The years have passed, a mere seventeen years with a flick of a finger.
Two thousand miles east of Fenghua Immortal City, there is a place called "Cyan Elm Market".
Though not as prosperous as the Market within the Immortal City, this place is nonetheless a crucial spot for cultivators in the vicinity to exchange resources and restock supplies.
Foundation Establishment Cultivators guard it, aided by a Tier Two Array, making it quite stable.
This afternoon, the light cyan protective array above the market suddenly experienced an ominous fluctuation.
In the desolate forest outside the array, three black-robed figures lay silently in ambush, the blood-red skull patterns embroidered on the hem of their robes faintly visible in the shadows of the forest—these were three Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators.
The leader of the demon cultivators was the most robust, with only a pair of eerie green eyes showing beneath his face-covering cloth. In his coarse palm, he clutched a talisman the size of a palm.
The talisman emitted a blinding golden light all around, with the runes twisting as if alive—it was a Tier Two Middle Grade "Forbidden-Breaking Talisman."
Behind him, dozens of Qi Cultivation Realm demon cultivators all had fierce looks in their eyes, some with a string of skulls hanging from their waists, others playing with blood-stained bone blades...
They had long heard of the wealth of Cyan Elm Market, and were just waiting for the array to be broken to commence a massacre and plunder.
"Take action!"
The leader of the demon cultivators gave a low shout, infusing mana into the Forbidden-Breaking Talisman with his fingertips. The talisman suddenly burst into a dazzling golden light, like a golden bolt of lightning, crashing hard against the market's protective array.
"Boom——"
With just one dull explosion, the cyan light membrane of the protective array was instantly torn open, with cracks spreading like a spider web.
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Following closely was a "crack" sound as a two-zhang wide passage appeared, with remnants of dispersing spiritual power still hissing at the edges.
"Charge! Kill all cultivators, seize all resources!"
The leader of the demon cultivators laughed wildly, raising his right hand, and a pale flying sword abruptly emerged from its sheath.
The flying sword was completely refined from the spine bones of a cultivator, engraved with black demon patterns, and emitted a mournful ghostly wail as it flew.
The other two Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators were not to be outdone; one summoned a pitch-black banner, coiled with hundreds of blue-black ghostly shadows—the "Thousand Soul Banner."
The other one flung out a bone whip filled with barbs, still bearing fresh flesh and blood, apparently having just slaughtered living beings.
Dozens of Qi Cultivating Demon Cultivators followed the three Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators, charging into the market like ravenous wolves.
But once they stepped into the passage, their expressions abruptly changed—where were the mountains of Spirit Stones and Elixir Pills they had imagined?
Instead, they were met with a dense, red glow swirling with spirit light, an intense aura emanating from it, even hampering their breathing.
It was another grand array!
"An array within an array?" The leader of the demon cultivators' pupils contracted, as he abruptly turned his head, only to find the passage behind them had long vanished without a trace, leaving only the void shrouded in red glow.
He gritted his teeth and spat:
"A teleportation passage?"
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"It's just a market, how could it have a Tier Three Array? It must be an illusion! Break it for me!"
Before the words were finished, he shook the Thousand Soul Banner in his hand violently.
The ghostly shadows on the banner suddenly expanded, transforming into hundreds of half-zhang tall vengeful spirits, each with a ferocious face and bloody claws, rushing fiercely towards the red glow.
"Rip——".
The red glow was torn apart like fabric, its fragments turning into a blood mist that dispersed, revealing the true scene of the market.
On three bustling streets, the cultivators were already in chaos.
Some were attempting to activate their magical artifacts to resist, some were trying to flee deeper into the market, while others had collapsed on the ground in fright, like lambs awaiting slaughter.
In mid-air, a pale blue bead was swaying, the spiritual light on its surface flickering.
At the center of the market, a beautiful Foundation Establishment Female Cultivator, dressed in a white skirt, now had a pale face. She formed spells with her jade fingers, struggling to summon the bead back to her palm.
That was the "Mirage Illusion Bead," and the red light illusion earlier was set up by her activating this bead. Yet, with her average cultivation, the illusion she crafted could not stop three demon cultivators of the same realm.
