Nine Transformations of the True Spirit.

With their doubts temporarily dispelled, Chen Yuan released his divine sense and summoned Cui Yuheng and several other great cultivators into the Spirit Serpent Palace.

The group respectfully presented the confiscated monster materials, monster cores, and mustard seed rings, then bowed and left.

Although they were only the possessions of demon generals, the combined wealth of dozens of royal demon generals included many treasures that would tempt even Nascent Soul cultivators.

However, the four of them did not divide it up, nor did they divide the three demon generals' spiritual weapons and treasures in the mustard seed ring. Only Chen Yuan took their demon cores and put them away.

After all the Nascent Soul cultivators left, Ao Qingsong and the white-robed youth followed Ao Feng in.

He was seriously injured by Ao Cang's angry attack, but fortunately Ao Cang was already weakened and was attacking in a hurry. Ao Qingsong, as a high-level demon general, also had a strong physical body, so he was not in mortal danger.

After taking several precious healing pills and meditating for several hours, his injuries, though not fully recovered, stabilized.

The white-robed youth also participated in the battle. When he fought against the demon generals of the three races alongside the human cultivators, he was met with curses and rebukes from the demon generals.

But he ignored them and single-handedly blocked two high-level demon generals, demonstrating considerable strength and becoming quite conspicuous on the battlefield.

Upon seeing the four people, a glimmer of hope appeared on Ao Qingsong's ashen face. He clasped his hands in a bow and said in a weak voice, "Junior Ao Qingsong greets the four seniors."

Ao Feng and the white-robed youth bowed in greeting. Ao Feng was extremely respectful, his face revealing undisguised delight.

He never considered himself a demon. From the day he betrayed the dragon clan, he had hoped for the destruction of the dragon clan. Although he had not yet achieved his wish, he knew that the four seniors would soon conquer Fulong Island, and he felt happy.

The white-clad youth's expression was quite respectful, but his lowered eyes were indifferent and lifeless.

With all five demon generals dead, the demon race's power was waning, and Ao Qingsong, who held power over the Azure Dragon lineage, turned against them on the eve of battle.

The human race no longer needs him, the Great Elder of the Howling Moon Silver Wolf clan who has been imprisoned in Moonsleep Valley for thousands of years, to deal with the other eight royal clans.

He hasn't taken his own life yet, only because he bears the heavy responsibility of continuing the bloodline of the Howling Moon Silver Wolf clan and cannot die.

After the two bowed, they stepped aside, leaving Ao Qingsong alone in front of the four Nascent Soul cultivators.

Daoist Cangsong looked him up and down, his eyes revealing a hint of scrutiny, and said, "Young friend Qingsong, there's no need for such formalities. Today, it's all thanks to your timely intervention that Ao Cang was stopped. If he had escaped, this battle would have been complicated again."

Ao Qingsong's eyes revealed a resolute intent: "My lifelong wish is to annihilate the Flood Dragon Clan, so naturally I cannot let that old thief Ao Cang go!"

Daoist Cangsong narrowed his eyes slightly: "Young friend, is it really because of your mother that you attacked Ao Cang?"

Ao Cang's questioning of Ao Qingsong could not escape the divine sense of the Nascent Soul cultivators, and even the demon generals and Nascent Soul cultivators present were fully aware of it.

However, Cangsong Daoist was quite skeptical as to whether Ao Qingsong truly hated the dragon clan because of his mother's death.

Seeing that the three demon generals were about to be defeated and the situation was unfavorable to the demon race, he turned against them at the last minute, just to save his own life.

Before Ao Qingsong could answer, Chen Yuan interjected, "Fellow Daoist Cangsong is overthinking it. If young friend Qingsong had only made this decision on a whim, why would he have prepared such a metal-element magic weapon that is extremely effective against Ao Cangsong?"

Daoist Cangsong was taken aback. When Ao Qingsong attacked Ao Cang, he and Lu Wangquan were locked in a fierce battle with Xiong Tunhai.

After Ao Qingsong succeeded, he saw that Ao Cang was seriously injured, but he did not know what methods Ao Qingsong had used.

