The Quest for Immortality

Outside the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons.

Xun Ziyou saw Mo Hua’s smiling face and felt a bit bitter inside.

He didn’t know whether to say that this child was audacious because of his skills or brave like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers...

Xun Ziyou shook his head and showed the news to the worried Chongxu Sect Elder Shangguan Xuanjian beside him, ”Don’t worry, Xiaoer is safe for now.”

Shangguan Xuanjian relaxed his tense heart but didn’t completely let go of his apprehensions.

He said with a bitter smile, ”My life is practically hanging here. Only if Xiaoer comes out can I return to the sect and report. If he... ”

Shangguan Xuanjian dared not say more, fearing he might jinx it, and simply said bitterly, ”I have no face to confront the Ancestor.”

Xun Ziyou also sighed, ”Me too...”

Shangguan Xuanjian shook his head, ”You are much better than me.”

Then he was somewhat puzzled, ”How did your Taixu Gate come across such a child?”

He can conceal himself, track others, and is proficient in formations. In such a dangerous Demon Valley, not only can he protect himself, but he also has the capacity to gather intelligence.

Are these really things a disciple can achieve?

How exactly did Taixu Gate find such a disciple?

Xun Ziyou silently thought to himself:

”He wasn’t found. He was sent here through connections by the Shangguan Family Head’s daughter-in-law...”

But he did not say this out loud, instead said, ”The child doesn’t have much else going for him, just a bit clever and lucky, nothing to worry about.”

Shangguan Xuanjian shook his head, not bothering to deal with him.

Then he felt a bit puzzled, ”Not to mention the disciple from the Song family, but didn’t Tai’a Sect’s Ouyang Family have a disciple who was captured as well? Why is there no stir from Tai’a Sect?”

Xun Ziyou also furrowed his brow.

Ouyang Mu, although not talented, is part of the direct lineage of the Ouyang Family.

He’s been missing for so long, and the Ouyang family hasn’t noticed at all?

Or, is the water within Tai’a Sect muddied as well?

Shangguan Xuanjian and Xun Ziyou looked at each other, speechless.

Xun Ziyou’s gaze turned cold, and he slowly said:

”Let’s wait until the matter of the Myriad Demon Valley is resolved and see. I want to see how some people manage to handle such a mess...”

...

Deep inside the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons.

In a blood-colored lavish cave.

Jin Gui, dressed in a grey robe, appearing like a monster cultivator, bowed with hands clasped before a burly black-clad cultivator seated on a tiger demon leather chair, respectfully greeting:

”Senior Brother...”

The black-clad cultivator’s gaze turned cold, ”In this valley, you must call me ’Leader,’ not ’Senior Brother.’”

”Yes, Leader...”

Jin Gui quickly bowed with clasped hands.

The black-clad leader nodded slightly, ”Speak.”

Jin Gui kept his head down and continued:

”Over at the Myriad Demon Prison, a manager died, reportedly from secretly consuming monster blood and being eaten by monsters in return...”

”After cultivating the Dao for so many years, he ends up like a dog, what a waste!” The black-clad leader scolded and then said coldly, ”One manager died, just replace him. This is the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons; monster cultivators are plenty...”

”Yes.” Jin Gui bowed.

The black-clad leader glanced at Jin Gui and asked:

”Has the finger been sent over?”

Jin Gui replied, ”The severed finger of Ouyang Mu has already been sent to Tai’a Sect and handed to his elder brother Ouyang Feng.”

”As for the Song family, Song Jian’s parents have also received their son’s severed finger.”

”But for the Rushing Void Sect...”

Jin Gui hesitated a bit, ”Ling Huxiao is isolated in the clan, with no close elders, so I don’t know who to send it to.”

The black-clad leader said, ”Forget about the Rushing Void Sect for now. Ling Huxiao is different from ordinary people; his public identity should be kept ’clean,’ at least to outward appearances.”

”This child has an innate sword heart, brightly illuminating the Sword Dao. The young master holds him in high regard. In the future, the Rushing Void Sect might need him to take charge...”

