Nine Transformations of the True Spirit.

Zhang Xuancang and Ao Feng left the Spirit Serpent Palace together, and Chen Yuan was finally relieved.

When Ao Qingsong used the alias Gu Hongzi, he would never have imagined that hundreds of years later, a cultivator from the human realm would cross over and kill the five great demon generals.

This also cleared up his doubts. It turned out that Gu Hongzi was not a human cultivator. Only a high-ranking demon general like Ao Qingsong would know the inside story of the ancient war.

Only Ao Qingsong and the white-robed youth remained in the hall. Chen Yuan asked, "To be honest, young friend, we came to this realm to use the ascension passage to go to the upper realm."

"Do you know anything about Golden Snail Island, where the ascension passage is located?"

All four of them turned their gazes to Ao Qingsong. They had already inquired about this matter with the white-robed youth, but he had not left the Silver Moon Mountains for thousands of years. He only knew the location of the ascension passage, but had no knowledge of the current situation of Golden Snail Island.

Ao Qingsong pondered for a moment and said, "Although Jinluo Island is the location of the ascension passage, there have never been any problems, and it has never been valued by the major royal families."

"However, according to the agreement made after the ancient war, each race must still send a high-ranking demon general to guard Golden Snail Island in case anything unexpected happens on the ascension passage."

"But the spiritual energy on Golden Snail Island is thin and little known, and no demon general dares to cause trouble here. The high-ranking demon generals of the eight royal families are unwilling to go there."

"According to custom, each race sends out high-ranking demon generals from its subordinate demon clans to guard the area in rotation, returning only after a hundred years."

"I don't know much about the other royal families, but seventy-three years ago, Sha Chen, the chief of the Bloodfin Shark clan who was affiliated with the Jiaolong clan, went to Jinluo Island to take charge and has not returned since."

Chen Yuan nodded and then asked, "Now that Ao Cang, Xiong Tunhai, and Kun Chenglie are all dead, will the demon general guarding Jinluo Island know about this?"

Ao Qingsong replied without hesitation, "Absolutely impossible! Jinluo Island is located in a remote area and is heavily guarded. It is unlikely that any demon general would approach it."

"Only when the island is attacked will the high-ranking demon generals guarding it contact the various royal families."

"It will take at least a month for news of today's events to reach Jinluo Island."

Qin Wuyai asked, "What kind of grand formation has been set up on Golden Conch Island, and what are its effects? How does it compare to the Blood-Eyed Serpent Clan's protective formation? If it is destroyed, will it affect the ascension passage?"

Ao Qingsong replied, "It concerns the matter of ascension. In the past, demon generals have attached great importance to Golden Snail Island. The island's protective formation was set up by the eight royal families, so it is naturally extraordinary and no less than the Five Elements Universe Formation of the Red Ridge Mountains."

"But for the past tens of thousands of years, Jinluo Island has been peaceful and safe. All the demon generals guarding the island have been replaced by high-ranking demon generals from affiliated demon clans, and the island's protective formation has gradually fallen into disrepair."

"Furthermore, no royal family would be willing to expend precious spiritual materials to repair the array plates and flags."

"To this day, the defensive capabilities of the Golden Snail Island Formation have been reduced to less than one-tenth."

"If any one of the four seniors makes a move, they can break it."

"As for the ascension passage, there is no need to worry. The eight royal families will never allow the ascension passage to be damaged."

"Even if the island-protecting formation self-destructs, its power will spread outwards and will not damage the ascension passage in the slightest."

"If you four seniors are worried, I can go with you and help you break the great formation."

All four of them breathed a sigh of relief. They had gone to great lengths to ascend to the upper realm.

Even after successfully killing the five demon generals, he did not rush to Golden Snail Island, fearing that a misstep might cause an accident on the ascension path, and it would be too late to regret it. He first summoned Ao Qingsong for advice.

Chen Yuan said gently, "Then we will have to trouble you, young friend Qingsong. You have already made a great contribution by stopping Ao Cang. If you can help us take Jinluo Island, we will reward you with wealth and honor and help you advance to the level of Demon General."

Ao Qingsong clasped his hands in a bow and said, "Thank you, senior!"

Daoist Cangsong stood up: "There is no time to lose. Let us set off now, first to attack Jinluo Island, and then to wipe out the remaining six royal families."

Qin Wuyai and Lu Wangquan also stood up. Chen Yuan said, "Please wait a moment, fellow Daoists."

He turned to look at the white-robed youth and said, "Young friend Yin ventured into danger alone, disturbing She Zhelin's mind and prompting him to seek help from Ao Cang and the other two. His contribution is considerable."

"As previously agreed, Mr. Chen will spare the lives of Yin Zhu and the seven Howling Moon Silver Wolves, and bestow some treasures upon them."

As he spoke, he flipped his hand and took out a mustard seed ring, then pushed it, and it slowly flew towards the white-robed youth.

A flicker of life finally appeared in the lifeless eyes of the white-robed youth. He took the mustard seed ring with both hands, spread his divine sense, and found that there was no divine soul restriction on the mustard seed ring, so he successfully probed into it.