"Hahaha! It's indeed an illusion!"
The leader of the demon cultivators laughed even more arrogantly:
"Did you think such feeble means could scare us away? Teleporting the array hub, pretending to be a Tier Three Grand Array, how ignorant!"
"You marketplace cultivators have never even seen a Tier Three Grand Array! Kill them for me! Any who resist, extract their spiritual sense, and refine their bones!"
As soon as the order was given, the Qi Cultivating Demon Cultivators rushed into the crowd like mad dogs.
Compared to the demon cultivators who grew up in harsh environments, the cultivators in the market, who honestly ran their businesses, were like lambs awaiting slaughter.
Scenes of being killed across realms even appeared!
Only to see a Qi Cultivation Perfection Cultivator in a cyan robe hurriedly summon a Cyan Steel Sword, trying to protect his child beside him. But as soon as he swung his sword, he was surrounded by three Mid-stage Qi Cultivating Demon Cultivators.
The demon cultivator on the left summoned a Soul Devouring Nail, which pierced through his dantian with a "whoosh," and the demon cultivator on the right seized his wrist with bone claws, preventing him from channeling mana.
The last demon cultivator drew a Ghost Head Saber from his waist, and with a "crack," the cyan-robed cultivator's head fell to the ground, blood splattering three feet high.
The demon cultivator picked up the head, licked the blood on his face with his tongue, eyes full of satisfaction:
"What a fine head, just right to refine into my White Bone Flying Skull; finally, I have the main material!"
Having said that, he took out a large white bone skull from his bosom, opened its mouth wide, and swallowed the cultivator's head with a crunch!
The other demon cultivators were not to be outdone either, some pulling bones from the cultivators' bodies, some extracting spiritual senses, others skinning the cultivators, taking their flesh and blood to refine into Evil Artifacts.
In their eyes, these cultivators who honestly ran their businesses were full of "treasures".
On the other hand, the mortals, who had not cultivated spiritual sense yet, were nothing but useless ants and attracted no second glance from the demon cultivators after they were slaughtered.
At the same time, three Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators had completely surrounded the Female Cultivator in a white dress.
The leading Demon Cultivator's White Bone Flying Sword hovered in mid-air, the demon patterns on the blade flickering, ready to launch a deadly strike at any moment.
Biting her lip, the Female Cultivator in the white dress let a mouthful of Essence Blood spill from the tip of her tongue, spraying it onto the Jade Shield in her hand.
The next moment, the defense runes on the shield instantly lit up, transforming into a white light barrier, defending from all directions.
She then summoned a silver Flying Sword, the tip pointing at the Demon Cultivators:
"You Demon Cultivators, even if it costs me my life today, I won't let you have an easy time!"
"Risk your life? Are you even worthy!"
The Demon Cultivator wielding the Thousand Soul Banner sneered, giving the banner a shake, sending dozens of ghost shadows pouncing toward the Female Cultivator in the white dress, causing the air to sizzle and corrode wherever they passed.
The Female Cultivator hurriedly urged her silver Flying Sword, the Sword Light flashing, cutting down several ghost shadows, but more ghosts clung on, biting onto her Flying Sword, making it difficult to move.
Seizing the opportunity, the leading Demon Cultivator shot the White Bone Flying Sword with a "whoosh," carrying black Demonic Qi, crashing heavily into the light barrier of the Jade Shield.
With a "crack," a fissure instantly appeared on the light barrier, the Female Cultivator in the white dress groaned, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, stumbling three steps back, her delicate face growing paler.
The three Demon Cultivators apparently didn't intend to kill her immediately, toying with her like a cat playing with a mouse.
The White Bone Flying Sword repeatedly hit the Jade Shield, enlarging the crack on the light barrier, while the ghost shadows from the Thousand Soul Banner continuously consumed her mana.
The Demon Cultivator wielding the Bone Whip occasionally lashed at her limbs, aiming to completely incapacitate her.
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Seeing the Female Cultivator about to collapse, the White Bone Flying Sword launched another attack, targeting her head directly.
