Chapter 70

Chapter 70

The moment Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao emerged from Tianling Peak, they received a voice transmission talisman from their sect master, summoning them to Tianyun Peak.

Abandoning their initial plan to return to Jujue Peak for rest, the two changed course and headed for Tianyun Peak.

Upon arriving at the grand hall on Tianyun Peak, they found not only the sect master and his wife present, but also their senior sister Qin Hongdao, second senior brother Yi Xuan, and third senior brother Sheng Yunshen. This gathering clearly indicated an important matter.

Seeing them, Sheng Yunshen was exceptionally delighted. "Little Junior Brother, Little Junior Sister, you're here." As he spoke, he greeted Wen Tuzi, who was perched on Wen Qiao's shoulder. "Wen Tuzi, long time no see. Want some spirit pills?"

Wen Tuzi obligingly opened its mouth to catch the spirit pill that Sheng Yunshen flicked its way.

It wouldn't hurt to eat for free.

The others' gazes fell upon them, quickly discerning their current cultivation levels.

Two years had passed since Sheng Yunshen was cured of his poison.

During this period, Ning Yuzhou set aside all other trivial matters and focused earnestly on cultivation with Wen Qiao, striving to elevate their skills. Now, Wen Qiao had reached the middle stage of the Primordial Pulse Realm, Ning Yuzhou the middle stage of the Primordial Martial Realm, and the mutated beast, Wen Tuzi, had advanced to the late stage of the eighth rank.

At Crimson Heaven Sect, outer sect disciples had to advance to the Primordial Martial Realm before they could become inner sect disciples.

Although Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou were personally taken in as direct disciples by the sect master, they were not bound by the same rules as ordinary disciples. However, they couldn't be complacent either. Thus, during these two years, everyone encouraged them to focus on cultivation and improve their skills before attending to other matters. Even Fei Yubai dared not easily disturb Ning Yuzhou, who was secluded in his training on Lingyun Peak.

Seeing the progress in both of their cultivations, Sheng Zhenhai and his wife were highly satisfied.

"Yuzhou, Ah Cuo, please sit," said Sheng Zhenhai.

After paying their respects to their elders and greeting their senior fellow disciples, the two finally took their seats.

Sheng Yunshen, being impatient, urged, "Dad, Mom, Junior Brother and Junior Sister are here. If you have something to say, let's get it over with."

Sheng Zhenhai shot him a glare before stroking his short beard and saying, "Yuzhou, Ah Cuo, you've been in the sect for two years now and have been diligently cultivating. Your cultivation has reached the minimum requirement for sect missions. With the Sealed Demon Secret Realm opening soon, I wish to send you and your fellow disciples inside."

"The Sealed Demon Secret Realm?" Both of them were puzzled.

Sheng Yunshen, always quick to speak, explained, "The Sealed Demon Secret Realm is a mystic realm used by the Three Sects, Four Gates, and Five Clans to train their disciples. Legend has it that tens of thousands of years ago, a powerful demon led countless evil creatures to wreak havoc across the Continent. It was only after a grand ancestor at the peak of the Origin Sage Realm sacrificed himself that the demon was finally defeated and sealed away..."

With his explanation, Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou quickly grasped the origins of the Sealed Demon Secret Realm.

It turned out that the mystic realm was not named the Sealed Demon Mystic Realm but was an ancient, resource-rich realm left behind from the past. It had once served as a joint training and competition ground for disciples from various factions across the Holy Martial Continent.

However, tens of thousands of years ago, a powerful demonic force suddenly emerged, bringing calamity upon the entire Holy Martial Continent and sparking a great war between the righteous cultivators and demons across the land.

This battle raged on for a century, finally ending with the sacrifice of the Holy Martial Continent's sole Essence Sage cultivator. The demon's corpse, along with its hundreds of thousands of followers, were sealed within that ancient mystic realm.

Not only did this conflict severely weaken the Holy Martial Continent, but it also resulted in the loss of that ancient mystic realm.

