Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

A month later.

In the grotto mansion, a faint fragrance wafted about.

Hu Yuniang lounged lazily on a chair engraved with phoenix patterns and said blandly:

“How is the war going? I hope to hear good news.”

Two years ago, she confirmed through other channels that the Qingxu Daoist Master of Luofeng Valley had died, which made her very satisfied.

In recent years, many Demon Kings have led demon beast armies to fiercely attack Yuanhe Mountain, and she eagerly awaited news of the Human Race sects being overrun.

The Black Wind Wolf King and the Wild Bull Demon King prostrated on the ground, “Fairy, we are incompetent. The flying ships of the Central Continent cultivators have arrived at Yuanhe Mountain, and it is said that a Nascent Soul cultivator is overseeing it.

Nearly twenty Golden Core Cultivators from the Human Race have been dispatched, we are completely unable to withstand them.

The Wild Boar Demon King has fallen in battle, the army suffered a disastrous defeat, and now we have retreated from the Human Race’s hinterland, consolidating near Soul-breaking Valley.”

When the Black Wind Wolf reported, it employed a small trick; the total number of Golden Core level Human Race cultivators and mountain guardian spirit beasts was twelve.

Not exaggerating the enemy would make them look truly incapable.

Hu Yuniang’s face darkened, and she said coldly:

“So, you’re saying that your efforts over the years have come to nothing, is that it?”

She also felt it was troublesome now, with a Human Race Nascent Soul present, she must be more careful.

The two Demon Kings lowered their heads, remained silent for a moment, then the Black Wind Wolf King replied:

“There have been some results, Yuanhe Mountain has been severely weakened, and half of the family residences in the Human Race’s hinterland have been breached.

The Human Race forces throughout the Western Continent have at least shrunk by thirty percent.

Furthermore, we found several Golden Core Stage demon cultivators appearing within the territory of Human Race cultivators.

As the beast horde retreats, these demon cultivators will inevitably clash with the Human Race sects.”

The cultivation methods of demon cultivators are unorthodox, though the side effects are significant, as long as there’s enough blood and souls, the speed of advancement is very fast, as is evidenced by the emergence of Golden Core Stage demon cultivators in just a few years.

Used to breakthroughs in their cultivation, those demon cultivators only become bolder.

Hu Yuniang shot a cold glance at the Black Wind Wolf King and said:

“Aren’t you afraid of nurturing a Nascent Soul Stage demon cultivator and reigniting a demon calamity?”

If a demon cultivator breaks through to the Nascent Soul level, they can employ many more techniques, including but not limited to offensive and escape methods.

Nascent Soul demon cultivators can implant demonic thoughts in living beings, turning them into hosts for the demon cultivator without them realizing it.

Even if the demon cultivator’s main body is killed, they can resurrect in the host.

“Afraid, but the Human Race cultivators are more afraid.

Demon cultivators prefer to use human spirit souls to refine demonic artifacts, forcing the Human Race to confront them head-on.

Once the Human Race cultivators and demon cultivators are both weakened, we can reap the benefits.”

said the Black Wind Wolf King, noting the traits of demon cultivators make it so as long as there are humans, the demon beasts are relatively safe.

The actions of Human Race Golden Core cultivators cause significant casualties among the core demon beasts, making it difficult to organize a strong offensive unless the demon kings attack recklessly.

Rolling its eyes, the Black Wolf Demon King added:

“We’ve discovered that Human Race cultivators from the Central Continent generally leave the Western Continent after three years.

With all races retreating from the battlefield now, it’s a good time to lay low.

Moreover, demon cultivators also value legacy; without the corresponding cultivation technique, it’s impossible to survive the celestial tribulation and break through to Nascent Soul.

The cultivation of demon cultivators goes against the will of heaven, making their celestial tribulations far more severe than those of other cultivators.

If a demon cultivator shows signs of breaking through to Nascent Soul, Nascent Soul cultivators from the Human Race will surely not ignore it.”

The Black Wolf Demon King eloquently highlighted the advantages of the situation.

With deep eyes, Hu Yuniang said:

“I hope you won’t outsmart yourselves, or else no one will have it easy.

My original requirement still stands, if the deaths of Golden Core cultivators from the Human Race do not reach four, the Demon Race cannot retreat.

You must closely monitor information about demon cultivators and report any major changes immediately!”

She would continue to hold her ground to prevent the emergence of Nascent Soul Stage demon cultivators, posing a great threat to the Qingqiu Fox Race.

“As you command!”

The two Demon Kings responded, their hearts filled with frustration and anger, for their races were no longer capable of continuing the fight.

…

In the early morning, Ji An ended his cultivation and waited quietly.

Considering the time, the Golden Feathered Eagle Demon King should have activated the Blood Transformation Soul-Chasing Curse to torment him.

Half an hour passed, yet the blood curse did not activate.

Another half hour passed, and still, his skin showed no unusual signs.

“What’s going on, is the Demon King planning to change the timing?”

Ji An was troubled. If the Blood Transformation Soul-Chasing Curse activated while he was in cultivation, it would cause a reversal of blood and magical power disorder, severely injuring him.

But waiting here aimlessly was not a solution, making him increasingly anxious.

By noon, the blood curse still hadn’t been triggered.

“The damn thing is playing with me!”

He cursed in frustration and returned to the Cold Pool, wasting two double hours in vain.

Seeing his poor complexion, Zhang Cuihua felt suspicious but dared not ask more, and remained quietly by his side after serving the meal.

A silver talisman sword flew in from outside the grand array, and Ji An reached out to catch it.

“A message from Senior Brother Liu?”

He imbued his divine sense to read the message, his eyes widening in response:

“The demon beasts have retreated; could it be that the demon calamity is over?!”

