【Fifth Quest, Task 1: Stop demonic transformation, safely escape, successfully complete the breakthrough, enter early-stage Immortalization cultivation, success】
Vast spiritual power accompanied by rolling heavenly thunder proved the successful advancement into the Immortalization stage.
Fortunately, Chu Fei was present to help maintain the barrier, preventing the situation from being exposed, but the fluctuations here still aroused suspicion.
More demonic qi gathered toward this place, and everyone guarded tensely.
But with the origin bone at his side, Mo Xuanli quickly balanced the surrounding spiritual power and demonic qi. There was none of the chaotic situation he had encountered during previous breakthroughs.
At this time, whether to enter demonic transformation or not, unless there was external interference, was his own decision.
The previous loss-of-control situation would not occur again.
Mo Xuanli slowly opened his eyes. His first reaction was to look for his Master.
He saw many people, yet there was no trace at all of his Master’s aura. Mo Xuanli’s heart panicked, and the red-and-black eyes instantly trembled.
Li Xiuran, who understood him best, spoke before Mo Xuanli could act: “Big Brother Gu went to Zixiao Sect to handle some matters. He’ll come back once he’s done. He also left Senior Chu here to guard you, you can sense it.”
Mo Xuanli immediately sensed his Master at Zixiao Sect, then looked at his junior martial uncle and finally let out a breath of relief. “How is Master? Did he leave alone? He…”
“He’s better than you.” Chu Fei said irritably.
Mo Xuanli looked around and was already confused by the people who had appeared here.
Li Xiuran and Jingzhan explained everything to him, as well as the current situation.
Mo Xuanli’s expression was extremely gloomy.
“What do you think?” Li Xiuran said. “Big Brother Gu said that you decide yourself, he’ll follow your arrangements. Whatever you want to do, he’ll accompany you to do it. Wherever you plan to go, he’ll go find you.”
Mo Xuanli’s heavy mood eased because of his Master’s message.
He analyzed calmly, knowing that his original dream was no longer possible. What lay before him now were two matters. First, the Primordial Demon crisis, even if he did not wish to enter demonic transformation, and even less wished to lose himself and become some Primordial Demon, the cultivation world would not believe him, and the Demon Realm would not give up either. Possessing a treasure is a crime in itself, and he also had no confidence that the bloodline in his body would not betray his consciousness, especially now, although he would not lose control, he still felt that the depths of his sea of consciousness leaned toward the Demon Clan bloodline. It was probably influenced by the origin bone’s innate bias toward the Demon Clan, and so Mo Xuanli was also worried.
“After finding the last fragment, I still have to change my constitution. I also don’t want to be coveted by that power.”
Li Xiuran gave a faint smile; he had known Mo Xuanli would make this choice.
Jingzhan and Chu Fei also let out a breath of relief. They had been afraid that in a fit of anger Mo Xuanli would truly become part of the demonic race and stand opposed to the cultivation world, then their position would be extremely difficult to handle, after all, they too had things they absolutely had to protect.
And the second matter, naturally, was the hostages.
“I think they should be together with the last fragment, because we’ve also been unable to sense the fragment at all. If they’re using a formation that can substitute for a Spirit Gathering Formation, it would require a powerful driving force. If it’s not an already existing spirit vein, then the last fragment must have the greatest power and meet the conditions.”
Li Xiuran nodded and said, “The Saintess said one month, presumably this is also the final deadline she’s forcing on you.”
“Yes. Once the Summon Demon Formation is activated, judging by the impact it will cause, I will inevitably fall into demonic corruption. That’s no longer a factor I can control, so we must rescue them before the formation is activated and stop everything,” Mo Xuanli analyzed. In truth, he really didn’t know what Xuanyue wanted to do, force him to fall into demonic corruption, and then force him to become the Primordial Demon?
The Summon Demon Formation should only cause him to fall into demonic corruption; it shouldn’t be able to turn him into the Primordial Demon.
