Chapter 44

Without getting up close, Yan Zhichuan couldn’t be sure of the Foundation Establishment Pill’s ingredients or effects.

But as the daughter of the Heavenly Dao, based on her extensive experience popping random pills, she judged that this one had no effect on her.

Ahead of her, a few trembling toddlers lined up. They were mere mortals, unable to discern the Demon Cultivators’ true nature, believing that a single bow in this hall would grant their wishes.

What awaited them certainly wasn’t any “heavenly immortal.” Being rejected and sent back was the real stroke of luck.

Yan Zhichuan blinked, then toddled forward on her stubby legs, boldly cutting in line.

She promptly earned a chorus of indignant squeals and unceremonious shoves.

But no one could push her over—she was like an iron weight bolted to the ground.

The commotion in the queue soured the Demon Cultivators’ expressions. One raised its voice and barked, “Silence!” Then it eyed Yan Zhichuan, who had waddled right to the front. Unconcerned with order, and too lazy for extra hassle, it simply scooped her up and tossed her beneath the jade statue.

Immortal patting the head—with a resounding bang.

A earth-shattering crack echoed out. The jade statue’s arm, wreathed in white light, emitted a shrill ring, then spiderwebbed with fissures. Dust motes fluttered down from the glow.

Yan Zhichuan jolted in surprise, utterly baffled.

She hadn’t done anything!

The Demon Cultivator jumped too—this statue was a relic from a Cave Heaven, infused with immense power. How could it break? It didn’t suspect Yan Zhichuan, though. With wary glances, it abandoned feeding her the pill and scanned the surroundings. Suddenly, its eyes sharpened.

As it raised a hand, a blinding azure light flared. Amid the twisting beams, two figures shot out. Mana clashed, unleashing deafening thunderclaps.

Yan Zhichuan peered closely and spotted two familiar faces.

One was Jiang Xuanji of Heavenly Balance Mansion, with her Copper Coin String. The other was Jiang Cizhu of Cihang Studio.

She breathed a sigh of relief. She knew she couldn’t have caused that much noise. But the clanging in her ears made her tense up again. These two had appeared right in front of the Demon Cultivators, exposing themselves—what now?

Yan Zhichuan’s eyes darted around. She stealthily hid her innocent toddler act to the side, then used the Heavenly Dao System to communicate with Zhan Yujie.

In a side hall of the Heavenly Venerable Temple.

Little Fat Chirp chirped frantically, “Chirp chirp!”

Zhan Yujie frowned. She couldn’t understand it.

The Heavenly Dao System grew anxious, then remembered the Heaven-Penetrating Treasure Mirror Yan Zhichuan had left it. It promptly pulled it out, tapped it a few times, and sent a message to Zhan Yujie using Yan Zhichuan’s seal.

“Demon Cultivators stirring trouble below. ‘Enlightenment’ is actually force-feeding Foundation Establishment Pills. Jiang Cizhu and others have appeared—alerted the Demon Cultivators—”

Zhan Yujie’s eyelid twitched, her brows knitting into a deep furrow. Demon Cultivators causing chaos in the Heavenly Venerable Temple wasn’t surprising; seeing it confirmed felt more like as expected.

As for the “Foundation Establishment Pill”—

There hadn’t been such a pill before, but during past dealings with Wu Jiang, she’d heard that an elder of Miracle Hand Sect was experimenting with a fragmented recipe. Who knew if it was related? Demon Cultivators couldn’t refine them themselves—they must have obtained them through some channel from the Xuanmen orthodox cultivators.

Zhan Yujie had no time to sort the Heavenly Dao System’s message. She hurriedly forwarded it to Nine Abyss Sect, then pressed Little Fat Chirp: “Where exactly?” With the Demon Cultivators alerted, the situation had shifted dramatically—her junior sister’s position was likely precarious.

