Upon hearing the fearsome reputation of the Devouring Yuan Demonic Ants, the Eternal Devil Emperor’s eyes lit up, and he nodded, “Sixth-rank Devouring Yuan Demonic Ants, I’ve heard a little about them. They are indeed a type of demonic creature that can isolate Spiritual Qi, but even so, to completely weaken the formation’s energy absorption method through them, I’m afraid it’s impossible!”
“Firstly, the Sealing Boundary Grand Formation draws Spiritual Qi from the Three Realms. The number of sixth-rank Devouring Yuan Demonic Ants would likely be insufficient to cover the entire Sealing Boundary Grand Formation. Secondly, even if they could cover it, the formation absorbs spiritual energy extremely quickly, making it difficult for the Devouring Yuan Demonic Ants to maintain the isolated Spiritual Qi state for a long time. Thirdly, with the Immortal Spirit Realm and Spirit Realm channels not smooth, how can these two places be isolated?” The Eternal Devil Emperor looked at the Black Vulture Devil Emperor with confusion, asking with concern.
The Black Vulture Devil Emperor smiled slightly, seemingly prepared for the Eternal Devil Emperor’s barrage of questions, and laughed, “Your concerns are not unreasonable, but don’t forget, in our Demon Abyss, in addition to the Devouring Yuan Demonic Ants, there are many rare treasures and forbidden Magic Treasures. Regarding the three difficulties you mentioned, we have countermeasures to solve them.”
“Firstly, regarding the quantity issue, I have mastered a secret method for breeding large swarms of Devouring Yuan Demonic Ants, which can guarantee the quantity. Our domain will bear the full responsibility.”
“As for the issue of maintaining the isolated Spiritual Qi state, we will use the forbidden technique of ‘Shadow Barrier.’ This barrier, cast by my Black Vulture clan, can seal off the space and time flow of an area for a short period, allowing the Devouring Yuan Demonic Ants to extend their isolated Spiritual Qi effect. Although this method consumes a great deal, it is worth a try to break the formation.”
“As for the third point, isolating the channels between the Immortal Spirit Realm and the Spirit Realm, that is indeed the most troublesome.” The Black Vulture Devil Emperor paused, looking at the Eternal Devil Emperor and asking solemnly, “However, after so many Years, you haven’t laid out any internal support in the Spirit Realm and Immortal Spirit Realm, have you?”
Upon hearing this, the Eternal Devil Emperor’s eyes flickered slightly, and he frowned, “I do have arrangements, but most of those pawns are low-level Cultivators, unable to bear such a heavy responsibility.”
“How so? I heard that the Nine Underworld Demon Emperor has quite a reputation in the Spirit Realm. Wasn’t he taken in by you?” The Black Vulture Devil Emperor’s lips curved into a subtle smile, his gaze deep as he looked at the Eternal Devil Emperor, exposing him.
“Nine Underworld Demon Emperor? He was indeed brought under my command. This person is quite cunning and unwilling to be just a pawn. However, this matter can indeed be entrusted to him.” The Eternal Devil Emperor pondered for a moment, then took out a demonic mirror from his sleeve that emitted a dark glow. Runes flowed across it, revealing an ancient and eerie aura.
The Eternal Devil Emperor gripped the demonic mirror tightly, injecting Undying Demon Qi into it. The mirror surface flickered with a dim light, seemingly trying to connect to the other end.
However, after waiting for a long time, the demonic mirror’s dim light gradually faded, and it remained calm, with no response. The Eternal Devil Emperor’s expression changed slightly. He tried again, but the result was still the same.
“Strange, how dare the Nine Underworld Demon Emperor ignore this god’s Soul summons?” The Eternal Devil Emperor’s voice carried a hint of doubt.
Seeing this, the Black Vulture Devil Emperor’s brows furrowed tightly, and an ominous premonition surged in his heart: “Could it be… he encountered some mishap?”
The Eternal Devil Emperor shook his head, unwilling to believe this possibility: “The Nine Underworld Demon Emperor is steady and shrewd, and his formation artistry is unparalleled. Relying on the Nine Underworlds Great Array, he is practically unrivaled in the Spirit Realm. How could he easily encounter a mishap? Let me try to contact him with a Soul imprint.”
As the Eternal Devil Emperor spoke, he once again took out the dark demonic mirror. This time, he didn’t rush to inject Devilish Qi. Instead, he closed his eyes, chanted a spell, and quickly formed hand seals. As his incantation deepened, the runes on the demonic mirror began to flicker violently, as if being pulled by an invisible force.
