Chapter 1263: The Great Way Forms a Cocoon

Xi Tianjun grunted, his Demon-Subduing Staff shattering the divine general.

His face darkened. He pulled out the divine sword lodged in his chest, obliterating the sword light that had tried to sever his divine bridge, a lingering fear in his heart.

Suddenly, countless Heart Demon Mu Tianzun surged into the chains of his Demon-Subduing Staff's grand dao, attacking fiercely. Xi Tianjun activated his staff, slaying the invading Heart Demon Mu Tianzun.

His expression grew even more solemn. These Heart Demon Mu Tianzun had actually seen through the grand dao patterns of his Demon-Subduing Staff and were deciphering them.

Clearly, the Heart Demon Mu Tianzun had found a way to counter him. Now, wounded by that sword earlier, his strength was compromised. If these heart demons managed to break open his Demon-Subduing Staff, it would undoubtedly be a bloody battle.

The Heart Demon Mu Tianzun jointly broke through the staff's dao patterns and closed in. Xi Tianjun roared, unleashing his full cultivation as he fought desperately.

After an unknown duration, he had slain countless Heart Demon Mu Tianzun, finally repelling the remaining heart demons.

His body was covered in blood, riddled with wounds.

Xi Tianjun gasped for breath. Footsteps approached, and two divine generals quickly emerged from the darkness, drawing near to him. They too were covered in bloodstains. "Heavenly King, we finally found you!" they said.

Xi Tianjun spun around and attacked, swinging his Demon-Subduing Staff to shatter the skull of one of them. With another strike, he killed the other divine general, sneering, "Trying the same trick again? You underestimate me, Xi Muhong, too much!"

He killed the two, but when their bodies fell to the ground, they remained unchanged, clearly indicating they were truly his subordinates.

Xi Tianjun was startled, his face turning extremely grim. He let out a roar from his throat, lifting his Demon-Subduing Staff, and continued walking into the darkness.

From the darkness, screams echoed, whether from dying Heart Demon Mu Tianzun or others suffering a tragic fate, was unclear.

This dark valley seemed to hide enemies everywhere.

The Woodcutter Saint and Black Tiger God were extremely tense. The Heart Demon Mu Tianzun had scattered Yan Yunxi and others, leaving them isolated. Despite the Woodcutter Saint's immense wisdom, he was helpless against these Heart Demon Mu Tianzun.

The master and servant stared nervously into the surrounding darkness, not daring to move.

"Zhuo Cha will find us."

The Woodcutter Saint whispered to comfort Black Tiger God, "Although he always hits me, he actually cares a lot about me."

Just then, footsteps approached from the darkness. The Woodcutter Saint raised his large axe, nervously staring in the direction of the sound.

A Heart Demon Mu Tianzun emerged from the darkness, holding a divine sword, quietly observing them.

At the same time, footsteps came from behind them. Another Heart Demon Mu Tianzun appeared, encircling them from front and back.

The Woodcutter and Black Tiger God stood back-to-back, ready for battle, but both knew this was likely their end.

The two Heart Demon Mu Tianzun simultaneously took a step, their bodies moving as they charged from front and back, their sword lights like waterfalls.

Despair filled the hearts of the Woodcutter Saint and Black Tiger God. The two Heart Demon Mu Tianzun were too powerful; they were no match.

Blood flashed, and the sword light vanished.

The Woodcutter and Black Tiger God opened their eyes, only to see one Heart Demon Mu Tianzun having slain the other. He shook the blood from his sword and silently walked back into the darkness.

Black Tiger God was stunned, but the Woodcutter suddenly realized, "Mu'er!"

That "Heart Demon Mu Tianzun" disappeared into the darkness without looking back.

The Woodcutter Saint frowned slightly, whispering, "It seems it really is him. He's here too."

Sword light flickered in and out of sight in the darkness. The Woodcutter Saint and Black Tiger God followed the sword light, seeing Heart Demon Mu Tianzun corpses scattered everywhere on the ground.

The Woodcutter became even more certain that among the countless Heart Demon Mu Tianzun in this dark valley, there was indeed one who was the true Qin Mu.

