I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

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Chapter 386: Divination and Luring the Prey

One year later.

The Great Yu Kingdom had become a hotbed of demonic chaos, overrun by third-rank demons, and the demonic tide was on the verge of full-scale eruption.

The imperial family, sects, noble families, and major merchant guilds had all mobilized cultivators to exterminate the invading demons and harvest their valuable materials.

Recently, the Yunxia Sect faction received grim news, over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators had perished, two Fake Dan experts had fallen, and one Core Formation cultivator had been severely wounded.

Most casualties came from Yunxia Sect’s affiliated clans, vassal sects, and trading hubs.

And this excluded loose cultivators, otherwise, the casualty numbers would have doubled or tripled.

Some demons possessed bizarre innate abilities, excelling in stealth and ambush tactics, preying on isolated cultivators.

”The Central Region’s demon calamity is at least ten times worse than the beast tide of the Black Fog Mountain Range.”

Lan Changʼan silently rejoiced that he was no longer a lowly cultivator at the bottom ranks of the cultivation world.

If he were still a wandering Qi-Refining or Foundation Establishment loose cultivator, he would be powerless against this catastrophe, completely at the mercy of fate.

But now, as a Nascent Soul True Monarch, he stood at the pinnacle of the cultivation hierarchy.

As long as he wasn’t reckless or greedy, such disasters posed no direct threat to his life.

Instead, he could leverage sect resources to command high-ranking cultivators to hunt demons on his behalf to gather precious materials.

With a single thought, he could protect or doom countless cultivators.

For instance, Hu Ang, despite all his hidden schemes, was ultimately trapped within Lan Changʼan’s web.

...

”Ziyan, while the demonic chaos is a catastrophe, it is also an opportunity for growth.”

One day, while discussing the rising casualties, Lan Changʼan suggested to Jiang Ziyan:

”The younger Core Formation cultivators of our sect lack real battle experience, especially those with the potential to reach Nascent Soul. We Nascent Soul cultivators are not immortal. One day, our lifespans will run out. The sect must ensure there is a new generation to take our place.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ziyan fell into deep thought.

She recalled how Immortal Yunqing had failed to form his Nascent Soul precisely due to lack of experience in life-or-death combat.

She wondered, was Dalong subtly hinting that he planned to return to his homeland in the future? That the sect needed to nurture a new Nascent Soul cultivator quickly?

After a moment, she nodded in agreement.

”You’re right. The Nascent Soul seeds within our sect must contribute to the war effort. They cannot simply sit idly in the sect and reap benefits without effort.”

In fact, Jiang Ziyan had considerations in this regard, such as having late stage Core Formation cultivators bring Nascent Soul seeds to eliminate demons, so that they could take care of each other while gaining experience.

A few days later, under Jiang Ziyan’s arrangement, young Core Formation elites such as Jiang Haoyuan and Hu Ang were dispatched to hunt demons within Yunxia Sect’s territories.

Among them, Jiang Haoyuan was an Immortal Golden Dan cultivator, a descendant of Purple Mist Fairy’s elder brother. Due to his earth spiritual roots, Jiang Ziyan had nurtured him from a young age, providing him with high-tier cultivation resources.

According to Lan Changʼan’s knowledge, Jiang Haoyuan’s survival arsenal included a superior-grade third-rank puppet, several fourth-rank escape and defensive talismans, and protective treasures of significant value.

In contrast, Hu Ang, despite being a direct disciple and a Half-Step Golden Dan cultivator, his treatment was much worse.

”Not bad. Hunting demons yields valuable materials… and in the chaos, killing and looting treasures also becomes much easier…”

Hu Ang felt an exhilarating sense of freedom as he stepped beyond the sect’s walls.

For years, he had been forced to tread carefully under the watchful gaze of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, fearful that any misstep would expose him.

He had analyzed Jiang Ziyan’s decision and found it logical.

After all, Immortal Yunqing, who had once been True Monarch Yunlan’s most promising disciple, had failed his Nascent Soul tribulation due to insufficient battle experience.

