Becoming an Immortal and Ancestor, Starting from the Clan-protecting Divine Beast

56: Chapter 56 Demon Extermination TournamentAnother seven days passed.

Yuan Feng, who was cultivating in seclusion at the Luoyun Mountain Back Mountain Cliff, opened his eyes. He received a message from Chen Fufeng—something major had happened!

A moment later, Yuan Feng arrived at the Discussion Hall. Instead of showing his true form, he shrunk his body and landed on Chen Fufeng’s shoulder.

If he were to reveal his true form—a demonic body over five zhang tall, coupled with the imposing presence of a Foundation Establishment Great Demon—even a Peak Qi Refining Cultivator would feel a chill shoot straight to their crown; the pressure would be too overwhelming.

”Brother Yuan, we just received news that Liquan Town, a thousand miles away, has fallen. It was occupied by the statues guarding the ancient ruin. Dozens of Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators who went to explore have died, and even Foundation Establishment Peak-level Great Cultivators have perished.”

Chen Fufeng knew the words carried astonishing information, causing Yuan Feng great surprise and alarm.

Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators are not cheap goods found everywhere; there are only a handful in any given town. In a weak town like Liquan Town, the number of Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators couldn’t even fill one hand.

However, upon second thought, this was normal. After all, it was an ancient ruin left behind by a major Sect claiming the title of Heavenly Sect, so it was impossible for it to lack protective measures.

For those Great Immortal Dao Experts, the methods they left behind could remain effective even after thousands or tens of thousands of years, leaving low-Realm Cultivators with no means of resistance.

”I saw some of those obsidian statues in the Underground Space. At the time, I didn’t realize these statues could revive; I just thought they looked strange. Thankfully, I didn’t get the idea to bring any statues back, or the trouble would be immense.”

Yuan Feng’s Divine Sense thoughts churned. Fortunately, he wasn’t greedy and hadn’t rashly involved himself in the ruin.

Just then, a streak of light flew in from outside Luoyun Mountain, revealing a young figure.

”Liu Kerui of the Jieyang Sect has come to pay respects. Is the Chen Family Head present? I am here by the order of Sect Master Immortal Master to request an audience; I have important matters to discuss.”

The voice of this Jieyang Sect Cultivator spread throughout Luoyun Mountain. It was neither arrogant nor overly submissive, describable only as ’plain and calm.’

Chen Fufeng, inside the Discussion Hall, was somewhat apprehensive. He glanced at Yuan Feng on his shoulder, his heart settling slightly, then walked out of the hall door and went down the mountain.

He opened a corner of the Mountain-Protecting Formation and saw a young Cultivator waiting outside, wearing a dark cyan Daoist robe with a Crimson Sun emblem on his chest.

He looked very young, about twenty years old, with a body as straight as a pine tree. He possessed the cultivation of the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, and a hint of sharpness in his brows brought a strong sense of threat to Chen Fufeng.

Although they were both at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, he might be defeated within a few rounds.

”I am Liu Kerui of the Jieyang Sect. Greetings, Family Head Chen.” Liu Kerui did not display the superiority of a major Sect Disciple, but instead cupped his hands in greeting.

Afterward, he glanced at Yuan Feng sitting on Chen Fufeng’s shoulder. His body tensed, every cell screaming, as the crisis of death enveloped his entire being.

”This must be Old Ancestor Douzhan. Kerui greets Old Ancestor Douzhan, and wishes Old Ancestor Douzhan an early achievement of the Purple Mansion Realm, to watch the rise and fall of the commandery’s affairs with a smile.”

The reason he was so polite to Chen Fufeng was entirely out of Face for Yuan Feng, the Foundation Establishment Great Demon.

Before leaving, the elders in his Sect had instructed him to pay extra attention to the Chen Family, especially when facing Yuan Feng, and not to be arrogant just because he was a Disciple of the Jieyang Sect.

If Yuan Feng were to strike him down, the Jieyang Sect would not avenge him, because the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion stood behind the Chen Family, guarded by a Great True Person.