Despite the demon's death, its corpse remained incorruptible, impervious to any attempts at destruction. Moreover, the corpse emitted a dark fog akin to deathly aura, known as demonic mist and death energy. These corrupting energies contaminated the continent's vital essence, causing countless cultivators who inadvertently inhaled them to nearly fall into demonic corruption.

With no other choice, several dozen Essence Emperor cultivators were forced to seal the demon's corpse within the ancient mystic realm, isolating it from the rest of the continent. This decision was made out of necessity by the cultivators of the Holy Martial Continent.

No other mystic realm could match the sealing power of that ancient one, capable of isolating the demon's influence. Although they were reluctant to abandon the precious resources within the ancient realm, there was no viable alternative under the circumstances.

Over time, people began referring to that ancient mystic realm, which imprisoned the demon's corpse and hundreds of thousands of its followers, as the Sealed Demon Mystic Realm.

It was originally assumed that the matter had been resolved. However, after tens of thousands of years, one day, the high-ranking cultivators of the Holy Martial Continent discovered that the spatial barrier of the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm was beginning to weaken.

At that time, all factions sent their high-ranking cultivators to investigate. Little did they expect that this investigation would shock them greatly.

It turned out that after the ancestors of the Holy Martial Continent sealed the demonic corpses and their followers into the mystic realm, the environment within had been altered by the demonic aura and death energy emitted by the corpses. It had transformed into a pseudo-Demonic Realm, resembling an actual Demonic Domain. Only a few scattered locations, due to their unique terrain and natural barriers, managed to preserve their original essence energy, turning into havens.

Not only that, the followers of those demons thrived and cultivated in such an environment, increasing their strength. The number of demons also grew. If ignored, these demons might eventually flourish, giving birth to another powerful demonic overlord capable of breaking through the spatial seal of the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm and wreaking havoc once again on the Holy Martial Continent.

Despite the passage of tens of thousands of years since that great battle, the records left behind by various sects and clans attested to the devastation it had caused. Countless outstanding cultivators perished, half of the Central Continent fell, and even the sole Origin Saint Realm cultivator of the entire continent met their end.

If those demons were allowed to break free from their seals, the consequences would be unimaginable.

As a result, each faction dispatched their high-ranking cultivators into the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm to exterminate the matured demons. Those fledgling demons that hadn't reached significant power hid deep within the mystic realm, near the sealed demonic corpses. Due to the overwhelming demonic aura and death energy in that area, cultivators couldn't approach, forcing them to reluctantly abandon the pursuit.

However, as long as the demons weren't completely eradicated, they would inevitably grow stronger someday, leveraging the environment of the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm, and return. The problem remained unresolved.

The upper echelons of various factions gathered once more to discuss a solution. Eventually, they reached a consensus: every ten years, the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm would be opened, allowing elite disciples from all sects and clans to enter and slay the demons.

Later on, the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm became a joint training ground and competition for the disciples of the Three Sects, Four Gates, and Five Clans. Success was measured by the number of demons slain and the acquisition of Demon Spirit Pearls.

Aside from being a training ground, the Demonic Sealing Mystic Realm also held countless invaluable resources.

Although it had transformed into a pseudo-Demonic Realm, there were still uncontaminated sanctuaries within, replete with cultivation resources.

After understanding the nature of the Demonic Sealing Mystic Realm's trials, Wen Qiao asked, "Master, since my husband is only at the Primordial Martial Realm, can he enter?"

Upon hearing her question, everyone couldn't help but feel a pang in their hearts.

Her question was indeed pragmatic, revealing that the young lady still prioritized her husband's well-being above all else.

"Any disciple who has reached the Primordial Martial Realm or above can enter," Sheng Zhenhai replied. "This time, your Second Senior Brother will lead you all in."

Wen Qiao then asked, "What about Eldest Senior Sister?"

Qin Hongdao lamented, "Each sect has its rules. Cultivators at the Yuan Zong Realm or above are not allowed to enter."

Thus, cultivators who could enter the Demonic Sealing Mystic Realm for training were those whose cultivation lied between the Primordial Martial and Yuan Zong Realms.

