246: Great Way

Chusheng Sect is situated within the vast mountain ranges in the northwest of the Rain God Continent.

Blue-gray halls were built along the mountainside, cascading upwards in layers following the terrain, exuding the order and grandeur of a great Sect. Within the Sect, paths paved with bluestone slabs crisscrossed each other, flanked by ancient, vigorous pines that were thousands of years old. Their needles were a dripping emerald green, and occasionally, Cultivators dressed in green Daoist robes would hurry past.

Inside a simple and solemn hall, sandalwood incense rose in curls, misting the air. On a prayer mat in the hall, an old man sat cross-legged, his snow-white hair scattered haphazardly over his embroidered robes. Although he possessed a profound cultivation base at the ninth level of Void Refining, he could not hide the signs of aging between his brows—it was the aura of decay that comes when one's limit is approaching.

This person was the Old Sect Master of Chusheng Sect, True Person Tianxuan!

Since failing his last attempt to break through to the Integration Realm in seclusion, this Old Sect Master had rarely appeared in public, and news of him had gradually faded.

Suddenly, a figure appeared out of thin air in the hall; it was the Sect's Third Elder. He bowed deeply to True Person Tianxuan on the prayer mat, his posture extremely respectful.

True Person Tianxuan slowly opened his eyes, a flash of sharpness passing through his murky pupils as he asked,

"How is it? Has the demon transformation pill been successfully developed?"

The Third Elder said in a deep voice, "Reporting to Old Ancestor, the demon transformation pill currently refined can already allow Mortals to manifest eighty percent of Yao Race characteristics, but to achieve a truly complete demon transformation, it still requires some time to be refined."

As soon as he finished speaking, an invisible pressure suddenly enveloped the room. The Third Elder's body sank, and he bent his waist even further, cold sweat faintly seeping from his forehead.

True Person Tianxuan's gaze swept over him, his tone carrying an unquestionable decisiveness:

"I cannot wait that long."

"Ten days. I will give you ten days at most. No matter the cost, a perfect demon transformation pill must be refined!"

"Yes!" The Third Elder did not dare to have the slightest objection and hurriedly cupped his hands to accept the order.

Seeing that he still stood there without moving, True Person Tianxuan narrowed his eyes. "Is there anything else?"

The Third Elder took a deep breath, but in the end, he could not suppress the doubt in his heart and asked with trepidation, "Old Ancestor, we truly do not understand. Why do you insist on developing the demon transformation pill? What is it for?"

"For what purpose?"

True Person Tianxuan's gaze suddenly became profound as he looked directly at him.

The Third Elder's heart tightened, and he quickly lowered his head in a respectful posture, secretly regretting that he shouldn't have asked.

But he did not know that True Person Tianxuan's gaze did not fall on him, but instead pierced through the hall, looking toward the continuous horizon behind him—more accurately, toward the Demon Race Continent beyond the horizon!

"Because humans, after all, have limits!"

Leaving behind these meaningful words, True Person Tianxuan waved his hand and said indifferently, "You may leave."

"Yes, Old Ancestor!" The Third Elder felt as if he had been granted a great pardon and bowed as he slowly backed out.

A moment after the Third Elder left, True Person Tianxuan had a thought, and an exquisite, lustrous jade box appeared out of thin air before him, popping open automatically.

Inside the box lay two things!

A Mahayana Stage Yao Race Golden Core emitting majestic Demonic Qi, and a jade bottle containing deep red essence blood.

These two items were obtained by True Person Tianxuan two hundred years ago in an Ancient Secret Realm. Speaking of which, it had taken quite some effort back then, and even the Personal Disciple of the Great Love Immortal Venerable had failed to outcompete him.

Back then, he had originally wanted to sell them or exchange them for high-grade Medicinal Pills or Magic Treasures, but he never encountered a suitable bidder, so he set them aside.

It wasn't until his cultivation base had been stuck at the ninth level of Void Refining for many years, his Dao was nearing its end, and he accidentally obtained a Jade Slip recording the recipe for the demon transformation pill, that he had the idea of finding another way and seeking the Dao once more!

On the other side, the Third Elder had just reached the Sect's square!

