Chapter 491: Biyun Falls, The Demonic Alliance

“Since Fellow Daoist Hongyun has a different opinion, he can deal with these people himself.”

With that, Venerable Sword River did not hesitate. He directly swept up Old Ancestor Huangyun and fled into the distance, disappearing almost instantly with the speed of a Soul Transformation cultivator.

Upon seeing this, Demon Venerable Chitian did not pursue. He knew his own capabilities; while he could suppress Venerable Sword River with intelligence, it was almost impossible to stop him. Pursuit would be futile.

Once they seized the four states of Biyun, the Demonic Dao would establish a firm foothold in the northeastern region of the Taihu Spirit Domain. The next step would be to eradicate the Moon-Gazing Palace, located in the middle section of the North-South Divide Mountain Range! This would mark the second phase of the Righteous-Demonic War.

However, Old Ancestor Hongyun, who was unexpectedly left behind, was caught off guard. He hadn't anticipated things would turn out this way; he was a cultivator at the perfected Nascent Soul stage. All his magical treasures and divine abilities had reached their peak. A powerful individual like him, even within the Sword Sect, would be rare, at least possessing the same value as the Grand Sword Master of the Righteous Qi Academy. How could they just abandon him without a word? If he wasn't satisfied with the terms, they could have negotiated! Who just walks away? And to leave him in such a desperate situation? Where was the sense of responsibility expected from a leader of the Righteous Path?!

Upon seeing the ferocious figures of Demon Venerable Chitian and his companions, Old Ancestor Hongyun couldn't help but shiver. Forgetting all dignity, he cried out, “Sword River, are you going to stand by and watch me be besieged and killed by demonic cultivators?! What about your morals, your self-proclaimed justice?! If the Venerables, leaders of the Righteous Path, are all like this, how can they command the respect of the world?!”

This was a question Venerable Sword River, now far away, found difficult to answer.

Demon Venerable Chitian, however, found it quite agreeable. He extended a crimson tongue to lick his lips, a mocking sneer curling his mouth. “Of course, it's about strength. Old fool, you've lived all these years and still haven't seen the true nature of the cultivation world? It's fine to deceive others, but to believe your own lies? That's true foolishness. Such tactics always worked in the past because the competitive environment was within Taihu, where the Sword Sect needed to set an example and uphold the moral order they established. Among those involved today, how many Taihu people are still alive? Even if the news came from demonic cultivators, it would simply be dismissed as malicious slander from those demon brats. No one would believe it, nor would they dare to.”

Such a situation had occurred once before at Kuangmei Mountain. However, during that incident, the people of the Northern Guard Tower were very clear and made no effort to conceal their secrets. Nevertheless, they unexpectedly stumbled, and this matter would have further repercussions. The main factor would be the new generation of hybrid Ice Race members from the Endless Ice Plains. They possessed the advantages of Ice Race bloodline and, due to their human blood, were not limited by certain rules. For them, the longer they had to develop, the better. Once their accumulated power reached a certain level, they would naturally emerge from the Ice Plains and intervene in the conflicts of the cultivation world.

Meanwhile, Old Ancestor Hongyun grew increasingly desperate. In less than half an hour, under Demon Venerable Chitian's brutal methods, his flesh and blood tore apart, and he perished, his Nascent Soul falling into Chitian's hands. His fate was self-evident.

At this point, the battle at Ice River Pass, along with the surprise attack on the Biyun Sect, all came to an end. The northward advance of the Red Kite army would now face no further resistance. The four states of Biyun had entirely fallen into demonic hands. The next issue was the distribution of the spoils of war, which was not difficult to handle. The duration of these phased gains, however, was unknown; how long they could maintain control depended entirely on whether the Righteous-Demonic War continued in their favor. Therefore, Demon Venerable Chitian was very generous. Apart from claiming the Biyun Sect's foundational spiritual treasure, the Azure Sky Biyun Cauldron, all other territories would be equally divided among the various demonic forces. Only by ensuring they gained sufficient benefits on the 'chessboard' could he motivate them to continue fighting fearlessly. If you want a horse to run, you must feed it well. They also needed an incentive; otherwise, given the demonic cultivators' insatiable hunger, they would never be satisfied.

