The Kunlun Sect was different from Taoist sects like Wudang, Mount Hua, or Qingcheng in the Central Plains.

They were a sect whose sect leader’s direct disciple attempted to transform the sect’s main force into immortals.

Though Go Yo-ja actually wanted to live, it seemed there was no malice in the process. In fact, it was even something he had volunteered for.

The Kunlun Sect was earnest in the mystics to such an extent.

What came out of Go Yo-ja’s mouth was not an ordinary story either.

“That was… what I mentioned last time.”

Yi-gang twisted one eyebrow, looking doubtful.

“I did, didn’t I?”

“Heaven-Slaying… what was it again?”

“Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley.”

Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley. A valley that sounded terrifying just from the name, located to the west of the Kunlun Sect.

In other words, it’s a dangerous place that overlapped with the territory of the Demon Cult.

“Since the Heavenly Demon passed through, that place has become dangerous even for the Demon Cultists.”

“Yes. It’s said to be inhabited by a tremendous demon.”

It’s neither a yokai nor a spiritual creature but a demon.

While all three may sound fantastical to ordinary people, it’s not easy for a Taoist to believe in demons.

Just as immortals did not wander the earth, demons belonged in hell.

“That you don’t know. Didn’t the priest have an audience with Queen Mother of the West?”

“…That’s true.”

However, the Kunlun Sect and Go Yo-ja believed in that story. Not so much in the existence of demons, but that something was there.

“I also mentioned that there was a miraculous altar in Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley.”

“Yes. It was originally managed by the Kunlun Sect.”

“It was an altar that offered prayers to the Big Dipper, the stars of the night sky.”

The Big Dipper was an important symbol in Taoism.

The seven stars that made up the Big Dipper each represented a deity, and it was said that Taiyi Zhenjun, who governed human lifespans, held the Big Dipper in his left hand.

“Using the altar blessed by the radiance of the Big Dipper might help replenish the spiritual energy needed by the priest.”

“…!”

Yi-gang’s eyes sparkled.

His physical condition now was vastly different from a year ago.

Previously, as Gumiho said, it was like filling a vessel too much compared to its capacity.

The spiritual energy received from the Immortal Divine Sword, the yokai energy from the Blue-Eyed Mad Demon, the True Qi from elixirs. The vessel called meridians was too fragile for what it held.

“Ordinary spiritual energy wouldn’t suffice.”

“It’s not ordinary.”

However, Yi-gang changed the strength of his vessel as he broke through the Life-Death Gateway.

With the efforts of Gumiho and the Golden Needle Phantom, he was able to unblock a major meridian and significantly expand the size of his vessel.

To move to the next stage, it was now time to refill the empty vessel.

Thus, Yi-gang felt extremely helpless.

“Is the altar really that great?”

Yi-gang’s vessel had become too large.

To further unblock the major meridians and extend his lifespan, he now needed tremendous power. Even doubling the spiritual energy transferred from the Immortal Divine Sword would barely suffice.

And encountering something like the Immortal Divine Sword again was nearly an impossible chance.

“If you completely give up on the Seven Stars Altar, that would be enough.”

What did he mean by ‘give up’?

Go Yo-ja clarified Yi-gang’s question.

“I want to reclaim the altar, but it’s impossible to bring that heavy thing back. That’s when I thought of it.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you can’t have it, destroy it.”

A strange fervor appeared on Go Yo-ja’s face.

Yi-gang realized what he meant.

Like shattering a Treasure to absorb its spiritual energy, it was an inefficient but certain method.

“Ah. By destroying an object containing spiritual energy…”

“Yes. Imagine how much spiritual energy an altar that has received the power of the Big Dipper for countless years would hold.”

On Go Yo-ja’s face was an overt desire rarely seen among the Taoists of the Central Plains.

It was typical of the Kunlun Sect Taoists, who were obsessed not with wealth or power, but with the mystics.

“Why not come and see for yourself.”

That clear greed might have been off-putting to some people, but…

“That sounds good.”

Yi-gang did not dislike such people.

The two felt like boys before a prank, seeking out the sect leader of Kunlun.

The sect leader, who was feeding the carp in the pond, glanced at Go Yo-ja seeking permission.

After scrutinizing Go Yo-ja with his bulging eyes, he said, “No, you can’t, you fool.”“Ah! Sect Leader!”

