Chapter 414: Meng An Leaves the Pass

**Episode 1: The Secret Technique of Three Autumn Leaves**

The Black Sand Grotto-Heaven boasted beautiful scenery.

Marquis Wuyang, burdened by worries, flew towards Bai Yaoyue's pavilion. Suddenly, a woman in green robes emerged from it; it was Bai Nianyun.

"Junior Sister Bai," Marquis Wuyang politely called out.

Bai Nianyun glanced at Marquis Wuyang, gave a slight nod, and departed without a word.

"His son became a Godfiend King, making him even more arrogant," Marquis Wuyang thought with a snort, then entered the pavilion.

Soon, Marquis Wuyang saw Bai Yaoyue, and also the illusory figures of Meng Tiange and Mi Yu.

Under normal circumstances, only Bai Yaoyue's true body resided in the Black Sand Grotto-Heaven, while Meng Tiange and the others were merely illusory projections there. However, it was rare for three Venerables to appear simultaneously.

"Greetings, Master and Venerables," Marquis Wuyang said, bowing respectfully.

"Marquis Wuyang..." Bai Yaoyue began, her voice ethereal, as if descending from the heavens. As Marquis Wuyang listened, his eyes became dazed and vacant.

Bai Yaoyue was the most prodigious Creation Venerable within the past millennium. Her Primordial Spirit talent was also quite high; she had already reached the sixth level of the Primordial Spirit. Although she hadn't devoted much effort to illusory techniques, her illusions were potent enough to control Godfiends at the second level of the Primordial Spirit for short periods.

"I ask you, have you colluded with the Sky Demon Gate, or with the demon race?" Bai Yaoyue asked directly.

"The demon race is powerful, and with no hope of victory in sight, I naturally had to secure a path for myself," Marquis Wuyang said numbly.

Meng Tiange's expression changed upon hearing this, and he couldn't help but ask, "The situation has drastically changed now. Do you intend to sever your ties with the demon race?"

"Trying to help your disciple?" Mi Yu transmitted via voice.

Marquis Wuyang belonged to the Daoist Blade Hall lineage, and most of the powerful Godfiends from the Daoist Blade Hall were Meng Tiange's disciples.

Marquis Wuyang numbly continued, "Although the million demon kings have been dealt with, and we now see hope of victory, the world entrances are still slowly increasing, and the demon race might still win. It's safer to keep more paths open. In any case, the demon race has no evidence to identify me. And the sect wouldn't dare provoke public outrage by forcibly controlling and interrogating me with illusions without evidence."

"Hmph," Bai Yaoyue's expression turned cold.

"Shameless," Mi Yu sneered.

Meng Tiange gently shook his head.

"What exactly did you do in your collusion with the demon race?" Bai Yaoyue continued to ask.

"I merely revealed some information. Three times were particularly meritorious, earning me substantial rewards from the demon race; they are quite generous," Marquis Wuyang said numbly, yet every word came from his heart.

"Execute him," Meng Tiange said directly.

Bai Yaoyue and Mi Yu both nodded.

No powerful Godfiend wished to be controlled by illusions or have all their secrets probed; this was an act that would provoke public outrage!

After all, most Godfiends harbored secrets they wished no one else knew, preferring to keep them hidden forever.

This time, it was due to Meng Chuan's matter, combined with Marquis Wuyang's actual plotting against fellow Godfiends, that he was forcibly controlled and interrogated using illusions, all while being observed by the three Creation Venerables.

Previously, the demon race held an absolute advantage, and there was no hope of victory in sight.

Countless demon kings poured in, overwhelming everything, with more and more powerful demon kings continuously arriving. Faced with 'death' and 'temptation,' the human leadership understood that it was impossible for all Godfiends to remain absolutely loyal. A portion of them were bound to secretly collude with the demon race!

In response, the human leadership was unable to conduct a 'great purge.'

Because they were unsure how many Godfiends were colluding. One-fifth? One-third? They didn't know, and they didn't dare to truly purge. They also feared that a great purge would cause a major internal strife within humanity, potentially leading to countless casualties internally even before the demon race made their move. This might well have been something the demon race greatly anticipated.

Furthermore, these colluding Godfiends, if utilized well, could still be a part of their fighting strength!

As long as humanity maintained stricter secrecy over important intelligence, those Godfiends, as long as they didn't openly betray them, would still be needed to carry out missions, diligently slaying demon kings and protecting humanity.

Regardless of what those colluding Godfiends thought internally, if used effectively, they still had to serve humanity.

Marquis Wuyang was secretly executed.

Although it wasn't widely publicized, the powerful Godfiends in the Black Sand Grotto-Heaven became aware of the news: Marquis Wuyang had colluded with the demon race, the evidence was conclusive, and the three Creation Venerables had jointly decided on his execution.