The mustard seed ring contains some low-level cultivation resources, as well as several kinds of pills and treasures suitable for low-level demon generals.

Compared to the treasures accumulated by the Howling Moon Silver Wolf clan over tens of thousands of years, these things are naturally just a drop in the ocean.

But for the homeless dogs who survived the war of annihilation, it was a godsend.

The young man in white bowed deeply: "Thank you for your kindness, senior!"

Chen Yuan said calmly, "The Howling Moon Silver Wolf clan bullies the human race. Yin Zhu and those seven Howling Moon Silver Wolves should also have human cultivators on their hands."

"Chen is letting them go this time only to fulfill the agreement, but he will order his men to wipe them out later, just like he did when he suppressed human cultivators in the past."

"Whether they live or die depends on their own fate."

The white-robed youth said solemnly, "Senior spared their lives, allowing the bloodline of the Howling Moon Silver Wolf clan to continue. I am already extremely grateful and have fulfilled my responsibility as the Grand Elder. I dare not ask for anything more."

Chen Yuan nodded slightly: "I will write a letter now. You may take this letter and return to the Silver Moon Mountains. Release Yin Zhu and the others, and then you may end your own life."

The young man in white was taken aback for a moment, then bowed again: "This junior obeys."

Now that all five demon generals have died, the demon race has no power to resist anymore. Furthermore, Ao Qingsong has abandoned the darkness and joined the light, so the white-robed youth has lost all his usefulness.

Even if Chen Yuan turned on him and killed Yin Zhu and the seven Howling Moon Silver Wolves, the white-robed youth would be helpless.

However, Chen Yuan still kept his promise, bestowed treasures upon him, and allowed him to end his own life, which was already extremely lenient.

The young man in white could see clearly that the Taoist Cangsong beside him looked quite displeased upon hearing Chen Yuan's words, as if he intended to break his promise.

Chen Yuan flipped his hand and took out a jade slip. He probed into it with his divine sense and left a few words and his own divine sense imprint.

The Nascent Soul cultivators who remained in the Silver Moon Mountains would immediately know that this jade slip was written by him.

Chen Yuan wasn't worried about the white-robed youth escaping. He had planted a fire lotus mark in the youth's body, which could take his life at any time.

The young man in white took the letter, bowed deeply to Chen Yuan, and then turned and walked out of the main hall.

Daoist Cangsong shook his head, but said nothing more.

Chen Yuan then summoned several powerful human cultivators, gave them instructions, and ordered them to lead Nascent Soul cultivators to besiege the territories of the three royal clans: the Kunyu, the Jiaolong, and the Frost Bear. As night fell, the four of them, accompanied by Jiuyuan Shangren and several Nascent Soul cultivators, boarded their escape lights and left the Crimson Ridge Mountains. Guided by Ao Qingsong, they flew towards the East Sea.

With the speed of a Nascent Soul cultivator, the journey of hundreds of thousands of miles only took a few days for Chen Yuan and his group to reach Golden Snail Island.

If what Ao Qingsong said is true, anyone who comes here can break through the great formation.

However, the ascension passage was of utmost importance, and the four of them naturally needed to see it in person to feel at ease.

Jinluo Island is located in an extremely remote area, with no other island within a thousand miles.

Chen Yuan and his group of four did not make a move immediately. Instead, Ao Qingsong went to visit Sha Chen, the patriarch of the Bloodfin Shark clan who guarded Jinluo Island.

Although he was also a high-ranking demon general, he naturally dared not be presumptuous in front of the Third Elder of the Flood Dragon Clan and personally came out to greet him.

But when Sha Chen asked Ao Qingsong why he had come here, Ao Qingsong gave a vague answer, only instructing Sha Chen to summon the demon generals of various tribes guarding Jinluo Island.

Sha Chen was puzzled, but he did as he was told and invited the other seven high-ranking demon generals to a place, including the demon general who was in charge of the array plate of the Golden Snail Island.

Only then did Chen Yuan activate the Kunpeng True Blood, teleporting to the front of everyone. He then used the Zhu Yan True Fire to wipe out the eight high-level demon generals and bring the great formation under his control.

The power of the Golden Snail Island formation was greatly reduced, and without the Demon General in charge, it was unable to stop Chen Yuan's teleportation technique.

However, he didn't know whether these eight high-level demon generals had other methods or had gone to great lengths to ensure everything went smoothly.

After the eight high-ranking demon generals died, Chen Yuan opened the great formation, and Qin Wuyai and the other two arrived shortly afterward, finally seeing the ascension passage of this world.

The ascension passage is actually a spatial passage, but it is naturally generated by the laws of heaven and earth, connecting the two realms. It is extremely stable and does not require a marker. As long as you enter it, you can reach the upper realm.

There are two ways to ascend. One way is to cultivate to the point of perfect Nascent Soul, which allows one to break through the barrier between the two realms and ascend to the upper realm.

In the early days of this realm, the spiritual energy was abundant, making cultivation extremely easy. Cultivators ascended to the upper realm through this method.

However, a cultivator needs to absorb a large amount of spiritual energy from heaven and earth to reach the perfect Nascent Soul stage.

