“Thank you for your generosity, Master! From now on, even if I am torn to pieces, I will ensure your wish is fulfilled!” The black-armored giant was overjoyed upon hearing this and hurriedly expressed his loyalty.
“Good. From now on, you need not ask any questions—just follow my orders. We’ve delayed long enough. Let’s catch up to those human cultivators immediately!” The palace-robed woman nodded in satisfaction, then turned her gaze toward the distant mountains, her eyes flashing coldly.
“As you command, Master!” the black-armored giant replied respectfully.
With a flick of her sleeve, the phantom of a pink flowering tree reappeared, enveloping both of them before transforming into a streak of rosy light that shot forward.
At the same time, tens of thousands of miles away in the sky, Han Li, the Long Family Patriarch, and their group were silently flying.
Though they had encountered minor mishaps before entering the passage, everything after emerging matched the Long Family Patriarch’s prior reconnaissance perfectly.
Not only had they exited directly into the Bloodstone Mountains of the demon realm, but the area outside the passage was only guarded by ordinary demons.
To avoid drawing attention, they refrained from slaughtering their way out and instead fled swiftly after breaking through the encirclement.
The Bloodstone Mountains were a vast, resource-poor region in the demon realm, so they encountered no other demons along the way.
This eased the tension in the Long Family Patriarch and his companions, allowing them to relax somewhat.
After half a month of continuous flight and dispatching a group of unknown demonic birds along the way, Han Li and the others finally left the dark mountain range behind. Ahead lay an expansive, unusually verdant grassland.
The grassland was lush with green grass and blooming flowers as far as the eye could see. However, faint wisps of black-gray mist drifted at low altitudes, indicating denser demonic energy than in the mountains.
At the Long Family Patriarch’s signal, the group halted their flight and gathered to discuss their next steps.
“According to the last Spirit King’s testament, the Cleansing Spirit Pool and the Pure Spirit Lotus are located on a mysterious island in the Demon Source Sea, the easternmost part of the demon realm. While I have some clues about its exact location, they can only be used once we arrive. Our immediate task is to reach this sea as quickly and safely as possible. I assume the Long Family Patriarch has already planned this out?” The Sage of a Thousand Autumns spoke solemnly to the human cultivators.
“Indeed. Over the years, I’ve gathered information about the demon realm, filtering out unreliable or erroneous details. From our current position, there are three possible routes to the Demon Source Sea, each with its own pros and cons. I cannot decide alone—we must discuss this together. It’s possible we may need to test all three before making a final decision,” the Long Family Patriarch replied gravely.
“What are the three routes? Please elaborate, Brother Long,” the Lin Family man asked without hesitation.
Han Li and the feathered-robed girl also listened intently.
“The first route is to follow this grassland ahead, enter the Moonward Plains, then traverse several prosperous demon-controlled regions. By using the teleportation arrays in major demon cities, we could reach the Demon Source Sea within a year or two. However, the problem is that these cities are guarded by demonic Venerables or even Saint Ancestor avatars, along with powerful restrictions. Even with our demon-disguising beads, we’d have at best a twenty percent chance of slipping through unnoticed—and that’s only if we’re incredibly lucky.”
“A twenty percent chance is far too low. We cannot take this route,” the feathered-robed girl immediately objected.
“I agree with Sister Ye. Though this route is the fastest, it’s far too risky. I also oppose it,” the Sage of a Thousand Autumns said after a moment’s thought, shaking her head.
Han Li and the other spirit beings remained silent, but their expressions showed they shared the same view.
Unfazed, the Long Family Patriarch continued, “The second route involves heading to the center of the grassland, then following the demon realm’s famous Fifth Demon River into the sea. From there, we’d traverse multiple sea zones to reach the Demon Source Sea. Given the vastness of the demonic seas, we wouldn’t have to worry about encountering high-ranking demons. However, the seas teem with demonic beasts. If we run into a horde of ten thousand or more, we’d have no choice but to flee. Worse, the deep sea is home to demonic beasts of Venerable rank, and rumors even speak of Saint Ancestor-level sea creatures. This route would take five to six years.”
“The sea route is still too dangerous. Though I’m unfamiliar with the demonic seas, even in our realm, sea beasts are formidable enough to give pause to the strongest land races. Moreover, we know nothing of the demonic seas—if we accidentally enter a perilous zone, our lives would be at risk. Brother Long, what’s the third route?” the Sage of a Thousand Autumns frowned, clearly unimpressed.
“The third route requires us to follow the western edge of the grassland into the demon realm’s desolate lands, where even demons rarely tread. Like our realm’s wilderness, it’s home to land-based demonic beasts, though fewer than in the sea. With our strength, we shouldn’t face major issues—except for the infamous Illusory Roar Desert. This desert is one of the demon realm’s ten forbidden zones. No matter one’s cultivation level, entering it suppresses ninety percent of one’s magic power. Worse, all flight techniques and treasures become unusable—only walking on foot is possible.” The Long Family Patriarch’s lips twitched as he spoke.
“Are there powerful demonic beasts or poisonous insects in this desert?” Han Li asked, intrigued.
“No. While there are low-to-mid-rank demonic beasts, even with ninety percent of our power suppressed, we can handle them easily. The only real threat is the desert’s infamous Illusory Roar Demon Wind. However, though our magic is suppressed, our spiritual sense remains intact. With caution, we can manage the wind’s effects.”
“If that’s the case, we’d only need to walk through the desert for some time. Why did you emphasize it so gravely? There must be another reason,” Han Li chuckled.
“Indeed. If it were just that, I wouldn’t have prepared the other two routes. The problem is the desert’s sheer size. Without flight or treasures, crossing it on foot would take fifty to sixty years.” The Long Family Patriarch smiled bitterly.
“Fifty to sixty years?!”
Han Li’s expression darkened, and the feathered-robed girl gasped. Only the Sage of a Thousand Autumns remained composed, as did the other spirit beings—clearly, they were already aware of the desert’s nature.
“That’s far too long. By the time we reach the Demon Source Sea, the demonic tribulation in our realm might already be over. And the longer we take, the more unexpected complications may arise,” the disheveled man flatly rejected.
“If Brother Lin finds the time too long, which of the first two routes do you prefer?” the Long Family Patriarch countered calmly.
“The first is too dangerous. The second, though risky, is manageable with caution. With luck, we might even avoid demonic beasts entirely.” The disheveled man gritted his teeth after a moment’s hesitation.
“The sea route is indeed acceptable. Sage of a Thousand Autumns, Brother Han, what do you think?” The Long Family Patriarch turned to them, valuing their opinions as the only late-stage Body Integration cultivators present besides the silent white-light spirit.
“The second route seems more viable than the first or third. But if the time for the third route could be shortened, it might be the safest choice,” Han Li sighed.
“I also think the sea route is acceptable under these circumstances. But Brother Han, did you know there’s a way to halve the time needed to cross the Illusory Roar Desert? It could be done in just thirty years. Though even that may still be too long for us.” The Sage of a Thousand Autumns suddenly smiled.
“Oh? What method is this? Please enlighten us—I was unaware of this,” the Long Family Patriarch asked eagerly.
“I, too, would like to hear it,” Han Li said, his interest piqued.
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