Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Through one spot in the tube, the general picture emerges; Xu Yang quickly had the intricacies figured out.

The key location was indeed the key location. Under the Red Moon's reflection, the infiltration of the Heavenly Demons was so intensified that it was possible to nurture Golden Core-level abominations, on par with the terrifying maternal embodiment crafted by the Black Lotus Sect.

It was a stroke of luck that it was him; if it were an ordinary Golden Core cultivator, not to speak of an instant kill with one thrust, even victory would be doubtful.

Without surprises, after the passing of the Red Moon, the power of the Heretic God Sect and the Claws and Fangs of the Heavenly Demon would surge immensely, and the peaceful development would come to an end. What followed would be the direct confrontation between good and evil, a bloody and chaotic conflict.

This was an expected event; although it came somewhat prematurely, it wasn't of much consequence to Xu Yang. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire

As long as the passage between the two realms was not opened and the Desire Realm Demon God had not descended, there would still be room to maneuver.

How could one easily admit defeat?

Xu Yang put down his fishing rod and looked up at the sky. From between his brows, a Mysterious Light shone forth, transforming into the Admiring Eye of Heaven as it opened.

Admiring Eye of Heaven, Profound Mechanism of the Dao Inquiry!

Such Divine Arts typically required a Nascent Soul to cultivate sufficiently.

But he was no ordinary individual. With skill characteristics aiding him, he was able to cultivate the Divine Arts despite being in the Golden Core Realm.

The Admiring Eye of Heaven was one such art. Although only in its nascent stage, it possessed the ability to "Inquire about the Dao" and could investigate all things under heaven, spirits, and ghosts alike.

A moment later, the Mysterious Light retracted, and the Heavenly Eye vanished.

Xu Yang stood in place with furrowed brows that remained knotted for a long time.

How the confrontation between the Heavenly Dao and the Desire Realm would end, he couldn't ascertain with his too low cultivation level, but the changes in this world were clearly laid out before him.

First was the Heavenly Tribulation!

There were several Heavenly Tribulations, beginning with the four realms.

When a cultivator advances to the Nascent Soul, a Heavenly Tribulation is the test.

But now, this level of tribulation has been resolved; Nascent Souls no longer faced this test and could advance unimpeded.

Seeing a small part to understand the bigger picture, one could infer a lot from this detail.

The number of tribulations are decreed by heaven, and their reduction indicates a weakening of the power of the Heavenly Dao.

Unsurprisingly, it must have been redirected outward to fend off the invasion of the Desire Realm.

This change would set off a chain reaction.

Firstly, all the Great Cavern Heavens could dispatch their Nascent Soul successors into the world, no longer fearing the Heavenly Tribulations.

Secondly, the various Heretic God Sects could foster even more abominations, who also do not fear the annihilation by the Heavenly Tribulations.

This undoubtedly would shake the existing situation, structure, and order—vastly.

This was still just the beginning. As the encroachment of the Desire Realm strengthens, the power of the Heavenly Dao will weaken further.

By then, tribulations will continue to diminish. Not to speak of the Nascent Soul to Spirit Transformation, even the Return to Void Union, and Mahayana Crossing the Tribulation, might all become smooth sailing.

A great age is coming, great chaos is imminent!

All the Great Cavern Heavens and Heretic God Sects will gradually enter the world as the Heavenly Tribulations subside, until finally the Immortal Realm Buddha Land is unsealed, and the Desire Realm Demon Gods descend, leading to the most intense and bloodiest war between two worlds.

Everything could change in an instant, unpredictably.

He, too, must take action now, or else controlling the situation will be very difficult.

In this case...

Half a month later, in a secluded mountainside.

"Is this the place?"

Two beams of Sword Qi, one as graceful as a startled swan, the other like a roaming dragon, pierced through the mountain in an instant, revealing two figures.

They were a pair of celestial sword-wielding cultivators in white, surpassing snow in their purity, with exceptional grace.

It was indeed the two successors from Tan Mountain of the Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect.

As the two manifested, sword Qi glowed around them, evident signs that their cultivation had entered the Golden Core Realm.

A few years' time was neither long nor short.

Under their guidance, and with the pressure of the impending Heavenly Tribulations, the successors and disciples of the Great Cavern Heavens had begun a fierce competition, striving with all their might to eradicate the forces of the Heretic God Sects and the Claws and Fangs of the Heavenly Demon, in order to gain merits and reduce their tribulations.

As Sword Cultivators of the Mysterious Heaven, the two had performed exceptionally well. Through the merit of Slaughtering Demons, in just a few years they had advanced to the Golden Core Realm, with their strength now surging ahead.

Now that the Red Moon had risen again and turmoil restarted across the lands, they were busier than ever. Receiving news that the trace of an abomination was to be found here, they immediately flew on their swords to check the situation.

Looking around at the mountainside, an eerie silence pervaded. There wasn't even a beast's roar or a monkey's screech, nor a bird's song or an insect's chirp could be heard.

"This..."

"Something strange is going on here!"

"Let's proceed with caution!"

