In those years when I was a mortal and a demon

In terms of both size and prosperity, Jitian City ranks among the top five in the Ancient Demon Realm.

Rumor has it that there are dozens of demon lords in this city alone.

This scale and prosperity are thanks to the Six Extremes Ancestor, one of the three newly emerged progenitors.

As her main city, Jitian City not only boasts a cultivation speed more than twice that of other places in the Ancient Demon Realm, but also enjoys abundant resources. The city is teeming with various cultivation secrets and rare treasures, attracting countless demon cultivators.

At the heart of the entire Jitian City lies the towering Jitian Mountain, which stands tens of thousands of feet tall. At its highest peak, Jitian Peak, stands a magnificent and imposing demon palace, known as the 'Holy Palace'.

However, it is rumored that the Six Extremes Saint Ancestor is not actually within the Holy Palace. Only an avatar of hers and a few disciples reside there. Her true form lies in the continuous mountain ranges outside Extreme Heaven City, the exact location of which even her disciples do not know.

One day, in a side hall within the Holy Palace, a woman wearing a black veil was sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed. Suddenly, as if sensing something, she opened her eyes: "What is it?"

"Reporting to Seventh Miss, a venerable senior outside the palace claims to be an old acquaintance of yours and has sent you a gift." A clear female voice rang out from outside the palace. After a pause, she carefully added, "Senior Huan has already checked it, and the gift is fine."

Upon hearing this, a hint of displeasure flashed across the woman in black veil.

"Let's see what it is."

Having said that, she raised her hand and waved it open. The palace door slowly opened, and a maidservant walked in carrying an exquisite box, which she respectfully placed in front of her.

Inside the box was a token.

But the woman in the black veil's expression changed upon seeing this, and she asked in disbelief, "You said this was sent by a venerable senior?"

"Yes, Senior Huan is currently entertaining him."

"What does it look like? What's it called?"

"That senior claimed his surname was Feng and that he came from a branch of the Azure Wing Clan."

"Surname Feng, Qingyi Clan?" The woman in black veil pondered for a moment.

"lead the way."

......

Led by a maid, the woman in black veil quickly arrived at a corner of the Holy Palace, where there was a two-story pavilion.

As they flew closer, through the half-open window, they saw two figures sitting opposite each other, seemingly having a pleasant conversation.

One was a burly man in black armor, and the other was a creature with wings on its back and a crocodile-like head.

Seemingly sensing someone approaching, the two people in the attic looked out the window together.

Upon discovering that it was the woman in black veil who had arrived, the man in black armor was the first to stand up: "It's Miss Seven."

Another crocodile-headed figure stood up as well, clasping his hands in a fist salute: "It has been more than a hundred years since we parted ways in Blue Frost City. I wonder if Miss Seven still remembers me?"

Raging Wind Beast!

Blue Frost City!

The woman in black veil looked at the crocodile head and a thought struck her.

He then slowly stepped into the attic and said softly:

“Venerable Huan, this fellow Daoist from the Azure Wing Clan is indeed an old acquaintance of mine. There are some things we would like to discuss privately later.”

The black-armored man, known as Venerable Huan, frowned upon hearing this, but quickly regained his composure and nodded, saying, "In that case, I will not disturb your reminiscing any longer."

After saying this, he slightly bowed and strode away from the pavilion.

The woman in black veil casually took out a talisman, which, once activated, transformed into a large swath of black mist that enveloped the entire pavilion.

"This restriction talisman was created by my master, the Six Extremes Ancestor. No one in this Holy Palace dares to pry into it," the woman in black veil said softly.

Upon hearing this, the crocodile-headed creature blinked, seemingly considering something.

After a while, a golden light flashed behind him, and a handsome young man emerged.

"Fellow Daoist Ziling, it's been a long time."

"Fellow Daoist Lu, it really is you." Upon seeing the young man, Zi Ling's face initially lit up with joy, but she quickly frowned in surprise and asked, "Your cultivation level?"

"How could it be so low? Only at the late Nascent Soul stage!"

“I’ve run into some trouble in my cultivation. As you know, during the battle at the Boundless Sea in the Human Realm, my main nascent soul was sealed. Although it has been unsealed, it has led to my current state.” Lu Yuan sighed, looking helpless and unwilling to say anything more.