An Inner Sect Elder hurried over, reporting with a panicked expression:

"Third Elder! The two Outer Sect Elders who were ordered to capture villagers two days ago have not yet returned. It seems they have met with an accident! This subordinate also found that a Peak Master from the Tianque Sect seems to be investigating this matter already!"

Hearing this, the Third Elder's eyes narrowed slightly, and his expression instantly became solemn.

The Old Ancestor's actions were practically pushing the Sect into a fire pit!

If the actions of kidnapping Mortals and refining Half-human, Half-demon beings were exposed, Chusheng Sect would surely face a catastrophe, and the consequences would be unimaginable!

The Third Elder took a deep breath, his heart full of helplessness.

If it weren't for that beast Zhenyuan betraying the Demon Suppressing Tower, how could there be so many troublesome matters now?

Otherwise, kidnapping commoners would only require going to the neighboring barren Flame Continent; it would be done without anyone knowing. Why would they risk acting within the borders of the Rain God Continent and even attract the attention of the Tianque Sect?

But that beast Zhenyuan, it was one thing to defect from the Sect, but he even took away the Sect's only passenger-carrying Magic Treasure.

Without that passenger-carrying Magic Treasure, if one wanted to travel between the Flame Continent and the Rain God Continent, they could only take the Cross-continent ferry!

Carrying thousands of ordinary Mortals across continents in such a manner would certainly be detected.

The Sect had no choice but to secretly kidnap villagers from remote areas of the Rain God Continent, choosing to strike their own neighbors.

The Third Elder's gaze swept over the person in front of him as he thought of a countermeasure.

The Tianque Sect had already set its sights on this matter. Besides those Half-human, Half-demon beings who had escaped to various places, what made him feel most uneasy was the Demon Suppressing Tower that Zhenyue once managed.

Although the traces within had already been cleaned up.

But the words "what if" are the situation that many Cultivators fear most.

He was silent for a while before saying, "Is anyone guarding the Demon Suppressing Tower?"

"Reporting to Elder, there are two Golden Core Disciples guarding there!"

"Go and make arrangements immediately. Dispatch two Outer Sect Elders to the third Demon Suppressing Tower to take charge. Seal it off completely and do not allow anyone to approach, especially people from the Tianque Sect!"

As he finished speaking, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart!

The current Chusheng Sect truly has fewer and fewer usable people.

The Sect Master and the Grand Elder are still tracking down those great demons that escaped from the Demon Suppressing Tower and have not yet returned; the Second Elder already lost his life in the attack on the Demon Suppressing Tower some days ago; the Outer Sect Elders have to deal with those Half-human, Half-demon beings who were lucky enough to escape and assist the Alchemists in developing the demon transformation pill, leaving them stretched thin everywhere. The Inner Sect Elders have to maintain the Sect's operations to prevent the outside world from seeing any clues.

In the past, he was always lazy and rarely managed the Sect's trivial affairs, but in this current situation, he had no choice but to step forward and take charge of the overall situation.

"Yes! This subordinate will handle it immediately!" The Manager bowed and was about to head out.

"Wait!"

The Third Elder suddenly called out to stop him, his brows furrowed.

"There's no need to send Outer Sect Elders; go to the Demon Suppressing Tower and keep an eye on this matter yourself. Those Outer Sect Elders act rashly; I wouldn't be at ease leaving it to them."

The Manager was stunned, then reacted, nodding heavily: "This subordinate understands! I certainly won't let the Third Elder down!"

...Inside a cave!

Only the faint light filtering through the cave entrance barely illuminated a small area, and the air was filled with the smell of damp earth.

A woman dressed in a purple gauze dress leaned against a stone platform, her skirt trailing down, her graceful figure appearing even more exquisite in the hazy light and shadow.

She had been resting with her eyes closed, but now she slowly opened them. As her gaze flowed, a faint smile played on the corners of her mouth, and her voice was soft:

"After so long, someone has finally investigated the matters in the Demon Suppressing Tower."

Beside her, a man dressed in black martial attire looked up upon hearing her voice and asked in a deep tone:

"How would you know about this?"

Turning to look at the man, she then chuckled: "The Tower Master is teasing me. This humble girl is untalented; when I left the Demon Suppressing Tower that day, I quietly left behind some minor tricks that aren't worth mentioning. If someone truly triggers them, I will naturally sense it."