134: Chapter 134 What is the background of this demonic cultivator?

"Young Friend Zhou Tianchen, your Alchemical Fire has improved again."

Yao Lingzi stroked his beard, his gaze falling on the qiankun furnace at Zhou Tianchen's waist, his eyes full of praise.

Zhou Tianchen shook his head slightly: "Senior, you overpraise me. This Junior is merely benefiting from the Alchemical Fire."

"The Devilish Qi of these devil-cultivated Cultivators happens to be countered by my Qian Fire; otherwise, with this Junior's cultivation, I would be no match for them at all."

Qian Fire is the flame innate to the qiankun furnace, ranking among the top of Heaven Rank flames.

If Zhou Tianchen could Cultivate Kun Fire and fuse it with Qian Fire, it could ascend to the ranks of Immortal Fire.

Yao Lingzi smiled and said nothing more.

Over this past month, he had already witnessed Zhou Tianchen's strength.

With a Nascent Soul Perfection cultivation, he could cross Realms to kill Soul Transformation Perfection devil-cultivated Cultivators. This combat prowess was top-tier among the younger generation of the entire Southern Wilderness.

"Senior Yao." Zhou Tianchen suddenly spoke, looking at Yao Lingzi, "This is already the fourth encounter."

Yao Lingzi stopped smiling and nodded: "Indeed, the fourth time."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the corpses of the men in black on the ground, his tone becoming a bit more solemn: "The first time was eight people, at Soul Transformation Perfection."

"The second time was twelve people, with two at Void Refining Early Stage. The third time was twenty people, with five at Void Refining Early Stage. This time, there are already those at Void Refining Late Stage."

The opponent's strength was constantly increasing, and their numbers were growing. This meant that the upcoming battles would become increasingly difficult.

Shen Cihui walked over from the other side of the valley, his robes stained with dust and blood, his face pale; clearly, he had exhausted much of his energy.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou Tianchen, Senior Yao." He stood before them and cupped his hands in a salute, "The casualty statistics are out."

"Speak," Yao Lingzi said in a deep voice.

"We have two dead, four heavily injured, and seven lightly injured." Shen Cihui's voice was low, carrying a hint of irrepressible anger.

"If it weren't for Fellow Daoist Zhou Tianchen's Alchemical Fire countering the Devilish Qi of those devil-cultivated Cultivators, the casualties would likely have been even greater."

Yao Lingzi was silent for a moment, then sighed softly.

Over the past month, their team had encountered four ambushes, each a life-and-death struggle.

Those devil-cultivated Cultivators were fearless, their combat style crazy and bizarre. Even with comparable cultivation, it was hard for the Medicine King Valley Cultivators to gain any advantage.

If not for Zhou Tianchen's Qian Fire being able to counter their Devilish Qi, and if not for Yao Lingzi's rich experience in leading teams, their party would likely have been wiped out long ago.

"Senior Yao." Zhou Tianchen broke the silence, "What is the situation with the Seven Great Forces?"

Yao Lingzi took a Jade Slip from his sleeve, explored it with his Divine Sense, and looked up a moment later with a solemn expression: "The Seven Great Forces have united."

Zhou Tianchen raised an eyebrow: "Specifics?"

"Piaomiao Sect, Qingyang Sect, Heavenly Sword Sect, Nanli Dynasty, Xuanyuan Dynasty, and our Medicine King Valley have established a temporary camp on the eastern outskirts." Yao Lingzi put away the Jade Slip, his tone low.

"Each side has dispatched a large number of Cultivators, personally led by Tribulation Transcenders, preparing to join forces to wipe out the Devil Cultivators in the Eastern Southern Wilderness."

Zhou Tianchen nodded slightly.

With the Seven Great Forces joining hands and Tribulation Transcenders leading the way, the Southern Wilderness had not seen such a formation in a long time.

"What about the Valley Master?" Shen Cihui asked, "Has the Valley Master returned?"

Yao Lingzi's expression became even more solemn: "The Valley Master is already on his way back and is expected to arrive in the Southern Wilderness within three days."

He paused and added: "Medicine King Valley suffered the heaviest losses this time. After learning the news at the Pill Tower, the Valley Master ended matters there early and is rushing back day and night."

It was no surprise that Medicine King Valley suffered the heaviest losses. Medicine King Valley was the closest of the Seven Great Forces to the Eastern Southern Wilderness. Its Disciples often gathered herbs in those mountains year-round, exposing them to the longest and most frequent hunting range of the Devil Cultivators.