At this critical moment——
A blazing flame descended from the eastern sky!
The flame was entirely blue, trailing a long tail of fire, moving with incredible speed, like a comet streaking across the sky.
Before the Demon Cultivators could react, a lofty Fire Pillar suddenly flew out of the flame, fully azure blue, with densely engraved runes on its body.
With a loud bang, it accurately struck down the White Bone Flying Sword.
The moment the White Bone Flying Sword was hit, the Demonic Qi on the blade was instantly burned away, snapping in half with a crack, the fragments falling to the ground with sparks, unable to be activated again.
The three Demon Cultivators' expressions changed dramatically, and before they could speak, the Fire Pillar suddenly split into eight, each landing in eight corners of the Market, forming a huge octagonal restriction.
Between the eight Li Fire Pillars, a blue light net instantly unfolded, with Demon-Burning Fire flowing across it, releasing endless blue flames from the pillars, exploding towards the entire Market!
This Demon-Burning Fire was extremely peculiar; the flames would automatically avoid ordinary cultivators, not even scorching the edges of their clothes.
But once a Demon Cultivator was touched by it, the Demonic Qi on their body would spread all over like oil meeting fire.
One Qi Cultivating Demon Cultivator tried to escape, but the Demon-Burning Fire touched his black robe, and with a "boom," the flames instantly engulfed him.
He let out a terrible scream, his skin sizzling and cracking under the heat, his body twisting in agony.
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In just a breath, he was reduced to a heap of charcoal, with black smoke still rising, all Demonic Qi completely burned away, leaving no trace.
"Li Fire Pillar! It's the Demon-Burning Fire!"
The Demon Cultivator wielding the Bone Whip had a deathly pale face, his voice trembling:
"Fire Divine Monarch, the last leader was burned to death by him!"
The Protective Spiritual Light around the three Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators could barely ward off the Demon-Burning Fire, but they knew in their hearts this Spirit Light wouldn't last long.
The leading Demon Cultivator gritted his teeth:
"Retreat! Break the array together!"
With that, the three of them simultaneously summoned their strongest Magical Artifacts.
The White Bone fragments turned into a black wind, the ghost shadows of the Thousand Soul Banner formed a red-clad fierce ghost, while the Bone Whip turned into a massive black serpent, charging towards the Li Fire Pillar.
But before they could touch the Li Fire Pillar, the flame in the sky suddenly landed, transforming into a flame giant a zhang tall.
The giant was entirely formed from azure Blue Demon-Burning Flame, surrounded by golden runes, stepping on red clouds, eyes like blazing flames, as if the Fire God had descended.
"Want to run? Did you ask me?"
The flame giant coldly snorted, waving its right hand, wielding a Li Fire Pillar crosswise, erupting with even more intense light, suppressing towards the three Demon Cultivators.
"Bang!"
At the moment the Li Fire Pillar collided with the black wind, the Ghost King, and the giant serpent, the Demonic Qi vanished instantly, the black wind dispersed, the fierce ghost turned to ashes, and the serpent melted into a pool of molten iron.
Two Demon Cultivators couldn't even scream before being engulfed by roaring flames, their bodies instantly reduced to ashes, not even bones remaining, only wisps of black smoke blown away by the wind.
The remaining Demon Cultivator holding the Thousand Soul Banner, witnessing this, was scared out of his wits.
He, too, acted decisively, suddenly brandishing the Thousand Soul Banner in front of him.
"Explode!"
The Thousand Soul Banner exploded in an instant, countless ghost shadows carrying black aura rushed towards the Li Fire Pillar, temporarily blocking the flames.
Taking this opportunity, he used a Forbidden Technique, spraying a mouthful of Essence Blood on the ground, his form instantly flashing behind the Female Cultivator in the white dress, grabbing her neck with one hand, pressing on her Dantian with the other, and shouted at the flame giant:
"Fire Divine Monarch! Don't come closer! Withdraw the Eight Adverse Li Fire Array, let me leave! Or I'll crush her Dantian, extract her Spiritual Sense, and let her soul be scattered!"