With such a precedent, Purple Mist Fairy’s decision was completely justifiable.

Furthermore, Jiang Ziyan wouldn’t want outsiders to learn of her private conversation with Xiang Dalong, that he and Lord Earthrock might leave in the future.

Thus, Hu Ang remained oblivious to Lan Changʼan’s subtle manipulations behind the scenes.

...

Six months later.

By now, the entire Central Region was engulfed in demonic chaos.

The closer cultivation domain suffered the worst devastation.

Within the Great Yu Kingdom, top third-rank and even quasi-fourth-rank demons had emerged.

Fortunately, the demons were disorganized, each acting independently.

Some had escaped from the forbidden zone in the Central Region, while others were ancient demons reawakening across various regions.

Since they were corrupted demons, their intelligence was far lower than same-rank demon beasts, leading to constant infighting.

”According to intelligence and divination, Jing Wufeng has drawn the attention of Netherwater True Monarch and other Nascent Soul powerhouses. He’s currently far away in the Central Region’s forbidden zone.”

”Meanwhile, the chaos across the Great Yu Kingdom presents a golden opportunity.”

Inside his cultivation cave at Yunlan Peak, Lan Changʼan sat surrounded by various divination artifacts, conducting intricate calculations to confirm a critical piece of information.

After advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, his lifespan greatly increased, and Lan Changʼan spared no expense in improving his divination skills.

Upon leaving seclusion, he had been continuously refining his divination skills, frequently sacrificing lifespan to enhance his accuracy.

To break through to fourth-rank divination grandmaster, he was willing to sacrifice over a century of lifespan.

For an ordinary Nascent Soul old monster, that would be one-tenth of their total lifespan, a staggering price.

And that was merely the cost of attempting a fourth-rank breakthrough.

Even reaching peak third-rank divination required immense dedication, time, and talent.

Fortunately, Lan Changʼan had inherited the third-rank divination mastery of the fourth life Master Lihuo.

This greatly reduced the difficulty of advancing further.

Becoming a fourth-rank divination grandmaster was a necessary step for Lan Changʼan to return to the Great Qing.

Only then would he have the certainty to deal with True Monarch Cyanwood and obtain the final portions of the Evergreen Technique.

...

Several months later.

While in secluded cultivation, Lan Changʼan suddenly sensed a disturbance and turned his gaze toward the northwest region of the Great Yu Kingdom.

A towering wave of demonic energy surged from that direction.

Even though it was far away, the Nascent Soul True Monarchs within the kingdom, along with various detection formations, all registered the disturbance.

”Not within the sect’s sphere of influence.”

Purple Mist Fairy emerged from her cave abode and exchanged a few words with Lan Changʼan.

Without hesitation, Lan Changʼan simply stated,

”I’ll check it out first!”

Then, without waiting, he soared into the sky, bringing Lord Earthrock with him, rushing toward the source of the fourth-rank demonic beast’s emergence.

”Dalong, wait...”

Purple Mist Fairy, caught off guard, let out a soft reprimand, but it was too late.

She hadn’t expected Xiang Dalong to act so recklessly, setting out without any careful planning.

...

Half a day later, Lan Changʼan arrived at the heartlands of the Great Yu Kingdom, an area ruled by four great families.

However, by the time he reached the battlefield, the fourth-rank demonic beast had already been slain.

The Nascent Soul cultivators of the imperial family had joined forces to eliminate the creature, leaving not even a single strand of fur behind.

”True Monarch Xiang, you’re a bit late.”

A nearby cultivator, Tianyuan Sword Monarch, Yu Yuanjin, smiled and greeted Lan Changʼan.

Lan Changʼan chuckled.

”I’m a newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator. I’ve never seen a fourth-rank demon before, so I came to broaden my horizons.”

He played it off casually.

The three Nascent Soul cultivators present, including Yu Yuanjin, cast a glance at Lord Earthrock, whose body exuded powerful earth-fiend demonic energy.

Clearly, none of them believed a word of Lan Changʼan’s excuse.