Yuan Feng nodded slightly. Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators possess their own dignity; even if a Qi Refining Disciple from a Golden Core Upper Sect came, his attitude would be the same.

Chen Fufeng returned the greeting: ”Greetings, Fellow Daoist Liu.”

He made a gesture of invitation and stepped aside: ”Please come inside for a chat, so my Chen Family can offer some hospitality.”

”No need.” Liu Kerui waved his hand, a hint of apology on his Face. ”Family Head Chen may not know, but I still have to travel to several towns to notify the Major Foundation Establishment Families, so I cannot stay long.”

Hearing this, Chen Fufeng did not insist, but instead asked, ”May I ask, Fellow Daoist Liu, what important matter brings you here from so far away?”

”Presumably, Family Head Chen already knows what happened in Liquan Town.” Liu Kerui didn’t beat around the bush and directly stated his purpose:

”But Family Head Chen probably doesn’t know that among those statues, there are some at the Purple Mansion level, but they haven’t awakened yet because they haven’t absorbed enough blood.”

”If those Purple Mansion statues successfully revive, it will absolutely be the greatest disaster Liyuan Commandery has ever seen, threatening its annihilation.”

”Therefore, Kerui came down the mountain this time to notify all the Major Foundation Establishment Families, to invite their Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators to go to the Jieyang Sect in Liyuan Commandery City to attend the Demon Slaying Assembly, jointly organized by my Jieyang Sect and the Liyuan Commandery Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, with the support of Purple Mansion Factions from several surrounding commanderies.”

Chen Fufeng was silent for a moment, then hesitated: ”Fellow Daoist Liu, why don’t your esteemed Sect and the Purple Mansion True Persons from the other Families directly move to obliterate those statues and nip the danger in the bud?”

This was where he was confused. Why weren’t the Purple Mansion True Persons taking action, but instead asking people from their Foundation Establishment Families to go?

Is it that they cannot, or that they do not want to?

”I’m not sure about that.” Liu Kerui shook his head, then lowered his voice: ”I suspect it’s due to that ruin. If a Purple Mansion True Person takes action, they might directly activate the protective measures within the Heavenly Sect ruin, putting even a True Person at risk of perishing.”

”And now, within Xuan Prefecture, the Xuan Yuan Sect—the only one possessing a Golden Core True Monarch—has Sealed its mountain. They cannot exert any effort. Even if they hadn’t sealed the mountain, it wouldn’t matter, as that True Monarch [Slaying Halberd] was defeated and fell from the heavens. The blood that flowed out even changed the appearance of a region, turning it into a battlefield permeated with geng metal qi.”

”Tsk tsk, now another Heavenly Sect ancient ruin has appeared, and just the periphery has unleashed Purple Mansion level power. Xuan Prefecture is heading for major chaos!”

After speaking, this Jieyang Sect Cultivator did not intend to say more. He handed an Invitation Card to Chen Fufeng, bid farewell, and hurriedly departed.

Only Yuan Feng and Chen Fufeng remained, looking at each other, their thoughts somewhat muddled.

The Xuan Yuan Sect sealing its mountain and True Monarch [Slaying Halberd] being defeated was actually good news for them.

It was not difficult to see from Liu Kerui’s words that the Jieyang Sect seemed to be showing goodwill toward the Chen Family, though the exact situation was unclear.

”Brother Yuan, what do you think?” Chen Fufeng looked over.

Yuan Feng stroked his chin, deep in thought: ”With the Xuan Yuan Sect sealing its mountain, the strongest person within Xuan Prefecture is the Great True Person from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. With them present, no major chaos should arise.”

”After all, it is the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, backed by True Monarch [Pivot Profound]. Furthermore, since the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion plans to establish a Sect in Liyuan Commandery, they cannot afford to watch Liyuan Commandery descend into chaos. This Heavenly Sect ruin shouldn’t cause too much trouble.”

As he spoke, he let out a faint sigh: ”Old Chen, the Chen Family is just starting out. When we go to the Demon Slaying Assembly this time, don’t take it too seriously; just treat it as a formality.”

He definitely had to go. The Demon Slaying Assembly was primarily inviting Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators like them.

