Chapter 286 Bottleneck

Du Huaiyuan reached out and touched the storage bag, feeling a little relieved.

The Tidal Wave Pearl, a magical artifact, has been created, giving him a certain level of offensive and defensive capabilities.

Even if you encounter demonic cultivators while out, you can defend yourself for a period of time.

He began to pray that the situation would remain stable.

Ji An pondered for a moment and said:

"Senior brother, what is the sect's stance?"

He is currently focusing his main energy on improving his cultivation level and has not taken the initiative to inquire about the situation outside.

"The sect sent out more than twenty senior uncles at the Chaoyuan stage. Not only that, but many of the sect's flying beasts were also sent out."

However, the area we need to cover is far too vast; a thorough search is virtually impossible.

Liu Yu replied, "The enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. Unless we run into them head-on, the demonic cultivators are hiding in the nooks and crannies, making them very difficult to find."

Especially at night, the search area is smaller due to the limited visibility, but nighttime is the peak time for demonic cultivators to commit crimes.

Du Huaiyuan frowned deeply and said:

"Something feels off. Even if there were demonic cultivators before, their numbers should have been extremely small. How come there are so many after the demonic calamity!"

Liu Yu said resentfully:

"That goes without saying, there must be a mastermind behind it all."

The sect once captured several demonic cultivators. After searching their souls, they discovered that their cultivation techniques were exactly the same, but these cultivators did not know each other.

"An enemy is secretly spreading demonic cultivation techniques, with the aim of destabilizing the situation in the Western Continent."

These demonic cultivation techniques include methods for foundation building and methods for breaking through to the Yuan stage. Most cultivators who obtain these techniques find it difficult to resist the temptation.

Even if cultivators temporarily resist the temptation, they will still choose to take risks and break through their cultivation realm using demonic methods when their lifespan is running out.

Du Huaiyuan said with great distress:

"How foolish! A collapse of the situation will benefit no one! Who could it be? Does the sect have any suspects?"

"There are too many suspicious targets; it's even possible that it was done by those demon kings."

The three chatted back and forth, and before they knew it, the setting sun was about to sink and the mountains looked like blood, and their faces were smeared with a scarlet color.

Zhang Cuihua stepped forward, flashing her standard smile:

"Uncle-Master, dinner is ready. Shall we dine in the living room or here?"

Ji An glanced at it and said:

"Let's stay here. A gentle breeze is blowing, making it even more pleasant."

After dinner, Du Huaiyuan patted his belly and said happily:

Honey-baked fish is so delicious, you can never get enough of it!

Ji An grinned. "The grilled fish was made with second-grade honey, how could it not be good!"

Du Huaiyuan tilted his head back, gulped down the wine in his cup, and stood up, saying:

"You two chat, I'll go check out the distillery."

With that, he left, rubbing his stomach.

Ji An pursed his lips and said:

"Senior brother, in order to break through to the Chaoyuan stage, I need more spiritual tea to nourish my soul."

After the second-grade Jade Dew Golden Bud Tea is made, I plan to temporarily reduce your portion to two ounces.

"I'll return the portion I used to you later, is that alright?"

"Junior brother, feel free to use it, haha, but remember to pay me back a lot!"

Liu Yu joked that he completely trusted his junior brother Zhongnuo's character.

Back then, their team obtained three spirit seeds, one of which was handed over to the sect. Although they received a considerable reward, it was ultimately a one-off deal.

He acquired the other two at great expense, and gave one back to his family. He didn't know how the tea tree was growing now, but he had never received even half an ounce of tea leaves.

The last tea leaf was given to his junior brother. Ever since the tea tree was cultivated to the highest grade, he has received half a catty of tea leaves every year without fail.

He was deeply impressed by the other party's ability to do this, and often felt that his past actions were truly worthwhile.

Ji An smiled and said:

"Once I break through to the Chaoyuan stage, I will definitely repay my senior brother."

Without saying much politeness, he filled the other person's glass and then filled his own as well:

"cheers!"

The two drank their beverages in one gulp and chatted for a while. Ji An then said:

"Senior brother, shall we go take a look at the tea trees?"

That's exactly what I was thinking.

Ji An took out the flying shuttle and carried Liu Yu to the center of the mulberry field.

The Youyue Cangyu Tree is now as thick as a water bucket, as if carved from jade, shimmering with a warm luster.

The leaves are oval-shaped, pure white, with golden veins, resembling gold inlaid with jade.

A gentle breeze blows, and the leaves rub and collide, making a sound like ethereal wind chimes.

The two arrived under the tree. Liu Yu opened her arms, took a deep breath, and exclaimed:

"Just being near the spirit tree gives me a refreshing feeling, and my soul seems to become a little lighter."

He suddenly realized that high-level spiritual farmers were the most promising cultivators, and that cultivating here would bring many hidden benefits.

"The wonders of the Azure Jade Tree under the moonlight can only be fully revealed."

"Please wait a moment, senior brother. Once the bright moon shines upon the earth, you will be able to see that magnificent spectacle."

The second-tier spirit wood has an even stronger ability to attract moonlight, and this area will become an ocean of light.

Liu Yu ran his hand along the tree trunk and laughed:

"This spirit tree is much thicker than the one I saw in the wild. It is a blessing for it to grow on Crimson Flame Peak."

The Azure Jade Tree he saw in the wild was growing among some rocks. Although it had reached the mid-grade level of the second tier, it was only as thick as a thigh and clearly looked malnourished.

A moment later, a white jade disc appeared from among the mountains, its serene light shining impartially upon every living thing on earth.

