Da Xuan Martial Saint

Ice State, Han Prefecture.

Secluded Silent Valley.

This is a realm located to the northwest of Han Prefecture, resembling a frozen wilderness of low hills. The barren, yellowed earth scarcely bears any vegetation, and the piercing chill is enough to freeze one's blood. Wherever the eye wanders, there is only desolation.

Yet, in the heart of this desolate and uninhabited valley, hidden beneath the surface of the earth, lies a terrifying vista, akin to hell itself!

Piled skulls form ridges, and bones strewn about like forests, with hair and flesh matted together like carpets of filth and human skin worked into mud. The thick, acrid stench of blood is nauseating, creating a vista of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

This is the main altar of the Sky Demon Sect.

Following the tunnels that line the belly of the mountain, one can see scattered disciples of the Sky Demon Sect, busily moving in and out. Some are seen escorting Martial Artists with rich Blood Essence captured from all over Han Prefecture, while others are breeding demonic creatures and extracting Demon Blood.

Unlike the Seven Profound Sect or the Ice Extreme Palace and other orthodox sects that recruit disciples from within their own states—selecting young individuals with exceptional talent to be nurtured within their walls—the disciples of the Sky Demon Sect are mostly those who have taken to the Martial Path mid-life, and a good number of them are elderly, nearing decay, unwilling to resign themselves to the end of their lifespan and thus seduced by the Evil Methods of the Sky Demon Sect to eventually pledge allegiance to it.

Because it is only these old Martial Men, with declining Qi-Blood, that the demon men of the Sky Demon Sect look down upon and deem unworthy of consuming. To put it bluntly, eating their flesh would be fruitless, as their Blood Essence has long since faded, and even if some possess Martial Arts Cultivation, it is often not as rich as that of a healthy, younger man.

Of course.

The extensive Sky Demon Sect isn't entirely composed of such ill-suited fruits. There are also a few younger demon men. These young demons hail from two sources, one being those like Bai Shiyong from Cuiyan Mountain Villa, who are taken by Bai Yuanqing to practice Evil Methods.

If it weren't for the Demon Venerable of the Sky Demon Sect needing the resources of the Cuiyan Mountain Villa and Bai Yuanqing and Bai Shiyong relying on Cuiyan Mountain Villa to obtain a stable supply of Blood Nourishment and Cultivation environment, they would eventually turn their backs on Yu State and seek refuge with the Sky Demon Sect.

Additionally.

There are the extremely rare 'second-generation blood inheritors'.

For instance, the promising young standout of the Sky Demon Sect, Kun Jie, who once died by Chen Mu's hand, belonged to the second-generation blood inheritors—he was the progeny of one of the sect's Venerables. Since the Sky Demon Sect practices Evil Methods that mutate flesh and blood, reproduction is often incredibly difficult. However, if reproduction occurs, these children are born with Demon Bodies and find the practice of Sorcery remarkably effective, allowing for rapid progress in Cultivation.

Delving deeper into the heart of the Sky Demon Sect's main altar and reaching the center of the Secluded Silent Valley, at the deepest point within the mountain, lies a huge cavern, tens of zhang wide in diameter, plunging deeply downwards into darkness, its bottom unseen.

Ordinary disciples of the Sky Demon Sect dare not approach this place.

This is the Forbidden Land of the Sky Demon Sect, only accessible by the venerable ones, while even Great Demons of the Sixth Rank are strictly forbidden from nearing it.

Within the vast abyss, there emanates a terrifying pressure and demonic power so overwhelming, that a mere brush with it can leave one breathless. Weaker demonic creatures arriving here would be so intimidated that they would prostrate themselves on the ground, unable to move.

Descending along the cavern to its very base, one would see an immensely large demonic creature. Its back is like a rising mountain, and its demonic aura is so profound and deep that it is truly horrifying. Even beings like White Feather Demon Venerable Xian Yuchen pale in comparison to it, as weak as ants and unable to reach its height.