However, at this moment, the demonic mirror suddenly made a crisp “crack” sound. The contract runes on the mirror surface instantly shattered, turning into specks of dim light that dissipated into the air.
The Eternal Devil Emperor’s expression changed drastically. He suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the demonic mirror in his hand, only to see a clear crack already appearing on the mirror surface, as if it had been shattered by some powerful force.
“The Soul imprint has dissipated. Nine Underworld has fallen!”
The Eternal Devil Emperor’s voice was low and heavy, his eyes flashing with disbelief and deep sorrow. The Nine Underworld Demon Emperor, his collaborator in the Spirit Realm for nearly ten thousand Years, had fallen so silently at this crucial moment.
“What should we do? Do you still have anyone useful in the Spirit Realm?”
The Black Vulture Devil Emperor’s expression was equally solemn. The Nine Underworld Demon Emperor’s importance in the Spirit Realm was not only due to his immense strength but also because of his deep roots there. His demise caused great inconvenience to this formation-breaking plan.
The Eternal Devil Emperor’s face was as dark as a pot. It was fine if he didn’t mention it, but bringing it up made him furious. His recent actions in the Spirit Realm had failed repeatedly, the Nine Demon Sect was almost annihilated, and what remained were just some small fries, not worth mentioning. Many of his subordinates who had risked invading the Spirit Realm from the Demon Abyss had fallen one after another, and even his Eternal Clone had been destroyed, leading to a loss of Origin.
Now, even the Nine Underworld Demon Emperor had fallen. The backup plans he had laid out in the Spirit Realm over these ten thousand Years were almost completely ruined. The Eternal Devil Emperor’s eyes were filled with rage.
“I’ll take responsibility for the Immortal Spirit Realm. Let your people handle the Spirit Realm!” The Eternal Devil Emperor took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart, and gestured to the Black Vulture Devil Emperor.
“Oh! Are you sure? The Immortal Emperors in the Immortal Spirit Realm are not to be trifled with!” The Black Vulture Devil Emperor said with a half-smile, reminding the Eternal Devil Emperor. His intelligence was well-informed, and he naturally knew about the Eternal Devil Emperor’s repeated setbacks in the Spirit Realm.
Hearing this, the Eternal Devil Emperor’s lips curled into a cold smile. He understood the teasing in his words, but for the sake of the grand plan to break the formation, he could only endure it.
“Hmph, I naturally know that those Immortal Emperors in the Immortal Spirit Realm are not easy to deal with, especially the Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor, who is even more troublesome. But precisely because of this, it is even more necessary for me to personally act to display the might of my Demon Abyss!” The Eternal Devil Emperor snorted, “As for the Spirit Realm, with the Nine Underworld Demon Emperor fallen, I don’t have any useful manpower on hand.”
“You have quite a few capable hands below you. The Shadow Demon General and the Gray Vulture clan have been lurking in the Spirit Realm for many Years, skilled in stealth and assassination. Let’s entrust this operation to them!” The Eternal Devil Emperor reluctantly conceded.
Upon hearing this, the Black Vulture Devil Emperor nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. Although the Eternal Devil Emperor had a fiery temper, he could always take responsibility at crucial moments.
“I will have the Shadow Demon General and the Gray Vulture clan act immediately. As for the deployment of the Devouring Yuan Demonic Ants and the Shadow Barrier, I will personally supervise to ensure everything is foolproof,” the Black Vulture Devil Emperor said, “I hope you can deal with the Immortal Spirit Realm as soon as possible.”
With that, the Black Vulture Devil Emperor’s figure flickered, transforming into a black demonic shadow, and instantly vanished from the spot.
Watching the Black Vulture Devil Emperor depart, the Eternal Devil Emperor’s face immediately darkened. This time, he had lost face completely. He absolutely had to handle the Immortal Spirit Realm to salvage his reputation.
The Eternal Devil Emperor took out a communication Soul mirror from his In arms, chanted a spell, and quickly formed hand seals. As the incantation deepened, the light in the mirror grew brighter and brighter, connecting to the distant Immortal Spirit Realm.
Soon, a Cultivator with an ethereal aura, Cloud Hidden Immortal, appeared in the mirror.
“Greetings, Lord Devil Emperor!”
Cloud Hidden Immortal’s figure trembled slightly in the mirror, clearly surprised to suddenly receive a summons from the Eternal Devil Emperor. He quickly adjusted his posture and bowed respectfully.
The Eternal Devil Emperor’s expression was solemn, his gaze like torches, and he cut straight to the point: “Cloud Hidden Immortal, I have an important task for you.”
“Please instruct, Lord Devil Emperor.”