There was a reason behind this decision. Cultivators who reached the Primordial Martial Realm had just begun their journey on the path of cultivation, while those above the Yuan Zong Realm were considered advanced cultivators. Entering the Demonic Sealing Mystic Realm would hold little benefit for them.

Upon receiving a clear answer from Wen Qiao, she fell silent.

Sheng Zhenhai saw the young lady not speaking and secretly wiped his sweat, always fearing that his straightforward and obedient disciple would ask something that would make him feel stifled.

During their two years as master and disciple, Sheng Zhenhai had grasped the personalities of his two apprentices. His youngest disciple, Ah Chuo, was the most well-behaved and compliant, but when straightforward, she could leave people rolling their eyes. As for Ning Yuzhou, apart from his slow cultivation progress, he was too extraordinary in other aspects, making people subconsciously avoid provoking him or making decisions for him. They could only silently follow his preferences.

Thus, despite Ah Chuo's tendency to be blunt, Sheng Zhenhai still preferred consulting her on matters.

"Set off for the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm in a month. This month is for your preparations," Sheng Zhenhai said, turning to Qin Hongdao and the others. "Explain to Yuzhou and Ah Chuo the precautions for entering the Mystic Realm, as well as what they need to prepare. They can retrieve the items at the storage house on Heavenly Cloud Peak."

"Yes, Master."

The group of fellow disciples left Heavenly Cloud Peak and headed to Snow Blade Peak for their customary meal.

On Snow Blade Peak's summit, numerous spirit wines were buried year after year, all part of Qin Hongdao's collection. Whenever he went out for practice, if he came across good spirit wines, he would buy them and bury them at the peak. If his junior siblings wanted to drink, they could dig them up themselves. What spirit wine they found depended on their luck.

This treasure hunt-like activity was much enjoyed by Sheng Yunshen and Wen Qiao, who would always dig for spirit wines whenever they visited.

When Wen Qiao and Sheng Yunshen reached the summit, they began digging for spirit wines.

Among them, Wuntutu was the fastest. After all, rabbits were known for their digging skills; one claw stroke, and a hole would be dug.

"Slow down, Wuntutu! Leave some for us!" Sheng Yunshen wailed in agony.

The trio of two men and one rabbit excavated more than ten jars of Spirit Wine, along with various delectable foods. They sat together, feasting and conversing.

"In the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm, the most prevalent substances are demonic auras and deathly auras. As cultivators, we cannot absorb these, nor should we, as they can damage our meridians and contaminate our physical bodies, leading to disastrous consequences. If engaged in perilous battles there without prompt replenishment of Essence Energy, the outcome would be unimaginable."

"Therefore, your first priority should be obtaining something that can replenish Essence Energy, whether it's a Spirit Pill or a Spirit Tool. Second, you must have a map of the periphery of the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm, ideally with notations of the locations of the purified areas..."

Purified areas were spaces within the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm that remained untouched by demonic and deathly auras, shielded by barriers. They varied in size and served as havens for cultivators to rest and recover.

"Lastly, anything that can ward off evil and purify demonic and deathly auras would be advantageous. I've heard that the Unity Sect has forged a few defensive artifacts capable of isolating cultivators from demonic auras. Unfortunately, they're difficult to craft and not readily available for purchase."

At this point, Qin Hongdao sighed, casting a worried glance at his junior siblings. They were as fresh and lively as sprouting spiritual herbs, and he feared they might wilt after their experience.

On the Holy Martial Continent, the three major sects stood in parallel: the Qingyun Sect excelled in alchemy, the Unity Sect in artifact refinement, while the Crimson Heaven Sect was renowned for its martial prowess. Each had its strengths and weaknesses.

Each time they entered the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm, Qingyun Sect disciples had an abundance of Spirit Essence replenishing pills, Unity Sect could rely on their spirit artifacts for defense, whereas Crimson Heaven Sect disciples truly fought with all their might, as they lacked the luxury of abundant spirit pills and artifacts; what else could they do but fight hard?

It was precisely due to this tenacity of Crimson Heaven Sect disciples that their martial prowess surpassed the other two sects.

