Chapter 140: The Demons Emerge from Seclusion

As is well known, the Jiuxiao Academy is the place with the most secret realms and serves as a gathering ground for prodigies and powerful cultivators.

The secret realms of Jiuxiao Academy are also open to scattered practitioners; whether one can seize an opportunity depends entirely on their own abilities.

Moreover, most of Jiuxiao Academy’s secret realms are rule-based; by understanding and discerning the rules within, one can obtain whatever they desire.

Thus, the six real cultivators watching the spectacle were all deeply interested in the “Ten-Thousand-Yuan Secret Realm” rules mentioned by Sang Shaoxian.

In truth, ordinary real cultivators like them—often lingering on the outskirts of the Immortal Ruins with mediocre talents—face uncertainty about whether they will even reach the Nascent Soul stage in their lifetime.

They can only spend vast amounts of time gathering information or slowly accumulating resources to hope for a breakthrough before their lifespan ends.

Furthermore, in the extreme northern region of the Immortal Ruins, the spiritual energy concentration is lower compared to the central and southern areas. It is rare even to find a real cultivator at the Golden Core's peak, let alone a Nascent Soul True Lord.

For cultivators like them, in the early to middle Golden Core stage, their cultivation power is already the ceiling here.

They are neither disciples like Li Guanyuan with a Divine Spirit background, nor like Li Guanxuan with celestial fate, nor like Liu Xiaoxian, a Fox Clan cultivator who has formed the Purple-Gold Core...

If they miss this opportunity, they may never hope to reach Nascent Soul in this life.

Li Guanxuan saw Sang Shaoxian stirring the emotions of these six real cultivators and felt a heavy weight in his heart.

Liu Xiaoxian said expressionlessly, “Everyone says the rule-based secret realms of Jiuxiao Academy are not dangerous, but how many cultivators have died inside? I hope everyone keeps that in mind.

Moreover, traveling from here to the central Immortal Ruins and then to Jiuxiao Academy is fraught with difficulty. Golden Core cultivators attempting to pass through without proper connections or routes will perish halfway.

Everyone, although Chen Yinshan is a demon, I believe you all understand how he became one.

His only wish in life is to revive his wife and enjoy family happiness. Where would he find the heart to fight and compete?

Having successfully formed his core, he will only target Sang Shaoxian and that inhuman, ghostly remnant soul, not infringe upon your interests. I hope you can remain spectators and not interfere.”

At this, Liu Xiaoxian glanced at the six real cultivators and fixed his gaze on one of them.

“Real cultivator Gan Long, you came with Cao Feng to the Ten-Thousand Mountains to kill Sang Shaoxian. You should know best the relationship between Li Guanxuan and Cao Feng.

If today you stand with Sang Shaoxian, your friendship with Cao Feng might end here.”

Gan Long was a false core real cultivator; without a great opportunity, he had no hope of reaching Nascent Soul.

Now that he knew of Jiuxiao Academy’s rule-based secret realm, if he could obtain an unclaimed Nascent Soul core to refine and use, he could carve a new path to become a Nascent Soul True Lord!

Gan Long struggled internally.

His friendship with Cao Feng was deep; otherwise, he wouldn’t have come to the Ten-Thousand Mountains in pursuit of Sang Shaoxian.

But now...

Before the temptation of breaking through to Nascent Soul, his heart wavered.

“The Nascent Soul cores in the Ten-Thousand-Yuan Secret Realm may not allow you to reach Divine Spirit, but reaching late Nascent Soul is feasible, though no further body-snatching is possible,” Sang Shaoxian sneered.

“False core cultivators can only extend their lifespan by a hundred years, but Nascent Soul True Lords can live up to three thousand years. Think carefully, with so many years added to your life and enhanced strength, what could you not achieve?

As cultivators, our pursuit is nothing but ‘immortality.’ Although we may not attain eternal life in this lifetime, living for a few thousand years is already a dream fulfilled, isn’t it?”

Hearing this, Li Guanxuan sighed deeply.

He knew clearly what choices these six real cultivators would make.

Anyone would choose to become a Nascent Soul True Lord and live for three thousand years.

Moreover, Li Guanxuan could clearly sense the emotions of the six cultivators rising and intensifying—signs that they were about to take action.

Sang Shaoxian looked toward Tu Shan Yuzhi, narrowing his eyes.

“The fox clan of your lineage also seeks Nascent Soul. With your mid-Golden Core cultivation, how long before you reach True Lord?

Why not join forces with me, each taking what you need? I will surely help you form your Nascent Soul in the future. How does that sound?”

Tu Shan Yuqing’s expression changed abruptly, and she shouted, “Mother, you absolutely must not agree!”