”True Monarch Xiang, how about visiting the Imperial City for a drink?”

”I appreciate the offer, but with the demon calamity still raging, I cannot leave the sect for too long.”

With that, Lan Changʼan quickly turned back, making his way back to Yunxia Sect alongside Lord Earthrock.

As they watched him leave, the three Nascent Soul cultivators exchanged glances.

”Isn’t Xiang Dalong overstepping his bounds?”

”Hmm, he’s just helping out. As a fellow cultivator in the Great Yu Kingdom, assisting in the fight against the demonic calamity isn’t out of place.”

”But why is True Monarch Evergreen, as a newly promoted Nascent Soul cultivator, so eager to hunt fourth-rank demonic beasts?”

”Could it be—”

Thinking of Xiang Dalongʼs identity as a puppet master, the Nascent Soul cultivators present vaguely made some guesses.

...

In the Yunxia Sect, Lan Changʼan returned with disappointment.

As soon as he arrived, Jiang Ziyan confronted him, a hint of annoyance in her gaze.

”Dalong, are you specifically hunting fourth-rank demonic beasts to gather materials for puppet refining?”

Lan Changʼan didn’t bother to hide it.

”Yes. Advancing to a fourth-rank puppet grandmaster requires a large quantity of materials. Fourth-rank demonic beasts provide excellent materials.”

Hearing this, Purple Mist Fairy sighed, shaking her head.

”You… Next time, at least inform me before rushing off like that! You had me worried.”

Despite her scolding, her expression softened. She took his hand and led him back to Zixia Peak’s cave abode.

After spending some intimate time together, Jiang Ziyan’s stunning face still carried a hint of post-bliss charm.

She spoke in a gentle tone,

”Dalong, what are your chances of succeeding in advancing to a fourth-rank puppet master?”

Lan Changʼan furrowed his brows.

”Without two failures, Iʼm afraid itʼs difficult to succeed.”

He explained,

”However, as long as I have enough materials, even if I fail, there’s a 40–50% chance that the failed attempt will still produce a quasi-fourth-rank puppet.”

Jiang Ziyan’s eyes gleamed with interest.

Even if Lan Changʼan failed, he would still be creating valuable assets.

A quasi-fourth-rank puppet would be an immensely powerful addition to the sect’s forces.

After a brief pause, she said,

”Our sect has some material reserves. During this demon calamity, I can also use my authority to secretly acquire more resources through the sect’s network.”

”Good. But we must keep this confidential. If our enemies learn of my ambitions, they will try to obstruct us.”

...

Another two months passed, and Lan Changʼan turned 393 years old.

Within Yunxia Sect’s domain, a quasi-fourth-rank demonic beast had emerged.

It was a massive dark-red twin-headed demon wolf, standing several zhang tall, resembling a moving mountain.

This creature had already wiped out an entire cultivation family and razed a market town to the ground.

The aura of cultivators and the presence of spiritual veins naturally attracted such powerful demonic beasts.

Without delay, Lan Changʼan and Lord Earthrock rushed to confront the monster.

Lord Earthrock transformed into its true form, revealing a colossal Earthfiend Rat King.

A violent storm of dark sand erupted around it, sweeping across the battlefield.

The twin-headed demon wolf was immediately suppressed, unable to fight back.

Lan Changʼan stepped in, wielding his Dragonwood Staff, which rapidly expanded into a colossal purple-green divine wood dozens of zhang in length.

The staff’s surface shimmered with blood-red dragon markings, and at its head, a gigantic white-bone dragon skull emerged, emitting an eerie soul-shaking dragon’s roar.

Boom! Crash!

Within moments, the twin-headed demon wolf collapsed lifelessly, its demonic essence completely shattered.

Another quasi-fourth-rank demon had fallen to Lan Changʼan and Lord Earthrock.

Without wasting time, Lord Earthrock swiftly harvested the demon’s corpse, meticulously extracting materials, even collecting its demonic blood.

Having once absorbed innate turbid qi, Lord Earthrock’s demonic power contained the essence of Earthfiend energy.

