“The Great Development Mantra wasn’t something I snatched from the Far West—it was delivered to me willingly,” Han Li said with a faint glint in his eyes, his tone indifferent.
“Relax! The Thousand Bamboo Sect is no longer under the control of my lineage’s disciples. Even if you had stolen it, this old man wouldn’t care,” the Great Development Venerable replied dismissively.
“As long as it doesn’t affect our deal, think whatever you want. But let me ask you again—are you truly unable to break the Soul-Sealing Curse?” Han Li pressed, his voice tinged with gravity.
“It’s not that I can’t, but my lifespan is limited. I simply don’t have the time to spare. Otherwise, no matter how profound this curse is, it wouldn’t stump me,” the Great Development Venerable scoffed. Though Han Li had anticipated the answer, a deep sense of disappointment still settled in his chest.
“Very well. Since you can’t break the curse, I’ll have to make a trip to the Fallen Devil Valley,” Han Li said calmly, his expression unreadable. Unexpectedly, the Great Development Venerable fell silent. Only after a long pause did his voice return.
“Kid Han, venturing into the Fallen Devil Valley is far from wise! In my final years, I too considered entering, but I abandoned the idea after developing the Soul Projection Art. Still, I know much about that place. Do you truly believe that just because a handful have survived, the valley is safe? Forget the ancient restrictions—the spatial rifts alone are horrors beyond imagination for those who’ve never seen them. And occasionally, those rifts…” His voice trailed off abruptly.
“And occasionally what?” Han Li pressed, intrigued.
“Occasionally, those spatial rifts coincidentally open passages to other realms, unleashing demons and monsters. If you encounter them, pray for luck.”
“Other realms? What do you mean? Beyond the Spirit Realm, the Netherworld, and the Immortal Realm, are there others?” Han Li asked, startled.
“In my youth, I came across an ancient tome that mentioned such realms. The Immortal Realm is beyond our reach, of course. The Spirit Realm is an upper realm and rarely interacts with ours. The Netherworld is filled with vengeful spirits and demons, none of whom would willingly cross into our world. Only the ancient demons of the Primordial Demon Realm, which closely resembles our world, are eager to invade. Given the chance, they’d never pass it up. Even their avatars are formidable—you’d stand no chance against them now,” the old man’s voice turned icy.
“Ancient demons? What are they? I’ve never heard of them,” Han Li asked, baffled.
“What are ancient demons? Hard to define, but they’re neither human nor beast, taking countless grotesque forms. In ancient times, the Primordial Demon Realm once opened a passage to our world, unleashing high-ranking demons who wreaked havoc. The ancient cultivators fought them for years, eventually exterminating them through sheer numbers. But the war devastated the cultivators, wiping out countless techniques and spirit beasts. Their decline traces back to this,” the Great Development Venerable revealed solemnly.
“The ancient cultivators fought these demons?” Han Li paled. Though he didn’t know how powerful the demons were, he was well aware of the ancient cultivators’ might from relics and ruins. If the demons surpassed them, the implications were terrifying.
“Indeed. Many demonic techniques practiced today were created after learning of the Primordial Demon Realm. Some even allow practitioners to borrow power from named demons across realms, vastly enhancing their abilities. However, mastering such techniques doesn’t lead to ascension to the Spirit Realm—but to the Primordial Demon Realm, turning the cultivator into a demon. Of course, this is mere rumor, unverified. Still, many risk it for power, dismissing ascension as a distant concern. That said, the odds of a rift opening in the Fallen Devil Valley are slim. You might enter and leave unscathed—perhaps I’m just being paranoid,” the old man’s tone softened.
Recalling demonic transformations and eerie phantoms he’d witnessed, Han Li shuddered, believing most of it.
“If demons could cross over, wouldn’t the South Sky’s cultivation world have been thrown into chaos? Yet we’ve heard nothing of them,” Han Li pressed after a long silence.
“Fool! These rifts aren’t true passages. Only avatars or weaklings can cross, and our world’s laws repel them swiftly. They either self-destruct or flee back, leaving no time for havoc,” the Great Development Venerable sneered.
“So only weak demons can come, and briefly,” Han Li relaxed slightly, recalling the summoned demonic bird from the Mulan ritual.
“Don’t celebrate yet. Even weak demons are formidable, and their techniques are bizarre. A human cultivator of equal rank would stand no chance,” the old man warned.
Han Li frowned, deep in thought. “If you’ve never entered the valley, how do you know so much? Are you exaggerating?” he asked coolly.
“I haven’t, but several allies once ventured in. Their luck was poor—they encountered a demon immediately. Only one escaped with a fragment of his soul, reaching me before perishing. Their tale is unknown to most. Enough—I’ve spoken too much. If you insist on entering, tread carefully. Here’s the fifth layer of the Great Development Mantra and two Core Formation puppet recipes, as promised.” A white jade slip shot from the bamboo tube, landing before Han Li.
“I thought you’d forgotten,” Han Li said, pleased despite his lingering unease. He caught the slip and scanned it swiftly.
“Now, I must rest to continue my puppet research. Don’t disturb me unless necessary,” the Great Development Venerable said lazily before falling silent.
Han Li stored the slip, eyeing the bamboo tube warily. He knew the old man withheld secrets but was powerless to pry. The so-called “Cavern of Blessings” was the tube itself—a spatial treasure housing the Venerable’s true form, a puppet. Otherwise, Han Li would’ve stored it away.
After a moment, Han Li rose, glanced around, and shot into the sky as a green streak, leaving the city.
Night had fallen. Above a forest outside the city, he descended. Beneath a tree, a shadowy figure lurked—a head with wild green hair, buried save for its face. Sensing Han Li, it turned, revealing eerie green eyes that softened upon recognition.
Han Li circled it, murmuring, “Good. It’s developed rudimentary sentience. It’ll be useful in the valley.”
After setting up barriers, he sat cross-legged, retrieving a yellow token inscribed with “Sky Limit Sect.” His eyes gleamed in the dark as he studied it, lost in thought.
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