Cloud Hidden Immortal’s expression became serious, knowing that the Eternal Devil Emperor never summoned him lightly. If there was something, it must be of great importance.
“The Chaotic Boundary Sealing Formation is acting strangely. The formation’s power has recovered its full strength, very likely related to a Cultivator in the Spirit Realm who cultivates the Chaotic Great Dao. You are to investigate the Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor’s reaction to this Chaos Cultivator in the Spirit Realm. Additionally, find a way for me to meet him.” The Eternal Devil Emperor ordered in a deep voice, each word striking Cloud Hidden Immortal’s heart like a heavy hammer.
“Sealing Boundary Grand Formation? A Cultivator cultivating the Chaotic Great Dao?”
Hearing these secrets, Cloud Hidden Immortal was utterly shocked, his brows furrowed tightly. Completing these tasks would very likely expose his true identity, concerning his personal life and death, and potentially affecting the entire dynamic between the Demon Abyss and the Immortal Spirit Realm.
“Understood, Lord Devil Emperor. However, Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor has a noble character, his whereabouts are uncertain, and his reactions to the outside world have always been indifferent. It might disappoint Lord Devil Emperor to try and ascertain his true attitude. As for meeting him, the difficulty is also immense. This requires your subordinate to personally step forward, this…” Cloud Hidden Immortal hesitated for a moment, his tone carrying a hint of reluctance.
Seeing this, a hint of imperceptible coldness flashed in the Eternal Devil Emperor’s eyes, and he said in a deep voice, “Cloud Hidden Immortal, I naturally know the difficulty of this matter. You figure it out yourself. If you can accomplish this, I will certainly not treat you unfairly.”
“Cloud Hidden is willing to share Lord Devil Emperor’s worries. Please rest assured, my lord, I will do my utmost and spare no effort to complete the task.” Hearing the Eternal Devil Emperor’s anger, Cloud Hidden Immortal’s heart trembled, and he quickly and respectfully accepted the order.
“Very good. I await your good news!” The Eternal Devil Emperor nodded in satisfaction, and the Soul communication mirror then dimmed.
Cloud Hidden Immortal looked at the darkened Soul mirror, his brows tightly furrowed, smiling bitterly as he pondered how to complete this task. Soon, he made a decision: he would first find a few influential friends in the Immortal Spirit Realm to see if he could gather any information about the Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor and the Chaotic Great Dao Cultivator from them.
Cloud Hidden Immortal immediately thought of his closest friend, the Carefree Immortal. The Carefree Immortal was uninhibited and carefree, yet he knew all sorts of secrets about the Immortal Spirit Realm like the back of his hand, often inadvertently revealing shocking news. He was quite familiar with Immortal Emperor-Tianfeng, and perhaps some useful intelligence could be obtained from him.
Cloud Hidden Immortal decided to visit the Carefree Immortal first, hoping to get some useful information from him.
Cloud Hidden Immortal’s figure flickered, transforming into a stream of light, and in a short while, he arrived at the Carefree Peak, where the Carefree Immortal resided.
In the Immortal Spirit Realm, there are seven Immortal Domains and seven Immortal Emperors, with True Spirit Immortals as the main force. The vast majority of them are True Spirit clan members who have achieved Immortal Ascension. The Dragon and Phoenix clans are the most powerful forces, the Qilin clan lives in seclusion, while Cloud Hidden Immortal belongs to the more special Human Cultivator lineage. Although not True Spirits, they also hold considerable power in the Immortal Spirit Realm, ranking fourth.
The power structure of the Immortal Spirit Realm was like a complex painting, with seven great Immortal Domains, each governing itself, yet interdependent, jointly maintaining the peace and prosperity of the Immortal Spirit Realm.
The True Spirit Immortal Domain, as the core of the Immortal Spirit Realm, held an unshakable position; the True Spirit clan, inherently possessing extraordinary Spiritual Qi and powerful physiques, their outstanding members were even able to Breakthrough mortal bodies, achieve the Immortal Dao, and become the elite among Immortals; the Human Race Cultivators, the vast majority Ascended from the Spirit Realm in ancient times and then reproduced.
Compared to the Spirit Realm, the Spiritual Qi in the Immortal Spirit Realm was even richer and purer, a paradise for Cultivators. However, the competition here was also more intense. In addition to the seven great Immortal Domains, there were many Loose Immortals and Earth Immortals who occupied Immortal Mountains and Spiritual Veins, establishing sects and factions.