For Lord Earthrock, consuming demonic blood and beast cores served as valuable nourishment for its cultivation.

For human cultivators or ordinary demonic beasts, absorbing such demonic essence would bring severe consequences.

Instead, they used these materials to craft magical treasures, flying vessels, and puppets.

Lan Changʼan withdrew his staff, feeling increasingly attuned to it.

In direct combat, its destructive power was terrifying.

The only downside was its high energy consumption, but thanks to Evergreen Technique’s immense endurance, he could sustain prolonged battles without issue.

...

Great Snake Mountain, Abyssal Forbidden Land.

”Based on various signs and the intelligence delivered by the Yunxia Sectʼs insider, Xiang Dalong is likely gathering materials for a fourth-rank puppet, attempting to break through to the rank of a puppet master.”

”This True Monarch Evergreen has no small ambitions. The arrival of the demonic calamity has instead presented him with an opportunity.”

True Monarch Red Serpent and True Monarch Red Refinement sat before a poisonous pool, their expressions heavy with concern.

Lan Changʼanʼs active hunting of high-level demonic beasts naturally drew the attention of Great Snake Mountain.

The Yunxia Sect’s secret collection of materials starting at quasi-fourth-rank demonic beasts had not escaped the eyes of Great Snake Mountain’s insider.

Such news did not sit well with Great Snake Mountain.

Generally, the combat strength of a fourth-rank puppet was slightly weaker than that of a Nascent Soul cultivator of the same level; but since puppets had no life, poisons of Great Snake Mountain canʼt restrain them.

For instance, the newly advanced True Monarch Red Refinement, who practiced poison arts, relied heavily on the unparalleled potency of fourth-rank deadly toxins as his trump card.

A single fourth-rank puppet would be more than enough to counterbalance a poison-refining master.

”We absolutely cannot allow the Yunxia Sect to gain control of a fourth-rank puppet and successfully produce a fourth-rank puppet master. Otherwise, Great Snake Mountain will inevitably face retaliation!”

The two True Monarchs quickly reached a consensus: at the very least, they could not let Xiang Dalong easily acquire the materials for a fourth-rank demonic beast.

Splash!

From the pool covered in toxic mist emerged a red-faced man with an oval-shaped head. His skin was covered in dense, fine scales, and his blood-red mouth revealed venomous fangs and a flicking snake tongue.

The Scarlet Abyss Serpent King appeared, his ghostly cold pupils gleaming:

”This demonic calamity is coming on fiercely. Sooner or later, fourth-rank demonic beasts will appear within the territories of the two great sects. At that time, while Xiang Dalongʼs favorite pet hunts the demonic beasts, we can seize the opportunity and reap the benefits as bystanders. If fortune favors us, we might even force Xiang Dalong’s Nascent Soul to flee and devour Lord Earthrock!”

The Scarlet Abyss Serpent King’s plan was filled with murderous intent, greed evident in his expression.

It had been stuck at the peak of the early fourth rank for far too long. If it could devour the Rat King with Earthfiend Qi, it would be a rare opportunity.

True Monarch Red Refinement agreed: ”I believe the imperial family also doesn’t wish to see the Yunxia Sect produce a fourth-rank puppet master and continue to grow in strength. Amid the chaos of the demonic calamity, our schemes to disrupt them will likely be ignored by the imperial family.”

”That may be true, but the Yunxia Sect has been tricked by us before. They wonʼt be unprepared. What if this is a trap?”

True Monarch Red Serpent was cautious, feeling that the plan to act as the ”oriole behind the mantis” would not be so easy to execute.

Both sides had three Nascent Soul cultivators, and neither held a distinct advantage.

True Monarch Purple Mist and Lord Earthrock were manageable, but Xiang Dalongʼs puppet army formation could even temporarily hold off one Nascent Soul True Monarch.

True Monarch Red Serpent, with some expertise in divination, had mid-third-rank skills. He made a brief calculation, but the omens were vague, with no clear direction, unsurprising given the involvement of multiple Nascent Soul True Monarchs.

