Dao Ye is going to ascend

Chapter 737 Devouring Insects

The Shadow Demon lurks hidden in the shadows.

Through the shadows, Li Yuan saw a valley shrouded in miasma. Two streaks of light landed one after the other in front of the valley; these were the two demonic cultivators he had been tracking.

One of them had a graceful figure, wearing a light blue, wide-sleeved long dress and a silver veil. Her long, dark hair hung down to her waist, and her jade-like fingers gently held a white jade bell.

He was frowning as he looked at the gaunt young man behind him:

"Yu Guangxiu, why aren't you going to your 'Holy Blood Sect' stronghold? What are you doing following me?"

The gaunt young man took a few steps back, glanced at the bell with slight apprehension, and smiled:
"What are you saying, Fairy Water Blue? The Holy Blood Sect and the Ice Soul Sect share the same roots and origins. How can there be any distinction between them?"

"you!"

The female cultivator's phoenix eyes flashed with murderous intent, as if she were about to shake the bell.

"Junior sister!"

At this moment, another person emerged from the valley. He was a young man dressed in a white robe. He glanced at the female cultivator, who frowned and remained silent.

"Brother Zhao."

Upon seeing the young man, Yu Guangxiu suppressed his smile and bowed respectfully.

This young man in white is named Zhao Wangji. He is the third person in the true lineage of the Ice Soul Sect. He is only one step away from refining the first-grade Dharma Realm before he can compete for the position of true disciple. His supernatural abilities are unmatched by others.

"The Ten Wrathful Realms are no benevolent place; Junior Sister, you must be even more careful when you travel in the future..."

Zhao Wangji didn't look at him, but only gave the female cultivator a word of advice before his gaze fell on a grove of trees in the distance:

"Fellow Daoist, aren't you coming out yet?"

"Ok?"

Han Shuilan and Yu Guangxiu's expressions both changed, and they coldly glanced at the shadowy area.

A young cultivator in a blue robe, with a handsome face and a warm smile, emerged from the shadows: "As expected, I couldn't hide it from Fellow Daoist Zhao."

"Who is your Excellency?"

Zhao Wangji raised an eyebrow.

"My name is Qi Zhili."

The young man cupped his hands in greeting, his smile warm: "I apologize for coming uninvited, Fellow Daoist Zhao."

"Qi Zhili?"

A flash of icy blue light appeared in Zhao Wangji's eyes. He sensed a chilling aura emanating from beneath the green robe. The robe was dark and its energy was mixed, clearly indicating that the person had cultivated an extremely advanced demonic art.

"Senior brother."

At this moment, Han Shuilan explained telepathically:

"This person is a rogue cultivator from the Big Dipper Realm. He must have obtained a Netherworld Token and came to the Ten Wrathful Realms to try his luck, hoping to participate in the Netherworld Selection..."

"Rogue cultivator?"

Zhao Wangji was slightly startled.

Although his Ice Soul Divine Eye technique was not yet fully mastered, it was still quite profound. His earlier startled reaction was precisely because he sensed a threat.

Are there such figures among the rogue cultivators of the Four Realms?

'These must be elite disciples from a major demonic sect…'

Qi Zhili, or rather, the Shadow Demon's body, Li Yuan also felt a considerable threat. This Zhao Wangji was much stronger than Xue Yuming, whom he had killed.

In one month, the Shadow Demon devoured ten fourth-realm demon cultivators.

Those like Xue Yuming, and Qi Zhili, whom he had completely devoured, were even at the peak of the fourth realm. Having received so many gifts, their Shadow Demon Body was already infinitely close to the fifth realm.

The fact that he felt threatened shows that this person possesses extraordinary abilities.

"What brings you here, Fellow Daoist Qi?"

Zhao Wangji remained indifferent, but did not make a move directly, instead fixing his gaze on Han Shuilan.

"Naturally, I've come to seek refuge with Fellow Daoist Zhao."

Li Yuan maintained his smile.

In one month, he killed ten demonic cultivators, but his intelligence gathering did not go smoothly.

These disciples of the major demonic sects all had divine restrictions within their souls, which would cause them to explode if touched. As a result, the only one he managed to devour was Qi Zhili, whom he was currently replacing.

