Chapter 478: Biyun Sect Meeting, Return to the Demon Land (Transition)

The master of the Azure Cloud lineage, nominally the dean of general affairs, cultivated only at the peak of Core Formation. However, his master was the sole Nascent Soul Great Perfection cultivator of the Azure Cloud lineage and one of the Supreme Elders of the Jade Cloud Sect. The extension of his master's power allowed him to secure this position.

Nevertheless, in the discussion hall at this moment, he dared not speak carelessly. The overall strength of their Jade Cloud Sect was far inferior to that of the Five Demonic Sects. They had only just over thirty, nearing forty, Nascent Soul cultivators. Fifteen had been sent to Ice River Pass, and to counter the demonic invasions in Fengzhou and Shuiyunzhou, an additional twelve Nascent Soul cultivators were dispatched to command tens of thousands of elite sect members.

Excluding those garrisoned and monitoring crucial cities, fewer than ten Nascent Soul cultivators remained at the Jade Cloud Sect's mountain gate. Wang Yu's victory in that battle had almost wiped out a third of their forces. The Blue Cloud lineage suffered even heavier losses, with only one early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator escaping. The Orange Cloud lineage fared even worse, almost completely annihilated. Their previous high ranking plummeted to the bottom. With their Nascent Soul cultivators decimated, who could possibly withstand this? Recovery would be impossible without a millennium of accumulation. No wonder the atmosphere in the discussion hall was so grim.

In the silence, a white-haired Supreme Elder couldn't help but speak, "Before you departed, I repeatedly warned you to be wary of attacks from demonic scoundrels. Yet, you dismissed my words. Otherwise, how could you have fallen into a trap and been defeated piecemeal?"

The four who had narrowly escaped replied defiantly, "Ancestor, these matters cannot be conflated. That Extreme Dharma Demonic Lord once annihilated the Yuan family in Shuiyun Xiandu and killed Fellow Daoist Tang Yang in Kuangmei Mountain. We assumed he would be an obstacle in the Ice River Pass conflict. Who could have foreseen he would launch a sneak attack? Moreover, in such circumstances, it was impossible to detect him in advance. Our response speed and reaction were pushed to the extreme. If anything, the enemy was simply too powerful—strong enough to crush ordinary grand cultivators! Fellow Daoist Lan Xin was killed in an instant; how could that not be disheartening?"

The Supreme Elders in the hall seemed astonished that these failures and juniors, in their eyes, shamelessly attributed the cause to the enemy's strength.

"Do all four of you mean this?"

They had already known they would face interrogation, but once one person spoke up, they could only voice their support, believing that the situation was indeed as described. The environment where spatial annihilation winds raged was not a place where ordinary people could survive. Their ability to rescue the sect's elites on two war spirit boats was already a tremendous achievement. Thus, they all nodded in unison.

At that instant, the atmosphere in the discussion hall grew even colder. The Supreme Ancestors all had ashen faces. Some wanted to reprimand them but were stopped by those beside them. These elder cultivators had an unspoken understanding: the Jade Cloud Sect was currently under immense pressure. A single misstep could lead to its annihilation. The sect still needed their strength and could not afford to wound their self-esteem too deeply. Although they were all Nascent Soul cultivators, their seniority spanned generations. A real disparity in strength also existed. The specifics of their punishment would have to wait until after the war—a common practice known as settling accounts later. The power of Nascent Soul cultivators was not limitless. Ultimately, the sect was controlled by these elders.

"Since the incident has occurred, further discussion is pointless. Let's first talk about this Extreme Dharma Demonic Lord." The Supreme Elder of the Yellow Cloud lineage stepped forward.

Following the order of the Jade Cloud Sect's Seven-Colored Cloud Lineages, the Orange Cloud lineage had also suffered heavy losses this time. Although the Red Cloud lineage showed signs of returning to prosperity, it had not yet recovered its peak size. The Yellow Cloud Ancestor held the most sway in discussions at this moment. He spoke calmly.

"Given the immense slaughter this individual has caused, the immediate priority is to contact the Sword Sect, place him in the top five of the Demon Slaying List, and rally all righteous powerhouses in Taihu to hunt down this demon. Secondly, how he swiftly traveled from Kuangmei Mountain to southern Fengzhou is also a suspicious point."

If he had traveled south through the Jade Cloud Sect's territory, it wouldn't have been completely unimpeded. He would have had to detour around some crucial city strongholds along the way, which would have taken much more time. Meanwhile, their main Red Kite forces began their northward journey, spending only a few days preparing and half a month traveling from Ice Plain State to southern Fengzhou. For them to be ambushed and killed by someone with such a rapid march and powerful lineup was something he couldn't comprehend. Especially since it was just one person. He simply didn't believe Wang Yu was as terrifying as these individuals claimed; it was nonsense! Therefore, he suspected some other force had aided Wang Yu.