"What about him?" Zi Ling looked at the Gale Beast still standing to the side.

"It is also me, but only a part of my primordial spirit is controlling it," the Riftwind Beast said.

"An avatar technique!" A hint of surprise flashed in Zi Ling's eyes, then she covered her mouth and chuckled:

“Generally speaking, the cultivation level of an avatar is lower than that of the original body. Of course, there are some advanced methods that can make the cultivation level of the avatar almost the same as that of the original body. But this is the first time I have ever seen an avatar like yours, Fellow Daoist Lu, whose avatar is several major realms higher than the original body.”

Lu Yuan showed no surprise at Zi Ling's teasing.

More than thirty years ago, after killing Venerable Jin and Venerable Shang, Lu Yuan successfully separated the Azure Phoenix Demon Body and refined it into an external avatar by using the method of devouring the primordial spirit and flesh of others in the Undying True Scripture.

From then on, in order to quickly improve his own combat power, Lu Yuan did not act secretly and cautiously like the Undying True Monarch of the past. Instead, he launched a hunting operation against the Venerables under the command of the Underworld Saint Ancestor.

Faced with the combined attack of Lu Yuan's original body and two other Venerable-level avatars, the isolated early-stage Demon Lords were almost powerless to resist.

Even in the end, as Lu Yuan continued to devour and separate more and more demonic bodies, even a mid-stage Demon Lord would be defeated and killed by Lu Yuan in such an overwhelming situation.

Of course, Lu Yuan's series of actions eventually angered the Holy Ancestor of the Underworld.

When facing his late-stage Venerable incarnation, Lu Yuan felt for the first time the enormous gap between the Holy Ancestor and the Demon Lord.

The Earthly Saint Ancestor, relying solely on one avatar, almost overwhelmed Lu Yuan, who ultimately had to sacrifice one avatar to escape by sheer luck.

Especially after hearing that Huangsha Saint Ancestor had also gotten involved, Lu Yuan knew that if he were blocked again, it would be difficult to escape.

To deal with the incarnations of the Holy Ancestor, he himself must also elevate his incarnations to at least the mid-stage Demon Lord level. However, the news of the appearance of the Undying Scripture has already spread throughout the Demon Realm. No matter how careful Lu Yuan is, once he shows his face, he will inevitably attract the covetousness and pursuit of countless Demon Lords.

Therefore, in the following period, Lu Yuan stopped showing his face in public and found a secluded place to begin his seclusion.

This seclusion lasted for more than ten years. During this time, Lu Yuan successfully separated his physical body and severed ties with the demonic energy.

Based on the timeline, the avatar of the moth that was left in the underground palace is about to make its move.

Although the cultivation level is indeed pitifully low for the current body that has no demonic energy, once it enters the Bitter Spirit Island, it will be a completely different world.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Ziling, as expected of the personal disciple of the Six Extremes Ancestor, your insight is truly extraordinary." Lu Yuan smiled awkwardly, without offering any further explanation.

Upon hearing Lu Yuan's words, a hint of loneliness flashed across Zi Ling's brows.

"Personal disciple, Fellow Daoist Lu, do you really think Zi Ling is in a good situation now?"

"Oh? If that's the case, then I understand why we didn't acknowledge each other back in Blue Frost City."

Zi Ling nodded gently, a complex look flashing in her eyes: "At that time, I had only recently entered the Ancient Demon Realm and had to be extremely cautious in my actions. I just didn't expect that Fellow Daoist Lu would also come to the Ancient Demon Realm. It seems that something happened to him in the ascension passage."

Lu Yuan nodded slightly: "That's right, back then..."

Lu Yuan briefly recounted the events that occurred during his ascension journey, and his subsequent fate of being stranded in Misty Moon Mountain City. After that, he only mentioned traveling throughout the Ancient Demon Realm...

"Fellow Daoist Lu has achieved such cultivation in such a short time all by himself. If his cultivation technique hadn't gone wrong, his true form would probably have already advanced to the Integration stage. It's clear he's endured countless hardships and faced numerous dangers over the years!" Zi Ling said quietly after listening to Lu Yuan's account.

