Chapter Sixty-Nine: The Demonic Clan’s Trial Cavern

"This demonic cultivator relic was first discovered by our Bright Moon Empire. What business do you self-righteous hypocrites of the righteous path have meddling here?" The leader from the Bright Moon Empire, a cultivator at the Core Formation stage, looked at the forces from the Great Xia Empire with hostility and spoke coldly.

A Core Formation expert from the Azure Heaven Dao Sect retorted unceremoniously, "We can’t even be sure this is really a demonic sect relic. Even if it is, it shouldn’t fall into your hands. You fiendish cultists are ruthless, disregarding morality and committing all manner of atrocities. How can we allow you to further increase your strength? You deserve to be wiped out by everyone!"

"Hypocrites! Cultivation itself is a rebellion against the heavens. We simply use all means available. Have you done little slaughter and pillaging yourselves? You merely dress it up with noble excuses!"

"Our actions uphold justice and rid the world of evil; slaughter is inevitable in the pursuit of righteousness."

The righteous cultivators and the demonic cultivators glared at each other, but did not truly come to blows. After all, exploring the relic was their primary goal; if they wasted their strength now, others would simply profit in the end.

When the War Demon Hall and Nightshade members of the Nine Nether Sacred Land approached, all eyes turned to them. Not only was the Great Xia wary of Nine Nether Sacred Land, but the Bright Moon Empire and its allied minor forces also feared their power.

After the recent turmoil within the Bright Moon Empire, even the imperial family, with all its schemes, had failed to eliminate them, resulting instead in a mutual defeat.

Since arriving, Chen Mu had been fixated on the Great Xia Empire’s forces, his gaze full of hatred for the Azure Heaven Dao Sect, its three branches, and the royal family. Killing intent spread from him like a dark cloud.

Sensing Chen Mu’s intense murderous aura, everyone shifted their focus to the Nightshade force of Nine Nether Sacred Land. They were puzzled—did Nine Nether Sacred Land have a grudge against Great Xia? Was the animosity truly this intense?

And when they realized the source of the killing aura was merely a mid-stage Foundation Establishment youth, their expressions turned peculiar.

Only Great Xia had brought a few mid-stage Foundation Establishment juniors; Bright Moon Empire’s representatives were all late-stage Foundation Establishment or above.

Nine Nether Sacred Land’s unusual choice to include a mid-stage Foundation Establishment youth in their ranks drew much curiosity.

Only the Bright Moon Empire’s royal forces, who had clashed with Chen Mu several times, knew his true strength and identity: the notorious Deputy Commander of Nightshade, a name that struck terror in the empire. Both his status and power were not to be underestimated.

Moreover, he had stolen a prized eagle beast from the imperial military, earning the empire’s bitter hatred.

Great Xia’s forces also noticed Chen Mu. When those from Azure Heaven Dao Sect recognized him, their faces changed as if they’d seen a ghost.

Of course they knew Chen Mu—personal disciple of Gu Xingyuan from Starwatch Valley, and registered disciple of the legendary Wood Daoist. He had slain many sect disciples during the Great Xia Heroes Gathering, escaped the hands of several Core Formation experts thanks to a fox demon beast, but ultimately was killed by the head of the Bright Moon Blade Sect.

The leader from Azure Heaven Dao Sect shouted with wild joy, "Are you Chen Mu? You didn’t die at the hands of Master Liu? Hahaha! So you little bastard defected to Nine Nether Sacred Land of Bright Moon Empire to become a demonic cultivator? Truly a demon spawn! Everyone, look—Chen Mu, that demon spawn, is alive! He killed so many of our people, and now he’s right here. Should we not capture him?"

The Azure Heaven Dao Sect was naturally elated to see Chen Mu. The clues to the vital force of the Life-Giving Pill had vanished, the so-called Wood Daoist had disappeared without a trace, and they suspected the Wood Daoist was either a false name or simply a fictional figure.

That man began inciting the sects whose disciples Chen Mu had killed, hoping that sheer numbers would intimidate Nine Nether Sacred Land into handing him over. Alas, his calculations were mistaken.

Yan Chong, Xu Changye, and the other disciples let their baleful aura surge forth. Xu Changye sneered, "You rabble want to lay hands on our Nightshade Deputy Commander? Do you even know your own strength? If you dare, come at us—we’ll slaughter as many as come!"

Nightshade Deputy Commander? The crowd was stunned—a mid-stage Foundation Establishment youth had become Deputy Commander of Nightshade? Even Great Xia had heard of that fearsome organization, skilled in infiltration, espionage, and assassination—the nightmare of Bright Moon Empire’s nights.

To let such a young man hold such a post, and to see four Core Formation Nightshade members defer to him, was beyond comprehension.

But only those unfamiliar with Chen Mu would be so surprised; those who knew his record, like the Azure Heaven Dao Sect and the imperial families of both empires, had long since grasped his abilities.

