The disciples continued doing sect missions as usual, but because of the previous incident, Jun Changxiao became cautious, so missions with higher difficulty coefficients and those requiring long-distance travel were temporarily shelved.

Suddenly becoming timid and hesitant made him quite unhappy.

So, whoever broke the seal and released the Demon Mist Monster King must be investigated and found out as soon as possible!

“Even if we find out, what can the Sect Master do about it?” the System said.

This question left Jun Changxiao silent.

Currently, he couldn’t rule out the possibility that the Realm Hall was secretly playing tricks. If they really found out it was them, would he go grab his weapons and fight?

Just that golden-haired guy alone had Nine-Revolution Core Formation Stage cultivation. Without relying on the Energy-Storing Lightning Rod, he definitely couldn’t seriously injure him. So Dog Sheng had self-awareness—with the sect’s current strength, it would be extremely difficult to contend with the Realm Hall.

“Too weak.”

Jun Changxiao clenched his fist and said.

The System said: “Host has only been in the Upper Realm for just over two years, which is just the initial startup stage, so there’s no need to be discouraged. As long as you focus your thoughts on development, once you have sufficient strength, it won’t be too late to challenge heaven and earth!”

Rarely did it not pour cold water, but instead encouraged the host.

“Right.”

Jun Changxiao’s eyes flashed with luster as he said: “There’s still plenty of time!”

If it were other sects that ascended, they would probably struggle with how to develop in the future, but this problem didn’t exist for Dog Sheng, because the industries had already fully expanded—they just lacked time to profit.

Especially with various brand-new cultivation facilities already arranged in place, disciples’ realms were breaking through repeatedly. As long as they developed quietly, one day they would shock the entire Upper Realm!

“I also need to start cultivating!”

Many matters had entered the regular track, so Jun Changxiao focused his thoughts on cultivation, then… took out the Experience Talismans.

Others level up through traditional meditation and cultivation; his cultivation method was cheating.

“Snap!”

After crushing five Experience Talismans, Jun Changxiao immediately felt his cultivation improve again, but it was still Three-Revolution Core Formation Stage cultivation, and it didn’t trigger an epic mission either.

“Go to the Space-Time Secret Realm to cultivate.”

He set off for the back mountain, then merged into it.

As soon as he entered, he discovered Yao Mengying sitting cross-legged ahead, her entire body shrouded in dark aura. He smiled and said: “After absorbing so much demonic energy, you should have gained quite a lot, right?”

“Bang!”

Suddenly, the dark energy cluster exploded.

Yao Mengying’s black hair flew wildly, a crescent moon pattern appeared on her forehead, emanating crimson evil demonic energy.

“What is this?” Jun Changxiao asked in surprise.

“Whoosh whoosh!”

Suddenly, rolling waves of dark energy surged around Yao Mengying’s body, then converged into a huge black shadow. Under the terrifying demonic energy, it seemed like a hellish demon god descending to the mortal world.

Jun Changxiao’s eyes widened.

Because after the huge black shadow appeared, red streams of light emerged from the crescent moon pattern on Yao Mengying’s forehead, then traced along her cheeks to outline eerie patterns, and she whispered: “Heaven and earth are immortal, the demonic path endures forever!”

“Girl!”

Jun Changxiao said: “Are you alright?”

His words entered Yao Mengying’s ears, quickly pulling her back to reality. She opened her eyes and said in astonishment: “Sect Master, how did you get here?”

The patterns on her cheeks and the huge black shadow gathered behind her quickly dissipated, as if nothing had happened.

Witnessing the entire process, Jun Changxiao thought to himself: “Something’s strange!”

He knew Yao Mengying had inherited the Demon Emperor’s Innate Demon Body, but the huge black shadow that just appeared was obviously not that, because the aura it emanated was truly frightening!

Moreover.

When the girl was whispering, her tone was clearly different, as if she had been controlled by some power.

“There’s probably still some secret hidden in this disciple of yours,” the System said.

Jun Changxiao said: “What secret?”

“You’re asking me, who do I ask!” the System said irritably.

Jun Changxiao fell into contemplation, thinking to himself: “‘Heaven and earth are immortal, the demonic path endures forever’ was the Demon Emperor’s propaganda slogan back then. Now that we’ve come to the Upper Realm, why would it be mentioned again?”

…

Within a certain dark altar.

Just when Yao Mengying manifested the huge black shadow, the pool in the central area that seemed to be made of ink suddenly churned violently, with some water droplets splashing onto the walls and sketching out complex patterns.