"There have been twists and turns, of course, but we've made it through. However, I see that Fellow Daoist Ziling's demonic energy is exceptionally pure. It probably won't be long before she breaks through to the late stage of the Demonic Sect realm," Lu Yuan said casually, then asked with some concern.

"I'm afraid it will take me a few years, or even a decade or two, to break through to the late stage of the Demonic Sect realm. But it's different from yours! Ever since I came to the Demon Realm, the Six Extremes Ancestor has been supporting my cultivation with no expense spared, even preparing all sorts of pills for breaking through major and minor realms long ago. Otherwise, with my talent, how could I have cultivated to this level in such a short time?" Zi Ling's expression became somewhat strange as she said this.

"Back then, due to limitations in his aptitude, although he condensed a Nascent Soul, he was never able to take the first step towards the Deity Transformation stage..."

Zi Ling then began to recount her experiences over the years, such as how she contacted the Six Extremes Saint Ancestor, received his demonic energy infusion, successfully advanced to the Incarnation stage, and finally ascended to the Ancient Demon Realm.

"And now, Zi Ling doesn't know whether her choice back then was right or wrong?" Zi Ling said so many words in one breath, her expression darkening as she mocked herself.

“Since you’ve made your choice, why worry about whether it’s right or wrong? Take me, for example. Now that I’ve fallen to this state, do you really want to question my decision to enter the ascension channel back then?” Lu Yuan comforted him.

"Fellow Daoist Lu is truly magnanimous." Zi Ling chuckled, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes.

"Otherwise what? At least we are still on the path of cultivation. As long as we are not dead or destroyed, there is always a glimmer of hope. I advise you not to think too much about these things, otherwise it will affect your Dao heart and inevitably breed inner demons."

“Perhaps you are right. Now that things have come to this, we should look forward. But, Fellow Daoist Lu, what exactly is wrong with you? I can hardly sense any magic power in your body.” Zi Ling’s tone was concerned as she looked at Lu Yuan.

“My current cultivation level was achieved using spiritual energy when I was in the human realm, and the original demonic energy has been completely stripped away. In other words, with my current level, I can’t last long in the Ancient Demon Realm with this body,” Lu Yuan said casually.

"Couldn't I switch to demonic arts? With my current status, I should be able to help Fellow Daoist Lu with both cultivation techniques and elixirs. In fact, if Brother Lu is willing to stay, Zi Ling..." As she finished speaking, Zi Ling changed her way of addressing Lu Yuan, and an unnatural blush appeared on her cheeks.

Seeing Zi Ling's appearance, Lu Yuan's heart couldn't help but stir a ripple, but he quickly came to his senses.

Zi Ling's behavior is probably because she doesn't know whether Han Li is dead or alive. Could it be that she has set her sights on me and wants me to help her get rid of the problem of the Six Extremes Saint Ancestor?

That's impossible; given my current state, I can't help her at all.

Or is she simply looking for someone to keep her company?

Who cares? I can't agree to that. After all, Lu Yuan has more important things to do right now.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ziling. My current state as a Nascent Soul cultivator is very delicate. If I were to switch to cultivating demonic arts, I would most likely perish."

Upon hearing this, Zi Ling's expression changed slightly: "Then... Brother Lu, do you have a solution?"

"The only solution is to find a place with abundant spiritual energy and restore my cultivation to the Nascent Soul stage." Lu Yuan finally steered the conversation to the crucial point.

"A place rich in spiritual energy?" Zi Ling frowned upon hearing this.

Soon, as if she had thought of something, her gaze towards Lu Yuan changed: "Brother Lu, are you perhaps referring to Bitter Spirit Island?"

“That’s right, and only there can I replenish the deficiencies in my physical body and nascent soul.” Lu Yuan nodded.

"Could it be that Brother Lu came here for this matter? But do you know that Bitter Spirit Island is a forbidden area of ​​the Ancient Demon Realm, and has been guarded by beings of the Saint Ancestor level for many years?"

“I understand that, of course. I just wanted to confirm whether Yuan Yan, who was guarding the island, has left. As a direct disciple of the Six Extremes Saint Ancestor, you should know some information, right?” Lu Yuan picked up the teacup in front of him and blew on it gently.