”True Monarch Netherwater and even Demonic Blade Nangong Xiu are participating in the siege of True Monarch Jing Tian. With our current manpower, making Xiang Dalong pay a price or devouring Lord Earthrock is unrealistic for now.”

True Monarch Red Serpent shook his head slightly, unwilling to adopt an overly aggressive plan.

Only with a mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivator anchoring the effort could he feel somewhat confident.

”In that case... we’ll keep a close eye on Xiang Dalong’s movements, continuously monitor traces of fourth-rank demonic beasts nearby, and intervene as soon as Xiang Dalong hunts one. We’ll maintain pressure to ensure he doesn’t succeed. If multiple cultivators join forces to eliminate the beast, his share of the spoils will be minimal.”

True Monarch Red Serpent’s plan was more conservative, lowering expectations.

He did not covet the fourth-rank Rat King.

Nor did he hope to force Xiang Dalong’s Nascent Soul out of his body to severely damage his foundation.

In his view, a sheathed blade holds greater deterrence.

Simply maintaining pressure could ruin Xiang Dalong’s plans.

Even an ambush while acting as the oriole behind carries certain risks and might fall into a trap.

”Ridiculous! Last time, I followed your plan and had Red Refinement stay behind at the sect, only to suffer a dark loss and gain nothing.”

The Scarlet Abyss Serpent King glared angrily, openly rebuking him on the spot.

Mentioning the previous ambush plan, True Monarch Red Serpent’s expression darkened. The Supreme Serpent King had once criticized him for being too conservative, urging a full-on assault instead.

Of course, they hadn’t realized that Lan Changʼan’s fourth-rank puppet had also been monitoring Great Snake Mountain at the time.

”So be it. Let us trouble Pagoda Wanderer to come in secret and act when the opportunity presents itself.”

”But please keep in mind that unless the opportunity is truly exceptional, such as Lord Earthrock being injured in a duel with a fourth-rank demonic beast and with his demonic power greatly depleted, it’s not worth the risk.”

After a long discussion, True Monarch Red Serpent reluctantly compromised, granting the Scarlet Abyss Serpent King a small chance to act.

After all, the serpent king was the strongest and most senior among them.

True Monarch Red Refinement, no longer at the entry-level of the Nascent Soul stage, was also feeling some restlessness. As a poison-refining master, he was even more unwilling to see the rise of an opposing puppet master.

”I understand! I won’t act recklessly.”

The Scarlet Abyss Serpent King’s tone was irritable and impatient.

As a serpent king with a Heavenly Grade bloodline, its lifespan far exceeded others of the same stage, but it was also approaching the twilight of its life.

Its repeated failed attempts to devour Lord Earthrock over the years had left it frustrated.

If Xiang Dalong became a fourth-rank puppet master, he would no longer fear even mid-Nascent Soul cultivators. At that point, the serpent king would likely never have another chance.

...

Six months later, across the Great Yu Kingdom, more high-tier demonic beasts emerged.

Sects and clans below Nascent Soul level struggled to hold their ground.

Many spiritual vein settlements fell, and their inhabitants slaughtered.

Even among Core Formation cultivators, casualties continued to mount, though the overall losses remained manageable.

The Nascent Soul cultivators remained aloof, only stepping in when peak third-rank or fourth-rank demonic beasts appeared.

Recently, three fourth-rank demonic beasts had emerged simultaneously across the kingdom.

These were highly intelligent creatures, when faced with multiple Nascent Soul cultivators, they immediately fled, making them difficult to subdue.

One such fourth-rank demonic beast finally appeared near Yunxia Sect and Great Snake Mountain’s territory.

This was no ordinary creature, it was a demonic bird with incredibly high mobility.

It first passed through Great Snake Mountain’s outskirts, where it wiped out an entire vassal sect.

Then, it crossed into Yunxia Sect’s domain, drawing immediate attention.

Lan Changʼan and Lord Earthrock moved quickly, launching a relentless pursuit of the fourth-rank demonic bird.