The Female Cultivator in the white dress struggled to resist, but the Demon Cultivator held her firmly, leaving her only able to look at the flame giant with pleading eyes.
However, the flame giant's face showed no hesitation; taking advantage of the Demon Cultivator's speech, a golden Flame Rune suddenly appeared on its forehead.
With a "whoosh," a golden light shot out from the Flame Rune, at breakneck speed, the Demon Cultivator didn't even see the trajectory of the golden light before feeling a heat in his chest.
The golden light passed through both the demon cultivator's body and the female cultivator in the white dress who was shielding him.
In an instant, both were enveloped by the golden light and exploded into two piles of ashes within a single breath, without even having the time to scream.
When the ashes fell to the ground, there wasn't a trace of demonic Qi left, clearly showing the demon cultivator's soul had been entirely incinerated.
"To die under my Fire God Eye, you can consider it a fortune."
The voice of the flame giant was low and majestic. The Demon-Burning Fire around him gradually dissipated, revealing a heroic cultivator standing eight feet tall.
He wore a red brocade robe, his face was handsome and valiant, with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, he was precisely Chen Yuquan.
He walked over to the ashes, squatted down, and lifted a fragment of the female cultivator's skeleton, which hadn't fully turned to ash.
Then he spat out a gentle orange spiritual fire—different from the domineering Demon-Burning Fire, it carried a faint warmth and softly enveloped the skeletal fragments.
The spiritual fire burned slowly, transforming the bone fragments into white smoke, which was then blown away by the wind.
Chen Yuquan whispered to the smoke:
"Fellow Daoist, farewell. If you cultivate again in your next life, may it be in a place of peace."
Having said that, he waved his hand, and eight Li Fire Pillars simultaneously lit up, completely absorbing the remaining Demon-Burning Fire in the Market, leaving only a faint mist.
After finishing all this.
Red clouds formed beneath Chen Yuquan's feet, turning into a streak of fire, disappearing into the sky as quickly as he had come.
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At this moment.
The remaining cultivators in the Market slowly began to recover from their terror.
A young cultivator collapsed to the ground, looking at the charred remains, his voice trembling:
"Who—who was that just now? Who saved us?"
Beside him, an old cultivator with white hair and beard sighed, eyes full of gratitude:
"You kid, don't even know the Fire Divine Monarch?"
"That's the son of Elder Chen of the Pill Saint. In his youth, he single-handedly battled the late-stage Foundation Establishment Blood Demon, using the Demon-Burning Fire to annihilate the Blood Demon's soul!"
The young cultivator suddenly understood and hurriedly knelt in the direction Chen Yuquan departed:
"Thank you, Fire Divine Monarch, for saving our lives!"
Other cultivators also knelt in gratitude, their conversations filled with lingering fear and thankfulness:
"I was almost drained of my spiritual sense by the demon cultivator, thank goodness the Fire Divine Monarch arrived in time!"
"I've long heard of the Divine Monarch's might, seeing it today truly lives up to the reputation!"
...
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Elsewhere, Chen Yuquan stepped on red clouds, appearing like a streak of fire outside Fenghua Immortal City.
The city defense array of the Immortal City was entirely golden, flowing with spirit light, exuding an aura of majesty.
The token at Chen Yuquan's waist shimmered with a crimson light in response to the defense array, instantly opening a path through it, the fire light rushing straight to the core area of the Alchemy Alliance, the Heart Inquiry Hall.
The cultivators on the city walls, upon seeing this firelight, stood tall and saluted respectfully.
The ones below excitedly started discussing:
"It's the Fire Divine Monarch! He's back! I wonder how many demon cultivators he burned this time!"
"Quite a few, no doubt! These years, demon cultivators have been causing havoc, my relatives outside the city almost got massacred, but the Fire Divine Monarch saved them!"
"All demon cultivators should be burned to death!"
The speaking cultivator was filled with righteous indignation, his eyes showing deep hatred toward demon cultivators.
Over the past decade, demon cultivators frequently caused chaos; within the Immortal City remained relatively safe, but markets and families outside regularly suffered calamities, and news of massacres had long become routine.
Among them were those whose relatives lost their lives to the demon cultivators.
