Chapter 1569: A Demon Marshal Graces the World

Li Yan knew that the situation here at the Broken Army Sect was different from his own Spirit Transformation. He had undergone his tribulation within a perilous land in the Soul-Suppression Palace. Few people ever went to that place, and it was guarded by a Void Refining elder, so even Void Refining Realm experts couldn’t break in. But this was the Immortal Spirit Realm, with numerous external enemies. The three strongest members of their sect were only at the Spirit Transformation Realm, so they had to give their all to protect her…

Two and a half days later, the sky returned to a clear and bright state. The heavenly tribulation, which had struck fear into the hearts of all the Broken Army Sect disciples, finally dissipated slowly. Although these disciples had all been hiding within the grand formation, the days had felt like years, and they had suffered greatly.

Mu Guyue, in a single day, had reached Spirit Transformation!

And the way Mu Guyue handled the tribulation earned the utmost admiration of Shangguan Tianque and Ren Yanyu. The Demon Clan was the Demon Clan. Under the Great Heavenly Tribulation, she had withstood the initial tribulations almost entirely with her physical body. When they had faced their own tribulations, they had used all sorts of magical treasures and talismans prepared over many years, and it still took them about four days, and they had nearly died under the tribulation.

After successfully passing her tribulation, Mu Guyue was also heavily injured. With a weary expression, she simply gave a distant Daoist salute to the three of them to express her gratitude before flying straight back to her Cave Residence.

And the entire Broken Army Sect erupted in cheers that soared to the heavens. Their sect had gained another Supreme Elder! The two Nascent Soul Guest Elders, in particular, looked on with envy. This Elder Mu had only been with the sect for a few years and had already advanced to Spirit Transformation, transforming from a Guest Elder on their level to a Supreme Elder.

Two years passed in a flash. On this day, Mu Guyue emerged from seclusion. After two years of consolidation, she had completely stabilized her realm at the Spirit Transformation level. Upon learning of Mu Guyue’s emergence, Shangguan Tianque immediately summoned both her and Li Yan.

At the peak of the back mountain, a giant pine stood tall against the wind. When Li Yan arrived, Shangguan Tianque, Ren Yanyu, and Mu Guyue were already admiring the clouds and drinking wine.

“Hehehe… Junior Brother Li, you’re late. Don’t just focus on cultivation all day. When it’s time to relax your mind, you must let go. Today, Junior Sister Mu has come out of seclusion, a truly joyous occasion. How about we drink to our hearts’ content?”

Hearing this, Li Yan first glanced at Mu Guyue. She was leaning against the pine tree, a wine urn in hand. Her slender figure took up more than half the tree, and behind her was a bottomless abyss. Shangguan Tianque and Ren Yanyu were sitting casually on a large green rock! Ren Yanyu’s red robes were spread on the ground, and she would occasionally tilt her head back to drink, her black hair flying wildly in the wind, giving her an untamed air.

“That sounds wonderful!” Li Yan replied as he descended.

And just as he landed, Shangguan Tianque waved his large sleeve, and a massive wine urn flew towards Li Yan. Seeing this, Li Yan didn’t stand on ceremony. As he drifted down, he reached out and caught the urn by its base with one hand. As his green robe fluttered to the ground, his other hand had already slapped open the clay seal at the mouth of the urn. Instantly, a rich aroma shot straight to his head, and dense waves of Spiritual Energy wafted out.

Li Yan knew that Shangguan Tianque and his junior sister loved to drink and were therefore particularly skilled in the art, with a special fondness for all sorts of wine recipes. He had heard that the number of spirit wine recipes they possessed was even greater than his own collection of pill recipes, which showed their devotion to wine. The wines they brewed were all made from precious medicinal herbs or the flesh and bones of certain demonic beasts. Drinking them not only satisfied one’s palate but also aided in cultivation. He had heard that in recent years, the two of them had been trying all sorts of methods to enhance the efficacy of their wine recipes to make them suitable for Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators.

