Across the vast sky, the sea of clouds churned.
A pitch-black flying vessel whistled through the Nine Heavens.
In just a few days, it had left the borders of the Great Tang and was heading straight for Spirit Mountain in the west.
This flying vessel had originally been the carriage of those Cave-Heaven Immortal Masters, but now that it was in Jiang Yuechu's hands, it served as an excellent means of transport.
Of course, its speed couldn't compare to Jiang Yuechu traveling on her own.
However, it was more convenient, especially since she had to bring along those two burdens, Zhou Xuan and Running Ox... On the deck, the Girl in Black Robes sat cross-legged.
Her long hair danced lightly in the wind, and her delicate, jade-like face wore its usual aloof and cold expression.
She was fiddling with something in her hands.
Its orange texture shimmered with a lustrous glow under the sunlight; though it appeared fragile, it contained an earth-shattering killing intent.
"Your Highness, we will soon reach the borders of Spirit Mountain."
Zhou Xuan stepped forward quickly and bowed to ask for instructions.
Hearing this.
Jiang Yuechu nodded slightly. "Mm."
"Although this flying vessel was seized and bears the marks of certain Dao Lineages, it isn't exactly a pass for unrestricted travel. If we go too deep, the Demon Emperor will surely notice..."
Jiang Yuechu didn't look up, her gaze still fixed on the patterns on the back of her hand. "And?"
"So..."
Zhou Xuan swallowed hard, his peripheral vision drifting toward the other end of the deck.
A burly, dark-faced Man was leaning over the railing, clutching a roasted chicken. Grease smeared his mouth as he ate, pointing and gesturing at the mountains and rivers below while mumbling something under his breath.
Zhou Xuan lowered his voice and leaned in closer. "Your Highness, on this trip, are we going to Qingluan Mountain first... or are we going to find this fellow's 'Big Sister'?"
Zhou Xuan had been holding this question in the entire way.
Ever since they boarded the vessel, this fellow's mouth hadn't stopped.
Every word he spoke hinted that he wanted to save his Big Sister first.
Although Zhou Xuan was anxious.
After all, thousands of people from the Pill Cauldron Sect were still suffering on Qingluan Mountain.
But he also knew.
His fellow disciples had been taken as forced labor; as long as they could still perform Alchemy, their lives weren't in immediate danger.
He had already waited all these years, so he wasn't so impatient that he couldn't wait a little longer for the proper order of things.
It wouldn't hurt to do this black ox a favor.
Only... "Your Highness."
He spoke cautiously, "Since we plan to head deep into Spirit Mountain, we should have a plan, shouldn't we?"
It wasn't that he didn't trust Jiang Yuechu's strength.
But this place was dangerous.
It was never wrong to be careful... Hearing this, Jiang Yuechu glanced sideways.
A plan?
She hadn't considered all those twists and turns.
If it were the past, when she had first entered this world and her strength was low, she might have insisted on planning before acting.
But now... She looked down at her own hands.
Her goals for coming to Spirit Mountain were very clear.
First, to fulfill her promise to a human and a demon: to rescue the poor souls of the Pill Cauldron Sect and, while she was at it, help this stupid ox find his kin.
Second... The girl stroked her chin, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.
To restock.
While the wealth of those dozen or so Ascending the Tower Immortal Masters was substantial, their Dao Cultivation was ultimately shallow.
Spirit Mountain had been entrenched here for countless years; the number of demons within must exceed her imagination... As for the so-called Dao Lineages behind Spirit Mountain... she had already offended so many of them anyway.
When one has too many lice, they stop itching; when one has too many debts, they stop worrying.
Why not just wipe out Spirit Mountain in one fell swoop? What was there to worry about?
With that thought.
Her black robes fluttered as the girl rose indifferently.
"Tell me what you know about the situation on Spirit Mountain..."
Zhou Xuan was slightly taken aback.
He couldn't quite grasp Jiang Yuechu's intention.
But seeing Her Highness ask, he didn't dare to be negligent.
To rescue his Sect members, after learning that the Spirit Mountain Demon Emperor was behind it, he had naturally investigated the Spirit Mountain territory thoroughly long ago.
He pondered for a moment, organizing his thoughts.
Then, Zhou Xuan cupped his hands and said, "The Spirit Mountain territory is vast and boundless, filled with numerous peaks and complex, intertwined powers."
"But among them, the only ones who truly have a say are the Seventy-Two Cave Demon Emperors."
"Of these seventy-two caves, the Demon Emperor of each cave is at least at the Half-Step Tower Ascender Realm stage. They command countless lesser demons, occupying territories and ruling as kings."
At this point, Zhou Xuan's expression grew more solemn.
"And among them, the ten Demon Emperors ranked in the top ten are the true foundation of Spirit Mountain."
"Not only is their strength terrifying—all of them being genuine Ascending the Tower Great Demons—but more importantly..."
Zhou Xuan lowered his voice and pointed to the sky above.
"While some of the other Cave Demon Emperors might not necessarily have a Dao Lineage behind them, the top ten Demon Emperors definitely have the shadow of a Dao Lineage backing every single one of them."
Jiang Yuechu raised an eyebrow.
Now, that was interesting.
The Human Race Dao Lineages considered themselves noble and aloof.
Yet, in secret, they kept these great demons as their own watchdogs?
"For example, the Azure Fox Old Ancestor of Qingluan Mountain is backed by the Chunyang Lineage."
Zhou Xuan sighed. "Because of this, Spirit Mountain has its current status. After all, one must look at the master before beating the dog; no one wants to offend the behemoths behind them."
Jiang Yuechu nodded.
She understood the intricacies now.
To put it bluntly.
They were just a pack of dogs relying on their masters' power to bully others.
"Then who is the strongest on Spirit Mountain?"
Jiang Yuechu suddenly asked.
Since all ten of these Demon Emperors had backers, what kind of figure could suppress such an unruly group and sit firmly in the top position of Spirit Mountain?
Hearing this.
Running Ox, who had been watching the excitement while eating his roasted chicken, suddenly shuddered all over.
The strongest on Spirit Mountain... Zhou Xuan took a deep breath, his eyes full of wariness. "The reason Spirit Mountain is called Spirit Mountain isn't actually because of these Demon Emperors..."
Jiang Yuechu asked, puzzled, "What do you mean?"
He looked around, seeing nothing but the whistling Astral Winds.
Only then did he lower his voice and lean closer to Jiang Yuechu.
"Actually, this matter... it was by a stroke of luck years ago. I once had a personal friendship with a certain Cave-Heaven Immortal Master and heard one or two secrets he revealed."
"In fact, a long time ago, before the demons of Spirit Mountain were attached to the Dao Lineages, the various Dao Lineages looked down on them."
"In the eyes of those high and mighty Cave-Heaven Immortal Masters."
"All things in this world, except for themselves, are but ants."
"Whether they are people outside the Cave-Heavens or demons in the mountains, in the end... they are all just a bunch of beasts waiting to be slaughtered."
At this point, a self-deprecating smile appeared on Zhou Xuan's lips.
"However, even among beasts, there are those closer and those more distant."
"Compared to those furred and horned creatures who drink blood and are born from moisture or eggs, we humans are, after all, more pleasing to the eye and more receptive to civilization."
"Logically, even if they wanted a watchdog, the Dao Lineages should have chosen the Human Race. Why would they bother with demons..."