Faced with Nine Nether Sacred Land’s overwhelming backing, those who intended to seize Chen Mu for Great Xia quickly halted, knowing that despite their numbers, a fight would only end in mutual ruin.

Seeing their attempt at incitement fail, the Azure Heaven Dao Sect spat in frustration and fell silent.

The Bright Moon Empire’s royal family looked at Nine Nether Sacred Land in confusion—was Chen Mu formerly of Great Xia? They had never known this.

After all, Chen Mu had entered Bright Moon Empire as a Nine Nether Sacred Land member, and they always assumed he was born into their cult.

With the farce concluded, everyone’s attention returned to the anticipation of the relic’s restriction opening. The barrier would open periodically, allowing only Core Formation cultivators and below to enter, which explained the absence of Core Formation experts.

Chen Mu, meanwhile, was searching for someone—his elder brother, whose strength had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment. He should have been assigned here, but Chen Mu had searched within the Qingyun Mountain Sect’s sphere of influence for a long time without finding any trace of Chen Feng.

Moreover, the disciples of Qingyun Mountain Sect avoided his gaze, making Chen Mu’s heart sink. Clearly, something had happened to his brother during his absence. He resolved to question a Qingyun disciple about his brother’s fate at the earliest opportunity.

After a long wait, the barrier finally weakened; though still present, Core Formation cultivators could now pass through.

As the restriction opened, everyone surged toward the underground pit relic in a rush.

Inside the pit, they arrived at an indoor plaza spacious enough to accommodate thousands.

Looking around, they saw nine stone doors at the end of the plaza, all tightly shut.

Once everyone had entered the plaza, a deep voice echoed in their ears: "Welcome to the underground trial paradise of the Blood Demon Domain, established here by the demon race. I am Xue Tian, the array spirit of this domain. It has been ages since anyone has come here, so I am grateful for your visit."

At these words, the crowd stirred—it was neither a righteous path relic nor a demonic cultivator’s relic, but... a demon race trial domain?

The demon race—legendary beings from the era of myth, humanity’s enemies. They had entered a trial site left by such beings, and each person grew anxious for their safety.

The demon race had always sought to enslave humanity, but humanity’s desperate resistance had foiled their ambitions. Surely the array spirit, being a product of the demon race, would be biased toward demons.

Seeing the crowd’s wary silence, Xue Tian sighed, "I know you are not demons of the past, nor do I wish to harm you. I have been here countless ages, never seeing a living soul, and the loneliness has caused my spirit to slowly decay and stagnate. I do not wish for this to continue. This is the Blood Demon Domain’s trial inheritance site; I hope someone can take the Dark Demon Soul Crystal from the array’s core. I will attach myself to it, and as long as I can leave, I will recognize whoever carries me away as my master. I can impart all I have known since gaining consciousness."

With a yearning for freedom, Xue Tian explained his origins and the history of the trial domain. Hearing they might gain such an array spirit, the crowd’s hearts surged with excitement.

Array spirits, artifact spirits—these sentient beings born of objects were only heard of in legend. To grant intelligence to an artifact—what miracle could accomplish such a feat?

Surely Xue Tian knew countless secrets of myth; as the array spirit of a trial site, he must possess myriad cultivation methods and secret arts. Who would not covet such a thing?

Even the righteous cultivators of Great Xia grew eager—if they obtained Xue Tian, would they not be invincible across the entire Yuan Yao continent?

Someone finally could not resist asking, "Respected array spirit, do you know any cultivation methods and manuals from the era of myth?"

Xue Tian replied with calm indifference, "I know a few."

At this, collective joy swept the crowd. They pressed on, "Can humans participate in these trials? If so, what are the rewards?"

"Humans may participate. The rewards include rare treasures of heaven and earth, demonic weapons, and most importantly, various cultivation techniques and secret arts. The cultivation methods may not suit you, but the secret arts could be worth attempting."

Demonic weapons and secret arts—such priceless treasures before their eyes stirred everyone’s greed.

The demonic cultivators were ecstatic, while the righteous cultivators were also somewhat excited. Though they would never use these themselves, they could study them, and at the very least, prevent the demonic cultivators from claiming them, which would widen the gap in power.

Outwardly, the righteous cultivators maintained their composed, world-saving demeanor, but inwardly, they were full of greed, waiting eagerly for the trial to begin.

Once everyone’s desire was aligned, petitions to open the trial domain rang out—they could hardly wait to participate.

Upon hearing their pleas, Xue Tian’s tone grew more animated, his voice brighter: "Very well, everyone. At the end of the plaza are nine stone doors, each leading to a distinct trial space. Ultimately, all paths converge at the same destination. The difficulty of doors one through nine increases by their number; one is the easiest, nine the hardest. The greater the challenge, the richer the reward."