Chapter 1814: Demon Clan vs Spiritual Cultivation

The Qianhu Realm was not a direct subordinate realm of the Demon Realm. Even if he cultivated to the late stage of Spirit Transformation, returning to the Demon Realm would be extremely difficult.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, don't lose heart. We still have a chance to return to the Demon Realm. Didn't Lord Bloodlight say so? As long as we find the ancient altar and communicate with other Sacred Ancestors, we have hope of returning to the Demon Realm."

Ouyang Yu offered comfort. Since matters had come to this, their only option was to find a way to communicate with other Sacred Ancestors, but this method was also incredibly difficult.

The Demon Realm had its own direct subordinate realms, and the masters of these realms were mostly demons. These demons possessed means to contact the powerful beings within the Demon Realm. Unless they found a relevant ancient altar, they would be utterly unable to reach other Demon Sacred Ancestors. The best approach would be to seek out a realm that had previously been invaded by demons; perhaps there, they might find a way to communicate with the Demon Realm's mighty ones.

Zhao Qianfeng suddenly had an idea. He looked at Situ Mei and asked in a low voice, "Fairy Situ, I recall you mentioning that the East Lira Realm was once invaded by demons?"

"That's right," Situ Mei replied. "That battle reduced a sea area in the South Sea to ruins. As for whether there's an ancient altar, I'm not sure."

Situ Mei spoke truthfully. She had no reason to deceive Zhao Qianfeng; even if she found an ancient altar, she wouldn't know how to communicate with the Demon Sacred Ancestors. Her knowledge of the Demon Realm was too limited.

"The East Lira Realm!"

Zhao Qianfeng's expression darkened, and a thoughtful look appeared on his face.

"Let's go," he commanded. "We'll return to the Sacred Gathering Palace to discuss our future. As long as we can find the ancient altar, everything else will be manageable."

Zhao Qianfeng waved his sleeve, issuing the instruction.

The cultivators all agreed and left the area with Zhao Qianfeng.

Not long after, they returned to the Sacred Gathering Palace, where Situ Mei recounted the events of the war between immortals and demons that had occurred in the East Lira Realm over four thousand years ago.

"So, that means the Myriad Ghosts Sea might have an ancient altar?"

Ouyang Yu frowned, her face full of doubt.

It was hard to say for sure about such things. What if there wasn't one? Wouldn't that be a wasted trip?

"I'm not sure either," Situ Mei replied. "But if the East Lira Realm truly has an ancient altar, it's most likely in the Myriad Ghosts Sea in the South Sea!"

Situ Mei's expression was serious.

Just then, a piercing wail of ghosts emanated from Ouyang Yu. Her willow-like brows furrowed as she took out a dark, glistening magical disc. After casting several incantations into it, a "whooshing" sound of wailing ghosts echoed.

"Oh," Ouyang Yu exclaimed in surprise, "there are spirit cultivators approaching, and quickly!"

"Fairy Ouyang, you haven't misidentified them, have you? Are you certain?" asked a burly young man in a green robe, his face full of confusion. "The spirit cultivators of the Qianhu Realm have been almost entirely wiped out by us, and old figures like True Monarch Qianhu have also left the realm. It's impossible for any spirit cultivators from Qianhu Realm to dare approach the Sacred Gathering Palace."

This was Liu Shengkai, a mid-stage Spirit Transformation cultivator skilled in beast manipulation arts.

"This Ghost Spirit Disc is a secret treasure of our Ouyang family," Ouyang Yu stated confidently. "Our ancestor followed Sacred Ancestor Xuanfu on campaigns to other realms and made great contributions; it was bestowed upon him by the Sacred Ancestor's wife. After returning to the Demon Realm, this treasure was no longer needed, so my ancestor gave it to me as a token. This treasure has never failed in detecting the aura of spirit cultivators."