The Carefree Immortal, whom Cloud Hidden Immortal was visiting, was one of the most outstanding among these Loose Immortals. Although he was not among the seven great Immortal Emperors, his influence in the Immortal Spirit Realm was not to be underestimated.
The Carefree Immortal was open-minded and uninhibited. He and Cloud Hidden Immortal had been friends for many Years, and their friendship was deep.
Cloud Hidden Immortal flew to Carefree Peak, where he saw clouds swirling around the peak, and Immortal Qi lingering, like a fairyland on earth. Soon, he flew to the Carefree Immortal’s residence, a simple bamboo hut.
In the center of the bamboo hut’s courtyard, the Carefree Immortal sat before a stone table, holding a black chess piece, lost in thought. His opponent was an old man with a kind face, white hair and beard, and eyes sparkling with wisdom. He was the Carefree Immortal’s close friend, known as the “Chess Saint,” the Green Phoenix Immortal.
The two seemed to be deeply engrossed in a profound game of chess, completely oblivious to everything outside.
Seeing this, Cloud Hidden Immortal found it inconvenient to disturb them and waited quietly at the side.
After a moment, the Carefree Immortal noticed Cloud Hidden Immortal’s arrival and quickly put down his chess piece, saying to the Green Phoenix Immortal, “Haha, Cloud Hidden is here! Let’s pause today’s game here and continue another day.”
Hearing the sound, the Green Phoenix Immortal looked up at Cloud Hidden Immortal, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He then stood up and went to greet him: “Cloud Hidden, long time no see, your demeanor is still as splendid as ever!”
Cloud Hidden Immortal smiled and returned the bow, “Brother Qing, you’re too kind!”
The Carefree Immortal quickly put away the chessboard, took out a teacup, and greeted him, “Brother Yun, you’ve come at just the right time. I’ve just brewed a pot of ‘Immortal Mist Spiritual Tea.’ Come, come, try it quickly.”
With that, the Carefree Immortal personally poured a cup of spiritual tea for Cloud Hidden Immortal, and the tea aroma immediately filled the air.
Cloud Hidden Immortal took the teacup and took a light sip, feeling the tea aroma permeate his heart and mind. He couldn’t help but praise, “Good tea! Brother Carefree’s tea artistry truly lives up to its reputation.”
The Carefree Immortal laughed heartily, “Not at all, it’s just some plain tea. To receive such praise from Brother Cloud Hidden, I am truly honored.”
The three sat around the stone table, sipping tea and chatting about interesting things.
Cloud Hidden Immortal secretly pondered how to ask the Carefree Immortal about the Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor and the Chaotic Great Dao Cultivator.
The Carefree Immortal seemed to see through Cloud Hidden Immortal’s thoughts and smiled, “Brother Yun, you must have something to discuss, right? Feel free to speak directly. As long as it’s something I can help with, I will certainly do my utmost.”
“Uh!” Cloud Hidden Immortal paused slightly, secretly admiring the Carefree Immortal’s perceptiveness. Then, with a flicker of thought, he steered the conversation towards the Spirit Realm and the Chaotic Boundary Sealing Formation, saying seriously, “Brother Carefree truly understands me. To be honest, I came here to ask Brother Carefree about how to descend to the Spirit Realm.”
“Descend to the Spirit Realm?” The Carefree Immortal frowned upon hearing this, his expression becoming solemn. He slowly put down his teacup, looked deeply at Cloud Hidden Immortal, and said in a deep voice, “Brother Yun, descending to the Spirit Realm is no small matter. Moreover, with the Sealing Boundary Grand Formation obstructing it, the difficulty of implementation is quite high.”
“Why did Cloud Hidden think of descending to the Spirit Realm? This matter is no small feat!” The Green Phoenix Immortal echoed, solemnly reminding him, “The Sealing Boundary Grand Formation is filled with Chaos Qi. Forcibly breaking through will surely lead to death. The risk is extremely high, and you must not act rashly!”
Cloud Hidden Immortal sighed softly, explaining with a solemn expression, “Brother Carefree, Brother Qing, my trip is also out of necessity. My ancestors were of the Human Race in the Spirit Realm. After all these Years, the Bloodline connection with the descendants in the Spirit Realm has faded. However, there is a Legacy item left in the Spirit Realm. This item is crucial to my Cloud clan, concerning the rise and fall of our clan. Recently, through some ancient secret methods, I sensed that the Legacy item is facing an unprecedented crisis. If it is not retrieved in time, I fear it will fall into the hands of evil people, leading to unpredictable consequences.”
Upon hearing this, the Carefree Immortal and the Green Phoenix Immortal exchanged glances, both finding themselves in a difficult position. (End of Chapter)