"There are two possibilities," the Supreme Elder of the Green Cloud lineage stated. "First, there might be an insider within the Jade Cloud Sect's leadership who provided the Extreme Dharma Demonic Lord with precise information about our route, allowing him to set a trap. For this, we can send people to check the ancient teleportation arrays that can reach southern Fengzhou. Second, he might have used the Northern Demonic Tribes' territory, traveling unimpeded south through their lands. This would allow him to set up an ambush in advance. The Northern Demonic Tribes have an alliance with us. Perhaps we could send someone to inquire. After the ambush, the Extreme Dharma Demonic Lord vanished without a trace, and his concealment ability should not be underestimated. We might need to enlist the help of Soul Spirit Monarch from the Purple Cloud lineage. Of course, this old man leans more towards those demonic beasts being responsible. Those devils are ambitious, having long desired to break free from the shackles of the World-Severing Mountain Range and expand their territory outside."

After stating all his thoughts in one breath, the discussion hall fell silent in contemplation, followed shortly by murmurs of discussion.

"Ancestor Huang Yun is right. I heard that sixty years ago, the Northern Demonic Tribes selected a new Holy Lord, and with a unified voice, it's inevitable that ambitions for expansion would arise."

"Indeed, indeed. Should we proceed according to Ancestor Huang Yun's suggestion then?"

"Let's first send someone to inquire with the Northern Demonic Tribes."

Just at this moment, an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator who had narrowly escaped said, "I just remembered that Wang Yu once transformed into another physical form: black horns and dragon eyes, emanating a peculiar draconic might. Though not demonic power, it was very similar to Demonic Lord Tang Yang's form."

At his words, everyone in the hall was stunned. "Could it be... he is also a half-demon descendant?"

The Supreme Elders, frustrated, scolded them. "Why didn't you mention such crucial information earlier?! If it's truly as we suspect, then the Extreme Dharma Demonic Lord has likely fled deep into the territory of the Northern Demonic Tribes!"

As the saying goes, coincidence makes a story. The Jade Cloud Sect's leadership's deduction process was ridiculously flawed, yet they coincidentally guessed correctly. There were many cultivation techniques and secret arts in the Ice Prison Realm that could change one's physical form. However, abilities brought by spirit bodies like the Heaven Demon Myriad Transformations were indeed very rare, as this was a transformation starting from the bloodline itself. In his Extreme Yin Dragon Physique state, Wang Yu was indeed no longer human. Instead, he was a pure Extreme Yin Dragon King! This was a living weapon researched by an ancient immortal dynasty, and also a cultivation resource for Divine Transformation Venerables. It had many uses, and its enhancement effect on Wang Yu should last until after the Divine Transformation stage before gradually fading.

The Jade Cloud Sect's discussion gradually concluded. They ultimately decided to send someone to the Northern Demonic Tribes to investigate. If Wang Yu was there, they would privately request his extradition from the Five-Colored Holy Lord. Regardless of whether they agreed or not, it would indirectly confirm their suspicions, allowing them to formulate a plan for how to respond, rather than simply engaging in futile arguments.

Deep within the Northern Demonic Tribes' territory, near the Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain, beneath the Heart Beast Pagoda, Wang Yu, accompanied by Dou Zhao and Xue Yu, was leisurely playing chess with an old acquaintance. This individual, Lei Yao called him Third Uncle, and his fourth brother was the guardian spirit beast of the Thunderfire Temple. This connection served as a bond, so Wang Yu also called him Third Uncle. Even though his current strength was sufficient to kill this old avian demon of unknown species, he still maintained his respect.

"You're a dreadful chess player! It's utterly unsatisfying."

Sweeping the black pieces into the chess box, Wang Yu felt a slight awkwardness. His chess skills were indeed ordinary, but not to the extent of being called a "dreadful chess player." He then offered a defense.

"Third Uncle, your chess rules are like village rules. Where is it allowed to concede a point if a piece isn't on the board? Isn't that cheating..."

"What's it to you?"

At Wang Yu's words, the old avian demon stopped being boisterous and instead became smug. "Hmph, hmph, the Extreme Dharma Profound Pill Demonic Lord who dominates the outside world still has to be outplayed by this old man in chess. Doesn't that prove how powerful I am!"

Wang Yu was speechless. Beside him, Xue Yu and Dou Zhao chuckled secretly.

He was playing chess with Third Uncle, but not simply to pass the time out of boredom. The main reason was that he had only recently consumed the Blood Infant Pill refined by Demonic Lord Tang Yang and couldn't take another one in the short term, so he came directly to the Heart Beast Pagoda. His intention was to let Dou Zhao and Xue Yu challenge the Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain. Especially the latter, who should gain considerable benefits. Dou Zhao was just accompanying her, and even if she couldn't reach the summit, she could still obtain many advantages from the tiered platforms. That's why he was playing chess with Third Uncle; he wasn't bored to that extent.

Having "gotten his wish" by outplaying Wang Yu, Third Uncle magnanimously waved his hand and said, "Let the two little girls explore the mountain. I'll have someone watch over them; there will absolutely be no problems."

"Thank you, Senior."

"Thank you, Third Uncle."

After thanking him, the two girls flew towards the Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain. Seeing this, the old avian demon secretly winked at Wang Yu. "You rascal, you're practically cut from the same cloth as my fourth brother. You're certainly enjoying the blessings of multiple companions, aren't you?"