Exchanging glances, the two understood each other's thoughts, descended from their Sword Qi, and started to investigate meticulously.

Half a month ago when the Red Moon had risen again, disturbances had started anew, spawning many anomalies, including Golden Core abominations, causing instant fatalities all around and even the downfall of several Great Golden Core cultivators.

Although Xu Yang and his fellow disciple were both successors from the Cave Heaven and disciples of the Immortal Sect, and their strength far surpassed that of average Golden Core cultivators, they dared not to be careless. They maintained their sword lights and expanded their Divine Consciousness, meticulously exploring the mountain.

Within moments, they spotted traces.

"Senior brother, look!"

"This is...?"

They advanced on their swords and found a skeleton, bereft of flesh and blood, with only stark white bones remaining.

"Judging by the bones, there are no injuries on the body."

"The skeleton seems fresh, the flesh entirely consumed; it must be the work of an Evil Demon's hand."

"The mountain is dead silent, devoid of any living creatures; surely, that Evil Demon has rampaged through, devouring all living beings in the mountain."

"The demon moon has exerted its influence, causing mutations; and now, having fed on blood, it will surely have shed its old body after digestion."

"We must not let it remain!"

The two exchanged a look and immediately initiated their sword lights, sweeping through the mountain in search of the Evil Demon's tracks.

In the end...

"It's right here!"

The young man cried out, and his sword burst forth like an awe-striking dragon, roaring into the belly of the mountain to carve out a cave.

Within the cave, a crimson blood light reflected out, accompanied by the sound of surging waves.

"What is this...?"

With furrowed brows full of shock and suspicion, they did not rashly venture deeper but sent their Flying Swords into the cave to probe the reality.

As Divine Consciousness followed the sword into the cave, they saw a tide rise, and a crimson blood light filled their senses.

Inside the cave was a sea of blood.

In the middle of the blood sea stood a stone pillar of similar sanguine color, translucent as jade. On top of the pillar sat a beautiful youth in blood-colored clothing with white hair, exuding a demonic charm. Seated in the middle of the blood sea, his body connected to the momentum of the Blood Vessel, exuding an indecipherable rhythm, mysterious beyond comprehension.

"What is this...?"

The swords of the two trembled, conveying their shock and confusion.

To their surprise, the disturbance alerted the youth in the blood sea. The white-haired youth slowly opened his eyes and glanced at their Flying Swords, then showed a smiling face: "Qi Ying, Lingyun, it's been a while, how have you been?"

"It really is you!"

"Deng Tianqi!"

Hearing this, the swords were even more disturbed, and their Divine Consciousness conveyed words tinged with shock and anger: "You have turned to the Demon Path?"

"What is 'demon,' and what is 'path'?"

Seated alone in the blood sea, the youth displayed a state of calm: "I have endured hard cultivation for more than twenty years at Jade Screen Mountain, and only then did I lay down my Dao foundation.

Afterward, I was sent into this filthy mortal world to slay demons and gain merit, fighting turmoil for decades, and only through numerous life and death experiences did I glimpse the hope of a Golden Core."

"Is this the 'path'? Is this what I have been seeking?"

"Not at all, not at all!"

The youth shook his head, his eyes brimming with longing and even exhibiting an obsessed demeanor: "Half a month ago, upon witnessing an omen from heaven, I knew where my Dao lies and what my aspirations are.

The sea of suffering in the mortal world is hard to transcend, all sentient beings are suffering; why not turn their suffering into my nourishment and their beings as my followers, to cross this sea of suffering, reach the other shore, and achieve the fruit of the grand Dao?"

"You...!"

Such words left the two astonished, their swords stirring fiercely: "Deng Tianqi, as a successor of the Immortal Sect, how could you willingly fall and follow the path of External Demons? Today, we shall overstep our bounds and clean house for Jade Screen Mountain."

Their words were filled with shock and anger.

This youth in blood clothes was Deng Tianqi, an acquaintance of theirs and a successor from Jade Screen Mountain!

Like the Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect, Jade Screen Mountain was also a True Immortal Realm. Although Deng Tianqi's strength was not as great as theirs, the Mysterious Heaven Twin Swords, his cultivation was not far behind, with the potential of a Golden Core.

But unexpectedly, before his Golden Core could form, External Demons had already corrupted him!

He had willingly fallen and followed the path of External Demons, secretly building this sinister Blood Vessel.

If they had not realized this in time and allowed him to continue, who knows what kind of demon he might become.

Their hearts grew cold and they dared not think further; only raising their twin swords, they charged into the blood sea.

"Jade Screen Mountain?"

"Immortal Sect?"

"External Demons?"

"Hahahaha!"

Upon seeing this, Deng Tianqi burst into hearty laughter. The Blood Vessel churned, lifting his body to meet the sword lights of the two.

"To hear the Dao in the morning and die in the evening is enough!"

"Fellow Daoists, why not join me in the sea of blood to contemplate the supreme Dao together?"

Amidst laughter, the Blood Vessel boiled and raised a giant wave from the blood sea, swallowing their Flying Swords.