After spending half a day arranging the territorial distribution, Chitian secretly met with the Five-Colored Saint Lord. Fulfilling his promise according to Blood Pill Master's agreement, he allocated the territory of Beiyuan State to the Northern Demon Race. As for Fengzhou in the Red Kite territory, that was another deal made with the Yellow Springs Temple Master and the Blood Demon Palace Master, unrelated to Chitian or the Sky Refining Demon Sect. The same matter, two separate deals, two states!

This outcome already satisfied the Five-Colored Saint Lord; his efforts in convincing the old man from the Heart Beast Pagoda were not in vain. With this first attempt, the Northern Demon Race had secured a foothold. Next, they would establish a sect belonging to the demon race, based on the Northern Demon Race, for the entire cultivation world. This would allow them to attract scattered demon talents from across the land, serve as the Northern Demon Race's external face and platform for exchange, deepen their ties with the cultivation world, and participate in opportunities within various large secret realms. These were the benefits of formal recognition. Isolation was never a good thing; decoupling from the cultivation world was tantamount to seeking their own demise.

The Five-Colored Saint Lord's plans were for the long-term, not just the present. This foundation also required strength to defend, which depended on the capabilities of his other two collaborators. He, too, hoped they would succeed.

The battle at the Biyun Sect's mountain gate concluded. Ice Soul Fairy and others from Cold Blood Peak would first return to Ice River Pass to guard the strategic pass alongside the Northern Demon Race's strong cultivators. There were many repairs and modifications needed, and the next few years would be very busy. Wang Yu's divine sense dissipated automatically after observing the entire process. Although Chitian had publicly pardoned his "sins," it was clearly a smokescreen. The time when he could openly move about in Red Kite was still far off. Located at the core of the Northern Demon Race territory, he would enter full seclusion after this. Even for alchemy requests from the Northern Demon Race, he had materials delivered to the entrance of his alchemy chamber, and they would pick up the finished elixirs themselves when ready. Wang Yu would spend a long period in single-minded cultivation.

Meanwhile, events in the Colorful Cloud Mountain Range continued to unfold. The Heaven-Devouring Rat, having separated from the Azure Sky Biyun Cauldron, approached the Five-Colored Saint Lord and communicated secretly through a sound transmission.

“Saint Lord Lu, this plan of yours was a success. But expanding territory is done through war, developing land through governance, and being a steady ruler is no simple feat either. Once those two demonic overlords you're cooperating with succeed, the ownership of the two states won't be an issue in the short term. But if we consider the continuation after the Righteous-Demonic War ends, a Dragon Demon Venerable who has been absent for a long time won't be able to intimidate them.”

Regarding the Heaven-Devouring King's guidance as an elder, although the Five-Colored Saint Lord was well aware and had already made his calculations, he showed no sign of impatience. The Heaven-Devouring Rat had the Heart Beast Pagoda backing it, representing the older generation of powerful cultivators in the Northern Demon Race, all of whom were veterans who had personally followed the Dragon Demon Venerable. He needed their support for his position as Saint Lord to be more secure. Otherwise, the Heavenly Roc King would be his biggest rival.

He also patiently explained: “Elder Bai, have you forgotten about the Saint Lord's Celestial Palace a century from now? This time, I, the Saint Lord, will personally lead the Northern Demon Race into it. Even if scattered human cultivators and Ice Race cultivators gain a Saint Edict and enter with us, they still won't be our opponents.”

