Chapter 310: Give a Direction

[Year 700. You were 700 years old.]

[Just as you ended your seclusion, you discovered that You had returned to the Soul Capital.]

["Cough, cough, cough..."]

[He coughed heavily, having clearly suffered severe injuries.]

[Having stepped into the Deity Transformation Stage as an Earth Vein Spirit, You possessed an extremely profound foundation of life. His life-preserving abilities alone rivaled those of most Deity Transformation Heavenly Monarchs.]

[You thought for a moment before summoning him.]

["Master."]

[He bowed to you with the utmost respect.]

["Rise."]

[You could tell that he was hesitating to speak.]

["If you have a question, just ask."]

[You looked at him.]

["Master, can we really stop the Demon Abyss Realm?"]

[You asked, unable to hold back. Over the past few centuries, he had spent time on several other battlefields and had been deeply affected by the cruel methods of those demon lords.]

["We can stop them."]

["It will be soon," you said after pondering for a moment.]

[You felt capable of constructing the embryo of a Sword Dao heaven and earth tailored to yourself at any moment. Once that happened, you would smoothly advance to the Deity Transformation Late Stage and completely sever the dual-realm passage currently stretching across the Human Realm.]

[Without the dual-realm passage to support the crossing of its demon lords, the Demon Abyss Realm could do nothing to the Human Realm, no matter how strong they were.]

[Upon hearing your answer, You's anxious mind finally settled.]

[After sending You to rest and recover,]

[you began to examine yourself.]

[Although you still hadn't stepped into the Deity Transformation Late Stage, you had long since cultivated to the Deity Transformation Middle Stage Peak.]

[Your true combat strength was naturally a large margin greater than when you first entered the Deity Transformation Middle Stage.]

["Just a little bit more."]

["Just a little bit more."]

[Deep within your eyes, streams of Sword Intent intertwined and clashed, forming embryos of Sword Dao heavens and earths before shattering apart.]

["That Upper Realm foundation at the Ethereal Peak should also be a Void Return Stage weapon. It contains a minor heaven and earth inside. If I could borrow it to study..."]

[You thought of the Myriad Demon Mountain. That Void Return Stage demonic treasure held a complete minor heaven and earth within it. This was the defining trait of Void Return Stage treasures and weapons. To unleash the power of a Venerable, one had to rely on the power of a complete minor heaven and earth.]

[You immediately contacted Heavenly Monarch Xingmang and stated your request.]

[Heavenly Monarch Xingmang considered it for a moment before agreeing to consult his sect's Deity Transformation Late Stage Heavenly Monarch to see if they could send over an Upper Realm foundation.]

[Somewhere deep within the overlapping spatial layers of the Human Realm.]

[Dozens of dark demonic shadows gathered here. The leading shadow had a black candle flame burning in front of it.]

[The flame burned slowly, masking all traces of their existence.]

[Without the coverage of the Demon Abyss Banner, monsters from the Demon Abyss Realm would be suppressed by heaven and earth upon entering the Human Realm. Furthermore, they would be unable to conceal their demonic qi, making them easily detectable by Heavenly Monarchs.]

[The only reason these dozens of demonic shadows could hide here safely was because of this Black Demonic Candle.]

[The demonic candle was condensed from the origin power of the Demon Abyss Realm, effectively serving as an upgraded version of the Demon Abyss Banner. Once lit, its flame would conceal everything about them. Not even the will of the Human Realm's heaven and earth would detect a single trace.]

[Of course, while the demonic candle's effects were heaven-defying, it was exceedingly precious. A single candle could only burn for a century or two. This time, to deal a heavy blow to the Human Realm, the twelve demon sovereigns had paid a massive price to gather six Black Demonic Candles, allowing the Tier 5 Consummation demon lords who had infiltrated the Human Realm to stay hidden until now.]

["Everyone, it's almost time."]

[The leading Tier 5 Consummation demon lord looked at the others and said in a low voice, "We head to the center of this realm now. Once we use the supreme treasure to obliterate the Ethereal Peak, we must immediately scatter and coordinate with the demon sovereigns."]