"Could it be that the Sky Wave Realm and East Lira Realm have joined forces to attack?" Situ Mei offered a bold guess. "Any ordinary spirit cultivator wouldn't dare trespass into the Sacred Talisman Palace."

"Hmph," Zhao Qianfeng said, his face filled with murderous intent. "This old man was just thinking of taking a trip to the East Lira Realm. Since they are seeking their own demise, don't blame us for being impolite. Issue orders to prepare the army for battle." He had been full of pent-up anger with no outlet, and this was a good opportunity to vent it on the spirit cultivators.

"Yes, Fellow Daoist Zhao," Situ Mei and the others agreed in unison. After years of transformation, the demons had cultivated a large number of high-level cultivators. Although these cultivators practiced demonic arts and had a certain gap compared to true demons of the same rank, they could join forces to employ battle formations against enemies.

A million miles away, a shimmering azure flying boat floated high in the sky. Wang Changsheng and thousands of other cultivators stood on its deck, their expressions varied.

Beneath the azure dragon boat lay a continuous black mountain range stretching for millions of miles. Looking across, one could see a multitude of black trees, and demonic energy permeated the mountains and forests.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, are you certain the demons have discovered us?" Li Shuo frowned. "We've traveled this far at a high escape speed; the demons couldn't have possibly discovered us. Are you being overly anxious?" Wang Changsheng had suddenly claimed the demons discovered them, even though they had not had any contact with other demons apart from their initial attack on Hu Guangyi's branch.

Wang Ruyan's wrist lightly flicked, and a golden light flew out – it was a Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada. Wang Changsheng's own Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada had been cultivated to the late third stage; after consuming the spiritual elixirs given by Gongsun Yang, it had fallen into a deep slumber and had yet to awaken, so Wang Changsheng had placed it in a secret chamber. Wang Ruyan's Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada had also grown to the late third stage. This time, while accompanying Wang Ruyan to the Qianhu Realm, it had suddenly issued a warning to her. The Soul-Devouring Golden Cicada appeared highly agitated, constantly emitting sharp hissing sounds and flapping its wings non-stop.

Shangguan Tianhong flipped his palm, and with a flash of golden light, a pale golden orb appeared in his hand.

"The demons' surveillance methods are quite advanced!" Shangguan Tianhong said in a deep voice. "They actually discovered us. Hmph, since that's the case, there's no need to hide anymore. Let's charge directly! Fellow Daoist Hu, Fellow Daoist Jiao, Junior Brother Lei, Fellow Daoist Lin, you will all join forces with me to deal with Zhao Qianfeng. The rest of you, each pick a Spirit Transformation cultivator as your target. One rule: we are invincible against any foe." He pinched a spell, and the Azure Dragon Boat's spiritual light greatly increased, transforming into an azure streak of light that soared through the air.

Less than a quarter of an hour later, the azure dragon boat suddenly lost control and rapidly plummeted towards the ground.

The ground shook violently, as if an earthquake had struck. Not long after, the earth tore open, revealing thick, long cracks. Two white skeletal hands, wreathed in black mist, burst out of the ground and clapped from the left and right sides towards the rapidly descending azure dragon boat.

Qin Yunfeng flicked his sleeve, and a strong wind arose. Two hazy azure gales swept out, meeting the skeletal hands.

The two azure tornados, like tofu, were smashed to smithereens by the two white skeletal hands.

Wang Qingshan and hundreds of other Nascent Soul cultivators cast spells to attack the white skeletal hands. Loud explosions rang out, and various magical lights engulfed the two white skeletal hands, creating astonishing shockwaves.

These attacks were like mere tickles and failed to harm the white skeletal hands. The two white skeletal hands completely shattered these attacks and then moved to clap together, striking the azure dragon boat.

From high in the sky, a deafening thunderclap roared. Hundreds of thick silver lightning bolts tore through the sky, striking the two white skeletal hands precisely.

Wisps of green smoke rose from the two white skeletal hands, and they suddenly stopped.