As for the purpose, it was hard to say. It might be to use them as Cannon Fodder. In any case, it wasn’t good news, so staying vigilant was the right move.

The man and the ape talked for a long time but came to no conclusion.

How could their Foundation Establishment Families possibly guess the schemes of Purple Mansion True Persons? They could only follow the True Persons’ intentions.

Meanwhile, Chen Zhuyun and Ruan Zhirou, who were exploring the Jade Blood Heavenly Sect ruin, made a new discovery.

Guided by Ruan Zhirou, Chen Zhuyun walked along the right-hand staircase for a full two and a half hours before finally descending the Blood Pattern Altar.

Oil Lamps, emitting bright yellow light and diffusing a refreshing, heart-soothing fragrance, lit up. A road appeared ahead, stretching out of sight, leading to an unknown destination.

”What do you say, Miss Zhirou?” Chen Zhuyun looked down at the beauty in his arms.

The latter slightly furrowed her willow-leaf eyebrows, then said softly, ”When the cart reaches the mountain, there will surely be a road. Let’s follow this path all the way to the end.”

Chen Zhuyun said nothing more. Holding Ruan Zhirou, his steps were steady as he walked step by step toward the end of the passage.

One day, two days, three days... Chen Zhuyun felt somewhat numb. Ruan Zhirou, meanwhile, slept soundly in his arms, her head resting against his chest, her pale complexion gradually turning rosy.

Not until the seventh day did the path gradually widen. A flight of stairs paved with bluestone appeared, carved with intricate patterns, exuding an ancient aura.

Ruan Zhirou slowly woke up, rubbed her eyes, yawned, and asked, ”Zhuyun, how long did I sleep?”

”Seven days,” Chen Zhuyun answered honestly.

”Seven days? He just kept walking while holding me?” Ruan Zhirou’s eyes shone brightly, and she then huffed, ”What an idiot! He didn’t even think to put me down to rest.”

Chen Zhuyun smiled without speaking, instead taking a step onto the Bluestone Stairs.

Thump, thump, thump!

It took a full 129,600 steps to complete the Bluestone Stairs. Chen Zhuyun was panting heavily, his body swaying, nearly collapsing onto the ground.

The higher he walked, the greater the pressure he endured. It was as if invisible pressure was gathering around him, until, by the end, it was like carrying a small mountain.

Seeing Chen Zhuyun in this state, Ruan Zhirou’s eyes flashed with distress: ”Idiot, quickly put me down.”

Chen Zhuyun gently set the beauty in his arms down. The moment she landed, she took a fragrant Handkerchief from her Storage Pouch and gently wiped the sweat beads from the man before her.

While wiping, she muttered, ”What a dope, so stubborn.”

Chen Zhuyun coughed lightly, his Face slightly flushed. This was the first time a girl had actively touched him.

The subtle fragrance emanating from Ruan Zhirou made his heart race. His already blazing Vitality and Blood began to boil, and his entire body seemed to turn into a large steamer, with visible steam escaping from his pores.

Seeing this, Ruan Zhirou thought Chen Zhuyun was suffering Qi Deviation and quickly hugged him.

As a Cold Yin Body, her body temperature was very low, feeling like ice when touched.

Chen Zhuyun’s restless Vitality and Blood gradually calmed down, and the True Qi of the Crimson Sun Limitless Art became much more docile, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief.

If he had let things develop further, he truly didn’t know what he might have done.

The two separated, speechless, and an awkward atmosphere permeated the air.

”It seems like there’s nothing here, Miss Zhirou. Did we take a wrong turn?” Chen Zhuyun scratched his head, scanned the surroundings, and shifted the topic to break the awkward silence.

This was a vast, open platform, stretching out of sight, entirely paved with bluestone slabs—empty and desolate.

”This old man is truly speechless. If you like her, just go straight for it!”

”Being so wishy-washy, what kind of manners are those? It truly disgusts This old man.”

”One is a Pure Yang Body, the other is a Cold Yin Body—it’s truly a match made in heaven! I don’t understand what you two are being reserved about.”

Just then, an aged voice sounded.