The Heavenly Lust Sect Leader had previously spent a lot of effort in this Underground Palace to set up a Dharma Platform, surrounding it with numerous Mystic Yin Demon Banners. These banners bore various "Sewing Form" creatures:

Some had octopus-like tentacles on their heads, bodies like humans but covered in scales, limbs with sharp claws, and bat-like wings growing from their backs.

Some looked like two-headed great white sharks, with tails resembling a large lizard, their backs covered in spikes, and tails like a Demon Dragon.

Some seemed to be a fusion of thousands of giant leeches, with their mouths at the front filled with spiral-shaped teeth.

Some appeared like monkeys with a mouse's head, mouths agape, tongues often sticking out, and inside grew a human head.

...

They were wrapped in black Mystics Yin Evil Qi, howling and roaring, emitting a terrifying array of high and low screams, enough to make even Ji Nan, a peerless expert, feel chills.

Cha Shuangying invited him onto the platform, seating him at the exact west position, surrounded by a large area of Demon Banners, handing him a Mystic Yin Demon Bell as a Magic Artifact, while he himself went to the exact south position, then started casting.

As his two hands formed a hand seal, a mouthful of Evil Qi was exhaled, causing all the Demon Banners around to tremble, as a large amount of Evil Qi surged, engulfing the entire Dharma Platform.

Initially, Ji Nan didn't feel anything amiss and even helped shake the bell to bolster the formation, but as the array operated, he gradually sensed something was wrong.

"Why does this seem targeted at me?" He felt as if he was caught in an endless void, surrounded by an infinite darkness, with a multitude of bizarre Divine Demon creatures circling around, floating and swimming…

Nevertheless, he decided to act cautiously, preparing to take out the Green Sun Pillar, as once this treasure was summoned for protection, it would ward off all evils.

Just as he was about to bring out the Magical Treasure, Cha Shuangying's voice rang by his ear: "Fellow Daoist Ji, do not use the Magical Treasure, otherwise my treasure cannot be refined. Fellow Daoist, you need not fear, the array just appears menacing, the refining process involves some perilous illusions, treat it as normal."

Cha Shuangying's will was his own, but the Divine Soul was still that of the Heavenly Lust Sect Leader, his thinking and actions revealed an old sly cunning.

Instigated by him, Ji Nan resolved not to let this old demon belittle him, and indeed no longer used the Green Sun Pillar for protection…

Meanwhile, at this moment, in the sky above Ximo Island, Shi Feiyang was concealed, sitting within a white cloud, meeting two guests, none other than the most formidable figures of the North Sea, Jellyfish Ji Xuan, and her disciple True Master Lu Xun.

Ji Xuan, once the master of Yan Yingmu, had now cultivated her mana to the level not below a Golden Immortal, yet she couldn't achieve that state.

On one hand, her cultivation was a side-door Immortal Law, making it extremely difficult to reach Golden Immortal. Back then, she didn't ask Yan Yingmu for the "Tai Xuan Golden Chapter", as a master, she couldn't bring herself to ask her disciple for the Heavenly Book; after all, side-door techniques might also enable one to cultivate into a Golden Immortal, as Daoist He Sha had done, cultivating a similar Immortal Law, attaining Body Ascension and Golden Immortal Ascension nonetheless.

On the other hand, she had long isolated herself in the Water Mother Palace in deep retreat, never venturing out to accumulate virtuous deeds. The significant role of virtuous deeds was to temper the mind; only with an improved mind can there be merit, and only with merit can there be virtue. Solely avoiding the world and immersing oneself in seclusion lacks the experience of interacting with people and other living beings. Although one can still certify the Heavenly Heart, this Heavenly Heart hasn't undergone trials.

Occasionally, the Water Mother would project her Primordial Spirit to reincarnate, and Yan Yingmu was one of the disciples she accepted during such excursions. However, like Bitter Bamboo Elder, she carried memories into her reincarnation, making it barely different from not reincarnating at all, with very limited trials endured.

Now, she couldn't achieve the Golden Immortal state. Ascending as a Heavenly Immortal seemed unsatisfying, for many old friends, and even juniors, had attained Golden Immortal status. Even as a Heavenly Immortal, her time in Heaven was much less, receiving the nourishment of the Heavenly Realm for less time, with less seniority and lower rank than hers; ascending felt pointless compared to not ascending.

She could have long performed a Yang God Ascension and attained the Heavenly Immortal Position, but for this reason, she repeatedly delayed, resulting in continual delays until the present.

For over three hundred years, the Water Mother believed she was only a step away from the Golden Immortal Position, just a layer of paper thin, ready to be pierced through at any moment to achieve it, yet somehow it remained unachieved…

Today, upon meeting Shi Feiyang, she observed that Shi Feiyang's Primordial Spirit had formed into a single Qi, his entire being like a Golden Core, bright and flawless, fundamentally different from the time he battled Chi You, clearly an Immortal descending from the Heaven, inspiring her with admiration and envy.

If she had moved to the Outer Heaven Divine Mountain back then, forcefully ascending to the Spiritual Space Immortal Realm with him, after that Heavenly Tribulation baptism, she might have been like this by now.

But there's no remedy for regret in this world, one can only diligently try to mend the pen after losing the sheep.

The Jellyfish cast spells to condense luck into two square tables and two cushions, took out the Immortal Fruit unique to the North Sea Bottom Jellyfish Palace, and offered it to Shi Feiyang. After arranging the cups and plates, Lu Xun stood by to serve.

