229: A foreign node, hoarding treasures for itself?

"System, query the detailed background regarding the Nine Nether Demon Cave and the Tun Tian Demon Ancestor."

[Targeted intelligence acquisition Rank set to: Blue.]

[Destiny Points required: 100 points.]

[Do you wish to confirm?]

"Confirm."

[Blue Intelligence: The Nine Nether Demon Cave is actually a spatial node connecting the 'Foreign Realm' with the Three Thousand Dao Domains.]

[Tens of thousands of years ago, the Foreign Realm launched a massive invasion, and the Tun Tian Demon Ancestor was the vanguard general of that time.]

[That battle shattered the heavens and earth; eventually, several Void Immortals of the Three Thousand Dao Domains joined forces to slay him.]

[They sealed the Foreign Realm node, turning it into the Nine Nether Demon Cave. However, the Tun Tian Demon Ancestor used a 'Golden Cicada Shedding its Skin' technique to deceive the Void Immortals' senses and has been lingering on until now.]

[He possesses the secret method to open the Foreign Realm node. Once he recovers to the Void Immortal cultivation stage, he can reopen the passage and lead the Foreign Realm army to descend once more.]

After reading the intelligence, Lu Yuan took a deep breath, killing intent boiling in his heart.

A Foreign Realm invasion?

This was no joking matter. Once the node opened, it wouldn't be as simple as a few people dying; it would be a war for the survival of the race.

This Tun Tian Demon Ancestor must die!

He was an even higher priority than the Heavenly Secret Master!

Lu Yuan made a prompt decision.

He first took out a sound-transmitting Jade Slip and, through the planted slave Seal, sent a message to the Myriad Soul Heavenly Venerate far away in the Soul Clan: "Beware of Hun Fanxian. He will use the heart-questioning mirror to test you at today's clan meeting."

"When the time comes, you only need to silently recite the Formless Heavenly Demon Art formulas I taught you to guard your mind, and the heart-questioning mirror won't be able to reflect anything."

Having done all this, Lu Yuan's figure flickered as he directly tore through the Void Realm, rushing toward the Nine Nether Demon Cave in the Central Region... The Nine Nether Demon Cave.

This was a region shrouded in eternal darkness.

The ground appeared dark red, as if soaked in fresh blood, and every inch of soil emitted an aura of decay and gore.

The air was thick with Devilish Qi and Evil Qi. Black mists rolled through the air like living things; if an ordinary Cultivator inhaled even a mouthful, they would likely suffer Qi Deviation on the spot.

This was a famous perilous land in the Central Region, as well as a place for tempering oneself.

Because of that great war tens of thousands of years ago, many ancient Legacies and broken Magic Treasures were left behind here, attracting countless Cultivators to explore.

Although it was fraught with danger, it still couldn't stop people from dying for wealth.

From time to time, one could see groups of three to five Void Refining or even Body Integration Stage Cultivators, propping up protective spiritual lights as they cautiously traversed the outskirts of the demon cave.

But today's Nine Nether Demon Cave appeared exceptionally violent.

The Devilish Qi that usually only lingered in the depths was now surging out like boiling water, turning the surrounding area of tens of thousands of miles into a demonic domain.

Countless low-level Cultivators didn't even have time to flee before being Corrupted by the Devilish Qi. Their eyes turned blood-red as they transformed into Demonic Puppets who only knew how to kill, wandering and howling aimlessly across the wasteland.

Deep within the demon cave, at the entrance to the seventh level.

A group of powerful Cultivators was gathered there.

These people were all dressed in Astral Robes. The leader was none other than the head of the Eternal Zhou Family, the Great Ascension Stage Cultivator Zhou Jingheng.

Behind him followed several Great Ascension Stage Grand Elders of the Zhou Family, as well as dozens of Family elites at the Body Integration Stage.

This was a terrifying force sufficient to sweep away any first-rate power in the Central Region.

But at this moment, they had not ventured deep into the ninth level; instead, they were stationed at the seventh level, staring forward with fanatical expressions.

At this time, Zhou Jingheng held a compass emitting astral radiance in his hands.