This explanation was sufficient. The Heaven-Devouring Rat also knew that the Dragon Demon Venerable's main body remained in the Celestial Palace secret realm recovering from injuries, and it was most fitting for the new Saint Lord to check on the situation. If all went well, after retrieving the Dragon Demon Venerable, the Northern Demon Race establishing a firm foothold in the cultivation world would no longer be an issue. They could even gain a dominant position within this Demonic Dao alliance, a prospect that filled him with anticipation.

“One link leads to another; your considerations are very thorough. This old man spoke out of turn. Saint Lord Lu, your strategies are countless; truly, you are the lord who will revitalize the Northern Demon Race.”

“Elder Bai, you flatter me.”

The two complimented each other, exchanging pleasantries and laughter. The atmosphere was incredibly harmonious.

As news of the Biyun Sect's annihilation spread, the entire Taihu Spirit Domain was thrown into an uproar. After all, this incident involved one of the Seven Orthodox Sects. Even a force with over thirty Nascent Soul stage cultivators was wiped out under the iron hooves of the Demonic Dao, plunging almost all of Taihu into panic. Discussions about the matter were rampant everywhere. Some claimed, “Venerable Sword River, despite being present, couldn't save them because the Demonic Dao dispatched multiple Venerables; it was an unfair victory.” This was met with widespread ridicule, for when had the Demonic Dao ever spoken of justice? Others asserted, “Venerable Sword River was no match for Demon Venerable Chitian, and was forced to abandon Old Ancestor Hongyun of the Biyun Sect, leaving him to die uncared for, yet still demanded a state from Biyun as compensation.” These rumors were intentionally spread by demonic spies, a tactic specifically designed to tarnish the Sword Sect's reputation. Who doesn't know the adage that repeated slanders can turn fiction into fact? Slandering Righteous Path sects through rhetoric was a well-worn tactic. The Righteous Path sects also had considerable experience in countering this. They countered “rumors” with rumors, deliberately spreading many absurd claims. When truth was mixed with falsehood, making it hard to distinguish, all would naturally be attributed to the machinations of the Demonic Dao. Thus, the Sword Sect remained untainted and pure, free from blemish.

Beyond the uproar among the rogue cultivators in the Taihu cultivation world, the most anxious were the other two of the Seven Orthodox Sects: the Moon-Gazing Palace and the Thunderfire Monastery! Both their sect strongholds, similar to the Biyun Sect, bordered the Divide Mountain Range. However, the Biyun Sect was located at the very edge of the northern Divide Mountain Range. The Moon-Gazing Palace, on the other hand, was in the southern Divide Mountain Range, which people preferred to call the Horned Dragon Mountain Range. Its location was south of the Black Mountain Demonic Land, bordering a region known as the “Bai Ze Territory.” The Thunderfire Monastery and the Joyful Demon Sect were engaged in conflict right on the Moon-Gazing Palace's doorstep, yet surprisingly, the Moon-Gazing Palace did not intervene. More accurately, ever since their defeat at Black Mountain Pass, this force composed solely of women had not taken any action. According to hearsay, this was because the Moon-Gazing Palace's highest-ranking elder, Granny Silver Moon, had encountered a physical issue. While others were unaware of this problem, Nascent Soul cultivators in Taihu could guess at it. It was likely an issue with her rejuvenation cultivation technique as she approached the end of her lifespan. Falling into premature slumber or prematurely losing power would be a severe blow to the Moon-Gazing Palace. Their foundational strength was even slightly weaker than that of the Biyun Sect. With Granny Silver Moon as their only perfected Nascent Soul cultivator, adopting a defensive strategy was only natural. However, they had more Nascent Soul stage cultivators overall, and their sect's territory was not extensive, allowing them to concentrate their forces for defense. When the news of the Biyun Sect spread, they were naturally the most worried.

Anyone with a modicum of strategic foresight could see that the Moon-Gazing Palace's location was like a nail driven into the soft underbelly of the demonic cultivators. Before this nail was removed, rashly advancing the front lines would leave them vulnerable to attacks from the rear. Therefore, the Moon-Gazing Palace would become a thorn in the side of the demonic cultivators. Previously, their isolation could be ignored, even welcomed, but now, with the implementation of strategic deployments, they had to be eradicated!