In other words, as for how the Primordial Demon is supposed to come into being, even he himself didn’t know. Everything felt as though it depended on fate, which made Mo Xuanli very uneasy.
Listening to their analysis, Chu Fei said, “D*mn it.”
Chu Fei couldn’t help but grow angry. He was angry because even though the situation was so clear, the cultivation world only saw one option, killing Mo Xuanli.
But Chu Fei couldn’t really say anything. After all, from the cultivation world’s perspective, this was indeed the quickest and most fundamental solution.
Using the sacrifice of others as the price to end everything, rather than painstakingly exposing some conspiracy or carrying out some plan.
“So where is the problem? Should I go back and investigate again?” the incubus said anxiously.
“You’ve already betrayed them. They won’t give you that chance,” Mo Xuanli said. “We’re going to the shores of the Eastern Sea.”
“The merfolk clan?” Li Xiuran said.
“Yes. We previously received word that something went wrong at the Beast-Taming Manor, where a Spirit Gathering Formation had once been set up. The merfolk clan hopes we’ll go take a look. I think this matter is definitely related to the demonic clan’s conspiracy, this is a lead,” Mo Xuanli said.
“You have an alliance with the merfolk clan, and your spirit beasts are all there. Won’t that…” Li Xiuran frowned.
“It definitely will. But this trip must be made, this is the only lead,” Mo Xuanli said.
People from the cultivation world would certainly go cause trouble for the merfolk clan, forcing them to reveal his whereabouts. Without the help of the merfolk, and without a way to open Weak Water, the cultivation world wouldn’t be able to attack the merfolk clan, so that side was relatively safe.
The main concern was someone intercepting them halfway.
Chu Fei said, “Then once I’ve safely escorted you over, my task is complete.” Chu Fei didn’t have the time to keep playing nanny. He still had Zixiao Sect that needed guarding.
Mo Xuanli nodded and said a word of thanks.
Because it concerned his friends’ safety, Mo Xuanli didn’t selfishly insist on waiting for Gu Baiqing to return before leaving. They decided to set off immediately. In any case, with the ring, Mo Xuanli could go find his master at any time. Just thinking of that allowed him to calm down.
After confirming the plan, Chu Fei went out first to make sure the surroundings were safe.
Just then, Zhenzhen started crying again, probably hungry again. Jingzhan could only hurry to comfort her.
“When we pass through a town, we can buy some…” Li Xiuran frowned slightly and said, “Jingzhan, are you still planning to act together with us? Bringing a child along is also inconvenient.”
Jingzhan was taken aback. “But I’m also very worried about Qingrong, and with me around, if we encounter Tianyuan Sect, I can also…”
At this point, Jingzhan looked at Mo Xuanli with a heart full of guilt. “I’m sorry, Xuanli…”
Mo Xuanli didn’t expect Jingzhan to apologize to him. He was stunned for a moment. “Why are you apologizing? Give her to me.”
Jingzhan was immediately startled and hugged Zhenzhen, shrinking back.
Mo Xuanli was stunned, then laughed. “What are you thinking? I’m seeing that the seal concealing the mixed-blood aura is about to fail. I have another method.”
Li Xiuran laughed aloud at the side.
Jingzhan gave an awkward smile. Right, how could he possibly suspect that Mo Xuanli wanted to take revenge on Zhenzhen? It was mainly because after Zhenzhen’s identity was exposed, Jingzhan had really been on edge at all times.
Mo Xuanli took the crying Zhenzhen into his arms and coaxed her a bit. Miraculously, she actually calmed down.
Everyone looked at Mo Xuanli in surprise.
Mo Xuanli smiled faintly and said, “Probably because we’re of the same kind, it gives her a sense of security,” and as he spoke, he rummaged through his storage pouch.
“Ahem, the small porcelain bottle was already finished,” Jingzhan reminded him.