However, this rogue cultivator's knowledge was too limited; he only knew that the Ten Realms were going to hold a 'Netherworld Election,' and knew nothing else.

"Take refuge in me?"

Zhao Wangji couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"good."

Li Yuan cupped his hands and said:
"I had heard about the Underworld Grand Selection before, and came here excitedly, only to find that even a quasi-true disciple of the Sixteen Sects of the Demonic Path, such as Fellow Daoist Zhao, had descended here. Knowing that I had no hope, I am willing to attach myself to their tails."

Zhao Wangji remained noncommittal: "Mo Yunzi and Bai Wangsheng are also in the Ten Fiend Realms, why not go and seek refuge with them?"

"Of course, we believe Fellow Daoist Zhao is the best candidate to win the top prize in this Underworld Election!"

Li Yuan didn't stumble at all, so of course he wouldn't say that he had just randomly chosen two demonic cultivators to follow him.

"Oh?"

Zhao Wangji sneered: "Is it because those two families don't need outsiders?"

'You'll try to cover it up yourself?'

Li Yuan inwardly grumbled, but a bitter expression appeared on his face: "I can't hide it from Fellow Daoist Zhao..."

"Bai Lian and Zhan Mo have always been arrogant, so it's normal that they look down on you."

Seeing this, Zhao Wangji's expression softened a bit: "My Ice Soul Sect does not accept disciples who have not completed their training, but if I join the Underworld, I may be able to take you with me as a protector."

You actually picked it up?

Li Yuan suppressed the urge to unleash a Xuan Yin Divine Thunder on him, but his face showed great joy, and he repeatedly cupped his hands in greeting:

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Zhao!"

"Brother!"

Han Shuilan frowned.

"It doesn't matter."

Zhao Wangji waved his hand. While the two were talking, he used his Ice Soul Divine Eye to observe for a long time and found that this person's aura was indeed that of a pure demonic cultivator.

"come in."

Zhao Wangji walked into the miasma, and Li Yuan quickly followed.

Nestled within the valley was a grand, icy palace, its interior and exterior imbued with divine restrictions. Among its inhabitants were several disciples of the Ice Soul Demon Sect, with Zhao Wangji at the head. "Junior Sister, lead Fellow Daoist Qi to a cave dwelling and explain the Underworld Selection to him."

Zhao Wangji gave an order and led Yu Guangxiu into the main hall.

"Yes!"

Han Shuilan reluctantly agreed, but still did.

Her expression was icy. She casually found a cave dwelling, then tossed a jade slip to Li Yuan without saying a word, and turned to leave.

Li Yuan didn't mind, took the jade slip, and walked into the simple cave.

……

In the Frozen Palace, a spirit puppet serves tea.

Yu Guangxiu, holding his teacup, said, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, rogue cultivators cannot be trusted."

"Unaffiliated cultivators are naturally unreliable."

Zhao Wangji didn't take it seriously: "Those ten fierce beasts are hiding too deep and are extremely vicious. It's always good to have more people to use them. At the very least, they can be used as sacrifices."

"I was overthinking it."

Yu Guangxiu smiled and then said, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, a little over a month ago, my junior brother Zong Xue died and his soul was annihilated. I wonder if you are aware of this?"

"Xue Yuming?"

Zhao Wangji's expression turned cold: "You don't necessarily think I killed Xue Yuming, do you?"

"How dare you."

Yu Guangxiu waved his hand: "I heard that Fellow Daoist Zhao had some dealings with my junior brother Xue. Now that he is dead, why don't you consider my opinion?"

"Oh?"

Zhao Wangji's expression softened slightly: "It's not impossible, but how would you like to cooperate, Fellow Daoist?"

"Fellow Daoist Zhao lured away the blood crystal stones that the Ten Fiends lacked, and I provided them all!"

Yu Guangxiu gave his conditions.

"what?"

Zhao Wangji was somewhat surprised.

Blood Crystal Stone is a flawed elixir, and its price is already very high. In addition, it can lure the Ten Fiends to appear, making it even more valuable to them.

"You also want to capture Shi Li?"

Zhao Wangji narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Which cultivator who comes here isn't aiming to enter the Underworld?"