Lu Wangquan was also somewhat puzzled, but Qin Wuyai's divine sense was always focused on Ao Cang. Upon hearing this, he nodded slightly: "What Fellow Daoist Chen said is correct. It seems that Young Friend Qingsong was prepared in advance. Moreover, besides the metal element spiritual energy, that metal element short dagger seems to have other mysteries."

Ao Qingsong said, "Senior has keen insight. Ao Cang and I are both from the Azure Dragon lineage, and metal-element magic treasures are most effective against him."

"I then forged a top-tier metal-element divine weapon, incorporating the energy of Geng metal and a level-ten demonic core left over from the ancient war, which contained the most filthy demonic energy."

"However, I crafted this treasure only as a precaution, since Ao Cang is a mid-level demon general, and I am no match for him."

"Fortunately, Senior Qin intervened and severely injured Ao Cang, which allowed me to keep him here."

The Pine Immortal's expression softened slightly, and he nodded gently: "A level ten magic core... There are no magical beasts in this world, so where did you obtain this?"

Ao Qingsong said, "I found this in the Qingxu Mountains, the site of an ancient war where countless ancient cultivators and demons perished. I obtained this demon core by chance..."

At this point, he paused, as if recalling something: "When I was searching for treasure in the Qingxu Mountains, I used the alias Gu Hongzi to kill a mid-level demon general, save the life of Fellow Daoist Zhang Xuancang, and even had a friendly camaraderie with him."

"He is the city lord of Ping Le City in the Iron Mist Mountains, and he is also fighting against the demon general in the formation today."

"However, my injuries are quite severe. I was just meditating and adjusting my breathing, and I haven't had a chance to catch up with him yet."

"This junior has only used this alias in front of Fellow Daoist Zhang. If the four seniors do not believe it, they can invite Fellow Daoist Zhang here and ask him."

Upon hearing this, Qin Wuyai and the other two turned to look at Chen Yuan.

Ao Qingsong paused, then looked at Chen Yuan, somewhat at a loss.

Chen Yuan laughed and said, "What a coincidence. The first Nascent Soul cultivator I met after arriving in this world was my young friend Zhang Xuancang."

Ao Qingsong's eyes showed surprise: "Senior Chen also knows Fellow Daoist Zhang?"

Chen Yuan said, "Young friend Zhang once mentioned this matter to me, and also heard rumors about the Tai Xuan Realm from that Gu Hongzi, is that right?"

Ao Qingsong sighed: "That's right. At that time, I had already advanced to the rank of high-level demon general. I saw the records of the ancient war in the clan's books and only then did I realize that the human race had once conquered this world."

"But times have changed. The human race in this world has been in decline for a long time and has been secretly infiltrated by various royal families. Although the resistance has never stopped, it has not shaken the foundation of the demon race at all." "If I want to avenge my late mother, the only way is to take advantage of Ao Cang's high regard for me, seize power, and even become the demon general and take over the position of clan leader. Only then will I have a chance."

"Therefore, I have never had any contact with human cultivators, so as not to expose my plans. Even if I know about things in the human realm, I dare not spread them."

"Later, I happened to meet Fellow Daoist Zhang in the Qingxu Mountains. Seeing his sincerity, I was moved and told him about this, as well as the location of a medium-sized spiritual vein."

"Afterwards, I secretly investigated Fellow Daoist Zhang's whereabouts and learned that he had established Ping Le City in the Tie Lan Mountains, which made me quite happy."

"But out of caution, I did not see him again until today, when we met again on the battlefield..."

He glanced at Ao Feng and said, "However, I am not willing to see the dragon clan continue to prosper, so I took advantage of my position in charge of the treasure vault and the spirit herb garden."

"They secretly condoned the Azure Dragon lineage's demon generals stealing clan treasures and engaging in clandestine transactions with other demon generals to seek personal gain, thus damaging the foundation of the dragon clan."

"Fellow Daoist Ao Feng betrayed his clan because of his birth mother, which is quite similar to my situation."

"I sympathize with him and strongly urge Ao Cang to stop pursuing Ao Feng, so as not to give the other eight royal families an opportunity to cause trouble."