[This was the demon sovereigns' plan. By wiping out a holy land like the Ethereal Peak, they would not only severely cripple this realm but also crush the morale of the other Heavenly Monarchs.]

["Understood."]

["Let's hurry."]

["We've been here for so long, and I still haven't tasted the blood, flesh, or souls of this realm's living creatures."]

[The Tier 5 Consummation demon lords spoke with excitement. To avoid alerting the Human Realm's Heavenly Monarchs, they had been guided into this realm by human traitors who had secretly sworn allegiance to the Demon Abyss. Since their arrival, they had been hiding deep within the spatial layers, using the demonic candles to mask their presence.]

[For these bloodthirsty demon lords, this waiting was pure torture. Now that they finally had the chance to strike, most of the Tier 5 Consummation demon lords were already planning how they would devour the creatures of this world.]

[The living creatures and resources near the dual-realm passages had long been evacuated by the major factions. Even if the demon lords managed to break into the Human Realm, there wouldn't be much for them to feast on.]

[But now? The Ethereal Peak sat at the center of the Human Realm, the most resource-rich region of all. Once the Ethereal Peak was breached and destroyed, these Tier 5 Consummation demon lords would absolutely be able to gorge themselves.]

["When the time comes to activate the supreme treasure, don't drop the ball," the leading Tier 5 Consummation demon lord warned them.]

[The supreme treasure he spoke of was also a Void Return Stage demonic treasure, and its might far surpassed that of the Myriad Demon Mountain.]

[Of course, it was incredibly difficult to activate. It required the combined power of dozens of Tier 5 Consummation demon lords to unleash its full might and shatter the Ethereal Peak's guardian formation.]

["Naturally."]

[The other Tier 5 Consummation demon lords nodded. Having ventured deep into the heart of the Human Realm, they knew the gravity of the situation. If they dared to screw up this mission, the demon sovereigns wouldn't spare them when they returned.]

["Let's go."]

[The leading demon lord immediately began moving toward the center of the Human Realm.]

[To be safe, he still didn't leave the deep spatial layers, instead traveling through the spatial crevices.]

[Only this way could they ensure maximum safety. The spatial crevices were endless. Even if a Heavenly Monarch drew near, they wouldn't necessarily be discovered. Coupled with the concealment of the Black Demonic Candle, it could be said to be absolutely foolproof.]

[The only downside was that their speed was a bit slow.]

[But they had waited for centuries; they weren't in a rush now.]

["An Upper Realm foundation..."]

[Heavenly Monarch Xingmang stroked his chin.]

[The Ethereal Peak possessed a total of two Upper Realm foundations, both held by the Deity Transformation Late Stage Heavenly Monarch guarding the dual-realm passage in the Western Desert.]

[However, in the vast majority of situations, there was no need to use both Upper Realm foundations at the same time. Heavenly Monarch Xingmang figured he had plenty of time to secretly borrow one for you to study and then return it.]

[With this in mind, Heavenly Monarch Xingmang immediately set off for the Western Desert.]

[At the Western Desert's dual-realm passage, Heavenly Monarch Xingmang met with his sect's Deity Transformation Late Stage Heavenly Monarch.]

["Xingmang, are you sure you want to borrow it?" Heavenly Monarch Yangfa, the late-stage Heavenly Monarch guarding this place, asked as he looked at him.]

["I'm borrowing it." Heavenly Monarch Xingmang nodded.]

["Alright."]

[Heavenly Monarch Yangfa nodded. With a mere thought, a Twelve-Layered Small Pagoda appeared and fell into Heavenly Monarch Xingmang's hand.]

["An Upper Realm foundation."]

[Heavenly Monarch Xingmang carefully examined the Twelve-Layered Small Pagoda.]

[Every layer of this Twelve-Layered Small Pagoda had its own profound use, ranging from offense and suppression to domain territories and more.]

["As soon as the Sword Lord finishes studying it, I'll bring it right back."]

[Heavenly Monarch Xingmang vanished from the spot, rushing straight to the Soul Capital.]

