"Yao Li Realm."
Yu Mu pondered for a moment; it was an ordinary gathering place for demon beasts in the northwest, where there were indeed no particularly powerful demon beasts.
With Elder Yun's cultivation level, even if he were to wipe out all the demon beasts in Yao Li Realm, it would not pose any problem.
"Yes, that's right, Yao Li Realm."
Elder Yun stroked his beard: "Is there anything you want? I can bring it back for you."
"The Xinyun Hall lacks nothing. Besides some ordinary cravings, I have no other requests," Yu Mu said as he stood up and adjusted his slightly wrinkled clothes.
"Master, I want to go with you."
Upon hearing this, Elder Yun directly tapped Yu Mu on the back of his head with a small branch: "What do you want to go for? You don't need to suffer those hardships here."
Clearly, Elder Yun was fully aware of what Yu Mu had experienced under Zi Li's tutelage.
"In that case, Master, the sooner you go and return, the better." Yu Mu cupped his hands in respect. Elder Yun then turned and left, but before Yu Mu could sit back down, he saw Elder Yun suddenly appear right in front of him.
"Do not slack off in your cultivation!"
"Yes, yes, yes, Master." Yu Mu smiled helplessly. Did he really seem that lazy? With Master going out, he felt uneasy and had even hidden a trace of his soul within Elder Yun.
Where could there be a disciple as diligent as himself?
With that thought, Yu Mu shook his head and sat cross-legged on the mat to continue his cultivation. He wanted to break through to the Nascent Soul realm before Elder Yun reached the transformation stage.
At that time, if he could persuade him, he would; if not, he would deceive him. If deception failed... then he would have to be unfilial. He definitely needed to leave this place.
As for the slight unease in his heart, Yu Mu chose to dismiss it.
Currently in the northwest, with Elder Yun nearing the transformation stage of cultivation, while not necessarily the strongest, there was indeed no one who could pose a threat to him.
Even Ye Tian's ancient spirit cat—an ancient great demon!—could at most exert power equivalent to the late Nascent Soul stage; otherwise, how could he act so stealthily?
Better focus on cultivation. The northwest may be just a corner of this continent, but it is not small. From Yunhe Sect to Yao Li Realm is over seventy thousand miles apart.
Along the way are rivers and mountains as well as numerous mundane cities.
Elder Yun had set out with the intention of traveling leisurely while gathering some materials from demon beasts; there was no need to kill them all.
Passing through a mundane city, Elder Yun strolled along the streets like an ordinary elder. This human warmth was something rarely seen in Yunhe Sect.
Having stayed too long in Xinyun Hall and lived for quite some time there, Elder Yun had forgotten many things.
He heard the vendor calling out for candied hawthorn and his eyes lit up with familiarity; memories flooded back... How he used to crave this treat when he was young!
"Old man, buy some for your kids at home? They're sweet!"
The vendor noticed Elder Yun staring and quickly spoke up. This elderly man dressed well and exuded an extraordinary aura clearly looked like someone from a wealthy family!
"Well... I'll buy some."
Elder Yun tilted his head in thought and casually took two sticks of candied hawthorn before tossing a silver ingot to the vendor and walking away. The vendor stood there rubbing his eyes in disbelief as he felt the heavy silver in his hand.
"Oh my! You gave too much... huh?"
But when the vendor looked again, there was no sign of Elder Yun...
At that moment, Elder Yun had found a secluded spot to store the candied hawthorn in his storage ring and smiled contentedly before completely disappearing from that city.
Just walking around was enough.
The sky above shifted with changing winds and clouds.
In this world, the power of the Heavenly Dao has almost entirely been replaced by the will of the Great Dao, leaving little for the spirit of the Heavenly Dao.
However, currently, the spirit of the Heavenly Dao, which resembles Yu Mu to some extent, exists under the vast will of the Great Dao. It seems like an ant yet also like a deity that controls all things.
"Devil Emperor, since you are unwilling to choose, then... I will force you to make a choice. I wonder if this will be enough to awaken your former battle intent."
It sighed deeply, and in front of it, Zi Li's puppet had already been bathed in golden light to a third degree.
Power, after all, is insufficient; Yu Mu is too cautious.
If he does not reduce Ye Tian's influence, relying solely on his cultivation improvement through Yu Mu and the dissipating divine soul power will yield little...
"Come back! Truly come back! Let this spirit see that... undefeated Devil Emperor once more!"
Amidst the shifting winds and clouds, Elder Yun's figure also appeared in the so-called Yao Li Realm. However, as soon as he entered this place, his brows furrowed.
He had heard about Yao Li Realm before.
Demon beasts gather there in groups; although they do not form a significant threat, their numbers are certainly considerable. Even though they are often hunted by the sect, the breeding grounds ensure a steady supply of demon beasts.
But now, Yao Li Realm was utterly silent—an eerie silence devoid of life—only the howling winds carried with them a demonic aura mixed with a strong smell of blood.
With a sound of sword ringing, a Dao sword appeared in Elder Yun's hand. At this moment... even someone as powerful as him looked grave.
"I see no demons, yet the demonic aura is so dense and devoid of life."
"Could it be... that such a small secret realm can nurture great demons?"
The scent of blood grew stronger as Elder Yun approached a ravine. Just one glance made his scalp tingle!
In that deep ravine lay countless demon beast corpses sprawled everywhere! The stench of blood was overwhelming, yet there were no traces of bloodshed.
These demon beast corpses were all shriveled up; their skin was stretched over their bones! Where was there any flesh?! Most importantly, their souls were missing! This vast Yao Li Realm actually had not a single demon soul!
Their flesh and souls had been completely devoured!
Elder Yun instinctively turned his gaze and saw not far away a shadow resembling a dwarf with crimson eyes staring at him! Those eyes were filled with primal desire for powerful flesh and vitality.
"What kind of demon dares to act recklessly before me?"
With glimmering eyes, Elder Yun saw through this shadow... it was actually a four-foot-tall monkey—a spiritual entity that was quite powerful.
Is this a demon soul? Is this creature what has devoured all the demon beasts in Yao Li Realm?!
"Chirp!!"
The monkey demon's dark shadow exploded with demonic energy, its terrifying aura filling the entire Yao Li Realm with its emitted demonic essence.
Its form continuously shifted between illusion and solidity, causing the surrounding space filled with demonic energy to distort slightly.
At that moment, its cultivation aura was unmistakably revealed—it was comparable to... half-step transformation stage!
"This is troublesome."
Elder Yun's brows tightened; Yao Li Realm had been completely sealed off by this demon's overwhelming demonic energy. Although he could perform short-range teleportation at the Great Perfection of Nascent Soul stage, it was nowhere near the distance compression capabilities of the transformation stage.
He... could not escape!
Thus, facing the aggressively approaching monkey demon, Elder Yun's white robe billowed wildly in the demonic wind as his white hair flew about. Though slightly weaker in strength, his imposing spiritual pressure erupted with equal force.
He did not retreat but instead charged forward at the monkey demon with his sword drawn!
Only... one battle!