Yu Guangxiu said calmly, "Ten fierce beasts, ten spots. If our two sects join forces, it shouldn't be difficult to take them both."

"Um……"

Zhao Wangji pondered for a moment and said:
"You need to help me take down one of the Ten Fiends first!"

"This……"

Yu Guangxiu gritted his teeth: "Okay, but we need to sign a 'Demon Lord Contract'!"

"it is good!"

……

……

"The Scene of World Annihilation, the Ten Wrathful Deities, the Underworld Grand Selection..."

Inside the bamboo building, Li Yuan examined the jade slip through the shadow demon's body.

The information in the jade slip was very detailed, resolving many of his doubts: "The Ten Calamities of Heaven were actually the work of the Underworld?!"

The Ten Realms of Wrath are on the verge of extinction because of the Underworld!

To be precise, it's because of an 'air-devouring worm'!
The Devouring Qi Insect is a wondrous insect that only great cultivators who practice the 'World Annihilation Method' in the Underworld can refine. It can devour the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, divine patterns, and even the world itself.

Many years ago, a great cultivator from the Underworld released this insect into the Ten Realms of Wrath.

The Qi-devouring insects merged with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and subsequently invaded the bodies of all cultivators in this world who absorbed and exhaled the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The instinctive resistance of the world's will directly led to the death of hundreds of millions of cultivators in this world.

Subsequently, the Devouring Qi Insects, having absorbed the power of billions of cultivators, surged in power, pushing this realm to the brink of destruction.

"The will of the Ten Fiend Realms, using the scene of the Realm's destruction, forced out some of the Devouring Insects, which evolved into the Ten Fiend Realms cultivators and insect cities I saw before..."

As Li Yuan meticulously examined the information in the jade slip, word by word, he gradually came to a realization.

Whether this world is on the verge of destruction, or the world is on the verge of extinction, or even if the Ten Fiends Realm gives birth to countless strange beasts and the Ten Fiends once again...

Essentially, this is all due to the clash between that great cultivator from the underworld and the will of the world.

"The world's will is driven by instinct, giving rise to the Ten Fiends in an attempt to resist the Devouring Insects..."

The first half of the jade slip described the changes in the Ten Realms of Wrath. Li Yuan continued reading, and the second half was about the Underworld's grand election.

As the name suggests, it means the underworld is recruiting people.

However, this recruitment is limited to cultivators of the Demonic Sect.

"This Underworld Election..."

Li Yuan believes that this Underworld election is very likely for the sake of the 'Heavenly Heart of the Ten Wrathful Realms'!
"Only blood and fire can forge the Heavenly Heart of a realm, but that great cultivator annihilated the vast majority of cultivators in the Ten Wrathful Realms with a single move, yet the Heavenly Heart has not appeared!"

As Li Yuan pondered the information on the jade slip, he suddenly recalled his master's previous mention of the Heavenly Heart and the establishment of the Divine Dynasty.

"Can't the crushing power of a great cultivator temper one's Heavenly Heart?"

"If that's not the case, why would the Grand Master of the Underworld hold this Underworld Grand Selection? Since only demonic cultivators are selected to participate, why allow the news of the Ten Fiends to spread, attracting a large number of cultivators to enter?"

Li Yuan's mind wandered. Although it was just a guess, he felt it was very likely!

"Of course, it's also possible that it's simply because that great cultivator has been unable to devour the Ten Wrathful Realms for so long?"

After considering all the possibilities, Li Yuan was certain in his heart.

Regardless of the possibility, one thing is certain: that great cultivator from the Underworld was neither a Dao Lord nor a half-step Dao Lord, otherwise he could have easily subdued the Ten Realms.

"In that case, we can still make some plans regarding the Ten Fiends, and we might even be able to get our hands on the possible Heavenly Heart!"

"With the Shadow Demon Body as an anchor point, all it takes is one 'Heavenly Tribulation'..."

Li Yuan gradually formed a plan in his mind: "Even if it fails, it will only mean that the Shadow Demon Body dies again, without harming myself."

"Okay, let's do it that way!"

With a thought, he mingled among the demonic cultivators in his shadow form, waiting for his opportunity, while he himself sat in meditation, cultivating his magic power and preparing to build a Dharma realm.

(End of this chapter)