Of course, this only applied to the three sects. Among the remaining Four Gates and Five Clans, there were also many who excelled in alchemy, talismans, artifacts, and formations.

Qin Hongdao dutifully explained the key points to watch out for in the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm to his two junior siblings, "…In short, just strive to come back alive. If you encounter anyone who doesn't know their place, don't hold back, just fight until they submit."

After all, the mystic realm was sealed; who would know what happened inside? There was ample room for maneuvering.

Wen Qiao obediently acknowledged.

Ning Yuzhou smiled and said, "Senior Sister, I understand how to prepare now."

Ning Yuzhou was always one to have a plan in mind. After Qin Hongdao's explanation, he was no longer concerned and continued to enjoy the feast with them.

After the gathering, Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou returned to Jade Verdant Peak to prepare for their departure in a month's time.

Ning Yuzhou became busy once again.

Wen Qiao discovered that Ning Yuzhou had taken care of all the preparations, leaving her with nothing to do. So, she busied herself tidying up their space and nurturing spirit herbs to assist him.

***

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

On the day of departure, all the disciples heading to the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm gathered in the plaza before the sect's main gate.

Fifty inner sect disciples from Crimson Heaven Sect were chosen for this mission, all of them being elite disciples from various peaks.

Due to the high risks involved in the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm, only the elites from each faction were sent in, with limited numbers and a duration of half a month.

Sheng Zhenhai stood at the plaza, observing the disciples from different peaks. Their cultivation levels varied, with Yi Xuan and Feng Rujian, the senior disciple of Tianjian Peak, being the highest. The duo would lead this group into the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm for their training.

After delivering his customary encouraging words, Sheng Zhenhai was about to send them off when he noticed a hurried rush of disciples from Heavenly Spirit Peak.

Heavenly Spirit Peak was known for its group of delicate alchemists who usually avoided such perilous expeditions. The appearance of these disciples puzzled the crowd.

Approaching Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao, the Heavenly Spirit Peak disciple handed over a storage bag. "Junior Brother Ning, Little Junior Sister, we've heard you're embarking on the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm training. This is a gift of spirit pills prepared by our peak master for you two."

Wen Qiao: "…No need."

"A must, this is our Peak Lord's sincere gesture. You two must come out in one piece," the Heavenly Spirit Peak disciple insisted, pushing the gift into Wen Qiao's hands before darting away like a rabbit, leaving no room for refusal.

Why give it to Wen Qiao?

Well, this junior sister was both obedient and gentle, appearing more approachable than Ning Yuzhou, the alchemist who was on friendly terms with their Peak Lord. The disciples of Heavenly Cloud Peak maintained a discreet silence, hiding the fact that their junior sister could shatter Void Clearing Stones with a single punch to preserve her adorable image.

Every cultivator in Crimson Heaven Sect had a dream of having a junior sister like Wen Qiao, whose presence fulfilled their fantasies. Thus, they kept the truth to themselves, preserving the illusion.

Enviously, the disciples from other peaks watched Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao, wondering why they weren't so fortunate as to catch the attention of the Heavenly Spirit Peak's Peak Lord.

Sheng Zhenhai cleared his throat. "Alright, let's set off."

With that, he tossed a flying boat – a celestial-grade vehicle – inviting the disciples aboard before heading towards the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm.

Aside from the Sect Master, three other Peak Lords were accompanying them on this trip: from Tianjian Peak, Tianqi Peak, and Tianzheng Peak. These three represented the Crimson Heaven Sect and would collaborate with representatives from other sects to oversee the training in the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm.

Five days later, the flying boat reached the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm.

The Sealed Demon Realm lies in the northernmost reaches of a desolate wasteland. In this stark landscape, bare pebbles and sand shift in the biting winds, while dry gusts of sand slap against one's face.

It is said that tens of thousands of years ago, this place was abundant with spiritual herbs and served as a habitat for numerous demonic cultivators. However, after an epic battle between an Origin Saint Realm ancestor and an evil fiend, the fiend's corpse littered the area, its demonic aura and death energy contaminating the land, turning it into the lifeless scene that it is today.