Moon-Gazing Palace, Council Hall.

Granny Silver Moon needed to sleep as a child for sixty years before she could awaken and fully recover her peak strength. Currently, her granddaughter, Fairy Star Moon, was in charge of overall affairs. At the peak of the eighth level of the Nascent Soul stage, she was the current Palace Master of Moon-Gazing Palace!

Facing such immense pressure, Star Moon showed no emotion on her face, calmly outlining the countermeasures: “Henceforth, the palace will only focus on three matters. Everyone must prioritize these three tasks above their own lives.

“First, Elder Nanshao will lead a team of attendants to the Southern Demon Territory to forge an alliance with the Tiger Clan. In exchange for Bailu State, under the Moon-Gazing Palace's jurisdiction, we will request them to dispatch powerful cultivators to guard this state.”

The brilliance of this plan lay in granting the state. The Tiger Clan would undoubtedly defend it with all their might, as it concerned their own interests, allowing the Moon-Gazing Palace to consolidate its strength further. As for the cost of the territory, they could simply breach the agreement afterward. The Sword Sect would not permit Taihu territory to be occupied by the demon race. Fairy Star Moon's strategic vision also extended beyond the Righteous-Demonic War, believing, like the Nether Mountain Sect, that the Sword Sect would still prevail. Such a breach of contract would be framed as “forced.” A win-win situation.

“Second, disciples and elders within the sect will invite their Dao companions, families, and first-rate sects to establish a defensive line in Furong State, promising them feudal territories as compensation afterward.”

The Moon-Gazing Palace only possessed three states. By arranging two states in this manner, they would only need to defend Yue State, where their sect was located, greatly reducing their pressure. Moreover, as a sect composed of women, their Dao companions constituted a powerful force that should be properly utilized. It was easy to grant territory, and not difficult to reclaim it. In short, they needed to hold their ground first.

“Third, mobilize the entire sect's strength to set up the Divine Bow Immortal-Breaking Formation in Yue State. If necessary, I, the Palace Master, will sacrifice myself to exchange lives with a demonic overlord!”

The three directives were systematically relayed. Though doubts lingered in their hearts, everyone resolutely carried out the orders, reserving their questions for private inquiry. This revealed the difference between them and the Biyun Sect. The cohesion and unity of Righteous Path cultivators were somewhat evident in them, but whether this level of response would be sufficient remained to be seen.

As for the Thunderfire Monastery, it was located at the southernmost tip of the Horned Dragon Mountain Range, bordering the Ancient Barren Plains. Its history was ancient, rumored to be a lineage from primordial times, though its authenticity was questionable. It had endured several periods of near destruction. Currently, it boasted four perfected Nascent Soul cultivators and hundreds of thousands of elite cultivators, fighting the Joyful Demon Sect to a standstill, even maintaining a slight upper hand. Its comprehensive strength was sufficient to rank among the top three of the Seven Orthodox Sects. Their sense of urgency was far less acute than that of the Moon-Gazing Palace. After receiving the news about the Biyun Sect, they showed almost no reaction, continuing to fight fiercely with the Joyful Demon disciples, like outsiders.

Half a year later.

Shuiyun State, Shuiyun Immortal Capital.

The manifested Yellow Springs disappeared once more, all its power consumed by the Yellow Springs Temple Master, who broke through the Soul Transformation bottleneck using a secret technique. Now, after this metamorphosis, he could truly be called—Venerable Yellow Springs!

Coincidentally, the Blood Demon Palace Master, in Fengzhou City, also achieved a breakthrough akin to extreme sublimation. With his spirit-body level aptitude, he forcibly broke through, and after absorbing a large amount of ancient demonic essence blood, successfully reached the Soul Transformation stage. He could also be called—Blood Demon Venerable! Of course, calling him the Blood Demon Attendant might be more accurate...