Li Yan’s Divine Sense swept over it and saw that the wine in the urn was golden-yellow, like molten gold. As it swirled, spiritual waves rippled from it…

He no longer held back. Holding the urn with one hand, he tilted his head back and took a large gulp! The wine entered his mouth like a line of fire, shooting straight down his throat. The moment it entered his abdomen, it was as if it had been ignited. Instantly, Li Yan felt the Spirit Power in his abdomen, like oil meeting fire, suddenly accelerate its circulation, rushing to his limbs, bones, and all his meridians. At the same time, his entire being immediately felt light and ethereal, a very comfortable sensation. Just as he was about to circulate his Spirit Power to dissolve it, Shangguan Tianque’s voice came over.

“Don’t actively merge with this medicinal power. I call this wine ‘Piercing Waves’. It can make one’s Spirit Power boil and rush into the major and minor meridians, breaking through all obstacles. Let it naturally merge into your Spirit Power; only then can its effects be fully realized. It’s like water entering the sea, a natural law of the Great Dao! Besides, don’t you think that not using Spirit Power to dissolve the intoxication allows one to better appreciate the true meaning of wine?”

Hearing this, Li Yan immediately stopped circulating his Spirit Power. Sure enough, he found that the wine’s power was more easily absorbed into his Spirit Power and flesh. ‘This senior brother and junior sister pair have walked a path of slaughter. Even the wine they brew is just as domineering. And their study of wine has already been integrated into their own Great Dao, which is similar to their personalities—natural and unrestrained…’

“I’ve called you two here, first, to congratulate Junior Sister Mu on her successful Spirit Transformation. This is a great joy for the sect. Second, in less than two years, it will be time for the sect’s promotion assessment. With the three of us, I was only approaching the assessment with a ‘let’s try’ attitude. Now that Junior Sister Mu has advanced to Spirit Transformation, I hope she can also assist the sect. So, I’ve called you two here to ask about this matter.”

After Shangguan Tianque finished speaking, he looked at Mu Guyue, who was also holding a wine urn, leaning against the large tree with her long, straight legs crossed.

“No problem!”

Just as Shangguan Tianque’s voice fell, Mu Guyue’s proud voice immediately rang out, without a hint of hesitation. This made Shangguan Tianque and Ren Yanyu startle slightly, then both broke into smiles. They hadn’t expected Mu Guyue to agree so readily. This immediately increased their good impression of her.

She had been introduced to the sect by Li Yan. They only knew that she and Li Yan had met in the lower realm. As for her character, they knew nothing at all. But since Li Yan had spoken up, they wouldn’t pry into Mu Guyue’s past and had agreed at once. Now it seemed this woman was so decisive it was comforting. Ren Yanyu, in particular, who loved straightforward people, couldn’t help but praise, “Junior Sister Mu is worthy of being a Demonic General in the army. Oh, she should be a Demon Marshal now. To act with such swift and decisive force, it’s truly marvelous, marvelous!”

They all knew that cultivators of the Black Demon Clan had to enter the army and fight their way up. The combat strength of such people was beyond question. Especially a Demon Clan cultivator who could survive past the Golden Core stage—they were elite veterans forged in a hundred battles!

After hearing what they said, Li Yan also nodded. From the bottom of his heart, he certainly hoped Mu Guyue could assist in this assessment. This was related to his entire future plan. However, after some thought, he spoke. “Senior Chongyangzi also said last time that all Spirit Transformation cultivators participating in the assessment need to be evaluated by them. This matter is still uncertain at the moment!”

“Junior Brother Li, you don’t need to worry about this! Since Junior Sister Mu has agreed, then there’s no problem. Because in four months, the Pure Yang Hall will send someone to inform us of the assessment content for the following year. That will also be our last chance to add Spirit Transformation cultivators. We just need to propose it. Because you are all cultivators who ascended from the lower realm, the evaluation is actually not that strict…”

Afterward, Shangguan Tianque began to explain some matters regarding the evaluation, speaking as if counting his family treasures. It was clear that for the sake of the sect’s promotion, Shangguan Tianque had either started looking into this matter long ago or had been constantly collecting information and news on it in recent years.

The few of them sat on the mountain peak, drinking wine and slowly discussing. Mu Guyue spoke the least. She was even more taciturn than Li Yan, so most of the time, she was just listening and drinking. It was over two hours later that they finally dispersed!

By this time, Li Yan, without using his Spirit Power to dissolve it, felt the effects of the wine surging up. Even with an immortal’s body, this was immortal wine meant for immortals, and it naturally made one feel intoxicated.