Shi Feiyang was always very tolerant, inclusive, and accommodating, willing to take in anyone who sought refuge with him, even the most vicious demons, leaving them with a thread of life.

The Jellyfish was reluctant to ascend to Heaven to become a lower-tier leader. She believed that Shi Feiyang, already capable of ascending as a Golden Immortal, must have better prospects for staying in the Lower Realm, so she asked Shi Feiyang what it was, and expressed her desire to join.

Shi Feiyang had previously announced three paths: upper, middle, and lower. The collective ascension to the Spiritual Space Immortal Realm had been attempted but failed. Wandering in the Heavenly and Myriads of Worlds to pick a suitable place would not work either, because only the Spiritual Space Immortal Realm would have Spiritual Energy when the time came. All other Heavenly Realms, the Demon Realm, etc., would wither into the Mortal World, requiring tribulations in the mortal realm.

Thus, the only option left was to rely on the Outer Heaven Divine Mountain to open a Grotto Heaven.

This was uncertain, neither successful nor unsuccessful.

Opening a Grotto Heaven the conventional way would definitely not work, but Shi Feiyang might have non-conventional methods.

The Jellyfish wanted to know what this non-conventional method was.

Shi Feiyang spat out the Chaos Dragon Ball, making the treasure rotate thrice before swallowing it back. The Jellyfish's eyes lit up at the sight, and she was immediately excited, saying, "Fellow Daoist, if you wish to undertake this great endeavor, despite my lack of talent, I am willing to share the burden with you!"

They set the main business, and then the Jellyfish pointed downward: "Fellow Daoist, are you waiting for them to kill each other, and then strike to eradicate them? It's just that these two are highly skilled, far exceeding ordinary Heavenly Immortals, with unique Primordial Spirits, making them difficult to eliminate. Why not let me use Heavenly Mysterious Ice to freeze the surrounding tens of thousands of miles to prevent their Remnant Souls from escaping and causing trouble later."

Shi Feiyang smiled and waved his hand lightly: "Thank you for your kind offer, but I knew a bit about this old demon of the West Sea back then and planned ahead. Just now, I brought out a piece of idle chess to use. If Fellow Daoist Yoruikomu wishes to help me, there is indeed one troublesome matter that requires an absolute master to ensure success, but I really can't spare anyone..."

The Jellyfish, newly joined, wanted to prove her worth and asked what it was about.

Shi Feiyang said, "The once-treasure of Guang Chengzi's Golden Gate fell into the treasure ship at the Yuan River Water's Eye. I've taken most of the treasures, but a few of the mightiest ones remain at the top of the golden ship. Today, the Giant Wood God and Blood Demon are attacking the mountain in the South Sea. I sneaked out, partly for this old demon matter and also to retrieve the golden ship's treasures. Due to limited time, both tasks must be carried out simultaneously. Not only did the Giant Wood God become aware and directly ran to the Yuan River to battle, even if the treasures could be taken, the golden ship itself, an unmatched rarity, would have to sink into the Earth Core, a regrettable loss. But the old demon here cannot be ignored, or later, when he joins the Giant Wood God, it would be even more troublesome."

The Jellyfish said immediately, "Then I will go and fetch that golden ship for you, Fellow Daoist!"

Shi Feiyang said, "I already sent people to the Yuan River, but due to limited manpower, and with a formidable demon lurking, they didn't dare to act. If you, Fellow Daoist, are willing to make the trip, that would be ideal. After retrieving the treasures, I only want the golden ship and the golden basin at the top; you may choose any treasure from within..."

The Jellyfish refused on the spot, volunteering to help without taking any share, considering it a favor. If she took the treasure, it would mean sharing the profits.

Shi Feiyang laughed, "Fellow Daoist, you should not refuse. Among the treasures, there's one that will be greatly beneficial for your future Dao achievement. Fellow Daoist, you must at least take that treasure, the rest you can freely give to those destined."

The Jellyfish felt somewhat defiant; her nature was eccentric, untempered by worldly experiences, neither humble nor harmonious. She felt her mana reached the heavens, just a half step from achieving Golden Immortal, without needing external aids, preparing to hand over everything to Shi Feiyang after acquiring it.

Shi Feiyang, seeing through without revealing, knew she would surely keep the treasure after seeing it since achieving Golden Immortal without it could take forever. But she would claim to have temporarily borrowed it, intending to return it to Shi Feiyang after using it or give it to her disciples.

After Ji Xuan departed, Shi Feiyang continued observing the situation at the island bottom Demon Palace.

The old demon had already launched a surprise attack, with Cha Shuangying's will instilled into Ji Nan's body, vying for control.

Ji Nan was greatly shocked. Such an attack directly upon the Divine Soul rendered external spells and Magical Treasures useless, relying solely on a strong mind to resist.

Yet he practiced minor path Immortal laws. Though he could attain Heavenly Immortal, having never ascended and lacked the nourishment bestowed by heaven and earth, like the Jellyfish, dwelling high in overseas mountains for years. Despite high mana, his Yang God was not perfected, and the old demon invaded his Divine Sense, catching him off guard.

The Heavenly Lust Sect Leader regained control over his body, exhaling a long breath, promptly manipulating the Demon Banner to complete the Mystics Yin Soul Refining Formation encasing Ji Nan, launching a fierce attack.

Attacking from outside Ji Nan's body, regardless whether Cha Shuangying seized control or failed and was refined, the leader wouldn't lose out.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.