317: Chapter 315 The Demonic Cultivator's Scheme Has a Long History

The Sect of the Shenduan Sect was a massive mountain range.

The entire mountain range had been refined into a mobile Magic Treasure; from a distance, it looked like a giant rock Dragon crawling on the earth. Its head was held high, its spine rose and fell, and its tail dragged across the wasteland. The mountain was covered in rows of palaces and pavilions, with formation patterns flowing and spiritual light flickering.

The Sect of the Xuanhuang Pill Mansion was like a Golden Core—round and full, entirely crimson gold, suspended in mid-air, rotating slowly. Twelve small mountain peaks surrounded the Pill Mansion like twelve satellites, guarding the Golden Core in the center.

At this moment, the giant Dragon was coiled above the Golden Core. Its body encircled the Golden Core, its head lowered, facing the main hall of the Pill Mansion from afar. The Mountain Guardian Array of the two Sects intertwined, forming an even sturdier light barrier that enveloped a radius of a hundred miles.

Outside the array, Yao Cultivators were packed densely, stretching as far as the eye could see. Those flying in the sky, running on the ground, swimming in the water, and burrowing underground—they were everywhere. They relentlessly attacked the array day and night; Spells, Demonic Qi, sharp claws, and bone spikes poured down like a rainstorm. The light barrier of the array flickered uncertainly, but it never shattered.

The array, set up by the combined efforts of the two Sects, had a deep Foundation. Unless a Void Refining expert took action personally, or multiple Soul Transformation Yao Cultivators struck with full force simultaneously, it would be impossible to break.

Inside the array, the main hall was full of people.

The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect sat in the main seat. He had a resolute face, tiger-like eyes, and thick eyebrows. Clad in a black Daoist robe, his aura was restrained, but the invisible pressure made everyone in the hall bow their heads slightly. His cultivation at the Middle Stage of Soul Transformation was already top-tier in this world.

The Master of Xuanhuang Alchemy Mansion sat opposite him. He had a refined face, white hair, and a white beard, wearing a cyan Daoist robe with Pill Furnace patterns embroidered on the cuffs. His aura was even more restrained than the Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect, but no one dared to underestimate this old man who had lived for over a thousand years. He was also at the Middle Stage of Soul Transformation.

The Elders, deacons, and Core Disciples of the two Sects were arranged on both sides, looking solemn.

Ye Chen sat on a chair on the right side of the main hall. His face was calmer than it had been ten years ago, and the sharpness between his brows had been restrained, but that keen Sword Intent was now even more unfathomable. He was at the Early Stage of Nascent Soul.

Su Mubai sat beside him, looking exhausted with dark circles under his eyes; clearly, he hadn't slept well in a long time. He was at the Late Golden Core Stage.

Jiang Yueling sat opposite Su Mubai. Wearing silver armor with her long hair tied up, she looked heroic and spirited. She was at the Mid-Nascent Soul Stage.

The Old Ancestor of the Qingxuan Sect sat beside Jiang Yueling. He had white hair, a refined face, and eyes like torches. He was at the Early Stage of Nascent Soul.

On the seats for the Elders of the two Sects, several old men with unfathomable auras also sat. Among them were two at the Great Circle of Nascent Soul; they were Grand Elders of the Shenduan Sect who had been in seclusion for years but had been invited out today. Their presence made the atmosphere in the hall even more oppressive.

The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect cleared his throat and spoke. His voice was not loud, but everyone in the main hall heard it clearly.

"Everyone, this master has just received news. The Demon Cultivators of the Ximing Continent are about to flee."

The main hall was silent for a moment. Then, whispers arose.

"Flee? Where to?"

"Hasn't the Ximing Continent already defected to the Yao Race?"

"What does the Demon Cultivators fleeing have to do with us?"

"Why is the Sect Master talking about Demon Cultivators at a time like this? There are so many Yao Race outside; why not think of a way to solve that instead of bringing up Demon Cultivators?"

Everyone was confused and looked at each other.

The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect raised his hand, and the discussion gradually subsided.

"You might not understand, but this matter is more urgent than the Yao Race's invasion."

