Chapter 771: The Ancestral Demon Soil Lies Before Us, We Need Every Possible Aid
Shen Mo and his companions boarded the Shattered Star and departed from Demon Valley.
At that very moment, the Bloodmad King, locked in fierce battle with the Nine Nether Tribe and the Heavenly Corpse Tribe, felt a stir in his heart. He raised his head and gazed toward the heavens.
"They've gone…"
"Their true goal may not be what they claimed, but whatever it is, I hope they succeed."
The Bloodmad King smiled faintly.
After all, Shen Mo had helped them find their Saintess and had allowed the Sacred Demon Tree to shatter and then be reborn.
Such a great favor was nothing short of a second creation for the demon race!
Mo Mingyu also watched Shen Mo and the others leave, letting out a soft sigh.
Though their time together was brief, Shen Mo's figure had already taken root deep in her heart.
"Someday, the Holy Sage may need me."
"I must become stronger…"
Her gaze grew firm. Carrying her bone spear, she rushed straight to the battlefield where the Bloodmad Tribe fought the Nine Nether and Heavenly Corpse Tribes.
…
Following the pull of the Ancestral Demon Finger Bone returning to its body, Shen Mo and his group journeyed through the boundless universe.
Time flew swiftly.
They passed through one small world after another.
They encountered wave after wave of demon armies.
Shen Mo's strength surged yet again during this long journey.
Now he had reached the ninth level of the Earth-Penetrating Saint Realm.
He was only one step away from the Heaven-Reaching Saint Realm.
Moreover, his Dao of the Void, Dao of Strength, and Dao of Fire had all made tremendous progress.
The Dao of the Void had reached the ninth level, while the Dao of Strength and the Dao of Fire had both reached the eighth.
His understanding of these three Daos had already surpassed most Earth-Penetrating Saints.
On this long journey, Shen Mo had also gained insights into four other elemental Daos: the Dao of Metal, the Dao of Wood, the Dao of Earth, and the Dao of Water.
But with limited time, his comprehension of these four was still shallow.
In comparison, Xiang Yuan's growth appeared much less impressive.
Though he had also stepped into the Saint Realm, he was now only at the third level of the Earth-Penetrating Saint Realm.
He was utterly incomparable to Shen Mo.
Yet Xiang Yuan felt no jealousy.
After all they had endured in Demon Valley, he fully understood the vast gap between himself and Shen Mo.
Even Fuzu Jiuyin had once sought to take Shen Mo as his disciple.
At this time, Fuzu suddenly said, "The Ancestral Demon Finger Bone's instinct to return to its body grows ever stronger."
Dragon Tortoise's face lit up with joy. "That must mean we are nearing the Ancestral Demon Soil!"
Jiuyin's furrowed brows also relaxed.
They had roamed the star seas for so long that even the greatest would feel weary.
Now, at last, they were close to their destination.
"What will it be?" Fuzu and Jiuyin both wondered aloud.
The Shattered Star continued its mad flight across the starry sea, its speed terrifying.
At last, they stopped before a vast world.
Fuzu and Jiuyin gazed at the fields shrouded in golden light ahead, strange expressions on their faces. "This world… it feels familiar."
Dragon Tortoise and Xiang Yuan both turned to Shen Mo.
Shen Mo sighed softly. "How could it not be familiar? This is the world of Guzhou."
"It is the land where the Flame Emperor, the Martial Ancestor, and the Great Desolate Venerate rose to prominence."
Fuzu's face showed his astonishment. "Guzhou World? I thought it had been lost in the chaotic void currents, yet it has reappeared?"
Jiuyin's brows knitted deeply. "Shen Mo, you too hail from Guzhou World?"
Shen Mo gave a small nod. "It now seems the Ancestral Demon Soil is hidden within Guzhou."
His voice grew solemn. "Everyone, send word to the other Heaven-Reaching Saints."
"The Ancestral Demon Soil lies before us—we need every possible aid!"
Outside Guzhou World.
Fuzu and Jiuyin studied the formation before them and nodded slightly.
Fuzu said in a deep voice, "It's about ready. This array is strong enough to send the message out."
Xiang Yuan asked, "Will the demons intercept it?"
Jiuyin shook his head. "No. He spent years on this method. If demons could intercept it, he might as well smash his head on tofu and be done with it."
Fuzu rolled his eyes.
Moments later, the news that the Ancestral Demon Soil was located within Guzhou was sent forth.
These messages were formless and invisible, like unseen carrier pigeons scattering to the four directions.
Any human Saint Realm who held loyalty to the human race would receive it.
After finishing, the group immediately entered Guzhou World. Guided by the Ancestral Demon Finger Bone, they began searching for the exact location of the Ancestral Demon Soil.
A day later, they stopped above a vast black sea.
Around the sea stood ten tall fortresses.
At first glance, it looked as though they encircled the waters.
"The Demon-Suppressing Sea…"
Shen Mo murmured softly.
"You've been here before?" Fuzu asked.
Jiuyin said instead, "There is demonic aura lingering here. I suspect these fortresses were built to suppress them."
Shen Mo nodded. "Senior Jiuyin is correct. This place is called the Demon-Suppressing Sea. Back when I was still a disciple of the Divine Palace, I once served as a guard here.
"Later, when I wiped out the demons here completely, I was swept into a space rift and accidentally arrived in the Holy Profound World.
"I never imagined the Ancestral Demon Soil would be here."
Fuzu and Jiuyin exchanged glances, seeing the same surprise in each other's eyes.
They had not expected such a deep connection between this place and Shen Mo.
Fuzu offered comfort. "Countless Saints searched for hundreds of thousands of years without finding the Ancestral Demon Soil.
"With your cultivation back then, it was only natural you could not detect it."
Jiuyin swept his gaze across the area. "There are still cultivators stationed here, likely to prevent the demons from rising again.
"But their presence here is useless now.
"Shen Mo, our words won't carry the same weight as yours. You tell them to leave."
Shen Mo drew a long breath and nodded knowingly.
With a flash, he appeared above the Demon-Suppressing Sea.
His spiritual power surged forth, instantly condensing into a giant figure.
The figure bore his own likeness, lifelike in every detail.
The patrolling cultivators within the fortresses suddenly saw this sight, their faces full of shock.
Someone recognized him at once and shouted loudly.
"The Holy General! It's the Holy General!"
"By the heavens, it's really the Holy General Shen! Exactly like his portrait!"
The cultivators all knelt, reverence filling their hearts.
Among the Demon-Suppressing Fortress, there were only two ranks: Earth General and Heaven General.
As for the title of Holy General, it had been created for Shen Mo alone, to honor the immortal achievements he made here, praised for all generations.
Shen Mo spread his divine sense across the crowd. Soon, he found several familiar faces.
"I have returned from the Holy Profound World."
He pointed lightly from midair, a ray of light landing upon a young man. "Young friend, tell me, what is your name?"
The youth's face bore some resemblance to an old acquaintance.
The young man said excitedly, "Reporting to the Holy General, I am Zhong Li! My father was Zhong Baisheng! Before his death, he often said that serving alongside the Holy General was the proudest time of his life!"
Zhong Baisheng—he had once been the front army commander of the Black Tortoise Fortress.
When Shen Mo had first arrived there, that commander had given him much help.