Mo Xuanli thought for a moment and took out a bottle of flower nectar. “Mix it with some water and let her drink it. It can at least ease things temporarily.”
Jingzhan accepted the flower nectar in surprise. Li Xiuran said in astonishment, “The things in your storage pouches are really abundant.”
Mo Xuanli curled the corner of his mouth, then called the incubus over to help. The incubus stepped forward, puzzled.
Mo Xuanli had carefully studied Louxuan’s notes and developed some small methods. Very quickly, a barrier that temporarily concealed aura lit up on Zhenzhen’s body. This barrier was slightly different from before. The kind the incubus set up would allow cultivators to know something was on her if they got close, just not that it was the aura of a mixed-blood, but they would know a spell had been cast.
Mo Xuanli’s method, on the other hand, could temporarily disguise her completely as an ordinary human child, unless someone attacked her directly, or an extremely high-level cultivator passed by her side.
After finishing, he suggested to Jingzhan that once they reached the shores of the Eastern Sea, they first entrust the child to the merfolk clan to look after. That way, Jingzhan could rest assured and act together with them.
Jingzhan was very grateful that Mo Xuanli had even made arrangements for Zhenzhen. In the end, Jingzhan couldn’t help but ask, “Can the God-Slaying Sword really completely change one’s constitution? And can the method that Luo Zixiao used also be applied to Zhenzhen?”
Mo Xuanli thought for a moment and said, “We can place our hopes on the God-Slaying Sword.” After all, Lou Zixiao’s method was far too painful, and it also required finding someone willing to sacrifice themselves for her.
Jingzhan held the child and sighed. “If only… the fate of mixed-bloods could be changed.” If it could be changed, there would be no need to hide like this.
Unfortunately…
Li Xiuran patted Jingzhan on the shoulder and said firmly, “Once we get through this hurdle, we’ll change the cultivation world!”
Soon everyone set out for the shores of the Eastern Sea. Sure enough, they encountered an obstruction. They had likely split into several teams, so only one detachment caught up to them. Among them were people from Tianyuan Sect. Only then did Jingzhan learn that Sect Master Baili had been seriously injured and fallen into a coma, and that Baili Jingcheng had lost an arm and was recuperating.
Their determination to kill Mo Xuanli was extremely firm. No matter how Jingzhan explained, they would only say that the hidden danger of the Primordial Demon had to be eliminated. They did not believe in any rumors about the God-Slaying Sword at all, thinking it was a lie told by Mo Xuanli. They had almost transformed the pain they endured in the plaza into their resolve to kill Mo Xuanli, because they could not bear to watch such things happen again.
Moreover, Mo Xuanli’s rapid advancement also frightened them, it felt like something absolutely impossible for a human to achieve.
Just as Gu Baiqing was not present, it was the perfect timing.
They were also tragic in their own way, each of them held the attitude of being willing to sacrifice themselves to eliminate Mo Xuanli and protect the cultivation world.
It got to the point that even Chu Fei, who was disguised, was fighting to the extent that he nearly couldn’t hide his own techniques.
At the height of the stalemate, a dragon’s roar suddenly rang out, accompanied by the chanting of the merfolk clan, as countless giant demon beasts surged forth.
Faced with such an obvious disadvantage, the cultivators no longer rushed to their deaths and instead turned and left. However, they would soon bring others to continue the pursuit.
Ao Heng had reverted to his true form and arrived with Three Bean and Junhua to provide support. After all, with such a major incident, they had long since heard about it.
After everyone regrouped, Junhua directly brought the thing they had been seeking.
That formation which had reappeared at the Beast-Taming Manor.
Ao Heng had tried dealing with it, but it couldn’t be dispelled. It wasn’t an offensive formation, but an auxiliary one.
Meaning it was assisting the completion of a grand formation. Unless the grand formation itself was destroyed, the auxiliary formation would not disappear. And such formations could not possibly exist as only one.
Mo Xuanli carefully examined the formation. If there was more than one, then where else would the others be set?
