Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

The temporary grotto mansion was extremely quiet, with Daoist Master Chi Yun and Wey Tianyou both deep in their thoughts.

The Daoist Monarch mentioned the negative impact of mission failure, stating that as long as Demon Cultivators were active in the Northern Region, no one could remain unaffected.

Even if the Demon Cultivators left the Northern Land, there was no room for complacency. Demon Cultivators were extreme in their actions and vengeful, and they would inevitably return.

In other words, one must deal a fatal blow when encountering Demon Cultivators, or else suffer the consequences.

Time favored the Demon Cultivators because they could improve their cultivation much faster than orthodox cultivators.

Wey Tianyou cleared his throat and said:

”Daoist Brother Chi Yun, when was the last time Demon Cultivators ran rampant in the Northern Land?”

”According to the records, it was 1,600 years ago. Only Demon Cultivators at the Nascent Soul Stage level would be recorded.

If we encounter Demon Cultivators at or above the Mid-stage Golden Core, we most likely won’t be able to resist, and even escaping would be a luxury.”

Daoist Master Chi Yun sighed inwardly; though the Demonic Cultivation Technique was harmful to the natural order, its speed of cultivation improvement was indeed fast.

While the two were chatting, the grotto mansion’s Dharma Prohibition opened, and Tianshui Daoist Monarch entered.

They quickly stood up, ”Greetings, Daoist Monarch.”

Tianshui Daoist Monarch waved his hand with a hint of frustration, saying:

”The Demon Cultivators are too cunning. I was unlucky and didn’t catch the main culprit.”

As he spoke, he took out two robust corpses about a foot tall and threw them on the ground.

The corpses had a single horn on their heads, dark red skin, and tusks in their mouths, but they were humanoid in shape.

”The two Demon Infants misled my judgment. The Demon Cultivators enhanced their demonic aura, making them my targets instead.”

If he had chosen the right target the second time, he might have caught the enemy.

By the third time he tracked them, he could only confirm that the Demon Cultivators had jumped into the Nu Lan River, leaving the trail completely cold.

He sat down, heaving a long sigh, and asked:

”Where are the others?”

”Daoist Master Cold Qilin suggested that everyone continue the search because he believes the Demon Cultivators’ lair is near the area where the sentries disappeared.”

Daoist Master Chi Yun paused, then added:

”Daoist Monarch, those missing sentries have reappeared. They claim they only fainted, but we all think there’s something wrong because we found bloodstains on the back of their heads.”

Tianshui Daoist Monarch’s expression turned serious, and in a deep voice, he said:

”Bring them to see me.”

”Daoist Monarch, please wait,” Wey Tianyou immediately left the grotto mansion and returned shortly with five cultivators.

Four Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators and one at the Second Transformation of the Chao Origin Stage.

Tianshui Daoist Monarch scrutinized them for a while and asked:

”Which families do you belong to?”

The Chao Origin Stage cultivator spoke first:

”Reporting to Daoist Monarch, I am a disciple of the Gu Clan from Black Tortoise Snow Mountain.”

”The disciple belongs to the Law Enforcement Hall.”

”I am a disciple of the Wey Clan from Dragon Head Mountain.”

The others introduced themselves, and Tianshui Daoist Monarch asked a few more questions before turning to Daoist Master Chi Yun and asked:

”Did you note down their information?”

Daoist Master Chi Yun was slightly startled and hurriedly replied:

”I remember it very clearly.”

Tianshui Daoist Monarch acknowledged with a ”Hmm,” then gently raised his hand, unleashing magical power with floating blue ice crystals, which shot out swiftly.

The five had no time to resist; each was hit by two ice crystals, one at the brow and another at the chest.

They slowly fell, a layer of frost forming on their bodies.

”When everyone returns, discuss how to manage the compensation for these people.”

Tianshui Daoist Monarch sighed inwardly. These individuals had already been implanted with Demon Souls, invisible to others, but impossible to hide from his Divine Sense.

”Remove the bodies and perform an autopsy in front of everyone as proof, then burn them to ashes.”

Since he had killed them, only he could quell the other cultivators’ grievances.

Daoist Master Chi Yun opened his mouth, knowing this would be the result, yet still felt a sorrow deep in his heart.

”As you command,” he and Wey Tianyou proceeded to move the bodies out.

Only Tianshui Daoist Monarch remained in the grotto mansion, his gaze turning profound as he sighed inwardly:

”A time of turmoil, let it not lead to disaster.”

These two Demon Infants had already reached the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment level, with merely a few years of gestation. Such Demon Cultivators were beyond his documented understanding.

Capable of easily transforming Chao Origin Stage cultivators into Demon Soul Puppets and planting seeds within them to nurture Demon Infants, the inheritance these Demon Cultivators received was extraordinary.

He intended, upon returning to the Immortal City, to visit Daoist friends in seclusion and send messengers to all Golden Core level forces across the Northern Land to report this matter.

He would rather be overly cautious than witness tragedies from his childhood repeating.

Tianshui Daoist Monarch leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and contemplated his countermeasures.

...

Daoist Master Chi Yun dissected the corpse of a Law Enforcement Hall disciple, finding black patterns throughout the abdominal cavity, with an egg-sized tumor covered in black demon patterns at the chest.

He and Wey Tianyou exchanged a glance, seeing the sorrow reflected in each other’s eyes.

Both the Law Enforcement Hall and the Wey Clan had disciples die. Fortunately, they died in the line of duty, a worthy death.

Wey Tianyou’s gaze grew somber as he pondered how the enemy’s methods were so covert and how to detect them in the future.

Unless caught on the spot, even a Golden Core Cultivator couldn’t discern if a cultivator had already fallen victim.

He pondered for a long time with no leads.

Daoist Master Chi Yun assumed that the deceased Wey Clan disciples were beloved by him and offered comfort, saying:

”Fellow Daoist, grieve not. I’ll inform the disciples to collect wood.”

After gently patting the other’s shoulder, he left, summoning all cultivators near the grotto mansion to gather around the bodies.

Wey Tianyou silently opened the abdominal cavity of the other bodies, revealing abnormalities. The others watched with terror in their eyes.