Chapter 803: The Six Realms of Human Minds

Lan Jingtian glanced around and found only a single path without any branches. Along the way, he had carefully sensed the harmony or discord of the earth-moving power and found no other hidden mechanisms or secret passages. In other words, either the Golden Tent Warriors and the Changan Sect shamans hadn’t entered the demonic land at all, or they had already passed through the stone gate.

Jiuyou was the legendary birthplace of evil spirits and devils, home to naturally-born evil deities and rulers of the netherworld. Its natural laws and principles differed drastically from their own world. Within Jiuyou, using one’s inner world to manipulate the external world would become extremely difficult. The weak would no longer be able to move the heavy, and the ability to destroy cities, cut rivers, and shake the earth would be lost. Worse still, one might be eroded by the external world, gradually becoming demonic and losing one’s wisdom… Thinking of this, Lan Jingtian hesitated slightly. The terrifying and sinister tales of Jiuyou had been passed down through generations, enough to stop children from crying at night.

At this moment, Gao Qianyuan calmly remarked, “Only after entering this gate can one truly enter the demonic land.”

Entering this gate counts as entering the demonic land? Lan Jingtian was slightly shocked. Indeed, along the way, aside from the intensifying coldness, the thickening black and dark green mist, and the increasing presence of dark, nearly black blood in the soil, there had been no other characteristics of the demonic land—such as evil ghosts, impure energy, or mutated primordial energy oceans.

It seemed the Changan Sect and the Shengsi Wu Chang Sect had specially constructed the stone gate to separate the demonic land from the normal world. Lan Jingtian suddenly understood and felt a deep sense of confusion. This blue-blooded man with nine fingers seemed to know more about this place. Was the prisoner he captured from a higher level?

In a flash of thought, Lan Jingtian revealed a trace of a sinister smile. Having a “gate” was good. The Crazy Blade wanted them to act as scouts, driving them forward? Once they passed through the stone gate, they would shut it. If he didn’t pursue them, he would lose their trail. If he hurriedly followed, he would lose his composed and oppressive demeanor, no longer intimidating.

He extended his right hand in a seizing dragon posture and pulled backward forcefully. An invisible force dragged the stone gate open slowly, even bending the space around it, causing dim light to ripple.

Creaking sounds filled the air as the heavy stone gate slowly opened, releasing a wave of coldness. Tiny ice crystals drifted about, making Lan Jingtian feel as if his blood was freezing.

In his perception, the blue-blooded Gao Qianyuan with nine fingers had skin that turned translucent, glowing with a translucent deep blue light, as if it were about to freeze into ice. Lan Jingtian smiled faintly and strode into the stone gate.

A tiny, invisible sword qi surged within Gao Qianyuan’s bloodline, shattering the freezing effect and restoring his mobility as he followed inside.

As soon as they passed through the stone gate, both turned almost simultaneously, either pulling or tugging, trying to close the gate to block the oppressive presence of the “Crazy Blade” Su Meng.

Crash! The stone gate scraped back and forth, as if held by invisible hands. No matter how hard the two tried, it only vibrated within a small range.

“Magnetic force!” Both Lan Jingtian and Gao Qianyuan felt the terrifying suction.

The former was not structured like an ordinary person, while the latter had refined numerous heavenly treasures, transforming his physique. Both had a clear perception of the magnetic force.

Lan Jingtian’s eyes widened as he exerted all his strength to pull the stone gate. The surrounding space seemed to warp into a spherical shape, turning into a mass of darkness. Gao Qianyuan’s sword energy was formless, shapeless, and devoid of yin and yang, poised to manifest a domain that would isolate the magnetic force.

They worked together, determined to create trouble for the “Crazy Blade” Su Meng and prevent him from building up momentum.

The great battle between righteousness and evil had already passed two months ago, and rumors spread like wildfire. Lan Jingtian and Gao Qianyuan had naturally heard of Meng Qi’s legendary feats—slaying the Crying Elder with a single strike, his unparalleled ability to “entangle karma,” and his capture of Haswula amidst a sea of quasi-Dharma Bodies, half-step Dharma Bodies, and numerous formidable masters. They regarded him with deep wariness, treating him as a rare and formidable adversary.

Suddenly, the magnetic force changed. The stone gate, pulled by both Lan Jingtian and Meng Qi, slammed toward the “door frame” with an unstoppable momentum and speed, like a thousand horses.