And once they ascend to heaven, this spiritual energy of heaven and earth will disappear forever.

As more and more cultivators ascend to immortality, this realm loses more and more spiritual energy.

As the spiritual energy of heaven and earth becomes increasingly scarce, it becomes increasingly difficult for cultivators to cultivate. Reaching the perfect Nascent Soul stage is as difficult as ascending to heaven.

However, as more and more cultivators ascend to immortality, the barrier between this realm and the upper realm becomes increasingly weak.

Over time, ascended cultivators will leave behind one or even several extremely stable spatial passages, which are called "ascension passages" by cultivators in the lower realms.

This is the second way to ascend. As long as one is a Nascent Soul cultivator, one can enter the ascension passage and go to the upper realm. The same applies to the demon race.

In ancient times, the human realm was incredibly powerful, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was extremely abundant. In ancient times, many cultivators who had reached the Nascent Soul stage and ascended to immortality were born, leaving behind three ascension paths.

The spiritual energy of this world is in no way inferior to that of the human world. The ancient demon race also left behind three ascension passages, but two of them were destroyed by human cultivators, leaving only the one on Golden Snail Island.

Chen Yuan looked at the entrance to the ascension passage in front of him. It was about two or three zhang in size and located in a valley on Golden Snail Island. For tens of thousands of years, it had been tightly guarded by an array, but now it was exposed to Chen Yuan and his companions.

Through the entrance, one can see that the interior of the ascension passage is grayish-white and chaotic, very similar to the spatial passage beneath the bottomless abyss, but less violent and more peaceful.

As the four entered, Chen Yuan could sense a faint spatial fluctuation emanating from the ascension passage without needing to activate the Kunpeng True Blood, guiding them in the right direction.

The spatial passage beneath the bottomless abyss was unstable. Chen Yuan and his companions faced numerous dangers along the way, including nearly endless spatial storms and void cicadas, and almost died in the void.

However, the risks in the ascension passage are much smaller. Even if one only has the cultivation of the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm or is a low-level demon general, as long as one's luck is not too bad, one can pass through safely.

Ao Cang and his group of five could have ascended to the upper realm long ago, but they stayed in this realm for thousands of years in order to continue to improve their cultivation.

The upper realm is rich in spiritual energy and contains countless rare and precious materials, but it is also far more dangerous.

The Demon General is at the pinnacle in the lower realm, but he is nothing special in the upper realm. The higher his cultivation level is when he ascends, the more vitality he will have, and the easier it will be to cultivate.

In addition, they are also waiting for a second demon general to emerge from the clan and take over the position of clan leader.

This world originally did not only have eight royal families. Most of the other royal families that perished did so because their demon generals ascended to heaven, and the ancestral spirits were not properly distinguished, leading to their decline and eventual demise.

Of course, if no second demon general appears in the clan and they have no choice but to ascend, they will not wait indefinitely.

The previous patriarch of the Shahu clan was a low-ranking demon general.

Under his leadership, the Fiend Tiger Clan flourished, no less than the current Frost Bear Clan, and only slightly inferior to the Flood Dragon and Kun Fish Clans.

However, during the thousands of years that this demon general was in charge of the Shahu clan, none of the clan's high-ranking demon generals could advance to the rank of demon general, but he had no choice but to ascend to the upper realm.

Since then, the Shahu clan has fallen into decline, continuously suppressed by the Xiaoyue Silver Wolf clan, and even faced the danger of extinction.

Chen Yuan and his three companions naturally had no such concerns, but they did not leave.

The accumulated resources of the eight royal clans over tens of thousands of years are enough to tempt even Nascent Soul cultivators, especially the spiritual treasures and divine weapons passed down within their clans.

The four of them entered the ascension passage and, after sensing the ethereal and unpredictable spatial fluctuations that seemed to emanate from an infinite distance, stopped and withdrew.

Chen Yuan handed over the array plate of the Golden Snail Island Grand Array to Master Jiuyuan, ordering him and several Nascent Soul cultivators to guard the place.

Upon learning that this was the ascension passage, Master Jiuyuan, deeply aware of its importance, solemnly agreed: "This junior will do his utmost and will not dare to be careless in the slightest. Unless this junior dies, I will never allow the ascension passage to have any mishap!"

Chen Yuan and his companions were relieved. Now that the five demon generals were dead, the demon race was too busy to help themselves, so no demon generals should be coming here.

Although the power of the Golden Snail Island formation has been greatly reduced, with a great cultivator presiding over it, it is still more than enough to withstand several high-level demon generals.

Moreover, the Fire Lotus Mark within the body of the Nine Yuan Immortal has not been erased, so he will never harbor any disloyal thoughts.

After leaving Jinluo Island, Chen Yuan and his companions, along with Ao Qingsong, did not return to the Chiling Mountains, but instead flew directly towards Fulong Island.

The treasures of the Blood-Eyed Serpent and Howling Moon Silver Wolf clans have already been divided among the four, and now it's the turn of the other six royal clans.

Fulong Island, located in the East China Sea and closest to Jinluo Island, became the four's first target. (End of Chapter)