Chapter 1720: Three-Family Slave Situ Tu Mei

“I understand. Continue to keep an eye out for news of True Monarch Qianhu. Don't think that the demon race's transformation of the Thousand Gourd Realm's environment is a good thing. Demonic cultivation arts are faster to practice but easily lead to qi deviation. You've seen it with your own eyes, so I don't need to say more.”

Li Tianya said meaningfully. Sun Youwang originally came from a prominent immortal cultivation clan that had a Nascent Soul cultivator overseeing it. However, that Nascent Soul cultivator died at the hands of the demon race, who then supported a Core Formation clan elder to take power.

When Sun Youwang was seven, the Sun family patriarch suffered qi deviation and massacred his clansmen and descendants one by one. At that critical moment, Li Tianya happened to pass by and saved Sun Youwang.

Sun Youwang utterly detested the demon race. However, he was too young then and was exiled by the demons to the Azure Dragon Sea. He coincidentally met Li Tianya, became his disciple, and with Li Tianya's help, established his own clan.

The demon race offered substantial bounties for spirit cultivators, ranging from ten thousand to one hundred million spirit stones. True Monarch Qianhu had the highest bounty among them.

“I understand, Master. The hatred for my clan's annihilation is irreconcilable,” Sun Youwang nodded solemnly, his face filled with murderous intent.

“It's good that you understand. Now, I will return to my cultivation. Do not disturb me unless it's truly urgent.”

After saying this, Li Tianya strode towards the stairs.

Reaching the sixth floor, Li Tianya pushed open the door to a guest room. The room was simply furnished with a wooden bed, a wooden table, and a few wooden stools; nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

He activated the room's restrictions, and countless mysterious runes emerged on the walls, exuding a palpable spiritual energy.

Li Tianya took out a seven-colored banner. Its surface shimmered with spiritual light. He gently flicked it towards the void, and a swath of seven-colored radiance swept out, striking the emptiness.

A seven-colored light door, taller than a person, appeared faintly in the void. Li Tianya entered it, and the environment before him changed instantly. He suddenly found himself in a space rich with spiritual energy—a secret realm.

Ancient trees cast long shadows, spirit birds circled overhead, fierce beasts roamed the forest, and immortal mist drifted in the air.

The demon race's suppression of spirit cultivators grew increasingly severe. Coupled with their transformation of the Thousand Gourd Realm's environment, the spiritual energy in the outside world became increasingly sparse. Some spirit cultivators had to hide in secret realms to cultivate and improve their cultivation.

Li Tianya transformed into a streak of light and flew towards the northwest. Along the way, he saw many buildings. Before long, he landed at the entrance of a magnificent palace, bowing respectfully and saying, “Disciple Li Tianya requests an audience with Master; I have something to report.”

“Come in, Tianya! There aren't many cultivators left in the Seven Spirits Secret Realm.”

A somewhat weathered male voice suddenly resounded, and the palace doors swung open.

Li Tianya strode inside. The main hall was spacious and bright. A green-robed elder, past fifty years of age, sat on the main seat. The elder had a round face and large eyes, and his complexion was slightly pale, as if he were injured.

Qin Yunfeng, at the early Soul Transformation stage, hailed from the Myriad Dharma Palace, the strongest immortal cultivation sect in the Thousand Gourd Realm. As a wind spirit root cultivator, he was one of the Myriad Dharma Ten Prodigies, a true favored son of heaven. His cultivation partner possessed a fire attribute Heavenly Spirit Root, and they were known as the Dual Sages of Wind and Fire to the outside world.

Qin Yunfeng entered the Soul Transformation stage at four hundred years old, enjoying unparalleled prestige. A century later, his cultivation partner also advanced to the Soul Transformation stage. It was at the peak of his glory that the demon race opened spatial channels and invaded. The Myriad Dharma Palace, being the most powerful sect in the Thousand Gourd Realm, was a primary target for elimination by the demons. Ten Soul Transformation stage demons collectively attacked the Myriad Dharma Palace. Qin Yunfeng's wife and children also perished at the hands of the demons, but he managed to escape with some of his disciples.

By calculation, Qin Yunfeng was already fifteen hundred years old. Barring any accidents, he could live for another thousand years.

The demon race destroyed the Myriad Dharma Palace where he grew up and also killed his wife, children, and disciples. This blood debt ensured that Qin Yunfeng would never make peace with the demon race.

In reality, Qin Yunfeng was merely clinging to life; he had been injured by the demon race and had not fully recovered to this day.

Li Tianya reported the external situation to Qin Yunfeng, who showed no surprise.

“Master, if we continue like this, we'll just be waiting for death. Why don't we try to contact other resistance forces? Even if we can't overthrow the demon race's rule, perhaps we could find some spiritual elixirs to help you heal!” Li Tianya suggested cautiously.