Bang! Crack…

Although the stone gate had protective enchantments, it had already exceeded its endurance limit. It rapidly cracked, collapsed into a pile, and was then frozen by the cold, forming layers of frost.

Lan Jingtian and Gao Qianyuan couldn’t help but exchange glances. They had been too wary of the “Crazy Blade” Su Meng, constantly pressured by him, dragged along passively, and even failed to react to the simple common knowledge that magnetic force’s yin-yang changes could turn pulling into pushing.

At this moment, at the edge of their perception, the powerful and blazing blood qi, like a scorching sun, still roared into the sky, with a cold blade intent that pierced their spiritual bodies.

What a formidable “Crazy Blade” Su Meng! They couldn’t continue like this… Both were seasoned masters, who forcefully suppressed unnecessary emotions, cleared their minds, and relaxed yet remained alert, as if they had forgotten the oppressive presence of the “Crazy Blade” Su Meng behind them, turning instead to examine the “demonic land.”

To the left, right, and front, everything was shrouded in a pale green mist that was nearly frozen. Their spiritual senses couldn’t extend beyond a hundred zhang. The ground was pitch black, as if layered with millennia of accumulated blood clots, covered with an extremely smooth layer of ice. Occasionally, there were ink-green mosses with eyes, noses, and mouths that emitted eerie laughter.

Jiuyou had remained hidden for over ten thousand years, while the main world’s cultivation lineages had been interrupted several times. Lan Jingtian and Gao Qianyuan only knew the most famous things inside, not recognizing these strange mosses. However, through observation of the mosses and changes in the world’s energy, they discovered that these mosses could emit a colorless, odorless gas that induced hallucinations, making it impossible to lock in one’s essence and vitality, which would be quietly drained away, gradually causing one to wither and die.

The two masters seemed relaxed but were actually highly alert. At the slightest hint of danger, they could unleash their power instantly, like the sensitivity of a single feather or a mosquito landing during the opening of an acupoint. One slashed with sword qi, while the other stomped on the ground, shattering the ink-green mosses into pieces.

As they cautiously advanced for a while, Lan Jingtian suddenly heard a crisp “crunching” sound, as if someone were chewing bones.

He instinctively looked at Gao Qianyuan, noticing the same serious expression on his face, confirming it wasn’t just a hallucination. He lowered one hand beside his body and placed the other horizontally across his chest, ready to strike, moving toward the source of the sound.

This might lead them to the trail of the Golden Tent Warriors and the Changan Sect shaman!

The mist parted, and a strong, pungent smell of blood rushed into their nostrils.

In their line of sight, ahead among the jagged rocks, sat a man dressed as a Changan Sect shaman, covered in blood, his belly swollen.

Pulled by the energy, the Changan shaman turned his head toward them, his eyes filled with greed and his expression dull and lifeless.

Suddenly, he curled his lips into a vacant grin, and with his right hand, he ripped off his own ear and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing hungrily with loud crunching sounds.

His left hand, his legs, his lips, and the muscles and bones on his chest were all missing, leaving a bloody, mangled mess, as if he had eaten them all himself, turning them into his swollen belly, yet his hunger showed no sign of relief.

“Possessed by a hungry ghost…” Gao Qianyuan narrowed his eyes.

Lan Jingtian grew more cautious. This Changan Sect shaman was no weakling, only a step away from becoming a master. What kind of hungry ghost could be so powerful?

Hehehe, the Changan Sect shaman flew up, greed evident on his face as he rushed toward the two. Lan Jingtian struck with one palm, and the shaman’s body strangely shattered into pieces. From his belly flew out relatively intact lips, legs, and internal organs.

“It must be that the Nether Evil God Formation of the Shengsi Wu Chang Sect and the Changan Sect malfunctioned, failing to promptly seal the Jiuyou rift, allowing some evil spirits and ghosts to escape.” Gao Qianyuan looked at the twitching corpse and saw no sign of a “hungry ghost” departing. He speculated aloud.

Lan Jingtian deliberately snorted coldly, “Sneaking around secretly, nothing impressive. It seems these aren’t powerful demons at all—perfect for making trophies or refining into treasures!”

The surroundings returned to silence, with no further sounds.