[Above the Soul Capital, Heavenly Monarch Xingmang's figure materialized.]

["Sword Lord."]

[Heavenly Monarch Xingmang arrived in front of you, a smile appearing on his face as he said, "I didn't fail my mission."]

[With that, Heavenly Monarch Xingmang took out the Twelve-Layered Small Pagoda.]

["Is this the Upper Realm foundation?"]

[You took the Twelve-Layered Small Pagoda, examined it briefly, and nodded slightly.]

[You could sense that the Twelve-Layered Small Pagoda also contained a complete inner heaven and earth. It would provide some help in comprehending the embryo of a Sword Dao heaven and earth tailored to yourself.]

["Over the years, the Sword Lord's strength... has improved significantly once again..."]

[Heavenly Monarch Xingmang, who was also observing you, could not help but remark.]

[Naturally, it wasn't because he had detected your aura. Heavenly Monarch Xingmang's assessment of you was based entirely on his Divination arts. He derived hexagrams from simply facing you, then judged your strength based on the level of danger indicated by those hexagrams.]

[Having advanced his Divination skills beyond the Fifth Tier High Grade, Heavenly Monarch Xingmang's mastery over divination had become far more precise. Even among identical omens of great disaster, he could distinguish their relative intensity.]

[Coupled with the karma shared between you two, he was able to gauge the extent of your progress to a certain degree.]

["It's alright."]

[Your heart suddenly stirred as you asked, "Do you have a Heavenly Cycle Book of Changes Origin Stone?"]

["A Heavenly Cycle Book of Changes Origin Stone?"]

[Heavenly Monarch Xingmang paused slightly, clearly not expecting you to ask about this.]

["I do."]

[Heavenly Monarch Xingmang nodded. As the primordial source of dharma cultivation in the Human Realm, the Ethereal Peak naturally housed quite a few Heavenly Cycle Book of Changes Origin Stones.]

[Heavenly Monarch Xingmang had studied one himself. The fact that his Divination skills had so smoothly reached the Fifth Tier High Grade was significantly tied to that Heavenly Cycle Book of Changes Origin Stone.]

[Of course, while the Heavenly Cycle Book of Changes Origin Stones were excellent, each Divination master could only study one. Trying to study a second would yield no effect.]

["Give me one," you immediately said. In this simulation, you had no interest in practicing Divination.]

[In truth, your aptitude for Divination probably wasn't very good. Forcing yourself to study it would only result in twice the effort for half the result.]

[But that didn't stop you from studying a Heavenly Cycle Book of Changes Origin Stone.]

[Even if the results were subpar, once the simulation ended and the skill comprehensions were inherited into reality,]

[your true body in the real world would experience it all over again.]

[You would inevitably gain at least some minor benefits to your Divination skills.]

["Alright."]

[Heavenly Monarch Xingmang nodded. He didn't begrudge parting with a Heavenly Cycle Book of Changes Origin Stone. Centuries ago, you had gifted the Ethereal Peak over a hundred Tier 5 demon lord corpses, the value of which far exceeded a mere Origin Stone.]

[Over a hundred Tier 5 demon lord corpses? Including those at the Fifth Tier Late Stage and Tier 5 Consummation levels? Their immense value practically rivaled the Ethereal Peak's Upper Realm foundation.]

[Over the following centuries of defending against the Demon Abyss Realm, those hundred-plus corpses played a massive role, being used to craft twenty mid-to-late Tier 5 puppets.]

[Furthermore, other parts of the corpses had been forged into numerous Spirit Treasures and weapons. The sect had even used the corpses to develop several secret techniques specifically tailored against monsters.]

["I'll go back and fetch it right now."]

[Heavenly Monarch Xingmang immediately stood up and returned to the Ethereal Peak to retrieve a Heavenly Cycle Book of Changes Origin Stone for you.]

[Before long, Heavenly Monarch Xingmang returned with a Heavenly Cycle Book of Changes Origin Stone.]

[In terms of value, a Heavenly Cycle Book of Changes Origin Stone couldn't compare to a Heaven and Earth Origin Stone.]

