Immortality and Cultivation: This old man seeks enlightenment through mere survival.

Four demonic snakes, especially the snake king—

Suddenly separated from the magma's home ground, it let out a frantic roar of shock and rage within the net.

It never imagined that its carefully prepared trap would be completely useless.

All attacks were easily repelled.

Even when the Soul-Burning Ray entered the human cultivator's soul sea, it did not cause the slightest ripple.

On the contrary, it is now he who has fallen into the trap!

"Shout!!!"

They struggled desperately, their massive heads spewing lava and venom as they tried to break through the net!

But then one could see the giant vine-woven net shimmering with cold light, and shrouded in misty vapor.

The flames and venom were quickly frozen and dissolved, unable to damage the cage specifically designed to subdue them!

"Hmph, my cold poison is no less potent than your fire poison."

Lu Zaian's eyes turned cold, and he pointed his fingers like a sword, slashing downwards at the huge ice net in the air!

"die!"

The enormous net of mysterious ice vines suddenly erupted with a blinding blue light and tightened violently!

At the same time, countless illusory weapons formed from the power of water spirits—knives, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, forks—gleamed with cold light and exuded a murderous aura!

Swish swish swish swish—!

Like the ultimate strangulation on the battlefield!

With its devastating, all-encompassing sharpness, it pierced through the bodies of the four demonic snakes in the net without leaving any blind spots!

The hissing, the struggling, the bursting of magic... all sounds abruptly ceased.

The frantic struggle stopped instantly.

The three mid-grade second-tier two-headed demonic flame snakes were directly cut and twisted into several pieces by countless water blades.

The three-headed demonic flame serpent king, a second-tier superior-grade creature, had its three ferocious heads completely pierced by more than a dozen enormous water spears. Its lava-like vertical pupils held utter terror, disbelief, and profound despair...

The battle, from its final eruption to its end, lasted only a few breaths.

Just moments ago, the mine was fraught with danger, scorching heat, and constant hissing noises—

At this moment, all was silent.

Su Xuanhuo, Xu Yan'er, Su Li, and all the miners and cultivators stared wide-eyed and gaped, frozen in place as if they had been frozen in place by a spell.

What just... happened?

That second-tier mid-grade demonic serpent that caused them to lose their puppets and left them helpless...

That terrifying, high-level second-tier serpent king, lurking in the shadows, launching a deadly sneak attack...

Just like that... he was instantly and effortlessly killed by the mountain lord, as if he had foreseen it all?!

Su Xuanhuo's throat was terribly dry. He swallowed hard, his voice trembling violently with extreme shock:

"Mountain...Mountain Lord, your strength...is it...is it already comparable to a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator?! Or even...stronger?!"

Xu Yan'er was even more dazed, her jade hand covering her red lips, her heart pounding.

A second-tier superior-grade demonic beast! It is definitely a top-tier existence in the Northern Sky Domain.

Aside from those Core Formation stage monsters, probably only Foundation Establishment stage cultivators would dare to claim a decisive advantage.

Unbeknownst to me, the Mountain Lord has actually reached this level? What kind of being am I following?

In a daze... Xu Yan'er seemed to see Lu Zai'an after breaking through to the Core Formation stage and ascending to the top of the Northern Sky Domain.

Cultivators have a very strong sixth sense.

Not only Xu Yan'er, but many other cultivators present also seemed to have foreseen this scene...

Their awe of Lu Zaian deepened immediately!

Lu Zaian did not answer, but simply waved his sleeve and collected the corpses of several snake demons, including their demon cores, poison sacs, snake tendons, and scales, especially those of the three-headed snake king, which were all top-quality materials.

He nodded and gave the instructions:

"You can rest for a while. Once I've refining the puppets and formations and sent them over, you can expand the mining area of ​​the crystal mine..."

Given Lu Zaian's caution and consideration.

Mining requires the use of arrays for concealment and puppets for exploration.

After all, the underground mines had been operating for several years and were gradually moving out of the range of the Cloud Hat Mountain Grand Formation...