This was not the previously lost heavenly star disk, but another imitation that the Zhou Family had urgently mobilized.

"Fellow clansmen."

Zhou Jingheng's face was solemn as he pointed at the rolling black mist ahead. "According to our Family's ancient records, within this seventh level of the demon cave, a strange Ore known as Heavenly Star Stone is nurtured."

"This stone is the key material for repairing our Family's supreme treasure, the Astral Tower."

"As long as we activate the Astral Grand Array to purify the Devilish Qi here, we can extract the Heavenly Star Stone."

"Furthermore, we can suppress the Devilish Qi here while we're at it, which can be considered as eliminating an evil for the people."

The Zhou Family members behind him nodded one after another, their eyes full of longing.

The Astral Tower was the foundation of the Zhou Family; if it could be repaired, the Zhou Family's strength would rise to another level.

"Do it!"

With Zhou Jingheng's command, dozens of Body Integration Stage Cultivators attacked simultaneously, their magic power surging like a tide into the Astral Compass in Zhou Jingheng's hands.

Buzz!

The Astral Compass erupted with a brilliant pillar of light that shot straight into the clouds, drawing down the power of the stars from the Nine Heavens, transforming it into streaks of sacred starlight that blasted toward the black mist.

However, they did not know.

What they perceived as the "Heavenly Star Stone" was actually emitting an eerie red light deep within the black mist.

That was not a Heavenly Star Stone at all, but a "heavenly demon stone" tainted with the aura of the Tun Tian Demon Ancestor!

This stone contained extremely strong Demonic Path Laws and was best at bewitching people's hearts and creating illusions.

Whatever the heart desired, that was what one would see.

The Zhou Family was eager to repair the Astral Tower, so what they saw was the Heavenly Star Stone.

As the astral power was injected, those heavenly demon stones were not purified; instead, as if stimulated, they began to vibrate frantically, releasing even more refined Devilish Qi that silently Corrupted the protective spiritual lights of everyone present.

"Look! The Heavenly Star Stone has been revealed!"

A Zhou Family Grand Elder suddenly pointed forward and shouted in surprise.

Everyone looked closely and saw the black mist dissipate, revealing a pile of Ores emitting soft starlight, crystal clear as if they contained the entire starry sky.

"It really is the Heavenly Star Stone! And in such vast quantities!"

"Heaven blesses my Zhou Family!"

Zhou Jingheng was overjoyed and was just about to step forward to collect them.

Right at that moment, a cold shout exploded above everyone's heads like a thunderclap.

"Stop! Those are heavenly demon stones! Do you want to die?!"

Accompanying the voice, a terrifying pressure descended from the sky, forcibly interrupting everyone's movements.

Space cracked open, and a white-robed figure stepped out; it was the arriving Lu Yuan.

"Fellow Daoist Lu?"

Zhou Jingheng was stunned, then became somewhat displeased. "What does Fellow Daoist Lu mean by this? These are clearly Heavenly Star Stones, how could they be demonic items? Although Fellow Daoist Lu is proficient in heavenly secrets, your eye for appraising treasures might not necessarily surpass ours, right?"

Several other Zhou Family Elders also showed dissatisfaction.

Seeing a treasure within reach and being suddenly stopped, anyone would have a sour expression.

Especially the Elder who had first discovered the Heavenly Star Stones, who snorted coldly, "Ancestor Qingyun, by interfering like this, could it be that you want to monopolize these Heavenly Star Stones for yourself?"

"Appraising treasures? Monopolizing?"

Lu Yuan sneered, "A bunch of fools, unaware that death is imminent."

He didn't bother with nonsense and directly activated his Golden Eyes of Truth.

Two golden beams of light instantly shot toward the pile of 'Heavenly Star Stones'.

At the same time, he raised his hand and grabbed; Chaos Power surged, transforming into a giant hand that covered the sky, directly snatching a stone into his palm.

"Open your eyes and look clearly!"

Lu Yuan gave a low shout, and the Chaos Qi crushed down like a millstone, instantly shattering the illusory disguise on the stone's surface.