The Nascent Soul cores in the Ten-Thousand-Yuan Secret Realm were the remnants left by others’ demise, forming the rule-based realm.

Even if absorbed and refined, they could at best allow only late Nascent Soul cultivation, never perfection.

Her fox clan had no need for such a breakthrough method!

“Fine, I agree,” Tu Shan Yuzhi smiled sweetly.

Sang Shaoxian stared at Tu Shan Yuzhi for a while and sighed, “It seems you’re courting death.”

Tu Shan Yuzhi was mocking and sarcastic, not truly agreeing to betray.

She glanced at the six real cultivators and said with a smile, “Everyone, Liu Xiaoxian has formed the Purple-Gold Core and is hopeful of reaching Divine Spirit in this life. The Wàn Xiàng Pavilion headquarters is giving her focused training.

As for Li Guanxuan, I believe you all know him well. He is Li Guanyuan’s younger brother, and even his Golden Core resources were prepared by Li Guanyuan. His future as a Golden Core cultivator is assured…

If he truly dies here in the Ten-Thousand Mountains today, guess what? Do you think Li Guanyuan would bring a few sword-immortal Nascent Soul True Lords from the Li family to seek revenge?

The best course is to stand aside and watch. This matter involves too much. If something goes wrong, forget about passing through Jiuxiao Academy—survival itself might be at stake.”

Pausing, Tu Shan Yuzhi cast a wary glance toward the depths of the Ten-Thousand Mountains and explained:

“Although we have already entered more than a thousand miles into the Ten-Thousand Mountains, we are still on the periphery, not even reaching the depths.

I was fortunate enough to visit once. There, every mountain, every lake, every tree is filled with primal power—danger at every step, peril at every turn. A slight misstep means death and annihilation.

The periphery looks like ordinary mountains, not the true Ten-Thousand Mountains.

Unless you can permanently hide deep within, staying at the edges means Li Guanyuan will still find you!

Everyone... think carefully before you make a move.”

Tu Shan Yuzhi’s words plunged the six real cultivators into deep thought.

Sang Shaoxian, once confident, now darkened.

“Silence!” he barked.

“Silence? I’m only trying to warn them not to be manipulated like Qi cultivators and rush in to die,” Tu Shan Yuzhi said with a faint smile.

“Reaching Golden Core is not easy. Even forming a false core and living a hundred more years is valuable. Don’t listen to those who paint empty dreams.

Look at what happened to Sang Shaoxian’s original body after giving up control—it’s in ruins.

True Lords care nothing for face or old codes. Cultivators who spend centuries or millennia reaching that realm cast aside all moral precepts. Their ultimate goal is Divine Spirit, Refining Void, and Ascension!

Moreover, even if he reveals the secret of the rules, who among you can reach Jiuxiao Academy? The teleportation array costs a fortune, and without connections, no cultivator can even get a ticket to the secret realm, let alone unravel and form a Nascent Soul.

Take my advice: cultivate well, accumulate resources, and step by step, you will form Nascent Soul by your own strength. Why rely on another’s Nascent Soul to enter the True Lord realm?”

Li Guanxuan was dumbfounded—this lady’s eloquence was astounding!

After such words, at least some of the six real cultivators would waver.

Liu Xiaoxian looked at Tu Shan Yuzhi in surprise but soon felt at ease.

The fox clan excelled at manipulating hearts. Once one understands another’s inner thoughts, they can strike with precise remedies.

“Rumble...” At this moment, the earth trembled, and a terrifying demonic aura surged.

“Not good! Chen Yinshan is about to succeed in forming his core!” Sang Shaoxian’s face changed drastically as he shouted.

“We cultivators should see the wondrous scenery ourselves. After so many years of effort, are you willing to be stuck at Golden Core?” he roared.

Then Sang Shaoxian fiercely charged at Liu Xiaoxian.

No matter what, he had to seize Liu Xiaoxian’s body before Chen Yinshan completed forming his core; otherwise, this body would soon collapse.

A peak Foundation Establishment body could not withstand the power of Golden Core magic and a Nascent Soul-level consciousness for long.

As Sang Shaoxian attacked, three false core real cultivators and two Golden Core real cultivators—one early, one mid-stage—also moved.

Gan Long participated as well.

To him, a false core offered no hope for Nascent Soul. Even a slight chance at forming a core was worth fighting for.

The last mid-stage Golden Core real cultivator silently observed from the sidelines without intervening.

Li Guanxuan did not hesitate to assist Liu Xiaoxian.

No matter what, he could not allow that remnant Nascent Soul to succeed!

Spells, talismans, and magical artifacts erupted.

Sword shadows flashed across the sky.

A great cauldron descended with crushing force.