The encounter with these second-tier snake demons today also served as a reminder to Lu Zaian.

The surface of the Changli Mountains may be barren of spiritual energy, but unknown dangers lurk deep beneath the surface.

"Yes, Mountain Master!"

"As ordered!"

"..."

Everyone quickly bowed in response.

They naturally had no objection to this; being able to rest for a while was certainly a good thing.

Being cooped up in this underground lava world all day is quite boring... although the rewards from the mountain lord are quite generous.

Some members of the Xu clan, after finishing their farm work, would specifically ask Xu Yan'er to sign up for mining, just in order to get more rewards...

After Lu Zaian left.

Su Xuanhuo raised his head, his eyes flashing—he was reminded of the deep-seated hatred between the Crimson Forging Immortal Sect and its lineage…

He thought he would never have the chance to return to the Liushi Domain to take revenge.

But now, having witnessed the mountain lord's immense power firsthand, he might see a glimmer of hope...

However, this is a question that cannot be easily opened.

Before that, I need to work hard for the mountain lord.

January has passed...

Lu Zaian delivered three mid-grade second-tier snake demon puppets, as well as a high-grade second-tier [Overturning Water and Concealing Breath Array].

Several metal materials were added during the forging of the snake puppet, making it even more ferocious and domineering... Whether it is physical strength or the demonic art of spewing magma, it is stronger than a living snake demon!

The other set, the [Water-Concealing Breath Array], also has multiple functions, concealing auras, combining offense and defense, and can also use the misty water vapor to eliminate the fire poison of the underground magma world, serving as a means of air exchange.

that's it.

A new round of Fire Poison Crystal mining continues, and is beginning to expand outwards from Yunli Mountain.

This will also bring Lu Zaian more benefits!

Meanwhile, on this day...

Jiuyou, accompanied by Xu Yan'er and Jiang Feng, ascended to the summit of Yunli Mountain to pay homage to Lu Zai'an and brought a message.

Lu Zaian glanced at the Nine Nether clone first, and in the blink of an eye, the two had completed their exchange.

"This period of seclusion for healing has lasted for three years, which is unusual for you. Could it be that some hidden injury has been left undetected?"

"No, I benefited greatly from that great battle. I've been digesting the information ever since, and combined with practicing the Abyss Demonic Rune Secret Technique you taught me, that's why I'm only emerging from seclusion today."

'Oh? You've mastered the secret technique?'

'Well, taking advantage of this opportunity, I also broke through the late-stage barrier in one go, and am now at the peak of Foundation Establishment!'

Lu Zaian was overjoyed.

The Nine Netherworld Avatar was able to withstand the Core Formation stage when it was in the late Foundation Establishment stage. That great battle accumulated a lot of experience, medicinal power of pills, and the residual power of the Longevity Essence Blood.

Now that he has fully digested and absorbed everything, he has finally broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage and reached a new level of strength.

Within the Northern Skies—without reaching the Core Formation stage, one is invincible!

At this moment, Lu Zaian noticed Xu Yan'er's solemn expression and a hint of anxiety flashing in Jiang Feng's eyes...

Lu Zaian withdrew his thoughts from communicating with his clone, cleared his throat, and asked:

"Yan'er, what do you need to report?"

Xu Yan'er responded by saying:

"Mountain Lord, recently several groups of low-level cultivators fleeing from their homes have poured into the Changli Mountains, and even a large number of mortals..."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zaian raised an eyebrow and asked in confusion:

"Oh? Fleeing? What calamity has occurred in the area near the Changli Mountains?"

The great war between the righteous and demonic alliances of earlier years has long since come to an end.

The leader of the Demon Spear Cult has lost his path to immortality and was forced to condense a false core. Now he can only guard the mountain gate.

The Fire Refining Sect and the Blood Burning Sect were also punished by a Core Formation power on the East Coast and retreated to the Black Soil Mountains...

Lu Zaian couldn't think of any major disaster that could cause so much unrest.

The Changli Mountains are adjacent to the marshes; could it be that something strange has happened in the marshes again?