His mood brightened suddenly, feeling the gloom completely lift.

Liu Yu fought on the front lines against the demon beasts, so the information must be reliable.

Ji An found his appetite returning, and he laughed:

“Cuihua, go grill another fish.

Also, have Songtao bring a bamboo cask of wine.”

“As you command,” Zhang Cuihua replied with a smile, sensing the joy in his words.

…

Time flies, and half a year has passed.

Liu Yu handed in his task, dejectedly walking out of the Law Enforcement Hall.

He summoned the Blazing Golden Wheel and flew towards Red Flame Peak.

In the sky, a fiery path was left behind, lingering for a long time.

More than half an hour later, he landed at the foot of the Cold Pool at Red Flame Peak.

Du Huaiyuan came up with a cheerful face, cupping his hands:

“Haha, long time no see, Senior Brother Liu!”

After the demon beasts retreated, his days returned to peace, recently living quite comfortably.

Liu Yu slightly cupped his hands, somewhat absent-minded:

“Junior Brother, you’re here too. Have you encountered something happy?”

Du Huaiyuan pointed behind him, laughing:

“Can’t Senior Brother smell this rich aroma of wine!”

This month, he had been staying at Red Flame Peak, brewing Pine Nut Wine.

Liu Yu suddenly slapped his forehead, smiled bitterly:

“Look at my brain, I was just thinking about something and subconsciously ignored it.”

He sniffed and continued:

“The aroma seems richer than before.”

“That’s natural. This year, Junior Brother Ji allowed me to use two-hundred-year Tier Two Middle Grade pine nuts for the brew.”

Du Huaiyuan’s face showed a faint pride, fortunate enough to brew Tier Two Middle Grade Spirit Wine, which could be counted on one hand in the sect.

He was among these few, thanks to the favor of a fellow junior brother.

At this moment, Ji An rode over on the grey-feathered sand goose, laughing:

“Senior Brother Liu, you’re just in time. I have good news to share with you.

The Ghost Moon Cyan Jade Tree has completed its transformation and is now a Tier Two Lower Grade Spirit Wood!

Next year, everyone will be able to enjoy Tier Two Lower Grade Jade Dew Golden Bud Tea.”

“Haha, congratulations, Junior Brother, that’s indeed great news!”

Liu Yu felt much better; Junior Brother Ji had promised him more tea each year!

With the improvement in the spirit wood tier, more tea leaves could be produced, meaning he would receive more.

Tier Two Lower Grade Jade Dew Golden Bud Tea has a stronger effect on nourishing the spirit soul, and it can even have an effect on Chao Origin Stage Cultivators.

The three sat around the stone table, and Du Huaiyuan spoke:

“Senior Brother Liu, you seemed troubled earlier; what happened?”

“The task is troubling; a few days ago, while I was outside the sect executing a mission, a cultivation clan within the sect’s sphere of influence was annihilated by demon cultivators, and the spiritual vein was polluted by demonic qi, likely used for sacrificial refinement of a demonic artifact.”

Demon cultivators cause depletion-based destruction to the Cultivation Realm; whether a polluted spiritual vein can recover is uncertain.

Even if it could, no one knows how long recovery would take.

“No wonder demon cultivators are to be executed by all; they’re despicable!”

Du Huaiyuan said hatefully, such destruction completely disregards the future.

Ji An frowned slightly, asking:

“Senior Brother, did you catch the demon cultivators responsible?”

Half a year ago, the demon beasts had retreated, concluding the demon calamity.

We thought the Western Continent would have a recovery period, not expecting the magical calamity to erupt under the cover of the demon disaster.

Recently, I’ve been frequently getting the news that certain cultivation clan bases were slaughtered by demon cultivators.

“No, by the time our team arrived, it had been two days since the incident.”

Liu Yu clenched his fist angrily; as a cultivator of the Law Enforcement Hall, he knew more about the situation.

Not only in the sect’s jurisdiction, but several other sects’ territories also reported multiple incidents where cultivators were massacred by demon cultivators.

For a time, the Western Continent felt akin to a rise in warfare smoke again.

He paused, then continued:

“Yuanhe Mountain is now in a semi-closed state, with the magical calamity in the northern part of the Western Continent becoming more severe.

Law Enforcement Hall has dispatched its elite, coordinating with various families to form a joint law enforcement team for an all-out hunt of demon cultivators.

Currently, there’s a lack of enough High-Tier Cultivators to lead the teams, as even groups of Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators might not withstand against demon cultivators.”

Liu Yu showed a bitter smile; the sect had lost more than half of its Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, the absolute backbone, due to the trials of the Canglan Secret Realm and the demon calamity.

Moreover, most of the deceased cultivators were outstanding in magical combat, a loss that would take unknown years to recover from.

Numerous families were heavily impacted and couldn’t gather more high-tier cultivator teams.

Ji An sighed lightly:

“Troubling times indeed; if not managed well, the destruction from the magical calamity might surpass the demon calamity.”

The demon beasts have retreated but not entirely left, now entrenched in the area west of Mo Ya Mountain.

Meaning the land claimed by several sects over thirty years ago has fully returned to the hands of demon beasts.

The current situation faced by Human Race cultivators is more precarious than during the ongoing demon calamity.

Du Huaiyuan murmured:

“If the situation continues to worsen, the sect might announce new enlistments.”

He felt an ominous premonition rising in his mind; he hadn’t been involved in the battles during the demon calamity outbreak; later, during the demon beasts’ siege on the sect, all he did was hold the line defensively.

If the magical calamity spreads, he might be drafted into the Law Enforcement Hall team for an external search for demon cultivators.