Flames, storms, and frost unleashed chaos; many great cultivators had to retreat, unwilling to approach.

Liu Xiaoxian endured the assault of a Nascent Soul-level consciousness; her face was pale, her soul trembling as if about to dissipate and be replaced.

Sang Shaoxian barely glanced at Li Guanxuan, but his body was already cracking, blood seeping from the fractures, as his consciousness fiercely pressed against Liu Xiaoxian.

“I will detonate the Purple-Gold Core the moment I can’t hold on!” Liu Xiaoxian gritted her teeth and growled.

She would never let the remnant Nascent Soul succeed in body-snatching.

If she truly could not hold on, she would explode the Purple-Gold Core—no one would get off clean.

“Hold on!” Li Guanxuan shouted, “Old Chen, you damn well come out now!”

The fox clan’s false core real cultivator also came to help.

But it was useless!

Three false core real cultivators, one early Golden Core, one mid Golden Core, and now Sang Shaoxian, who could unleash late Golden Core power—they simply could not hold!

If this continued, Tu Shan Yuzhi would surely flee with Tu Shan Yuqing and never aid again.

Liu Xiaoxian’s dantian hummed; her voluptuous body wavered.

“Rumble...” The heavens trembled; the swirling spiritual energy above suddenly contracted into a dazzling golden light, breaking through the seals left by the Nascent Soul demon lord and crashing underground!

“Master, Old Chen succeeded!” Li Guanxuan roared. “Don’t detonate the Purple-Gold Core!”

Just as the mid-stage Golden Core real cultivator tried to suppress Liu Xiaoxian, a terrifying demonic aura suddenly appeared before him.

The man was rugged and fierce, like a demon clawing out from hell, exuding deadly killing intent and demonic energy, wielding a blood-drinking great blade.

“Brother, you’ve worked hard. I’ll take it from here.”

This was Chen Yinshan. He grinned at Li Guanxuan and swung his blade fiercely against the mid-stage Golden Core cultivator, leaving no mercy.

The cultivator’s body flew backward, smashing hard against the ground, ribs shattered, Golden Core trembling uncontrollably.

Chen Yinshan then fixed his cold gaze on Sang Shaoxian and sneered, “You inhuman dog, today I will slay you!”

Sang Shaoxian’s eyes widened in rage; the remnant Nascent Soul let out a resentful roar.

“You just formed your Golden Core and dare to burn your essence to fight us?!” The attacking real cultivator was shocked.

Chen Yinshan was reckless! Just emerging, his realm unstable, yet he burned his essence to boost power!

“I only have this one brother. If he dies here in the Ten-Thousand Mountains, I won’t have the face to see him again. Essence burning is nothing. If I can’t kill you all today, I’ll even burn my life away!” Chen Yinshan’s blades struck with unstoppable force, each strike at peak power.

Tu Shan Yuzhi’s eyes gleamed.

Chen Yinshan’s fearless style had completely turned the tide!

Now, they only needed to stall the rest and let Chen Yinshan finish the exhausted Sang Shaoxian!

“Not good, someone’s trying to flee!” Tu Shan Yuqing’s face changed when she saw the mid-stage Golden Core cultivator who had been lying on the ground vanish.

Li Guanxuan supported Liu Xiaoxian, eyes coldly fixed on that direction but said nothing.

If the mid-stage Golden Core cultivator was determined to run, there was nothing he could do.

“Ah!”

Sang Shaoxian’s body continued to collapse, his essence nearly depleted; his wounds increased, bones shattered more and more.

“Xing, you won’t die peacefully!” It was Sang Shaoxian’s original voice, hurriedly saying, “Li Guanxuan, spare my life! I have a very important secret about dual cultivation. I’m willing to trade it for my life!”

Li Guanxuan’s expression remained cold as he transmitted to Chen Yinshan, “Finish him quickly. Don’t waste time on talk.”

Chen Yinshan laughed heartily; the chilling demonic aura of his great blade exploded as it struck Sang Shaoxian’s head!

“Huan... Huan, Xi, Shan...” Sang Shaoxian’s eyes widened; he intended to reveal the secret of the Velvet Flower Spirit Tree but the blade’s energy erupted fully at that moment.

Combined with the backlash accumulating in his body, his entire form exploded violently!

The shattered demon core floated midair.

The remnant Nascent Soul sensed the dire situation and immediately fled toward Wen Rongxin’s location.

Now, it could only possess Li Guanxuan’s wife to gain bargaining power!

“Not good,” Chen Yinshan’s face changed as he intended to chase and kill the remnant soul, but Li Guanxuan said coldly, “Ignore it. Kill all the Golden Core cultivators here, leave none alive!”

(The chapter ends)