However, this creature thrived in open skies and could easily retreat into deep mountain ranges or the vast Nine Fiery Heavens.

Even with two or three early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, capturing it was no simple feat.

Yet, they couldn’t simply ignore it, leaving such a high-mobility demon unchecked could cause irreparable damage.

In a wide river near Great Snake Mountain, a massive serpent with crimson-black scales lay coiled and motionless.

Its aura was concealed to perfection, its body covered by aquatic plants.

Any unfortunate fish that strayed too close silently succumbed to its venom, their bodies rotting into skeletal remains.

”Indeed, it’s a true fourth-rank demonic sparrow… and before it was corrupted, it carried an ancient bloodline.”

The Scarlet Abyss Serpent King turned its senses toward the Yunxia Sectʼs territorial boundary.

From the skies above that region came faint traces of the pressure from a fourth-rank demonic beast. Amid the rampant demonic energy, there was a devilish yet noble bloodline aura.

With its keen sense of smell, the Scarlet Abyss Serpent King had been proactively monitoring the movements of fourth-rank demonic beasts in the surrounding areas over the past six months, targeting the Yunxia Sect.

This fourth-rank demonic bird appeared for the first time in Great Snake Mountainʼs territory. A few disciples glimpsed the shadow of the demonic bird and heard the sound of its cry.

However, by the time Great Snake Mountain’s Nascent Soul cultivators arrived, the fourth-rank demonic bird had already vanished.

Now, the confirmed presence of the fourth-rank demon sparrow and its chaotic, superior bloodline aura gave the Scarlet Abyss Serpent King the vague illusion of facing a natural enemy.

Fortunately, the fourth-rank demon sparrow seemed to have only recently entered the fourth rank and posed no real threat to it.

”The fourth-rank demonic bird was hunted and fled to the borderlands between the two sects. That Xiang Dalong appears to have concerns and dared not pursue it further, instead driving it toward our sect.”

After observing for a moment, the Scarlet Abyss Serpent King sent a message to Great Snake Mountain.

Had it not been for the instructions from the two True Monarchs, it would have been unable to hold back from entering the Yunxia Sectʼs territory to investigate.

With the demonic calamity raging and the Yunxia Sect already entangled with the fourth-rank demonic beast, they had no spare energy to deal with other matters, creating an opportunity to infiltrate.

Unfortunately, True Monarch Red Serpent was too cautious, restricting the serpent king to the border of the two sectsʼ territories.

”Do not act rashly! Pagoda Wanderer is on his way and will arrive within our sectʼs territory in a few days.”

From Great Snake Mountain, True Monarch Red Serpent sent a reminder via voice transmission.

...

Half a day later.

Above the border region of the two sects, waves of Nascent Soul-level combat erupted, mixed with demonic and devilish energy.

Nascent Soul-level battles were tumultuous, with the fluctuations of spiritual energy detectable by Nascent Soul cultivators from great distances.

”Itʼs started!”

The Scarlet Abyss Serpent King was excited, this was a perfect opportunity to act as the oriole behind the mantis.

It quickly sent another message back.

True Monarch Red Serpent and True Monarch Red Refinement were already on their way.

The two True Monarchs instructed the serpent king to closely monitor the combat area but not to act prematurely.

Unable to restrain itself, the Scarlet Abyss Serpent King stealthily crept toward the borderland.

As it neared the battle zone, from about a thousand li away, faint bird cries came from above the clouds.

Demonic energy, devilish energy, three Nascent Soul-level combat auras... there was no mistake!

At this moment, it only needed to await reinforcements.

The Scarlet Abyss Serpent King’s heart surged with excitement, as though seeing its prey fall into its grasp.

Focusing its attention on the battle overhead, the Scarlet Abyss Serpent King suddenly sensed an unusual fluctuation in the surrounding spiritual energy.

In an instant, the environment twisted before its eyes.

What had been desolate mountains and wild forests transformed into an endless desert beneath a blazing sun.

”A fourth-rank illusionary formation!”

