Chapter 461: Re-exploring Desolate Sheep Mountain
A formation?
Xu Sanyan’s fingers, which had been dancing over the young woman’s body, paused briefly on her hip. He speculated that the formation was likely the Soul-Gathering Brilliance-Preserving Grand Formation.
After all, this formation had been created by the four immortals themselves. Combining offense and defense in a profound and boundless manner, it was the perfect means to protect the sect.
“You’ve never entered?”
“No. The formation is complex and mysterious, beyond my ability to breach.”
Xu Sanyan nodded slowly. Of course you couldn’t breach it. With your Initial Stage Soul Refinement cultivation level, you wouldn’t stand a chance in this lifetime.
“Let’s go take a look.”
Xu Sanyan lifted the woman from his lap and set her aside. He rose and sniffed his palm, as if the lingering fragrance of her body still clung to his skin.
The crowd’s hearts leaped with hope. Is this demon lord finally leaving?
Xu Sanyan’s eyes narrowed, as if sensing their thoughts. He grinned maliciously. “Let’s all go together. I love a crowd.”
“Uh…”
Seeing their expressions, Xu Sanyan asked, “What? You don’t want to come?”
Without waiting for an answer, he continued, “Of course, I’m a reasonable man. Those who don’t wish to join can stay behind. I won’t force anyone. I just thought it would be an enlightening experience for you all.”
The crowd fell silent. After a moment, someone hesitantly spoke, “I…”
Bang!
Before the words could finish, the speaker’s head exploded in a shower of blood. Crimson droplets splattered onto the clothes of those nearby, yet no one dared to flinch, fearing they would be the next to meet such a gruesome fate.
Lu Wang took a deep breath, feeling a flicker of sympathy for the fool.
Xu Sanyan clapped his hands and chuckled. “Looks like everyone agrees! Let’s move out.”
The crowd followed him in single file, soaring through the air toward Desolate Sheep Mountain. No one dared to flee now. After witnessing the demon lord’s ruthless methods—killing without a second thought—they knew that obedience might be their only chance of survival.
The Lu Clan elder exchanged a glance with the Yue Clan Patriarch. They dared not communicate telepathically, as any fluctuation in spiritual power could be detected by the demon lord, whose cultivation was far too profound to be easily concealed from.
A cold glint flashed in the Yue Clan Patriarch’s eyes, and the Lu Clan elder understood his meaning, nodding slightly.
Xu Sanyan flew alongside Lu Wang, reminiscing about their experiences in the Hundred Saints Secret Realm.
“Brother Liu, do you recognize this?” Xu Sanyan held up the secret realm fruit.
“Of course,” Lu Wang replied, nodding. He still regretted missing the opportunity back then, a single misstep that had cost him dearly.
“I recall Monk Jingyi took the other one. Brother Liu, have you been inside?”
Lu Wang hesitated before finally admitting, “Yes, I went. It’s a Demonic Realm, teeming with demons and monsters, but it also contains treasures.”
“Oh~”
Xu Sanyan lost interest. He had never cared much for treasures, having long neglected even his own weapon. The great halberd remained stored within his body, nourished by his spiritual energy, rarely seeing the light of day.
In the blink of an eye, they arrived at Desolate Sheep Mountain. Xu Sanyan turned to the Yue Clan Patriarch and said, “Please lead the way, Elder.”
The Yue Clan Patriarch had no choice but to comply, stepping forward obediently. “This way, Holy Son.”
The moment Xu Sanyan set foot on Desolate Sheep Mountain, a primal unease washed over him, as if his very instincts were screaming in protest.
He had visited this mountain before, years ago, and never felt this way… Could it be that his heightened cultivation level had made his senses more acute?
Xu Sanyan glanced at the others, analyzing their expressions. They remained unchanged, showing no signs of alarm.
As the Yue Clan Patriarch led them deeper into the mountain, the sun above seemed to be veiled by a dark shroud, its light growing dimmer. Xu Sanyan noticed the hairs on his arm standing on end, and his heart surged with heightened vigilance.
