Jiang Yuechu snapped back to her senses and looked up.
Before her, among the mountains, water vapor permeated the air and white mist locked the sky.
The tiger demon extended a claw toward the vast misty mountain range ahead and warned tremulously, "Wuxiang Mountain is just ahead. This marsh has a Void-Forbidden Grand Array. If one attempts to fly across by force, the Qi of Weak Water will dissolve..."
Jiang Yuechu's eyes flickered slightly, but she did not respond.
She was calculating her accounts.
Of her over 4.7 million years of Dao Cultivation, she had spent over 2.6 million years in a series of expenditures.
She still had over two million years left in her pocket.
It should be enough...
With great wealth came great confidence.
She no longer hesitated.
She took a step forward.
Boom!
Golden light shone brilliantly, like a blazing sun.
She crashed arrogantly into the thick white mist.
...
The back mountain of Wuxiang Mountain.
Marshes stretched on, and the mist never dissipated throughout the year.
This place was the Forbidden Land of the Wuxiang Lineage, named Chenyuan.
Usually, except for Disciples who had committed great errors and were punished to Face the wall in meditation here, very few people set foot in this place.
Now, however, there was a special guard here.
Inside a pavilion built from high-quality Water-sunk Wood, the Hunyuan Demon Emperor was lying sprawled on the ground.
Although he had been kicked to this back mountain to guard the gate by True Person Han Xian...
In reality...
The Hunyuan Demon Emperor spat out a leftover bone and narrowed his eyes comfortably.
This life was simply like that of an immortal.
Even when he was the Demon Emperor of the Eighteen Caves on Spirit Mountain, it hadn't been this comfortable.
Over there, he had to guard against the schemes of other Demon Emperors and worry about whether the little demons under his command would rebel.
How was it anything like now?
Who was he?
He was a dignified Great Demon Emperor of the Denglou Realm!
Even in this Wuxiang Mountain with its deep foundations, aside from those few Elders...
Who would dare give him any attitude?
Who would dare to truly treat him like a watchdog?
Those Wuxiang Mountain Disciples who usually walked with their noses in the air—wouldn't they have to obediently stop their pace and respectfully call out 'Senior Hunyuan' when they saw him?
If he encountered the cleverer ones, they would even offer some tributes.
"Senior, this is Vermillion Fruit Brew, just brought back from the foot of the mountain; it's still warm."
A delicate voice sounded outside the pavilion.
The Hunyuan Demon Emperor opened his eyes.
He saw a female cultivator dressed in blue and white Daoist robes, holding a jade pot and standing prettily below the steps.
The female cultivator had a beautiful Face and an even more graceful figure.
Especially that submissive appearance made the Hunyuan Demon Emperor feel a surge of heat in his heart.
He extended a grease-covered claw and snatched the jade pot.
He took the opportunity to stroke the female cultivator's fair and tender hand.
"Hehe, you have a heart, you have a heart."
The female cultivator's body trembled slightly, and a flash of disgust crossed her eyes, yet she did not dodge.
She could only endure the nausea and keep a smiling Face: "As long as Senior likes it, that is this Junior's blessing."
The Hunyuan Demon Emperor tilted his head back and drained a large gulp of wine.
He felt a warm current flow down his throat into his stomach, and every pore on his body relaxed.
He smacked his lips, his gaze scanning the female cultivator's body unscrupulously.
"Little girl, what was your name again?"
The female cultivator lowered her head, her voice as thin as a mosquito's: "To answer Senior, this Disciple is named Liu'er, from Emerald Bamboo Peak..."
"Emerald Bamboo Peak is good. Hearing the name, it must be a place of beautiful scenery that nurtures people."
The Hunyuan Demon Emperor chuckled and leaned forward slightly: "Liu'er, this Emperor's duty guarding the back mountain makes the long nights very lonely."
"If you have time, why not come sit with this Emperor often?"
"This Emperor will give you some pointers on your cultivation; I guarantee you will benefit greatly."
Hearing these words.
A flash of joy crossed the female cultivator's eyes.
The reason she endured the nausea and put on a smiling Face here was precisely for this.
"Senior must be joking. To receive Senior's guidance is a blessing Cuier has earned over several lifetimes."
Even if the one before her was just a demon, so what?
Cultivation was inherently a world where the strong preyed on the weak.
Wuxiang Mountain had three thousand Disciples alone.
To climb up and avoid being trampled by others, one had to use any means necessary.
Even if it meant... submitting to a demon.
The Hunyuan Demon Emperor grinned, though he did not expose her.
He had lived for so many years; what kind of person had he not seen?
This little girl's petty schemes were as transparent as glass in his eyes.
She wanted the benefits yet despised him for being of a different species.
But this did not stop him from enjoying the moment.
The path of cultivation was just like this.
Everyone just took what they needed.
If one could obtain some guidance, even just a few words, wouldn't they save themselves decades of detours for nothing?
"Hehe... Sensible, you're a sensible girl."
The Hunyuan Demon Emperor stretched and casually pulled out a blood-stained Jade Slip from his crotch, tossing it onto the table.
"Take it. This is something this Emperor snatched from the Human Race in his early years. Although the path is different, the principles are interconnected. For a small cultivator of your Realm, it's more than enough."
Liu Cui'er's eyes lit up.
She held the Jade Slip in her palms like a priceless treasure, her breathing quickening a few beats.
"Thank you, Senior! Thank you, Senior!"
Watching Liu Cui'er leave with profuse thanks.
The Hunyuan Demon Emperor sneered and lay back down on the ground.
He comfortably crossed his legs and hummed an unknown little tune.
What Dao Lineage Disciples... usually they all considered themselves lofty and pure.
But in private, weren't they still this laughable sight?
Those old fogies of Wuxiang Mountain naturally knew as well.
But so what?
Raising Gu—isn't that how they are all raised?
However...
Compared to being outside in fear and potentially losing his life at any time.
The current schemes of these Disciples were far too childish.
It even made him feel a bit of ease.
As long as Wuxiang Mountain remained, he could peacefully act like a tyrant here and enjoy this rare tranquility.
As for that woman...
Thinking of that figure in black robes who was like a god or demon.
The Hunyuan Demon Emperor couldn't help but shiver.
Too terrifying.
Simply not human.
Fortunately... he was now a great demon with a backer.
The Grand Princess of the Great Tang was indeed formidable.
Decisive in killing, with a fierce reputation that reached the heavens.
But so what?
Could it be she actually dared to attack Wuxiang Mountain?
This was one of the Twenty-Five Lineages Dao Lineages!
Once the Mountain-protecting Array opened, with the three thousand miles of weak water, even a goose feather wouldn't float.
As long as he didn't court death by running out to find that woman proactively.
With the foundations of Wuxiang Mountain.
No matter how fierce that woman was, it was impossible for her to forcibly break into the Dao Lineage's mountain gate, right?
Thinking about it.
As long as he hid in this back mountain, living peacefully until his natural end would be more than enough...
"This is called—steady as an old dog."
He muttered to himself triumphantly.
Just as he was about to close his eyes for another nap.
Suddenly.
The originally calm water surface began to tremble without any warning.
"Hmm?"
The Hunyuan Demon Emperor frowned and opened his eyes with some displeasure.
"Which blind fool dares to cause such a commotion in the back mountain?"
He stood up grumbling.
After all, he was working for Wuxiang Mountain.
He still had to put on a show for the sake of Face.
Just as he was about to release his Demon Emperor pressure to give the newcomer a taste of his power.
In the next moment.
His movements froze.
His mung-bean-like eyes slowly widened until they were almost bulging out of their sockets.