“Let’s move forward a bit more. We might discover something unique to Jiuyou.” Confident with his sword, the Gu Talisman Order, in hand, Gao Qianyuan suggested pressing onward, claiming he could escape as long as he didn’t encounter a Dharma Body.

His eyes glimmered with a trace of eagerness, seemingly filled with desire for something unique to Jiuyou.

Lan Jingtian slightly distanced himself, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and followed deeper.

As they went further, the coldness intensified, even the mist seemed to freeze. The two had to use their abilities to carve out a path.

Crack, crack, crack… Crack, crack, crack… Sounds came from ahead again. Both grew alert and invigorated, moving left and right, circling around in an arc to approach.

Crack, crack, crack… Another man resembling a Changan Sect shaman stood ahead, wielding a saber in his hand, diligently digging at the ground as if trying to create a passage to Jiuyou.

The pit he had dug in front of him was already a hundred zhang deep, with a layer of blood-yellow substance undulating at the bottom, as if underground water were about to surge out.

“The Yellow Spring water…” Gao Qianyuan stepped forward, his physical form and Dharma manifestation simultaneously disintegrating, merging into the slightly mutated primordial energy ocean, surging toward that blood-yellow layer from all directions.

Lan Jingtian did not advance but retreated instead, sensing something was amiss. At that moment, another Lan Jingtian appeared before him—dirty, covered in mud, but lacking any viciousness in his expression.

“Evil spirit!” Lan Jingtian remained exceptionally calm, his mind empty, and with his right hand, he struck the left chest of the illusionary “Lan Jingtian.”

Crack! The evil spirit’s left chest deeply caved in, its ribs breaking, but Lan Jingtian also felt a sharp pain in his own chest.

This strike felt as if he had hit himself!

How could this be? Lan Jingtian forcefully emptied his mind, neither panicking nor flustered, dodging the phantom evil spirit. He stomped his left foot, shaking the earth, causing cracks to form and the evil spirit to fall into them, which he then sealed shut.

Hehehe… laughter came from behind. Lan Jingtian didn’t even need to turn around to see his own “self.”

He tried several methods in succession, even letting the evil spirit strike him, but aside from the injuries, nothing else happened.

Gradually, the shadow of death loomed over his heart, making it impossible for him to remain calm.

At this moment, a pair of black swift boots appeared in his line of sight, along with a long blade resembling a massive wound.

“‘Crazy Blade’ Su Meng…” Lan Jingtian murmured to himself, like a drowning man grasping at the last straw, regardless of their previous enmity.

“Come out.” He heard Meng Qi’s steady voice.

“Indeed, it’s rare nowadays for someone to resist my ‘Six Realms Great Seal’.” A calm voice sounded.

Lan Jingtian turned his head and saw, in the distance, a towering stone bench several dozen zhang high. Sitting atop it was a “giant,” clad in a black robe, resting his right hand on his cheek. His face had no nose, no mouth, no ears—only one eye divided into six colors.

Not far away, the Changan Sect shaman continued digging diligently, while Gao Qianyuan stood with a talisman rotating around him, his eyes slightly dazed.

“Six Realms Great Seal?” Meng Qi raised his eyebrows slightly.

“Unrestrained greed leads to the realm of hungry ghosts; unresolved malice and resentment lead to the hell realm. The Six Realms are not in Jiuyou but reside within the hearts of men.” The towering demon, over a hundred zhang in height, spoke with a faint smile, “I am the ‘Six Realms Demon King,’ subordinate to the Great自在天子.”

Six Realms Demon King… Compared to the King of the Six Realms, Meng Qi immediately felt this opponent was rather low-class. Suppressing the urge to mock, he calmly asked, “Great Freedom Heavenly Sovereign?”

This was the evil deity who had betrayed the Demon Lord.

“The Eternal Heaven is one of the incarnations of the Great Sovereign of Freedom. The Great Fullness and the Sect of Impermanent Life and Death colluded, employing the Netherworld Evil God Formation in an attempt to awaken the slumbering Great Sovereign of Freedom. Unfortunately, both he and the Eternal Heaven perished simultaneously, making it impossible to proceed. The previous shamans inherited his will and conducted rituals here, yet they could only summon me.” The Six Realms Demon King chuckled, utterly unconcerned about revealing secrets, as if his thoughts were elsewhere.