Any Grandmaster in the Marrow Cleansing Realm standing here, or any highly knowledgeable expert in the Six Viscera Realm, would be deeply shaken upon seeing this vast, terrifying beast, recognizing its species at first glance.

Ninth Rank Heavenly Demon,

Mystic Tortoise!

In the whole world, creatures of the Ninth Rank and above are few, and belong to a narrow set representing the ultimate evolution of all demonic creatures. The Mystic Tortoise is one such renowned Ninth Rank Heavenly Demon.

These horrifying demons that ranked Ninth and Tenth, were once rulers of this land, reigning supreme over all things. In the many years that followed, they were subdued by the relentless efforts of the Human Race's forebears. As such, they are now almost extinct; within the hinterland of Da Xuan, it is almost impossible to find demons of the Eighth Rank or above, let alone the Ninth. They are typically encountered only in the Outer Sea, the Great Wilderness, or the Earthly Abyss.

A Ninth Rank Heavenly Demon is far beyond the challenge for a Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster. Even peerless masters would flee at the sight of one. Only beings in the Blood Exchange Realm have the power to suppress or even slay them.

At this moment.

Upon closer inspection, this Ninth Rank Heavenly Demon Black Tortoise, though veiled in a horrific demonic aura, resonates with a sense of weakness from within. Moreover, its limbs are tightly bound by resplendent golden chains, connected to the Earth's Veins of the entire Secluded Silent Valley, almost completely immobilizing it!

The chains binding its limbs, each one worthy of being classified as a Spirit Weapon, are further complemented by a highly complex Formation set up nearby, keeping the Mystic Tortoise in a constant state of weakness, preventing it from recovery.

And in front of this mountainous, gigantic Mystic Tortoise,

several figures sit motionless like stone.

To say they are figures may be somewhat inaccurate, for each silhouette carries strange characteristics—some are covered in scale armor, some sprout feathers, and some have burning red horns on their foreheads. However, each one exudes an aura far richer than the Six Viscera Realm.

They are clearly the Demon Venerables of the Sky Demon Sect!

And furthermore.

The shadowy figure at the forefront, shrouded in pitch-black, possessed an aura as profound as an abyss, far more majestic than that of an ordinary Seventh Rank Demon Venerable. He was an Eighth Rank Supreme Venerable from the Sky Demon Sect, the formidable 'Ink Jade Demon Venerable' Kun Wu!

In the past, when the Sky Demon Sect was hiding in the east and lurking in the west, this Ink Jade Demon Venerable was virtually unheard of. However, after the turmoil in Yu State, he had struck out many times, had defeated the top Grandmaster of the Ice Extreme Palace in direct combat, had even repelled four or five Grandmasters from the Ice Extreme Palace when they joined hands, and had charged through the military formation of ten thousand soldiers from the Ice State defenders. In terms of strength, he was among the most powerful in the entire Cold North Path.

An Eighth Rank Supreme Venerable.

Five Seventh Rank Demon Venerables.

Such a formation guarding this place was not there to watch over the Heavenly Demon Black Tortoise.

Although the Black Tortoise was formidable, continually weakened by the formation and suppressed by the Earth's Veins of the entire Secluded Silent Valley, it was almost incapable of overturning its plight, needless to watch over.

They were here to cultivate.

The terrifying Demon Qi of the Black Tortoise was precisely the resource they could draw from to temper their Demon Bodies, one could say that the biggest foundation of the Sky Demon Sect at present was this living Ninth Rank Black Tortoise, from which they could extract various resources to assist with their cultivation.

Those who could cultivate to the Seventh Rank and become Venerables of the Sky Demon Sect would either be out hunting Martial Artists to extract their Essence Blood and Vital Energy, or they would return to the Sect to draw from the Black Tortoise's Demon Qi to refine their Demon Bodies.

The entire forbidden area was dead silent.