They had been hiding in this secret realm for over two hundred years, having almost been discovered by the demon race before. Li Tianya had specifically taken Sun Youwang as a disciple and helped him establish a clan to divert attention.

“I've already sent your fourth martial brother to do that. He cultivates a demonic art, so even if he encounters a patrol envoy, he won't be in danger. You just need to guard the secret realm entrance,” Qin Yunfeng instructed.

Li Tianya's heart sank. Hearing Qin Yunfeng's words, it seemed the secret realm had other entrances, indicating that Qin Yunfeng was also keeping something from him. He could understand Qin Yunfeng's caution; under the demon race's high-pressure rule, life for spirit cultivators was extremely difficult.

“Yes, Master,” Li Tianya agreed, then retreated. The palace doors closed automatically.

“Old Monster Qianhu, are you still alive? If you're dead, then the Thousand Gourd Realm truly has no hope,” Qin Yunfeng sighed. Before Qin Yunfeng had even formed his Nascent Soul, True Monarch Qianhu was already a Soul Transformation cultivator. True Monarch Qianhu possessed a special spiritual physique, which allowed him to cultivate faster than Qin Yunfeng. Barring any accidents, True Monarch Qianhu should still be alive.

During the great decisive battle eight hundred years ago, True Monarch Qianhu, then at the mid-Soul Transformation stage, was ambushed by the Demon Sovereign of Soul Destruction, the leader of the demon race, using the Heaven-Reaching Demonic Treasure, the Soul Extinguishing Bell. He sustained severe injuries. Even so, True Monarch Qianhu killed a Soul Transformation cultivator and broke through the encirclement. It was precisely because True Monarch Qianhu was severely wounded that the spirit cultivators of the Thousand Gourd Realm suffered a great rout. The demon race had always been worried that True Monarch Qianhu would return to lead the cultivators of the Thousand Gourd Realm, hence they offered a one hundred million spirit stone bounty for his capture.

Over a black mountain range stretching for a million li, Situ Mei's face was pale, and her body was stained with considerable blood. She flew rapidly through the sky, covering a thousand zhang in an instant.

They had encountered demonic cultivators on patrol and, engaging them directly, killed them, thus stirring up a hornet's nest. A large number of cultivators were now pursuing them, with even Soul Transformation stage demons being deployed.

Jin Yun was injured in a single encounter, and Situ Mei fled for her life in a panic.

“Running so fast, you must be an important figure among the spirit cultivators! Confess your accomplices and switch to demonic cultivation, and I can spare your life.”

A cold female voice suddenly rang out, followed by a piercing wail, and a black light flew in from afar.

The wailing sound was eerily similar to a woman's crying, making Situ Mei feel dizzy and disoriented.

By the time she regained clarity, a black demonic beast, fifteen meters long, appeared before her. Its head resembled that of a fish, it had a pair of furry tiger claws under its belly, a thick, long snake tail, and a pair of black bat wings, giving it an extremely bizarre appearance.

A slender black-clad girl stood on the back of the demonic beast. Her features were as exquisite as a painting, with a black flame pattern on her brow and skin as white as snow. Black spiritual runes adorned her arms, and her sleeves featured three black skull patterns piled one upon another.

Ouyang Yu, at the early Soul Transformation stage, was from the Ouyang family of Myriad Skull Mountain. She specialized in controlling ghosts and taming demons. The Ouyang family was somewhat renowned in the Demon Realm, but the Ouyang family cultivators in the Thousand Gourd Realm were merely collateral descendants.

Situ Mei's face turned pale, and her heart leaped into her throat.

“You have only one chance: surrender or die? Even if you die, I will use secret techniques to torture your soul,” Ouyang Yu said with a half-smile.

“This junior is willing to surrender. I am from the Eastern Fence Realm, and the Soul Transformation cultivator with me is from the Azure Wave Realm. We temporarily opened a spatial channel to come to the Thousand Gourd Realm.”

Situ Mei honestly confessed the situation. In front of a Soul Transformation stage demon, she had no chance to resist. Strictly speaking, she didn't even want to resist. She had only about thirty years of lifespan left, and unless she advanced to the Soul Transformation stage, she was bound to die. Defecting to the demon race seemed like a good option. She had received lifespan-extending pills by allying with the Azure Wave Realm, and now, defecting to the demon race, she hoped to advance to the Soul Transformation stage.

Ouyang Yu was somewhat surprised. She flicked her sleeve, and a black chain entwined with dark energy flew out, binding Situ Mei.

“Come with me. I have questions for you. Cooperate honestly, and I might consider using true demonic energy to infuse your body, helping you advance to the Soul Transformation stage.” Ouyang Yu's tone was full of temptation.

Situ Mei's eyes lit up, and she readily agreed.

Ouyang Yu took Situ Mei and flew towards the sky, disappearing into the horizon.