The Heavenly Dao System could sense Yan Zhichuan’s location. Even in the Earth Abyss, it could pinpoint the entrance. It flapped ahead to lead the way. But as Zhan Yujie stepped out the hall door, a yellow-robed Daoist with a guileless smile approached. “Fellow Daoist, please halt.”

The yellow-robed Daoist had received word from below of Xuanmen intruders. An assault was imminent outside, and his orders were to watch this group waiting in the main hall. He had no desire to fight Xuanmen Daoists—if his silver tongue could persuade them, all the better.

Zhan Yujie’s gaze sharpened coldly. “Can’t I leave?”

The yellow-robed Daoist bowed in salute, smiling again. “We’ve prepared a banquet for you all in the temple. Please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist.”

Zhan Yujie’s face remained impassive. “No need.”

He blocked her path. “Why the rush, Fellow Daoist? Those juniors who entered the hall should be out soon. If you leave now, who will receive them in the temple?”

“I’m just stepping out the hall door. Why assume I’m leaving the mountain gate?”

Zhan Yujie arched a brow, a chill smile tugging her lips. She flicked her hand, and sword light flashed like lightning, erupting forth. The yellow-robed Daoist hadn’t expected her to strike without warning. Alarm surged in him, but his cultivation fell short of hers, and he couldn’t dodge fast enough. The icy gleam sliced through him. He hadn’t fled a full zhang before the sword pierced him clean through, leaving him drenched in blood.

Commotion erupted in the hall. Zhan Yujie ignored it. Her eyes flickered as she ghosted to the Daoist’s side, where a faint breath lingered, and silently stuffed a Demon Disguise Pill—obtained from Yan Zhichuan—into his mouth. Demonic energy exploded from the yellow-robed Daoist. Zhan Yujie smirked coldly, then unleashed a ribbon of sword light that shredded him, body and soul.

“Demon Cultivator?!” The Daoists from various sects paled, their hearts turning to ice. They stared in shock and confusion at the corpse and the menacing yellow-robed Daoists closing in.

Zhan Yujie didn’t look back. “The Heavenly Venerable Temple is a Demon Cultivator outpost. Their ‘enlightenment’ is just a ploy. Anyone who emerges from there has likely been possessed, no longer themselves.”

Self-interest was at stake. Words alone wouldn’t convince strangers, but the demonic-reeking corpse and the encircling threats left no choice—they had to believe her.

Zhan Yujie showed no emotion on the surface.

Deep down, though, she had to admit Yan Zhichuan’s dirty tricks were damn useful sometimes.

In the Earth Abyss beneath the Heavenly Venerable Temple.

Jiang Cizhu’s sudden arrival disrupted the Demon Cultivators’ plans. Uncertain how many Xuanmen Daoists lurked, they slapped a transmission artifact and sent word out. Soon, Demon Cultivators surged in like a tidal wave.

On Yingzhou Island, the winds shifted violently.

Towering waves crashed in, massive Demon Creatures lurking beneath the water roaring like fiends, slapping the sea into layered, terrifying tsunamis—as if to sink the entire island.

Daoists emerging from the Heavenly Venerable Temple anxiously sought their young blood kin, only to halt at the dire scene. If Yingzhou Island sank, none could return. Mortals still populated the isle—they couldn’t ignore their deaths. Most whirled toward the coast.

Zhan Yujie remained calm, urging the Heavenly Dao System onward to find Yan Zhichuan.

En route, the Heaven-Penetrating Treasure Mirror glowed— a message from her mother, laced with panic.

“Something’s wrong at the Heavenly Venerable Temple. Yulu was unfortunately captured by Demon Cultivators—don’t know where she’s held now. Where are you? Reached Yingzhou Island?”

Zhan Yujie glanced back at the flat sea-sky line. Lead-gray clouds swirled in a massive vortex, waves rearing like sails thick as a forest, horses arrayed like battle lines, momentum overwhelming.

Her mother hadn’t mentioned Yingzhou Island’s state—was she underground?