...
Inside the Heart Inquiry Hall, the setting was elegant.
On purple sandalwood tables and chairs was a set of green porcelain tea sets, next to them was a platter of pastries made from spirit rice and Immortal Fruit, which emitted a faint spirit light.
Wu Lingshuang, upon hearing the commotion outside, quickly walked to the door. Seeing Chen Yuquan enter, her face immediately broke into a joyful smile, she went forward to hold his hand:
"Finally, you're back! Sit down and rest, I prepared your favorite Bixia Spirit Tea."
Chen Yuquan allowed his mother to lead him to a seat, showing a gentle smile.
The coldness during the magical combat had long vanished, at this moment, he was just an ordinary son.
A maid brought steaming spirit tea, the tea was emerald green, exuding a fresh aroma.
Chen Yuquan picked up the teacup, took a sip, then picked up a piece of pastry, slowly eating while patiently listening to his mother talk about the household affairs.
Suddenly reminded of something, Chen Yuquan looked at Wu Lingshuang and said:
"Oh! In a few days, it will be father's hundredth birthday. Recently, while slaying demon cultivators outside, I obtained a few spiritual materials, perfect for refining into a gift for father's birthday."
Wu Lingshuang nodded lightly, a smile flashed in her eyes, then she spoke meaningfully:
"You have a good heart, but this time your father's birthday feast is quite lively!"
Saying this, Wu Lingshuang's tone changed, looking at Chen Yuquan with a teasing expression:
"Did you know? Your sister Mochou recently successfully established her foundation and is now engaged."
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"The man is a Foundation Establishment cultivator, I heard he looks quite refined, but from an ordinary family, far below the Fang Family, which greatly displeases your Uncle Fang."
As she said this, she coldly mocked in her heart—years ago, Fang Mochou always looked down on Chen Yuquan, and now she has built her foundation, only to find such a partner, truly "keen eyes."
Chen Yuquan, hearing this, merely nodded lightly:
"It's good that Sister Mochou established her foundation and found a good match."
Wu Lingshuang, seeing his calm expression, couldn't help but tease:
"What? You don't feel the slightest reluctance?"
Chen Yuquan hesitated for a moment, then honestly said:
"A bit of reluctance, but mostly blessings."
Wu Lingshuang laughed heartily:
"You really don't say! Do you think I don't know my own son?"
"When you were little, just because Mochou said, 'I don't like fair skin,' you turned yourself into a charcoal head, causing me to almost not recognize you and think someone bullied you."
"Though your complexion later returned somewhat, it was never as jade-like as when you were little, thus losing the title of 'Jade Prince.'
"You never understood a young girl's mind; in youth, when there was no gender distinction, all they knew was beauty and ugliness; you were even 'fairer' than her, naturally leading to disdain."
"Once grown, when the distinction between genders mattered, who wouldn't prefer a Jade Prince? And again, you were spurned!"
Chen Yuquan, upon hearing this, merely chuckled:
"In my youth, I was ignorant. Now upon reflection, it was indeed amusing. But as for appearance, it is determined by one's heart. Although it began with her, as long as the child is content now, why worry about others' opinions?"
"Besides, whether I am ugly or handsome, how could mother despise me?"
Wu Lingshuang gave him a sideways glance:
"You certainly know how to say nice things."
Then, she put away her playful expression and seriously said:
"Yuquan, I'm telling you seriously, if you still have feelings for that girl Mochou, I'll go talk to your Uncle Fang right now. With our Chen Family's status, with your talent, even if she's engaged, I can still help you win her back!"
Chen Yuquan's smile gradually faded, his demeanor serious:
"Mother, you worry too much."
"Youthful affection is the work of a restless heart, mistakenly seeing familial ties as romantic love."
"With time and circumstance, those ties are severed, and this child is accompanied by the Great Dao alone, which is enough!"
Wu Lingshuang gave him a deep look, seeing his eyes clear and sincere, not a sign of deceit, which brought a sense of comfort and pride to her heart.
She lifted her teacup, took a sip, and nodded slightly:
"Truly, my son is a seed of the Dao!"