Recalling all the events of the past, Mo Xuanli had a premonition in his heart. He bade Junhua farewell, left the child behind, and together everyone hurried toward Linxun Town.
Junhua had originally wanted to go along, but Mo Xuanli felt it was unnecessary for now, having too many people would instead be detrimental to getting things done. Not only that, before leaving, he deliberately left traces to let the pursuers know they had gone, so as not to bring trouble to the merfolk clan.
Junhua could only impatiently state that once those pursuers were lured away, she would again lead an elite team and follow behind them, ensuring that when they caught up to Mo Xuanli, she would strike as the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Mo Xuanli could only accept this goodwill.
Soon everyone arrived at Linxun Town.
They also saw the same formation hidden beneath the lives of the people.
Now there was no need to go to Star-Stepping City. Mo Xuanli fetched a map, and together with Li Xiuran and Jingzhan, marked out all the places that had once had Spirit Gathering Formations. If all of these had become auxiliary formations, then…
Very quickly, everyone’s gaze focused on the single point where all the auxiliary formations connected and intersected.
But when they saw the approximate location of that point, Mo Xuanli’s expression changed.
Jingzhan also sucked in a breath. “This…”
“You recognize it?” Li Xiuran asked.
Jingzhan looked at Mo Xuanli cautiously.
Mo Xuanli spoke. “Choosing this place is actually reasonable. That is her obsession. Let’s go, to Xianzao Village.”
Xianzao Village?
Li Xiuran had heard of that place. According to legend, after the previous Immortal–Demon War ended and the disaster-stricken areas were tallied, there were ten locations that had been completely destroyed, turning into desolate lands where no one lived and not a blade of grass grew.
Especially Xianzao Village. A place once rumored to be like a paradise beyond the world had become a ghost village. The spiritual energy and demonic energy inside had yet to dissipate even now, remaining extremely chaotic. It was said that the corpses inside were still there, and ordinary cultivators would generally detour around it.
Because that place was originally in a relatively northern, out-of-the-way area and not any kind of necessary route, everyone simply left it alone, hoping that time would gradually resolve everything.
Three Bean had been lying on Mo Xuanli’s shoulder. Upon hearing this name, its fur instantly stood on end.
“What place?” Ao Heng couldn’t help asking when he saw Three Bean bristle.
“My… former hometown,” Mo Xuanli said slowly.
It was also the place where the nightmare began.
At the same time, Gu Baiqing was in the forbidden grounds, standing before the two people’s grave markers.
At last, someone came with word that the sect master had awakened.
That’s right, only after Gu Baiqing rushed back did he learn that not long after the news from Tianyuan Sect broke out, Song Xingkui had suddenly been struck by heavenly lightning again. This time, she wasn’t forced into closed cultivation, but merely fell into a coma.
After two days of unconsciousness and all the tasks Gu Baiqing had been assigned were completed smoothly, only then did Song Xingkui awaken.
He immediately rushed over, and saw Luo Nianyi coming out.
Luo Nianyi said, “We just received news, they seem to have encountered Mo Xuanli at the shores of the Eastern Sea. They were defeated and retreated.”
Gu Baiqing was startled. “Many thanks.”
Luo Nianyi frowned and said, “Before you leave, go to my place and take some medicine. It doesn’t hurt to prepare more pills.” After saying this, she left. From beginning to end, she never questioned the whole affair, as if adopting a let-it-all-fall-apart attitude, which instead made Gu Baiqing feel quite guilty.
Finally pushing the door open, he saw Song Xingkui sitting cross-legged.
Song Xingkui slowly opened her eyes, which were filled with gravity.
Gu Baiqing couldn’t help but apologize. “I’m sorry, Senior Sister…”
“What fault do you have? We’ve finally reached this step.”
Gu Baiqing frowned. “You know something, don’t you?”
Song Xingkui said, “I know. I know… a great many things, Gu Bai… now there are two choices for you.”
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