As for her sister: captured by Demon Cultivators, or had she willingly gone to the Heavenly Venerable Temple?

A hard-to-name irritation stirred in Zhan Yujie’s depths, a sinister glint flashing in her eyes.

The Heavenly Dao System: “Chirp?”

Zhan Yujie pocketed the Heaven-Penetrating Treasure Mirror. “Let’s go.”

Down in the Earth Abyss.

The Demon Cultivators clashed fiercely with Jiang Cizhu and the others. Five-colored lights danced, illuminating the pitch-black walls in a riot of hues.

Just Jiang Cizhu and Jiang Xuanji alone couldn’t match the horde. Yan Zhichuan watched anxiously, debating whether to reveal herself and help, when Jiang Xuanji suddenly called out, “Senior Zhao!”

As her words fell, a woman in white-blue Daoist robes materialized from the shadows. She raised a hand, unleashing volleys of razor-sharp sword light. In a whirlwind of spinning wheels and flashing bolts, treasures clashed amid radiant glows, hurtling straight at the Demon Cultivators.

Yan Zhichuan couldn’t gauge her cultivation, but that ferocious sword light surpassed Golden Core for sure.

Wherever the sword light passed, boulders shattered, treasures crumbled. The Demon Cultivators flew back like ragdolls, ragged and broken, smashing into the stone walls and carving out massive craters.

The thick scent of blood spread through the cavern. Yan Zhichuan gaped dumbstruck at the formidable sword-wielding Daoist.

Wasn’t this Zhan’s mom—the one who wanted to dig out her Sword Bone?!

How was she with Jiang Xuanji and Jiang Cizhu?

“Thank you, Senior Zhao.” Jiang Cizhu saluted Zhao Pingchuan, adding, “And if not for your guidance, we wouldn’t have found this place.”

Zhao Pingchuan’s brows furrowed slightly. Her gaze swept around. “There are still many Demon Cultivators. Escaping won’t be easy. First, collect those innocent children.”

Jiang Cizhu nodded. “Yes.”

She flicked her sleeve, sending a clear breeze over the children to draw them into her Qiankun Sleeve for evacuation.

Moments later, the wailing had ceased. Only Yan Zhichuan stood there, blinking her innocent eyes.

“This toddler looks kinda familiar?” Jiang Cizhu puzzled.

Jiang Xuanji glanced over. “Don’t they all? Hurry—before more Demon Cultivators arrive.”

The Heavenly Venerable Temple had been on Yingzhou Island for a while—who knew how many had been possessed? They’d sensed Cave Heaven auras upon entry, but they’d suddenly dissipated. Likely, nearby Demon Cultivator Cave Heavens had been targeted by Xuanmen Grotto-Heavens, leaving this spot unattended.

But before they could leave, a soft thunderclap rang out. Golden rosy clouds and cranes appeared in fivefold splendor, dazzling and radiant. As the white smoke cleared, a Daoist stood amid the glow, accompanied by a Red-Eyed Snow Leopard—immortal and awe-inspiring at first glance.

Too bad it was a Demon Cultivator. A Nascent Soul one, at that.

Yan Zhichuan eyed Zhao Pingchuan again. If she heard right, this woman had a deal with the Demon Cultivators? Now flipping sides—didn’t they recognize her? The earlier Demon Cultivators hadn’t been fully in the know; maybe the info hadn’t spread. Or Zhao Pingchuan could be putting on a show, toying with the Xuanmen Daoists like a cat with a mouse.

Yan Zhichuan quietly urged Little Fat Chirp to relay a message.

On the surface, Zhan Yujie, fighting to the back mountain, found a massive stone crevice leading down.

The Heaven-Penetrating Treasure Mirror lit up: “Your mom’s there. Careful.”

Zhan Yujie’s eyes darkened.

In that moment, she just wondered—how did Yan Zhichuan know who her mother was?