The Scarlet Abyss Serpent Kingʼs expression changed dramatically. By the time it reacted, it was already inside the formation.

Its connection to the outside world was severed, and it couldn’t send out messages.

Even so, the serpent king did not panic. A fourth-rank formation without a spiritual vein to sustain it, relying instead on spirit stones, wouldn’t hold it for long.

Pop! Pop! Pop!

From the desert sands surrounding the Scarlet Abyss Serpent King, sixteen mid-to-late third-rank puppets emerged. They formed powerful puppet force crystal threads that interwove to generate a Nascent Soul-level spiritual pressure.

”A mere fourth-rank illusionary formation and puppet army formation, and you think you can trap this king?”

The Scarlet Abyss Serpent King sneered.

Blood-red demonic energy surged and exploded with a roar, transforming into the serpent king’s terrifying thirty-zhang-long scarlet-scaled true form.

Whoosh! Boom!

Dark blood-red demonic light swept out, mixed with toxic mist. With a powerful swing of its tail, it struck the sixteen puppets within the array.

This explosive attack, comparable to a peak early-Nascent Soul ranged spell and amplified by its deadly poison, was exceedingly troublesome.

However—

As the toxic mist dispersed, the puppet array formed by the sixteen puppets shimmered with puppet force crystal light, dimming and brightening intermittently, but far from shattering as expected.

”These sixteen puppets are serving as the foundation for the formation and have merged with the fourth-rank illusionary array.”

The Scarlet Abyss Serpent Kingʼs expression was grim.

The earlier attack had been absorbed jointly by the puppet army formation and the illusionary array.

Both were immune to its poison.

Swish! Swish!

To the serpent kingʼs left and right appeared two figures, each exuding Nascent Soul-level spiritual pressure.

One was a giant rat demon enveloped in Earthfiend demonic wind, none other than the Lord Earthrock it had long desired to devour.

The other was a white-robed man, the newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator, True Monarch Evergreen, Xiang Dalong.

”Xiang Dalong, you dare ambush this king?”

The Scarlet Abyss Serpent King’s pupils turned icy as it grew furious, though it showed no fear.

It could sense the approaching of the ”serpent king spiritual contract” from Great Snake Mountain. The two Nascent Soul True Monarchs would arrive shortly.

With its heavenly-grade bloodline and the powerful physique of a fourth-rank demon king, it could easily hold off the three early-Nascent Soul combatants until reinforcements arrived.

Lord Earthrock, gazing at the serpent king’s massive body, trembled instinctively with bloodline fear, his expression betraying unease.

Noticing this, the Scarlet Abyss Serpent King felt disdain and sneered:

”Just with your master and pet duo, you won’t be able to harm this king in the short term.”

”Is that so?”

Lan Changʼan smiled faintly. Within the fourth-rank illusionary array, two more powerful auras appeared.

A bird cry rang out.

Above the serpent king’s head emerged a magnificent five-colored peacock holding a demonic core in its beak. The devilish aura talisman on its body shattered, releasing its real aura.

”That fourth-rank demonic sparrow...”

The Scarlet Abyss Serpent King realized what was happening, its heart sinking as a sense of foreboding arose.

Swish!

Behind the serpent king, a black-faced, fanged man in green armor appeared, radiating a peculiar aura, unlike that of a human Nascent Soul cultivator.

In an instant, the Scarlet Abyss Serpent King was simultaneously locked on by five Nascent Soul-level auras.

This didn’t even include the fourth-rank illusionary formation.

Under these circumstances, even a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator would panic, let alone an early fourth-rank demon king.

”You... all of you...”

The massive Scarlet Abyss Serpent King couldn’t help but shudder, its voice faltering.

Lan Changʼan summoned his Dragonwood Staff and struck down with it:

”About the Great Snake Mountainʼs ambush from back then—today, you owe me an explanation!”

Before his words had fully landed, five Nascent Soul-level attacks engulfed the Scarlet Abyss Serpent Kingʼs true form.

I was thinking of picking up a new novel, do let me know if you have any suggestions^^