”Yes.”

Jin Gui bowed, yet as he lowered his head, a flash of envy crossed his eyes.

Such is the disparity.

Those with talent are always favored by fate, without having to do much, they receive preferential treatment.

Even if they tread the path of demonic cultivation, they are highly valued.

Despite his own diligent efforts to please, he is still treated like a ’dog,’ summoned at will.

However, he dared not show even a hint of this jealousy.

Entering the valley first, then boarding the ship.

Entering the valley is the first step.

Now that he’s already stepped into this Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, his fate is sealed; there’s no turning back. To achieve prominence, he can only grit his teeth and move forward.

”There is one more thing...” Jin Gui paused for a moment, then spoke again.

”Speak.” The black-clad leader remained cold-faced.

Jin Gui thought for a moment, then slowly frowned and said:

”These past few days in the Myriad Demon Prison, there have been occurrences of demon cultivators losing control...”

”Often, demon cultivators inexplicably lose their minds for no apparent reason.”

”I wonder if it’s because the manager died, and without restraint, these lowly demon cultivators can’t suppress their beastly nature, or if there’s some other reason...”

Jin Gui’s voice was low.

”Demon cultivators losing control?” The black-clad leader frowned, and after a moment his face gradually became sombre, ”What are you trying to say?”

Jin Gui’s eyes flickered as he spoke in a deep voice:

”Could it be that there has been a traitor in the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, or someone sneaked in and tampered with things...”

The black-clad leader’s expression suddenly changed, his gaze turning vicious, as sharp as a sword.

The atmosphere became more oppressive.

Jin Gui kept his head down, not daring to speak.

The black-clad leader pondered for a moment, then slowly shook his head, ”This Valley of Ten Thousand Demons was built based on the establishment of Ten Thousand Demon Mountain, one of the great powers of the Demon Path Sect;”

”This multitude of demon-natured hard-to-tame demon cultivators are controlled by Mr. Tu using the secret Four Symbols Formation of the Great Wilderness;”

”The gates at the mouth of the valley are sealed with the long-lost Divine Way Formation;”

”There are also various Demon Wraith means within the valley...”

”It is impossible for there to be a traitor, or for anyone to sneak in here, much less to have any means to make the demon cultivators lose control.”

Jin Gui still felt suspicious, ”But...”

”No buts.” The black-clad leader sneered, taking a deep breath, ”You are not a Formation Master, you don’t understand what ’Four Symbols Formation’ and ’Divine Way Formation’ signify.”

”If you knew, you wouldn’t have such amateurish concerns...”

Jin Gui quickly said, ”Yes, in terms of Formation, I am indeed ignorant, naturally unworthy to even hold a candle to the Leader.”

His manner was somewhat obsequious.

But his flattery was too lowbrow and failed to gain the black-clad leader’s approval.

The black-clad leader frowned in thought, pondering about something.

Seeing this, Jin Gui took his leave, but before he could exit the door, he was suddenly called back.

”Jin Gui...”

The black-clad leader gave him a look and suddenly said:

”You will become the new manager of the Myriad Demon Prison.”

Jin Gui was startled, cold sweat immediately breaking out, hurriedly saying, ”Leader, I...”

The black-clad leader was indifferent, ”You lack insight, but your concerns are valid. During this time, the young master just happens to be in the valley, so no mistakes can be made, to avoid leaving a bad impression on the young master.”

”Since one manager has died, you will fill the position; this shows that you are valued.”

”If you perform well, I will report to the young master and plead on your behalf.”

Jin Gui wanted to explain, but the black-clad leader’s gaze had already turned from indifferent to merciless.

Jin Gui felt a chill in his heart, knowing there was no room for negotiation, so he could only grit his teeth and agree:

”Yes!”

The black-clad leader nodded slightly and said:

”You will also be responsible for those three kids, whether by any means necessary, make sure they ’submit’ and join us...”

The black-clad leader smiled slightly, revealing blood-red gums.

”...to eat human flesh.”