Wind Demon Mountain Range.
As word spread of the Heaven-tier technique, sects began pouring in one after another.
Some sought the legendary technique, while others—wiser and more discerning—understood that the treasure in question was likely far more valuable than just a Heaven-tier technique.
Various sects entered the mountain range, with disciples exchanging the intelligence they had gathered.
In the depths of a forest, four figures were deep in conversation.
"Old Seventh, what did you find?" the other three asked.
These four were swordsmen from the Dahe Sect—known as the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh sword cultivators. After traveling from the underground caves beneath Black Dragon Pool, they reached the Wind Demon Mountain Range, only to find that twenty thousand cultivators had already entered. It wasn't long before they started gathering information from the others.
The seventh swordsman frowned as he glanced at his companions. "I have some news... but…"
"But what?" The three asked, puzzled.
"I've discovered where Uncle-Master Yan Chuan is, but it may not be safe," the seventh swordsman replied with a strange expression.
"Oh?"
"More and more cultivators are entering the Wind Demon Mountain Range, and strange things keep happening. You know this range is home to several powerful demons, right?"
"Indeed! These great demons are beasts of the Void Realm, immensely powerful. That's why many cultivators don't dare to recklessly charge into these mountains."
"The first piece of news is that these great demons have all mysteriously disappeared. Their lairs bear the marks of battle, left in utter ruin," the seventh swordsman said, his expression odd.
"What? The Void Realm demons vanished? Were they killed?"
"It's unclear, but it seems unlikely they met a good fate. Otherwise, the demonic beasts in the range wouldn't be fleeing in terror," the seventh swordsman speculated.
"Alright, continue."
"The second piece of news is that Saint Son Gu Yue's forces have swelled in number. He now commands a group of eight thousand, searching the mountain range inch by inch," the seventh swordsman added, still perplexed.
"Eight thousand? All for him? That many people? Why?" The three were astonished.
"It's mainly the Sun and Moon Alliance. Who knows what madness possessed them? They've sent over six thousand disciples into the Wind Demon Mountain Range to serve Gu Yue. The alliance is fully committed to him!" the seventh swordsman explained.
"That many? What are they searching for? Have they lost their minds?" The fourth swordsman was equally shocked.
"And next, there's our illustrious Uncle-Master," the seventh swordsman continued, his expression growing even stranger.
"Oh?"
"Uncle-Master is leading an army of three thousand Jin Yi soldiers, and it's said nearly five hundred cultivators of the Qi Realm have joined his ranks to escort him," the seventh swordsman said, his face filled with disbelief.
"Five hundred Qi Realm cultivators? For protection?" The group was stunned.
"Yes, while Saint Son Gu Yue's forces are mostly in the Jing Realm, very few of them are in the Qi Realm. Uncle-Master's entourage, on the other hand, seems to be growing by the day," the seventh swordsman said, still bewildered.
The group looked at each other, momentarily speechless.
Yan Chuan had once said it would be easy to find him because he would cause a commotion wherever he went. The four had initially doubted his words, but now it seemed that Yan Chuan's force was indeed the largest in the Wind Demon Mountain Range.
"What should we do? Should we go find Uncle-Master?" The sixth swordsman asked with an odd expression.
"Of course we should! There's sure to be something interesting happening with Uncle-Master!" The fifth swordsman's eyes lit up.
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"Yeah, Old Seventh, where is he?"
"Follow me!"
…
At the summit of a peak in the Wind Demon Mountain Range, Saint Son Gu Yue and his group of powerful cultivators stood, gazing out over the sea of clouds below.
Wen Ruo, Wei Jie, and others stood respectfully behind him.
Several subordinates bowed before Gu Yue.
"Saint Son, that's all the information we've gathered," they said reverently.
Gu Yue took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing. "Yan Chuan?"
It wasn't just Gu Yue; the entire group of strong cultivators wore expressions of surprise.
"Mr. Wen Ruo, what do you make of this?" Gu Yue asked calmly.
Wen Ruo let out a soft, wry chuckle. "Saint Son, you've gathered assistance through name, prestige, grace, and affection, while Yan Chuan tempts with profit—an elusive profit that can't be touched or seen. Perhaps he's doing this for his own protection."
"Protection? What a strategy. He's gathered six hundred Qi Realm experts just to escort three thousand Jing Realm soldiers? Yan Chuan certainly knows how to wield his influence!" Gu Yue remarked with a complex expression.