"Traitor," the loyal Godfiends angrily scorned.

"We must be more careful," those who had colluded with the demon race thought, becoming more vigilant and harboring various thoughts.

"Colluded with the demon race, executed?"

In Jiangzhou City, Meng Chuan saw the letter and sensed the sincerity of the Black Sand Grotto-Heaven.

Yuanchu Mountain.

In a cave on an unnamed mountain, a spatial vortex appeared, and a handsome young man stepped out. He bore a striking resemblance to Meng Chuan, perhaps seven-tenths, yet also possessed a more refined air. He seemed to have combined the best qualities of his parents.

"Meng An," a woman in light white robes who was waiting outside called out repeatedly.

"Sister," Meng An said, smiling as he looked at his older sister.

"You've been in seclusion for far too long this time, a full three months," Meng You couldn't help but say.

"Didn't I say I'd come out once the three months were up?" Meng An replied.

Meng You smiled, "I know there are many things you can't tell your sister."

As the siblings cultivated together on the mountain over time, Meng You discovered her younger brother's uniqueness.

Her brother was incredibly strong. She had never understood the limits of his power. At just twenty-three years old this year, Meng An was already a Great Solar Godfiend, and on several occasions during debates at the Dao Discourse Peak, he had easily defeated other Great Solar Godfiend disciples. Even a senior disciple at the 'Marquis Godfiend threshold' level, who had sparred with her brother during a visit, had been defeated by him.

Furthermore, her brother would enter seclusion every year, and during these periods, no one was allowed to disturb him, nor could he be found.

"Something big happened while you were in seclusion," Meng You said, looking at Meng An.

"What big thing?" Meng An asked, surprised.

"Father and Mother both became Godfiend Kings!" Meng You said, smiling at her brother.

"What?" Meng An was astonished.

Father and Mother, both became Godfiend Kings? When did becoming a Godfiend King become so easy?

"And Father and Mother have probably been Godfiend Kings for many years now," Meng You said. "Father had been secretly hunting down demon kings across the world, which provoked the demon race to desperate measures. The demon race even dispatched a 'Demon Saint' to assassinate him. Our parents were able to fight and defeat a Demon Saint, a higher-ranked opponent. In that battle, the demon race was defeated and fled. This news then spread throughout the world, and Yuanchu Mountain publicly revealed that Father alone had slain over a million demon kings over the years."

"Slew over a million demon kings?" Meng An was utterly astonished. "Father, by himself?"

"Yes, it's public knowledge, and the imperial decree granting the title of king explicitly stated it; there's absolutely no falsehood," Meng You exclaimed. "The entire Yuanchu Mountain is practically buzzing with excitement. Fellow disciples often come to visit us siblings, but you, you've been in seclusion all this time. I, on the other hand, have such a headache from all the bother that I don't even dare to attend the Dao Discourse sessions anymore."

Meng An listened and nodded.

Yet, he secretly thought, 'Humanity faces the threat of the demon race. Under this catastrophe, I was made an exception and became a true disciple of Patriarch Cangyuan.'

This was another major secret of humanity.

Throughout history, those who passed the Reincarnation Trial became direct disciples of Patriarch Cangyuan, but only as normal disciples.

However, if one's talent was astonishingly prodigious, they had the potential to become a 'true disciple' of Patriarch Cangyuan. Meng An's talent hadn't actually reached that level, but because humanity faced a catastrophe, the cultivation efforts were intensified, and he directly became a true disciple of Patriarch Cangyuan. He would receive even more dedicated cultivation, and the trials and tribulations would also be exceedingly difficult.

If he persevered, he would soar to great heights. If he failed, he would lose his status as a 'true disciple,' or even have his cultivation path severed.

For example, he had to enter seclusion for three months every year to undergo the mysterious 'Karma Reforming Heart Trial,' which needed to be performed a total of nine times, also known as the 'Nine Lives Karma Reforming Heart Trial.' Even a single failure would profoundly impact his mind, severely obstructing his cultivation path, or even potentially halting it entirely.

Every three years, he also had to undergo a trial called the 'Myriad Spears World-Annihilating Tribulation,' which would occur three times, also spanning nine years.

These nine years... were his foundational years.

Once he endured, he would possess the strongest foundation in human history, surpassing Patriarch Cangyuan and all other predecessors, becoming the strongest Great Solar Godfiend in history.

And this was merely the foundational period; a series of arrangements would follow, including tasks that only a 'true disciple' was expected to undertake. Meng An had to shoulder all these responsibilities; this path was destined to be arduous.

Endure it, and he would shine brilliantly across the river of time.

Fail to endure? Then he would be left to his own devices.