He sensed danger!
Xu Sanyan found this incomprehensible. With his current cultivation level, he feared no one in the Central Region except the five sages. Yet merely exploring a mountain range had triggered this sense of peril?
How strange…
The group abandoned aerial travel and began hiking up the mountain. Whether due to psychological factors or not, Xu Sanyan felt the cold intensifying.
The bone-chilling cold pierced through his heart and lungs. Xu Sanyan instinctively narrowed his eyes, scanning his surroundings. Suddenly, he barked, “Stop.”
The Yue Clan Patriarch’s heart skipped a beat. He feigned curiosity and turned to ask, “What is it, Holy Son?”
Xu Sanyan pointed at a young man nearby, his tone brooking no argument. “Have him scout ahead.”
The Yue Clan Patriarch’s chest tightened. The youth Xu Sanyan had singled out was his most favored grandson, the star of today’s banquet, and the Yue Clan’s newly advanced Dao Seeking Realm heavenly pride… Yue Chonghai.
“But… Holy Son, what is the reason for this?”
The Yue Clan Patriarch tried to protest further, but Xu Sanyan’s pupils narrowed into slits as he whirled around, his eyes blazing with savage fury.
“I won’t repeat myself.”
The earlier facade of composure had vanished, revealing his true nature: a ruthless and violent beast.
Xu Sanyan’s reputation had never been earned through virtuous deeds or acts of kindness, but rather through the countless withered bones beneath his feet. The madness hidden beneath his calm demeanor was his true nature—the terrifying presence of a Demonic Path overlord that struck fear into the hearts of the world.
As this aura manifested, everyone felt a surge of dread. A torrent of malevolent intent enveloped their minds, chilling them to the bone.
The Yue Clan Patriarch dared not utter another word. Though loath to send his grandson into danger, his own life was undoubtedly more precious. He had no doubt that even a single additional word would result in his immediate annihilation.
Yue Chonghai cast a pleading glance at his grandfather, but the Yue Clan Patriarch turned his head away, refusing to meet his gaze. This left Yue Chonghai with a chilling sense of despair. Unable to defy Xu Sanyan’s command, he shuffled forward into the depths.
After a moment’s thought, Xu Sanyan imprinted a spiritual power mark on Yue Chonghai, allowing him to sense the youth’s approximate location.
As Yue Chonghai ventured deeper, the mark suddenly vanished.
A glint flashed in Xu Sanyan’s eyes. There were only two possible explanations: either Yue Chonghai had died, causing the mark to dissipate,
The second possibility was that he had entered some special place that blocked his senses.
Xu Sanyan’s figure flickered, instantly appearing behind the Yue Clan Patriarch. He lightly placed a hand on the patriarch’s shoulder and asked in a chilling tone, “This is your last chance. What lies ahead?”
Cold sweat instantly trickled down the Yue Clan Patriarch’s temples. The pale hand pressing on his shoulder felt like a thousand-kilogram weight, nearly crushing the breath from his lungs.
The Lu Clan Elder beside him narrowed his eyes, shocked by Xu Sanyan’s incredible speed.
With no other choice, the Yue Clan Patriarch could only tell the truth. “I dare not deceive the holy son. A fissure has appeared in the formation. All those we sent to investigate have vanished without a trace. This old one dared not venture in rashly…”
His voice trailed off, growing weaker with each word, betraying his lack of confidence.
“Heh… vanished without a trace?” Xu Sanyan’s smile twisted into a menacing grin. “So you were trying to trick me into going in?”
“Holy son, you see through everything! This old one would never dare harbor such intentions!”
Xu Sanyan grew impatient with the man’s excuses. He turned to address the hundred-odd people gathered behind him. “All of you, follow me on this journey. If you survive, I’ll spare your lives. What do you say?”
Lu Wang knew this wasn’t a choice. They had no say in the matter.
(End of the Chapter)