"Buzz..."
That day, Elian opened his eyes and suddenly realized that his spiritual sense had reached unprecedented clarity.
Everything within a hundred-mile radius appeared vividly in his mind, from the slightest movement of the wind to the rustling of grass.
"It's done."
Having spent nearly eighteen years in Tianlu Continent, his spiritual cultivation finally underwent a transformation, reaching a level comparable to the Golden Core stage.
With this breakthrough in his spiritual sense, Elian's control over his magical energy and combat power improved significantly, marking substantial progress.
"Time to return."
Elian murmured to himself.
His journey to Tianlu Continent had not only fulfilled his goals but had also yielded substantial rewards. Moreover, he had uncovered preliminary clues about his old enemies, which was a major achievement.
Before leaving, he decided to visit Peach Blossom Mountain to bid farewell to his companions.
After more than a decade apart, the three had made significant progress in their cultivation. Fairy Qingyan had advanced rapidly with the treasures she acquired, breaking through to the fourth level of the Purple Mansion. Meanwhile, Yu Qingyan had also made progress, reaching the fifth level of the Purple Mansion.
Seeing Elian, Qingci poured him a cup of tea and remarked with a smile, "I suspect you've come to bid farewell."
"Brother Qingci, your insight is sharp as ever," Elian replied with a smile. "The Chu Kingdom, where I reside, lies on the edge of the Vast Swamp. The beast tide will erupt in thirty years. To ease the pressure, I plan to return and launch an attack on the demon territories to weaken their strength in advance."
"Attacking the demon beasts' spirit mountains?" Yu Qingyan's eyes brightened.
"Wouldn't that mean claiming unowned spirit mountains after victory?"
"Exactly," Elian nodded with a smile.
"A decisive victory would naturally secure a batch of spirit mountains."
Qingci smiled slightly, sipping his tea.
"I've long heard that opportunities in the Ji Continent are plentiful. Many itinerant cultivators venture there to slay demon beasts and claim spirit mountains."
Elian smiled faintly. In Chu, attacking demons could expand one's territory. But in Tianlu Continent, most spirit mountains were already owned, and acquiring a third-tier spirit mountain required either cultivating it with massive resources or waiting for another Purple Mansion clan to decline.
Many itinerant cultivators in Tianlu Continent ventured into harsh environments like the Tianji Mountains or distant regions like the Vast Swamp or East Sea shores, seeking spirit mountains to claim from demon territories.
Yu Qingyan's eyes sparkled as she contemplated this. Her reliance on the borrowed Peach Blossom Mountain, a third-tier low-grade spirit mountain, was becoming increasingly strained.
Moreover, relying on another's spirit mountain incurred high costs. Despite her wealth, she knew that squandering her resources would hinder her from breaking through to the Golden Core stage.
After some thought, she asked, "I'm considering traveling to Ji Continent to slay Purple Mansion-level demon beasts and claim a spirit vein. Do you think this is feasible?"
"Absolutely," Elian's gaze flickered.
"Chu is in dire need of high-level cultivators. Your presence would be most welcome."
"That's excellent," Yu Qingyan said with a smile.
"I'll travel to Chu with you."
Qingci was tempted as well. War meant resources and rewards. However, he ultimately set aside the idea. Peach Blossom Mountain, cultivated over centuries, held immense value and sentimental attachment, making it difficult to leave behind.
…
That day, Elian and Yu Qingyan departed from Peach Blossom Mountain.
Flying over Ghostwind Mountain, they encountered no significant flocks of demon beasts this time. Crossing the Heavenly Spine Mountains and passing through the Ji and Yan Kingdoms, they eventually reached Chu Kingdom.
Upon returning, Yu Qingyan temporarily settled on Lingyuan Mountain while Elian headed to Qingyang Mountain to reunite with Jiang Linglong.
Having been apart for nearly twenty years, the two cherished a few intimate days together, easing the pain of separation. (Thou shalt not know what happened in these days!)
In the cave abode, Jiang Linglong leaned against him, listening as Elian recounted the events of the past years. He then presented her with the legacy of the Azure Void Sect.
Jiang Linglong glanced through the records, her eyes flashing sharply. "The Azure Void Sect, full of heroic martyrs, met such a tragic end. That Tian Xingzi must not be spared."
"Rest assured," Elian said as he held her close, his voice calm.
"Even if he ascends to the Nascent Soul stage, I will find him and settle this score."
Afterward, he recorded the ancient texts and handed them to Jiang Linglong. She accepted without hesitation, knowing their immense value.
Storing the texts carefully, she remarked, "Do not alert the Qin Clan prematurely. When we act, we must ensure a decisive and overwhelming victory."
"I feel the same," Elian agreed. A Nascent Soul-level family wielded immense power, and any move against them had to be executed with extreme caution.
Discussing his experiences over the years, Jiang Linglong turned serious. "I'm preparing for a campaign to reclaim the lost territory of Yang Region and aim to kill the Azure Mane Lion King in one decisive strike." (Changed the name of the demon king, I like this)
"How do you plan to achieve this?" Elian asked, his expression heavy. Killing a demon king would be a daunting task.
After seventy years of recovery, the lost lands of Yang Region were home to over a hundred thousand demon beasts. To launch such a large-scale campaign would require mobilizing tens of thousands of cultivators, drawing attention throughout Chu Kingdom's cultivation realm and inevitably alerting the demons.
Moreover, the Azure Mane Lion King, both powerful and intelligent, would likely call for reinforcements from Dire Lion King upon sensing trouble and prepare an escape plan.
Jiang Linglong, however, had a strategy.
"To prevent the Azure Mane Lion King from fleeing, I plan to mobilize only elite cultivators above the Foundation Establishment stage and aim for a swift, decisive strike."
"If we can slay the Azure Mane Lion King, the remaining demons will pose little threat," she added.
Elian nodded. Eliminating a Golden Core-level demon king would have more value than defeating countless lower-level beasts.
The Dire Lion Ridge housed only two demon kings. If the Azure Mane Lion King fell, the ridge would likely refrain from fully committing to the beast tide thirty years later, making it far easier for the three regions to weather the crisis.
If the Azure Mane Lion King was not eliminated, Sky Python Lake would eventually fall to a new demon king.
...
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