[The former was only suitable for cultivators of the Divination lineage to study, whereas the latter had no such restrictions.]

[You looked at the highly familiar Heavenly Cycle Book of Changes Origin Stone before you, but didn't immediately begin studying it.]

[Whether studying a Heaven and Earth Origin Stone or a Heavenly Cycle Book of Changes Origin Stone, it required time.]

["I didn't expect the Sword Lord to also be interested in Divination?"]

[Heavenly Monarch Xingmang was somewhat curious.]

["I'm just studying it casually," you replied.]

[Meanwhile.]

[Outside the Ethereal Peak, space faintly distorted.]

[Dozens of dark demonic shadows finally revealed themselves.]

["What a delicious scent."]

[The Tier 5 Consummation demon lords looked in all directions. To them, the auras of individual cultivators were as intoxicating as a rich aroma. The higher a cultivator's realm, the more delicious they were.]

[However, the Black Demonic Candle was still burning. Even though the dozens of Tier 5 demon lords had shown themselves, they still didn't leak the slightest sliver of their auras.]

[Except...]

[At the summit of the Ethereal Peak floated a mirror. The instant the group of Tier 5 Consummation demon lords appeared outside the peak, this mirror faintly detected something, and its reflective surface turned toward their location.]

["This is bad!"]

[Far away in the Soul Capital, Heavenly Monarch Xingmang—who was casually chatting with you—experienced a drastic change in expression. That mirror atop the Ethereal Peak was one of the sect's ultimate trump cards. Although it wasn't an Upper Realm foundation, it was also left behind by a reincarnated immortal and could lock onto and capture any alien auras near the Ethereal Peak.]

["The Demon Abyss Realm... The Demon Abyss Realm's target is the Ethereal Peak. Dozens of Tier 5 Consummation demon lords have already arrived outside the peak..."]

[In a flash, Heavenly Monarch Xingmang understood the plot of the twelve demon sovereigns. Upon discovering the traces of dozens of Tier 5 Consummation demon lords, it would be utterly foolish if a Fifth Tier High Grade Divination Heavenly Master couldn't deduce the rest.]

[Although Heavenly Monarch Xingmang didn't know what those dozens of Tier 5 Consummation demon lords would rely on to deal with the Ethereal Peak, the fact that they were there meant they definitely had the means.]

["The Demon Abyss Realm's target is the Ethereal Peak?"]

[You heard Heavenly Monarch Xingmang's words, and a thoughtful expression appeared on your face.]

["It's over."]

[Heavenly Monarch Xingmang rapidly calculated with his fingers, the white hair at his temples growing more prominent. Now that he had the crucial clue that dozens of Tier 5 Consummation demon lords had appeared outside the Ethereal Peak, he used his Divination arts to deduce even more hidden secrets in an instant. The complete scheme of the twelve demon sovereigns faintly revealed itself before him.]

[The more he deduced, the more despair Heavenly Monarch Xingmang felt. He knew that the instant those dozens of Tier 5 Consummation demon lords revealed themselves, it was already too late to do anything.]

[Rush over now?]

[From the Soul Capital to the Ethereal Peak, even the fastest spatial teleportation would take dozens of breaths.]

[Dozens of breaths? Would those dozens of Tier 5 Consummation demon lords give them that much time?]

[Next, if Heavenly Monarch Xingmang's calculations were correct, the seventh dual-realm passage in the Human Realm would be torn open, and the Demon Abyss Realm's offensive on the other passages would surge dramatically.]

[In the span of just a few breaths, the situation in the Human Realm would completely plunge into an absolute disadvantage.]

[The more Heavenly Monarch Xingmang thought about it, the more desperate he became. He couldn't see any path to survival at all.]

[Right at this moment, your voice rang out.]

["Don't panic."]

[You glanced at Heavenly Monarch Xingmang. At some point, the Seven-Foot Heavenly Sword had appeared beside you, its tip pointing down.]

[You rested your right hand casually on the hilt of the Heavenly Sword, using it to prop yourself against the ground.]

["Give me a direction. Where exactly are those dozens of demon lords at the Ethereal Peak?"]