Go Yo-ja clung to his master.The sect leader of the Azure Forest, Forest Lord Im Gi-hak, was nearly a hundred years old.

In contrast, the sect leader of Kunlun, Six-Bean Hermit, was in his mid-sixties.

He was short, had a big head, and a thin body. He didn’t look like a martial master at all.

With eyes bulging like big marbles and a long drooping catfish mustache, his appearance was far from that of a Taoist sage.

He was feeding the carp in the pond, and his appearance resembled those carp.

Yet, no one dared to underestimate the Six-Bean Hermit.

Not at all. All the martial artists of Kunlun respected their sect leader, including Go Yo-ja, his disciple.

“Sect Leader! No, master!”

Although Go Yo-ja was over fifty, he clung to his master without regard for his own dignity.

“Hasn’t the time come yet? How can we leave those Demon Cultists who occupy the sacred grounds of Kunlun with dirty feet?”

“My goodness, you who went off to become an immortal, why cling to such matters now! You should be ascending instead.”

“It was delayed because I met a Tao vessel of this world. In ten years, I’ll try again!”

Kunlun and the Demon Cult were sworn enemies. Go Yo-ja persisted on this point.

“It’s time for us, Kunlun, to step in!”

“Even if the Demon Cult occupies that place, will it disrupt the heavenly Tao? Don’t start unnecessary disputes. Are you, who should one day become the sect leader, going to act like a child?”

“…Sect Leader, you too have grown old. There was a time when you smashed the heads of those Demon Cultists.”

“You fool!”

The sect leader struck Go Yo-ja’s head.

His movement was so swift it was almost invisible.

Yi-gang maintained the utmost serious expression in the face of the farce played by those of high status and power.

“It is determined by the sect rules. Kunlun disciples shall not approach that place.”

In front of the frustrated Go Yo-ja, who was clutching his head, the Six-Bean Hermit cited the sect rules.

He was carrying an impressively large scroll on his back.

With a swift motion of his hand, the scroll unfurled.

The scroll, densely filled with tiny characters, was the rulebook of the sect.

“Special Rule 432: No martial artist of our sect may approach the Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley in the western mountains!”

“That damned rule, always the rule!”

The Six-Bean Hermit, as the sect leader, was exceedingly strict about adhering to the sect rules. It bordered on obsession.

That was why Go Yo-ja had been unable to go to the Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley until now.

But this time was different. Go Yo-ja had come prepared.

“However! You should refer to Article 462.”“…What?”

“It’s clearly written there. Those who have awakened the Way of Piercing Heaven and Earth are entitled to perform the ritual of the Iron Spirit.”

While Yi-gang was stunned, the sect leader and Go Yo-ja engaged in a complex argument.

“Are you saying that this young priest has awakened the Way of Piercing Heaven and Earth?”

“If a Taoist who has used the Thunder God Movement Art and has the Great Heavenly Gate unblocked can’t do it, who can?”

“It’s still too difficult!”

“Ah, it seems that age matters in the path of the Tao after all.”

Such conversations continued.

Seeing the Six-Bean Hermit’s eyes grow larger indicated that Go Yo-ja seemed to be gaining the upper hand.

After a long fight, Go Yo-ja delivered the decisive blow.

“The season of cloud sea is approaching.”

“…”

The season of cloud sea was a unique climatic phenomenon that occurred only in the Kunlun Mountains.

It was the time when the clouds from the sky seemed to descend to the ground, thickening the fog.

When this season arrived, most of the day became too foggy to see even an inch ahead.

“By then, all the Demon Cultists wandering in Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley will have returned, won’t they?”

“That is true… but.”

The Demon Cult had declared war on the Central Plains, and ironically, the Kunlun Sect, being closest, was completely unaware of it.

Even if that weren’t the case, the season of cloud sea was the best time to approach the Seven Stars Altar.

“This is our chance. We can finally visit the altar that has been inaccessible for hundreds of years. It’s time to demolish the altar!”

The thing that worried the Six-Bean Hermit the most was the potential conflict with the Demon Cult.

As Go Yo-ja said, this time was also when the possibility of a clash was at its lowest.

“…You’re deliberately seeking out trouble.”

Eventually, the sect leader raised his hands in surrender.