Be it Ink Jade Demon Venerable Kun Wu or those Seventh Rank Demon Venerables, none emitted any sound, including the Black Tortoise, which lay motionless, such that from the traces around its body, it seemed like it hadn't moved for decades. If not for the persistent spread of its Demon Qi, it would almost seem as though it were dead.

Thus, time passed unknowingly, until suddenly a shadow quietly descended from above, its aura profound, yet another Demon Venerable from the Sky Demon Sect. After landing, he walked straight up to Kun Wu and spoke softly,

"Supreme Venerable, the situation in Han Prefecture has been somewhat strange these days."

As his words fell.

The Ink Jade Demon Venerable remained quietly standing there, and it was a long time before he finally slowly opened his eyes. His indifferent gaze turned slightly, and he said, "Go on."

"Seven Profound Sect has occupied Frost County. I don't think their ambition stops there. Next, they will either go to Snow County or come to Han Prefecture, but there has been no movement for such a long time, which is very strange..."

Demon Venerable Qu Lin's eyes shimmered with a faint light as he spoke softly, "Then there's the recent incident in Han Prefecture. Not long ago, the Wumeng Tribe seemed to have lost a troop. According to intelligence, it is suspected that Chen Mu has entered Han Prefecture and is active within its borders. The next target of the Seven Profound Sect may well be Han Prefecture."

"Chen Mu..."

Ink Jade Demon Venerable Kun Wu, upon hearing Demon Venerable Qu Lin's words, murmured the name, a trace of coldness flashing in his eyes.

In truth, he was not so enraged by the fact that Chen Mu had killed White Feather Demon Venerable, Thousand-face Demon Venerable, and others. Those three Demon Venerables were not his subordinates nor worked for him and did not have much to do with him.

However, among the few blood descendants he valued, Kun Jie, whom he had the highest hopes for, had gone missing years ago in the deserts of Sha Prefecture. Although the specifics were unclear, subsequent intelligence suggested that Kun Jie most likely died at the hands of Chen Mu!

On top of the deaths of White Feather Demon Venerable and others.

He naturally wanted to deal swiftly with the current Chen Mu, especially after seeing Chen Mu's extraordinary talent. Should Chen Mu one day truly cultivate the Qiankun Domain, even he was not sure he could kill him.

"Is this person still in Han Prefecture?"

Kun Wu asked slowly.

Qu Lin shook his head, replying, "We are not sure yet... Supreme Venerable, shall we contact the Wumeng Tribe and the Heavenly Corpse Sect? If the Seven Profound Sect truly intends to come to Han Prefecture, we should give them a resounding blow in return."

The main altar of the Sky Demon Sect was in Han Prefecture.

That was the biggest problem.
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Both the foreign Wumeng Tribe and the Heavenly Corpse Sect in Han Prefecture were only plundering resources and could evacuate immediately should any issues arise. However, the Sky Demon Sect could not do the same. With the main altar in the Secluded Silent Valley, they could not easily leave Han Prefecture.

If the Seven Profound Sect attacked Han Prefecture and the Wumeng Tribe and the Heavenly Corpse Sect kept retreating, it would be an unfavorable situation for the Sky Demon Sect. Rather than being passive, it might be better to try to form an alliance with the Wumeng Tribe and the Heavenly Corpse Sect to prepare in advance.

Although these three forces each had their own schemes, their cooperation was fundamental. The foreign race from outside of the borders and the Heavenly Corpse Sect would at most want the Sky Demon Sect and the Seven Profound Sect to wear each other down, but neither would want to see the Sky Demon Sect completely driven out of Han Prefecture.

After all,

If the Sky Demon Sect truly abandoned its main altar and retreated beyond the borders, leaving only the Heavenly Corpse Sect and the foreign race, they would not be able to withstand the combined forces of the Seven Profound Sect and the Ice Extreme Palace. Add to that the interference of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Hehuan Sect, and other sects, the final situation would not be ideal.