Wang Yu raised an eyebrow in return. "The Northern Demonic Tribes seem quite adept at cultivating the Desires Dharma. When I arrived, I noticed both male and female demons kept many human pets. Are they for consumption?"

This "eating" was not the literal kind; only those in the know would understand. The mischievous old avian demon immediately changed the subject. "There's no Demonic King's feast for you this time. Have you come seeking refuge?"

"Why use such unpleasant words? I, your humble servant, have come to the Demonic Tribes to alleviate suffering. Don't you welcome a peak-tier, Fourth-level alchemist?"

The old avian demon paused, then said in surprise, "You've had another breakthrough in alchemy! Your talent is truly against the heavens. Not only has your cultivation progressed rapidly, but now you also possess such profound achievements in alchemy. It seems us old seniors are being phased out. The future belongs to you young ones."

Wang Yu shook his head, speaking meaningfully. "That's not necessarily true. In recent years, the Five-Colored Holy Lord has allied with the Jade Cloud Sect and secretly established contact with the Nether Mountain Sect. Many demonic cultivators have left the World-Severing Mountain Range. Has your Divine Transformation Demonic Venerable emerged from seclusion?"

Long ago, during his first visit to the Northern Demonic Tribes, Wang Yu suspected they had a Demonic Venerable behind them, and not just in the northern World-Severing Mountain Range, but also in the southern one. Moreover, these Venerables should be among the strongest in the Divine Transformation realm; otherwise, neither Taihu nor Chiyuan would idly watch as the Northern and Southern World-Severing Mountain Ranges—places of immense resource production—were occupied by demons. This much was obvious. He spoke now to probe, wanting to see if the Northern Demonic Tribes had any intention of emerging. The Heart Beast Pagoda housed a large number of ancient demons, mostly Fourth-Tier Transformed Great Demons, possessing unfathomable foundations.

If the righteous sects were weaker than the demonic sects, and the demonic tribes' strength surpassed the demonic sects, then the ranking from weakest to strongest would be roughly as follows:

Righteous Six Sects (30-40 Nascent Soul cultivators) < Four Demonic Sects (50-60 Nascent Soul cultivators) < Southern/Northern Demonic Tribes (over 100 Nascent Soul cultivators / Venerable-level combat power) < Sword Sect / Heaven Refining Demonic Sect (over 100 Nascent Soul cultivators / multiple Venerables).The suppression of the demonic tribes was due to both racial factors and their possession of Divine Transformation combat power. Did they not see the Divine Transformation Poison Dragon in the Heavenly Demonic Bone Forest, also suppressed and daring not to emerge, fearing that human Venerables would skin and dismember it, refining it into a Fifth-Tier spirit treasure?Facing Wang Yu's probing remarks, the old avian demon parried, pushing the question back. "What do you mean by emerging or not? Since both of us have requests, this old man can act as a go-between. The Northern Demonic Tribes have an abundance of natural treasures. You help refine pills, and the Northern Demonic Tribes provide sanctuary, ensuring that any Jade Cloud Sect members who come are driven away every time. How about that?"Wang Yu chuckled and shook his head. "Third Uncle, you're a bit too greedy. Do you think an insignificant sect like the Jade Cloud Sect can cause my demise? Even Chitian couldn't do anything to me, so why would I need the Northern Demonic Tribes' protection? Pill refining, however, is a standard commission. I will only take the remuneration I deserve. Furthermore, I owe a favor to the Heavenly Peng King and will discuss matters with the Heavenly Peng Clan myself, without needing to trouble Third Uncle."Seeing his little scheme exposed and that the Jade Cloud Sect couldn't intimidate this demon, he wasn't too bothered. He playfully rubbed his sparsely feathered pointed head. "No matter, no matter. Proceed as you wish; this old man was just speaking casually.""No worries."Wang Yu had a rather good impression of the Northern Demonic Tribes. He also felt that those who owed him were the true masters. He could confidently come to the Northern Demonic Tribes because he believed his own value exceeded what the Jade Cloud Sect could offer. This time, he even dangled his peak-tier Fourth-level alchemy as bait. Due to his years of interaction with the Blood-Eyed Demonic Dragon, he clearly understood that what the demonic tribes lacked was the means to utilize natural treasures, especially alchemists, who were in such a pathological shortage. He wasn't afraid they wouldn't take the bait.The alchemy process would both help him train his demonic essence control, further shortening the time needed to consume the next Blood Infant Pill, and allow him to amass large quantities of Fourth-Tier spirit materials. Whether for refining pills to strengthen foundations, cultivate vitality, or enhance physical potential and control—spiritual pills for fundamental improvement—or for refining spiritual pills that helped mitigate the side effects of the Blood Infant Pill, all would greatly benefit his advancement.Furthermore, both the Glazed Pagoda and the Twelve Phases of Guanghan—one a Natal Dharma Treasure and the other a Natal Divine Ability—required absorbing a large amount of yin-cold attribute natural treasures to enhance their foundations and upper limits. Cultivating the extreme cold power within his Frozen Demonic Essence also consumed a significant amount of natural treasures. For him, cultivating in seclusion within the Northern Demonic Tribes was a win-win-win situation.