The moonlight distorted near the Yuyue Jade Tree, and the tea leaves glowed with a spiritual light, merging with the moonlight as if they had vanished into thin air.

"Such a view is truly unprecedented."

Liu Yu's face was beaming. He had seen the Azure Jade Tree in the wild during the day, but had never witnessed such a magnificent sight.

He felt a cool sensation spreading through his mind, and his soul became peaceful and serene.

Bear and Black Hawk crouched in the shadows of the trees, waiting for their summons.

Nearby, there was a hidden cave covered by vines.

Many small holes were ingeniously carved out of the cave entrance, through which moonlight gathered and entered the cave.

A green dragon, resembling a water bucket, coiled up and opened its enormous head.

With each breath, the moonlight condensed into a thin line and did not enter its mouth.

Time passed second by second, and as the moonlight dimmed, the Azure Dragon transformed into a human cultivator dressed in blue robes.

He chuckled rather smugly and said:

"Come in."

Two demon cultivators emerged from the shadows and entered the cave.

Xiong Ba bowed and said:

"Reporting to Lord Qinglong, three more Foundation Establishment cultivators have successfully cultivated the Heavenly Demon Transformation Scripture in the past few days, bringing the total number of cultivators practicing this method to three hundred and seventy."

We control 120 families and over 30 promising independent cultivators.

Azure Dragon nodded slightly and said in a deep voice:

"That's right. Remember not to rush things. Accumulate experience slowly and carefully. You absolutely cannot let those sects notice."

The demon cultivators are currently very weak. If the sects discover any clues, things will become very difficult.

He was not afraid of encountering one or two Golden Core cultivators, but if the sects of the Western Continent united to kill him, they would have no choice but to give up the power they had painstakingly built up.

The bear bared its teeth, revealing sharp fangs:

"Rest assured, sir, I am cautious enough and will not delay your grand plan."

It is very difficult to gain the approval of adults.

Black Hawk lowered his head slightly and said:

“Lord Azure Dragon, I have distributed 150 copies of demonic cultivation inheritances these past few days without arousing any suspicion from human cultivators.”

“Very good, let’s do it this way. Only when the Western Continent is in complete chaos will we have an opportunity to take advantage of it.”

"Your subordinate understands and will certainly live up to your expectations."

Black Hawk lowered his head even further and whispered:

"My lord, if demonic cultivators run rampant, the situation will be very unfavorable for us. Why do we continue to bring in demonic cultivators?"

"The cultivation techniques I asked you to spread can only help you break through to the Chaoyuan stage at most."

Without further cultivation techniques, these demonic cultivators are not yet qualified to be a threat.

The Azure Dragon has no worries about demonic cultivators in the Chaoyuan stage, who can be wiped out with a flick of the wrist.

"My lord, I have received new information. There are demonic cultivators who slaughtered the sect's Rising Sun stage cultivators, and they are suspected to be Golden Core stage demonic cultivators."

Qinglong raised an eyebrow slightly and said in a deep voice:

Is the news reliable?

The appearance of a demonic cultivator at the Golden Core stage signifies that the situation has become extremely chaotic.

The cultivation techniques he spread out did not include any secret methods for breaking through to the Golden Core stage. If there were any Golden Core demon cultivators among them, they must be cultivators who had truly received the inheritance of demon cultivation.

With sufficient resources, demonic cultivation techniques can improve at an incredibly fast pace.

If a demonic cultivator at the Golden Core stage were to advance to the ninth level of the Golden Core stage, he would also find it troublesome, as no one knows how many evil and strange methods a demonic cultivator possesses.

"I have confirmed the information; two cultivators at the Chaoyuan stage have indeed gone missing in Falling Maple Valley."

"You two, keep a close eye on the situation. If you find any trace of a Golden Core stage demonic cultivator, report to me immediately."

A ruthless glint appeared in Qinglong's eyes. Demonic cultivators were a group of plunderers who would stop at nothing to improve themselves, and they were incomprehensible madmen.

If a demonic cultivator at the Golden Core stage were to appear, he would not hesitate to kill him.

The variables of a Golden Core stage demonic cultivator are too great and completely uncontrollable.

"Yes, sir!"

The proliferation of demonic cultivators has attracted attention from all sides. After the news of the appearance of demonic cultivators at the Golden Core stage was confirmed, it attracted even more attention from cultivators in the Central Continent.

Master Qiongxiao ordered all Golden Core cultivators in the Central Continent to lead the Chaoyuan stage cultivators to join the campaign to annihilate the demonic cultivators.

The situation in the Western Continent can deteriorate amidst the demonic calamity, but it absolutely cannot be crushed by the calamity of the demonic forces.

If a Nascent Soul stage demonic cultivator were to emerge, Central Continent would not be spared.

In that case, Lingxu Sect will definitely be held accountable, and Taixuan Zhenjun will also be punished.

This is a fundamental error, and Master Qiongxiao certainly understands it.

The addition of forces from the Central Continent quickly stabilized the situation in the Western Continent, and a large number of demonic cultivators were found and eliminated.

Five demonic cultivators at the Golden Core stage were discovered; three were killed, and two escaped with serious injuries.

Upon hearing the news, Master Qiongxiao broke out in a cold sweat.

If we make a decision any later, West Island will really be in danger.

The situation in Xizhou gradually returned to normal, and Ji Anxin was able to stay in Crimson Flame Peak and cultivate peacefully.

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, he practiced the Green Wood Everlasting Technique and suddenly felt that the refined magical power could no longer be channeled into his dantian.

Ji An suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sparkling with joy.

A bottleneck has appeared; a bottleneck has appeared in breaking through the Chaoyuan stage!

(End of this chapter)