"Saint Son, I believe Yan Chuan is despicable!" Wei Jie, the leader of the Sun and Moon Alliance, muttered in a low voice.
"Oh?" Gu Yue said coolly.
Wen Ruo raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Earlier, when the Saint Son extended an invitation for him to enter the Wind Demon Mountain Range, he repeatedly declined. If he truly didn't want to enter, that would've been fine, but now he's come in anyway, making a mockery of your kindness. And on top of that, he's using the Saint Son's spread of the Heaven-tier technique rumors to gather free bodyguards! How infuriating!" Wei Jie's voice dripped with resentment.
"Hm?" Gu Yue frowned slightly.
"Haha, Daoist Wei Jie, you misunderstand. The Saint Son spread news of the Heaven-tier technique so everyone would believe it. Yan Chuan, by affirming the rumors, is only helping the Saint Son. How can you be angry about that?" Wen Ruo quickly interjected with a smile.
"Hmm?" Wei Jie shot Wen Ruo a displeased glance.
Gu Yue took a deep breath and spoke indifferently, "Let him do as he pleases. It's fine."
"Understood." Wei Jie nodded, saying nothing more.
"Have we received any word about Yao Tianshang?" Gu Yue asked gravely.
"Not yet, but it seems Yao Tianshang won't let things end peacefully. He might try to sabotage your plans, Saint Son," Wen Ruo said, frowning.
"Sabotage my plans? Hmph, he doesn't have what it takes! Keep searching. The explorers who broke the ancient seal were all cursed. Once they leave the Wind Demon Mountain Range, they will die. Most are already dead, but two of them are still inside the range. If we find them, we'll learn the location of the ancient seal!" Gu Yue commanded coldly.
"Rest assured, Saint Son. The Sun and Moon Alliance will find them!" Wei Jie said with determination.
"Daoist Wei Jie, your alliance has worked hard. After this, on behalf of the Great Zhao Holy Land, I will see that you are richly rewarded!" Gu Yue said with a faint smile.
"Thank you, Saint Son! I'll go urge my disciples onward," Wei Jie replied with a smile.
"Good," Gu Yue nodded.
Wei Jie flew down into the valley below.
As he descended, Gu Yue narrowed his eyes, a cold smile forming on his lips.
In a large tent below, Wei Jie stood before a group of twenty.
"You twenty are all Qi Realm cultivators. I have a task for you," Wei Jie said solemnly.
"Please instruct us, Alliance Master!"
"Assassinate Yan Chuan. Twenty Qi Realm cultivators should be more than enough," Wei Jie said coldly.
"Senior Brother, assassinate Yan Chuan? Why now?" someone asked in surprise.
"He's Yan Tao's bastard. Eventually, he'll come for us. Judging from his performance in the Wind Demon Mountain Range, the little beast has grown too powerful. We must kill him before he matures into a true threat!" Wei Jie growled.
"Understood," one of the others nodded.
"Alliance Master, rest assured. Yan Chuan is only in the Jing Realm. The twenty of us can kill him with ease, especially in an ambush," the Qi Realm cultivators replied confidently.
"Go," Wei Jie ordered.
"Swish!"
The twenty Qi Realm cultivators swiftly left the tent.
"Senior Brother, don't you think this is overkill? Twenty Qi Realm experts to kill one Jing Realm cultivator?"
"Perhaps," Wei Jie admitted, feeling a bit overly cautious.
...
At a vast lake in the Wind Demon Mountain Range, Yan Chuan and his group, including Wine Sword Immortal, stood on a small hill, gazing at the lake.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
The lake waters churned as blood rose from its depths, and the corpses of giant crocodiles floated to the surface.
"The crocodiles in this lake met a terrible end. Your army is like a swarm of locusts, leaving nothing in its wake. How many demonic beasts have suffered because of this?" Wine Sword Immortal chuckled.
"If Huo Guang and the others can kill demons on land, they must be able to fight underwater as well. Otherwise, they'll suffer losses in the future. Better to train them now," Yan Chuan replied with a smile.
"But they've just barely reached the Jing Realm, haven't they? They likely haven't mastered the art of breathing through their pores underwater. Isn't this a bit too soon?"
"Too soon? They're in the Jing Realm already. They should know how to handle this. If not, how will they survive later battles?" Yan Chuan answered lightly.
Wine Sword Immortal took a deep breath and raised his eyebrows. "Are you not worried about the hidden forces behind Gu Yue?"
"Of course I am," Yan Chuan"