"The Valley Master's return this time is likely not just to wipe out the Devil Cultivators," Zhou Tianchen said calmly.

Yao Lingzi glanced at him and did not respond.

Both understood that there was a more important reason for the Valley Master's return; behind Zhou Tianchen was Kunlun.

The relationship between Medicine King Valley and Kunlun had always been maintained through the bridge of Zhou Tianchen.

Now that Medicine King Valley had suffered heavy losses, if the Valley Master could take this opportunity to further strengthen the relationship with Kunlun, it would be a blessing in disguise for Medicine King Valley.

"Let's go."

Yao Lingzi retracted his thoughts and looked toward the mountains in the east shrouded in twilight, "Let's return to the camp first, rest for the night, and discuss it tomorrow."

Zhou Tianchen nodded, turned around, and instructed everyone to clear the battlefield and prepare to withdraw.

Twilight deepened, and the figures in the valley gradually dispersed.

— —

Kunlun Small World, atop the Main Peak.

Under the enlightenment tree, golden light flowed, and dao rhyme permeated the air.

Jiang Changge sat cross-legged at the densest part of the tree canopy, eyes slightly closed, a faint golden halo surrounding his body.

The Creation Sutra operated on its own, and the Laws of Heaven and Earth flooded into his perception like a tide, then quietly receded.

It had been several months since his Breakthrough to the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, and his Realm was completely stabilized. At this moment, he was immersed in a mysterious state of enlightenment, as if he heard nothing of the outside world.

In the direction of the Trial Tower, Lu Jinghan walked slowly out of the tower gate, his aura steady and restrained.

Traces of battle still remained on his robes, and several shallow sword marks extended from his shoulder to his cuff—marks left by the eighty-seventh floor of the Trial Tower.

After months of bitter cultivation, his cultivation had broken through from the Soul Transformation Early Stage to the Soul Transformation Peak, just one step away from Void Refining. Such speed was truly astonishing.

His cultivation of the Time-Space Derivation Sutra had also entered a new level, and he had gained an initial understanding of the third form of the Time Mark Sword Art, "Floating World in an Instant."

At this moment, on the square in front of the Trial Tower, several Disciples were whispering about something.

Lu Jinghan didn't pay attention at first and kept walking past them, until a sentence drifted into his ears.

"Have you heard? Senior Brother Ao Qin went down the mountain yesterday."

"Down the mountain? Where to?"

"The Eastern Southern Wilderness. Devil Cultivators have appeared there. It is said that Medicine King Valley and Piaomiao Sect have suffered huge losses and many people have died. Senior Brother Ao Qin volunteered to go down the mountain to eliminate the devils."

"Devil Cultivators? What kind of Devil Cultivators are so bold as to run wild in the Southern Wilderness?"

"Don't know, but for the Seven Great Forces to join hands, it must not be simple."

Lu Jinghan's footsteps stopped abruptly. He turned around, his gaze falling on the few Disciples who were talking.

Seeing Lu Jinghan walking over, the few Disciples hurriedly stood up and bowed in unison.

"Senior Brother!"

The three voices were neat and respectful, their eyes carrying a bit of restraint and a bit of worship.

Lu Jinghan nodded slightly and walked up to the three.

"What is this about the Devil Cultivators you mentioned just now?"

The three looked at each other, and the Disciple in the middle spoke first: "Replying to Senior Brother, we also heard it from other Senior Brothers."

"Devil Cultivators have recently appeared in the Eastern Southern Wilderness, constantly hunting Cultivators. Disciples from the Seven Great Top Forces, such as Medicine King Valley and Piaomiao Sect, have also met with misfortune."

Another male Disciple took over the conversation and added: "The Seven Great Forces have joined hands and are currently wiping out the Devil Cultivators in the East."

"Senior Brother Ao Qin, Senior Sister Mu Qingxue, and Senior Brother Baili Qingfeng went down the mountain together yesterday, saying they were going to eliminate the devils."

Lu Jinghan's brows furrowed slightly.

"What is the origin of these Devil Cultivators?" he asked.

The Disciple shook his head: "Not clear. Only heard that it is a force that appeared from those mountains in the East, and their methods are extremely cruel."

Lu Jinghan was silent. In his mind, memories of his past life were surging rapidly.