The Master of Xuanhuang Alchemy Mansion stood up, his aged gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"Most of you here are Golden Core or Nascent Soul Cultivators. There is something you might not know." His voice was old and steady. "The Laws of the Xuanhuang Small World are incomplete, and the highest cultivation a Cultivator can reach is the Void Refining Realm. Moreover, a Small World cannot withstand the simultaneous existence of multiple Void Refining experts. This is a restriction of the Laws of heaven and earth; it is not something that can be broken through by talent or effort alone."

Someone in the main hall gasped. Most people were hearing this secret for the first time.

"There are only two ways to break through beyond Void Refining." The Master held up two fingers. "First, leave the Xuanhuang Small World, enter the endless Chaos, and search for the legendary three thousand Dao continents. The Laws there are complete, and one can break through to a higher Realm. Second, conquer other Small Worlds, refine their World Origin, and strengthen one's own Small World. When the Small World grows to a certain extent, the Laws will naturally be perfected, and the shackles on the Cultivators will be lifted accordingly."

The Master lowered his fingers, watching everyone's reactions.

"These two methods share a common premise—break through the Void Realm and enter the endless Chaos. In the endless Chaos, anything can happen. If you are lucky, you might encounter a Great World and merge directly into it, no longer restricted by Laws. If you are average, you might encounter a weak world and conquer it to refine its Origin. If you are unlucky, you might encounter a powerful world and be killed by them; they could even use the aura on you to inversely locate the Xuanhuang Small World, leading to our world being invaded and destroyed."

He paused, his aged gaze becoming heavy.

"And right now, the Xuanhuang Small World is being invaded by the Cangmang Demon World. Between us and the Yao Race, we are the weaker side."

The main hall was deathly silent.

The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect took over. "The Demon Cultivators of the Ximing Continent had already received the news. They knew the secret between Small Worlds earlier than we did and started preparing earlier."

His voice was cold.

"Previously, they spread Demonic Techniques wantonly and slaughtered everywhere, not for any other reason, but to pave the way for themselves. That kind of Demonic Technique allows for extremely fast Cultivation, but the Foundation is unstable, and there are huge limitations. Why? Because that Cultivation Technique was never meant to Cultivate true experts from the beginning. It was meant to mass-produce slaves. To create slaves who have high cultivation, low combat power, and are obedient enough. To help them do work."

"Those who died were refined by others practicing the Demonic Technique to increase their cultivation, and then they continued to work. They had already calculated every step."

"They have been secretly building a massive teleportation Formation. Once that Formation is activated, it can send hundreds or thousands of people out of the Xuanhuang Small World and into the endless Chaos. That Formation is almost complete."

Ye Chen spoke up. "Does the Yao Race's invasion have anything to do with them?"

The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect looked at him and shook his head. "It has nothing to do with them. The Demon Cultivators knew the news that the Yao Race was coming in advance, which is why they started preparing early. They are not the ones who brought the Yao Race here. The reason the Yao Race came, as the Master just said—they want to conquer the Xuanhuang Small World and refine our World Origin. The Cangmang Demon World needs to advance, so it needs to devour other Small Worlds. It has nothing to do with the Demon Cultivators."

Ye Chen nodded and did not ask further.

Su Mubai's voice was a bit dry. "Why do they want to flee? Haven't they already defected to the Yao Race?"

The Master of Xuanhuang Alchemy Mansion sighed. "Defecting to the Yao Race was merely an expedient measure. They know in their hearts that once the Yao Race devours the Origin of the Xuanhuang Small World, they will die along with it. That is why they want to flee. Flee to the endless Chaos and search for a new world."

The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect stood up, his hands pressing on the table, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

"Everyone, this master and the Master of Xuanhuang Alchemy Mansion have discussed this. We are facing two choices."

The main hall fell silent, and everyone's eyes fell on the Sect Master.

"First, continue to hold our ground. The Formations of the two Sects can be combined to last long enough. Our Xuanhuang Small World is not without Void Refinement Divine Lords; when the time comes, if the Divine Lords take action, the outcome is still uncertain."

No one spoke.

"Second, go all out. Launch a surprise attack on the Ximing Continent and seize the Demon Cultivators' teleportation Formation. Before they can flee, we must snatch this Formation into our own hands."

The Sect Master of the Divine Forging Sect's voice was not loud, but every word hammered down on the ground like a nail.

"Whether to stay here and wait for death, or to rush out and fight for a chance of survival—everyone, choose for yourselves."

The main hall was deathly silent.