Go Yo-ja’s face brightened. Yi-gang was also pleased.

“Just make sure it’s just the two of you who go secretly.”

“We will do so.”

“And if you happen to encounter any Demon Cultists, avoid contact.”

“We will.”“If a clash occurs, ensure it does not tarnish the name of Kunlun, wipe them out completely.”

“Yes.”

Go Yo-ja nodded vigorously.

Yi-gang smiled wryly.

Then, the sect leader quietly scooped up water from the pond.

“Come, stand in front for the blessing ceremony.”

“…There’s no need.”

“Ah! Come here when I tell you!”

Go Yo-ja closed his eyes tightly and stood, while the Six-Bean Hermit began chanting and sprinkling the water.

The smell of the pond water was pungent.

Yi-gang tried to step back, but…

“You just stay right there.”

“…”

Yi-gang eventually had no choice but to endure the pond water along with Go Yo-ja.As Go Yo-ja had argued to persuade the sect leader.

It was true that during the season of cloud sea, the Demon Cultists would return to their cult.

Traditionally, Demon Cultists would guard the area around Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley.

This occupation had continued since the time the Heavenly Demon visited the valley.

However, as known to the Kunlun Sect Taoists, the place was not used as an advance base by the Demon Cultists.

The Demon Cultists themselves had also blocked access to Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley.

When the Heavenly Demon had come here, he left his subordinates behind and went alone deep into the valley.

There was a flash in the sky, then a rumbling noise from the ground, and not long after he came out, he returned to his waiting subordinates and ordered them, “Block this place and forbid entry.”

Who would dare to question the Heavenly Demon’s command?

It may have been a capricious whim, but the Heavenly Demon added a brief explanation, “If someone overcomes the demonic Qi and sheds their mortal shell, then they may enter.”

To become a demonic practitioner and shed one’s shell implied reaching the realm of an absolute master.

After the Heavenly Demon left, such demonic martial artists did emerge within the Demon Cult, but very few actually entered this place.

And the few absolute masters who had entered Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley simply remained silent.

That’s why the Demon Cultists had guarded the place for so long.

The last time someone entered Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley was nearly 100 years ago.

However, that didn’t mean there hadn’t been attempts to intrude.

Those who practiced demonic arts were always at risk of falling into Qi deviation.

Qi deviation came in a destructive form.

It manifested either as self-destructive behavior that tore oneself apart or as an outward explosion of madness.

For a demonic practitioner, it inevitably became the latter case.

While the average demonic practitioner was usually eliminated within the cult, if it’s somewhat troublesome, they are expelled outward.

Fiends who come out to the Central Plains and gain infamy are of that sort.

Among these fiends, there were always some who deliberately sought to enter the forbidden Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley.

They believed that martial arts techniques left by the Heavenly Demon were hidden there.

It was one of those cases again.

“Chase them!”

From within the fog, a scream-like shout was heard.

Screech—!

The shrill sound of a horn echoed from all directions.

Those clad in black robes were members of the infamous Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad from the Demon Cult.

Originally, they would not visit the Kunlun Mountains during the season of cloud sea, but this was an exceptional situation.

“White Monkey Demonic Hand is heading northeast!”

A comrade’s shout came from beyond the fog.

“Regroup first!”

The chasing pursuit squad member changed direction towards where his comrade was.

The demonic martial artist they were chasing this time was a dangerous individual who had reached the Supreme Demon realm.

Moreover, he was someone who had stolen an item from the cult. They had to be captured and eliminated at all costs.

The pursuit squad member continued to follow the voices.

“Over here!”

How could they shout so loudly even in the fog? What if they were ambushed because of it?

Even as he squinted, the regrouping pursuit squad member’s eyes widened.

“Ah, hah!”

What awaited him was not his comrade.

A white-haired demonic martial artist with unnaturally long arms, resembling a gibbon—

It was White Monkey Demonic Hand, mimicking his comrade’s voice, who swung those long arms.

Thump—The pursuit squad member’s head flew through the air, pointlessly.

White Monkey Demonic Hand let out a maniacal laugh.

As he ran his blood-stained hand through his hair, his white hair turned crimson.

White Monkey Demonic Hand started running again.

The horn sounds of the chasing pursuit squad members were loud and chaotic.