Chapter 782 - 358: Planning an Escape Route, River of Blood

Lin Xuanyan’s thoughts aligned perfectly with Li Chang’an’s.

He, too, had already established several identities as a Demon Cultivator.

After a brief discussion, they both agreed that the Nether Soul Sect would be the best fallback.

This Demonic invasion had been launched by Celestial Nether True Monarch, the current Sect Leader of the Nether Soul Sect.

In terms of status, the Nether Soul Sect was likely the leader among the five great Demon Sects of Yan Country.

"Daoist Li, it’s settled then. Once the two countries are defeated, we’ll become Demon Cultivators together. Keh keh keh..."

Lin Xuanyan let out a strange laugh before cutting off the connection.

Li Chang’an put down the Jade Pendant, lost in thought.

He had a feeling Lin Xuanyan’s message was some kind of test.

’Could he suspect I’m a Demonic mole?’

Over the years, many had suspected Li Chang’an of being a Demonic mole—especially the opponents he had captured in his Venerable Soul Banner.

He did indeed know many Demonic Techniques and possessed a typical Demon Cultivator Treasure like the Venerable Soul Banner.

Furthermore, the fact that he had reached Core Formation with a Low Grade Spirit Root was also highly suspicious.

How could an ordinary Loose Cultivator with a Low Grade Spirit Root possibly obtain the resources for Core Formation?

If Li Chang’an was a Demonic mole, then everything would make sense.

’The Demonic Dao has been scheming for centuries. It’s only normal for there to be moles within the major Righteous Influences,’ Li Chang’an thought to himself.

’As long as the Nascent Soul True Monarchs aren’t moles, things should be manageable.’

If there were moles at the Nascent Soul Level, the Righteous Dao of the two countries would likely suffer a devastating defeat.

Although Li Chang’an had no confidence in the Righteous Influences, he still hoped they could hold on until he achieved Nascent Soul Formation.

As for his escape route, he hadn’t deceived Lin Xuanyan.

The Nether Soul Sect was indeed his first choice for a fallback plan.

’Of the five great Demon Sects, I’ve had the most contact with the Nether Soul Sect and understand it the best.’

’My next best option is the Five Poisons Valley.’

Li Chang’an possessed the Ten Thousand Poison Gu and had also cultivated a large number of Poisonous Insects.

At this point, he was a rather competent Poison Cultivator.

If the Underground Palace beneath Changqing Mountain where he raised Poisonous Insects was exposed, the major Righteous Influences would most likely assume he was a mole from the Five Poisons Valley.

Besides the Nether Soul Sect and the Five Poisons Valley, the other three great Demon Sects were the Yellow Springs Sect, the White Bone Sect, and the Jile Celestial Sect.

The Cultivators of these three Demon Sects perennially targeted the Yuan Country Cultivation Immortality Realm and were not often seen in Zhao Country.

But Li Chang’an still maintained some identities as disciples of these three sects.

’These identities should be enough to ensure my safety in these chaotic times.’

’If all else fails, I’ll retreat deep into a Secret Realm and use its treacherous terrain to fend off the Demon Sects...’

Li Chang’an’s plans were remarkably clear, accounting for almost every eventuality.

「In the days that followed.」

He kept a close watch on the Battle of Righteous and Evil.

Fortunately, the worst-case scenario he had foreseen did not happen.

The Demonic invasion was not going smoothly and was still being held back in the Northern Domain of the two countries.

During this time, he contacted Zi Xi to seek out the last few Treasures he needed for the Tier Four Grand Array.

Zi Xi informed him that the few Treasures he wanted were indeed in the Sect Treasure Vault, but they had all been reserved by the sect’s Array Masters.

Because of this, Zi Xi went out of her way to speak with Zi Xia True Monarch.

Just like with the Spirit Cloud Fruit transaction, Zi Xia True Monarch once again stated her terms.

But Li Chang’an was unable to meet them for now, so he had to give up.

「Several months passed in the blink of an eye.」

Over these months, the Southern Domain Cultivation Immortality Realm grew much quieter.

Due to a decree from the Eight Great Nascent Soul Forces, all the Golden Core, Foundation Establishment, and even Qi Refining influences in both countries had to send people to the Northern Domain to fight against the Demonic Dao.

Almost every few days, a new batch of Cultivators would set off.

Naturally, Li Chang’an’s Changqing Mountain also received a summons.

However, thanks to his close relationship with Zi Xi and his contribution of several Tier Three Puppets, he was granted an exemption. This allowed him to continue cultivating in peace and gathering materials.

’The Tier Four Grand Array is only missing the Gold-Transforming Marrow and the Purple Heart Stone... but both of those Treasures are with the Purple Mist Sect...’ Li Chang’an thought to himself as he lay in the medicinal bath.

Not all Tier Four Grand Arrays required these two Treasures, but the array he designed specifically to deal with the Fire Cloud Divine Lord did.

Just then, a Jade Scroll was suddenly delivered to Changqing Mountain.

Li Chang’an extended his Divine Sense into it and immediately heard Yan Hao’s voice.

"Grandmaster Li, I’ve recently had many questions about the Array Dao. I must trouble you to enlighten me."

Lately, Yan Hao had been sending Jade Scrolls from time to time, requesting Li Chang’an’s guidance on the Array Dao.

Of course, he would also include some Treasures and information as payment.

In fact, Yan Hao had already helped find one of the Treasures Li Chang’an needed for his Tier Four Grand Array.

At the end of today’s Jade Scroll, he had included a tip about another Treasure.

"Grandmaster Li, the Gold-Transforming Marrow you need has recently appeared in the Northern Domain."

"Not long ago, a Tier Four Array Grandmaster from the White Tiger Sect breached a Tier Four Grand Array set up by the Demonic Dao in the Northern Domain of Yuan Country. Gold-Transforming Marrow was one of the materials used in its construction."

"If you need Gold-Transforming Marrow, you could check the Northern Domain. The Demonic Dao still has many secret strongholds there, and some of them should contain Tier Four Arrays..."

After listening to the message, Li Chang’an’s eyes grew profound as he gazed northward.

For hundreds of years, the Demonic Dao had secretly established a large number of strongholds in the Northern Domain of the two countries.

In recent days, the Righteous Dao of both countries had been focusing all its efforts on conquering these strongholds, seeking to completely drive out the Demonic forces.

Zi Xi, Mu Hongyu, Chi Qingwu, and other renowned Holy Sons and Saintesses were all in the Northern Domain of the two countries, dealing with Demon Cultivators.

Li Chang’an did not want to take the risk.

He took out his Communication Jade Pendant and contacted Zi Xi and the others one by one.

According to them, most of the strongholds established by the Demonic Dao were simple and crude, and not very dangerous.

As for the Demonic Nascent Souls, Zi Xi informed him, "Daoist Li, there’s no need to worry. The Demonic Nascent Soul fiends are all being held back by our two countries’ Righteous Dao True Monarchs. They won’t have a chance to make a move on us juniors."