Pulling the camera back, one could clearly see many ink stains still remaining on the wall. From the color and degree of dryness, they seemed to have existed for a long time.

If Jun Changxiao were here, seeing the ink marks on the wall, he would definitely widen his eyes, because at the top was a crescent moon pattern, identical to the one that rose on Yao Mengying’s brow. And though the ink marks looked messy, upon careful observation they resembled the huge black shadow!

Outside the ink pool, representing the four directions of east, west, south, and north, sat four black-robed elders in meditation. They all opened their eyes simultaneously, their turbid gazes flashing with excitement: “Another Innate Demon Body has appeared. Our lord’s awakening is just around the corner!”

…

Myriad Ancient Sect.

Jun Changxiao summoned the Black and White Rakshasas and inquired: “Two brothers, are there demon cultivators in the Upper Realm?”

He was still quite concerned about the abnormality that suddenly arose with Yao Mengying in the secret realm, so after coming out of seclusion, he planned to carefully understand the situation.

“Yes.”

White Rakshasa said: “Quite a few.”

“Are they not accepted by the world like the demon cultivators in the Lower Realm?” Jun Changxiao asked again.

“They used to be.”

Black Rakshasa said: “Now there’s no difference from ordinary demon cultivators.”

“Used to be?”

Jun Changxiao became interested.

Black Rakshasa then said: “As far as I know, whether in the Upper Realm or Lower Realm, all warriors who cultivate the demonic path originated from the Demon Delusion Tribe.”

“Demon Delusion Tribe?”

Jun Changxiao had never heard of this tribe.

“The Demon Delusion Tribe is one of the myriad tribes in the Upper Realm, called the Four Great Higher Tribes along with the Human Tribe, Dragon Tribe, and Stone Statue Tribe. One hundred thousand years ago, the Demon God was jointly killed by all tribes, and they began to decline from then on. To this day, they’ve almost gone extinct.”

“I see.”

Jun Changxiao understood, and complained in his heart: “In the Lower Realm, the Demon Emperor was killed by the righteous sects. In the Upper Realm, the Demon Delusion Tribe was killed by the major tribes. Did those with the word ‘demon’ offend the author or something?”

Black Rakshasa said: “As far as I know, exterminating this tribe was planned by the Ten Great Immortal Sects, which is why the Burial Moon Pavilion has always targeted the Realm Hall they created.”

Jun Changxiao’s expression froze as he said in surprise: “The Realm Hall was created by the Ten Great Immortal Sects?”

“Didn’t Senior Tonggu tell the Sect Master?” Black Rakshasa said.

“No.”

Jun Changxiao said: “As this disciple, I was completely free-range raised by my master. You guys know this.”

The Black and White Rakshasas cast sympathetic looks.

“What about this Burial Moon Pavilion?” Jun Changxiao asked.

Black Rakshasa explained: “The Burial Moon Pavilion was a force created by the Demon Delusion Tribe. Later it moved into the shadows, specializing in opposing the Realm Hall. They’ve been fighting for tens of thousands of years.”

“Damn.”

Jun Changxiao thought to himself: “Isn’t this just the Upper Realm version of the Demon Emperor’s sect?”

Wait!

Could the crescent moon pattern that appeared on Yao Mengying’s forehead have some connection to this Burial Moon Pavilion?

“Sect Master.”

Just then, Li Qingyang transmitted: “Someone has come to pay respects at our gate!”

…

At the foot of the mountain.

A youth about twelve or thirteen years old was munching on an apple, looking up at the cloud-wreathed Myriad Ancient Sect, thinking disdainfully: “An insignificant sect, yet built quite impressively.”

He rolled up his sleeve, revealing half a tattoo.

That’s right!

The youth was Gu Zhaoxi!

Because of an agreement with Female Emperor Ling Yao, although extremely unwilling, he still came to the Myriad Ancient Sect to pay respects.

“Sorry.”

Li Shangtian flew down and said: “The sect is temporarily not accepting disciples. Please come back another day.”

“Crunch!”

Gu Zhaoxi took a bite of his apple, his eyes cold as he said: “What did you say?”

Didn’t hear clearly?

Li Shangtian raised his voice and said loudly: “The sect is temporarily not accepting disciples, please…”

“Boom!”

Before he could finish speaking, his mouth twisted and eyes went askew as he flew out, then became embedded in the wall in a swastika shape. He then bared his teeth and mentioned all members: “Sect Master! Elders! Senior brothers! Someone’s here to cause trouble!”

—