Here, he was in his element, unlike them, who were cautious and feared being surrounded by heart demons.

The Woodcutter and Black Tiger God followed Qin Mu in the darkness for dozens of miles, encountering countless attacks from the shadows, but someone always helped them fend off all incoming assaults.

Suddenly, the voice of the Martial Heavenly Master Zhuo Cha came from ahead. The Woodcutter and Black Tiger God hurried toward the sound. Indeed, Zhuo Cha and Niu Sanduo were fighting fiercely, having already slain many Heart Demon Mu Tianzun.

Zhuo Cha saw them and sighed in relief, "Woodcutter, where did you go? We've been looking for you for ages, thought you were dead!"

The Woodcutter Saint laughed, "We stayed put, waiting for you to rescue us, but you ended up here instead."

"Those heart demons set up teleportation formations everywhere. Sanduo and I accidentally stepped into one and were transported here. They actually laid an ambush here."

Zhuo Cha and Niu Sanduo were also covered in wounds. They said, "These heart demons are cunning and very powerful. The Mu Tianzun in Hao Tianzun's mind are indeed stronger than that boy Qin Mu!"

The Woodcutter Saint shook his head, "Hao Tianzun's heart demons are far inferior to the real Mu'er."

Zhuo Cha was surprised but didn't ask further. "It's not far from Hao Tianzun's location. I just heard the sound of a zither and a donkey braying. Most likely, Qi Xiayu and Zi Xi Heavenly Master are not far ahead. Let's hurry. Zi Xi Heavenly Master is no match for Red Emperor Qi Xiayu!"

The Woodcutter Saint looked into the darkness. Qin Mu was likely still walking in the shadows, secretly protecting the others.

Soon after, they finally found Xiu Chong. Xiu Chong was separated from Can Nü (Silkworm Girl), and the creation masters he brought had suffered heavy casualties, with only two or three remaining.

To their surprise, Xiu Chong had already found Yan Yunxi. However, Yan Yunxi and Lü Zheng were severely injured and lying on the ground.

Xiu Chong held her in his palm. Yan Yunxi gasped, "I encountered Bai Yuqiong and was beaten by that madwoman. I barely escaped."

"Doesn't Bai Yuqiong like you a lot?" asked Martial Heavenly Master Zhuo Cha, puzzled.

Yan Yunxi didn't elaborate. "When that madwoman tried to kill me, a Heart Demon Mu Tianzun saved me."

Can Nü rushed over, saying, "I encountered a heart demon who told me you were here."

The Woodcutter Saint said, "That's Mu'er. He's here too. It's likely those Heart Demon Mu Tianzun mistook him for one of their own."

Everyone exchanged glances.

Niu Sanduo said, "He's disguised as a heart demon, mixing with these Heart Demon Mu Tianzun... How interesting!"

Martial Heavenly Master Zhuo Cha glared at him, and Niu Sanduo immediately reverted to his usual honest demeanor. However, he also enjoyed adventure, especially adventuring with Qin Mu.

Finally, they arrived at the place where Hao Tianzun lay unconscious. Countless Heart Demon Mu Tianzun surrounded a large cocoon of divine light, meticulously peeling away layers, intending to breach the cocoon.

They had already opened a path into the cocoon, whose depth was unknown, but some Heart Demon Mu Tianzun who entered never came out alive.

"This is Hao Tianzun's Grand Dao Cocooning!" Xi Tianjun exclaimed as he arrived and saw the scene.

He had reunited with Red Emperor Qi Xiayu, and together they had managed to reach this point.

Suddenly, a cryptic demonic utterance came from within the swarm of heart demons. All the Heart Demon Mu Tianzun retreated in unison and disappeared into the darkness.

Hao Tianzun's Grand Dao Cocoon was now unhindered.

Returned home and slept for ten hours, finally solving my insomnia. The study at home has no heating, and the air conditioner takes four or five hours to warm up. Going outside to smoke, I got diarrhea from the cold. A month ago, when I went to Lu Yuan, I still had two days' worth of drafts saved. Yesterday, after a long journey, I finally used up all my saved drafts, *cries*.