Mu Guyue flew away with him, and the two of them traveled together for a while. They soon left the mountain peak far behind. Just as Li Yan was about to bid farewell, Mu Guyue suddenly said, “Are you free? There’s something I need to talk to you about!”

“Oh? What is it?” Li Yan asked with some confusion.

Mu Guyue glanced at him and then flew off to the side. Li Yan also looked around. Although there were few cultivators here, occasionally, a team of patrolling cultivators would fly by. He followed Mu Guyue. A short while later, Li Yan was surprised to find that Mu Guyue had no intention of stopping, so he could only continue to follow.

When they finally stopped, Li Yan was stunned to find that they were above a Cave Residence. If he remembered correctly, this should be Mu Guyue’s Cave Residence. As expected, Mu Guyue landed directly, and with a wave of her jade-like hand, the gate of the Cave Residence opened instantly. Without looking at him, she walked straight in.

‘Could it be about Mu Sha again? Is she planning to tell me the details?’ Li Yan felt that between them, it was likely about Mu Sha’s past. And he knew that he didn’t know much about Mu Sha. When Mu Guyue had spoken of Mu Sha before, she had only let him know that such a person existed.

Later, Li Yan had wanted to ask about Mu Sha’s past, but Mu Guyue would often fall silent or just brush it off with a light sentence. Faced with this silent reply, Li Yan really couldn’t press further. It was obvious that Mu Guyue didn’t want to reminisce about the past, and Li Yan was actually the same. It was only later, after he had persistently questioned her in roundabout ways, that she had said to him, “His past, leave it for the future. You can ask him yourself!”

Today, however, Li Yan felt that perhaps Mu Guyue wanted to tell him something about Mu Sha. After all, for Mu Sha’s sake, he had helped her reach Spirit Transformation. And today, on the mountain peak, he had felt that Mu Guyue’s occasional gazes at him were filled with a complex, inexplicable emotion.

Thinking of this, Li Yan’s heart filled with joy. Mu Sha was his heir. He had always been most attached to family and bloodline. As his thoughts raced, Li Yan felt he had figured it all out and immediately followed her in. As he entered, the gate of the Cave Residence behind him closed with a rumble.

Inside the main hall, Mu Guyue stood there, her back to him, just staring ahead blankly, as if in a daze. Li Yan walked to her side, stood shoulder to shoulder with her, and followed her gaze. Ahead were just the tables and chairs in the hall; there was nothing else special. Li Yan was certain that at this moment, Mu Guyue’s thoughts were wandering, her gaze unfocused.

“When I ascended to the Immortal Spirit Realm, I left him some clues about you. He should know that you are a cultivator from the Desolate Moon Continent,” Mu Guyue said softly.

“Did you tell him my origins and identity then?” Li Yan’s heart leaped with joy upon hearing this. This great goddess, Mu Guyue, was finally willing to mention Mu Sha again.

“No, but I left him the storage pouch you once lost at the bottom of the sea, along with its contents. I also recorded a jade slip. I told him you were a disciple of the Four Great Sects, but I didn’t specify your appearance, and I didn’t know your name!” Mu Guyue’s voice was still soft, like a whisper.

“Oh, then when you left, do you happen to know what his… what his attitude was? Hate? Resentment? Or numbness?” Upon hearing Mu Guyue, Li Yan felt a sense of melancholy and relief at the same time. He didn’t know what Mu Sha thought of him. If it was hate or resentment, then perhaps it would be better for both of them if he didn’t know who he was. Then he would have to consider many, many things. When he met Mu Sha, how should he face him? After all, they only had a blood connection, but had lost the familial bond!

“Confusion, perhaps! Because from a young age, I didn’t want him to know who you were. At that time, I only knew that our two clans were mortal enemies. Your appearance made me feel only hatred for you…” At this point, Mu Guyue withdrew her blank gaze from ahead. As she turned her head, her pair of gorgeous phoenix eyes looked at Li Yan.

“I… I… my appearance at the bottom of the sea that time, that… that was just an accident…” Hearing the other party bring up that incident again, Li Yan suddenly felt a bit awkward. And Mu Guyue just looked at him like that! Li Yan once again felt that strange atmosphere that appeared whenever he was alone with Mu Guyue!