now! Do you remember your wife and child you bludgeoned to death at the bottom of the well?!”
While the Six Venerable Masters had maintained his composure when facing Nan Yan or the demon race earlier, the ghost woman’s presence completely shattered his sanity. Overcome with irrepressible fear and confusion, the only person he could think of was Ji Yang.
That cunning devil had calculated everything. As long as the Youquan River had this ghost woman, Daosheng State stood no chance.
“Curse it all…” The Six Venerable Masters gritted his teeth, thinking that amidst today’s chaos, he must accomplish at least one thing. He turned his fury towards Nan Yan: “Since I can’t explain this anyway, I’ll take the Buddha bone and Zen heart first!”
“Nan Yan!”
A devastating attack from a third-stage Huashen cultivator, seemingly able to tear through space itself, came hurtling towards her. But at that moment, a green light scroll flew in like a shooting star, forcefully stopping the Six Venerable Masters’ assault.
The scroll opened on its own, and Ying Zewui’s indifferent voice emerged from within:
“From this moment on, no one in Daosheng State is permitted to harm the descendants of Nan Fangzhu. Those who disobey will be executed.”