"Fortunately, Ao Cang values ​​this junior highly and actually listened to his words..."

Upon hearing this, Ao Feng showed gratitude and silently bowed to Ao Qingsong with clasped hands.

Chen Yuan smiled and said, "I have also benefited from your kindness, young friend..."

He briefly recounted how he had traded jade marrow mushrooms with Ao Ye through Dugu Sha.

Ao Qingsong was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "It is my honor to be able to help you, senior."

The Taoist Cangsong's expression completely softened, and the scrutinizing look in his eyes finally disappeared.

Qin Wuyai and the other two had all heard Chen Yuan mention Gu Hongzi before. Now that they saw that Ao Qingsong's words were extremely detailed and did not seem to be false, they no longer had any doubts.

However, out of caution, Chen Yuan did not let it go, and said with a smile, "Ever since we parted, young friend Zhang has been thinking of you constantly."

"It was your words, young friend, that made him firmly believe that human cultivators would return to this world, and that would be the day the demon race would be destroyed."

"With this, he strengthened his resolve and led the cultivators of Ping Le City to resist the beast tide for hundreds of years, standing firm and unyielding."

"If he knew that my young friend was Gu Hongzi, he would be very pleased."

He turned to Ao Feng and instructed, "Please trouble young friend Ao to invite young friend Zhang over."

Ao Feng immediately agreed and turned to leave the Spirit Serpent Palace.

A quarter of an hour later, he re-entered the hall, with Zhang Xuancang by his side.

Ao Feng didn't seem to explain why he was invited here. Zhang Xuancang clasped his hands in a salute to Chen Yuan and the other three, then glanced at Ao Qingsong and the white-robed youth, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: "May I ask what instructions you four seniors have for summoning this junior?"

Chen Yuan smiled and said, "The person that young friend Zhang has been searching for all these years is right here in the hall."

Zhang Xuancang was even more puzzled: "The person I've been searching for..."

Ao Qingsong, his face ashen, turned around and stared at Zhang Xuancang. His thin figure looked frail. He smiled slightly and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, do you still remember Gu Hongzi?"

Zhang Xuancang's body trembled, and he turned around abruptly, staring at Ao Qingsong, his voice trembling as he said, "You are..."

Ao Qingsong flipped his hand and took out a mask, putting it on his face. His clear voice suddenly became hoarse: "Fellow Daoist Zhang, do you still remember the map I gave you in the Qingxu Mountains back then?"

Zhang Xuancang's eyes widened: "You are... Fellow Daoist Gu Hongzi!"

Ao Qingsong removed his mask, his voice returning to normal. He clasped his hands in a bow and said, "It's been many years. Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Zhang, on your great progress in cultivation."

Zhang Xuancang quickly returned the greeting with clasped hands, looking somewhat dazed: "I never expected that you, fellow Daoist, would actually be... would actually be..."

Ao Qingsong said, "The reason I concealed my identity back then was out of necessity, and I hope you won't take offense..."

He repeated what he had just said, and Zhang Xuancang sighed, "If you had revealed your identity back then, I wouldn't have believed it."

"To be honest, I, Zhang, also had doubts about whether the Tai Xuan Realm you mentioned really exists, or whether you were just using it to comfort me."

"But over the years, in the face of endless beast tides, the Tai Xuan Realm has become a pillar of Zhang's Dao heart, and Zhang has no choice but to believe it."

"It wasn't until Senior Chen revealed his cultivation level that I realized what you said was indeed true."

"It is just that Zhang often feels regretful that he does not know where his friend is and cannot pay his respects to Senior Chen."

"I never imagined that the day I, Zhang, would reunite with you, fellow Daoist, would be in these very Red Ridge Mountains. Truly..."

He shook his head, his expression suddenly becoming solemn, and bowed deeply to Ao Qingsong: "Thank you, fellow Daoist, for telling me about the affairs of the human realm back then, and for stopping Ao Cang today, eliminating a great enemy for our human race."

"Fellow Daoist, though you are among the demon race, your heart is with the human race. This is truly admirable. Please accept my bow!" (End of Chapter)