Chapter 1698: Shadow of the Dark Wings (Part One)

Dong Fuyi and Li Yan traveled without pause, heading toward the inter-realm teleportation array at the edge of the Cangxuan Realm.

In the Jiyou Realm, they located the specific position of the Black Demon tribe and pressed on through a cycle of endless teleportation and high-speed flight. Under the full exertion of a Body Integration powerhouse, Li Yan modified the ascension memories of Mu Guyue and Mu Sha at a suitable location and released them.

Seventeen years after they began, they finally delivered the mother and son to the Black Demon territory. Li Yan stopped some distance away from the tribal heartlands. Though he had heard that the Black Demons were more open to other races in the Immortal Spirit Realm, their arrogance was innate, and they remained xenophobic to the bone.

Li Yan provided Mu Guyue with pills and spirit stones and had a long, detailed talk with Mu Sha. The boy had truly come to accept Li Yan by now. Li Yan had promised to bring them to the Jiyou Realm, and he had delivered.

Along the way, Mu Sha had witnessed the sheer density of powerhouses in the Immortal Spirit Realm. Nascent Soul cultivators were targets for casual slaughter, a realization that left him feeling profoundly unsafe. Demon cultivators always lived with a sense of high tension; they were united against outsiders and peerless in battle, but that same iron-fisted tribal unity meant internal competition was savage.

Mu Sha had watched his mother and father fight their way through obstacles while he remained under their protection. In the Immortal Spirit Realm, where they could exert the full power of the Spirit Transformation realm, the two of them were strong enough to make him feel like an ant. He finally understood how powerful his parents were—they could crush him with a glance. He realized his own road was still very, very long…

As for Dong Fuyi, he remained hidden from the moment Mu Guyue and her son woke up, protecting them from the shadows. He no longer interfered directly. Mu Guyue had spent more time in the Immortal Spirit Realm than Li Yan and was familiar with its dangers; an overly smooth journey would have only aroused her suspicion.

But with the combined intellect of Li Yan and Dong Fuyi—two “foxes,” one old and one young—it was impossible for even a woman as brilliant as Mu Guyue to see through the ruse. Mu Sha trusted his mother implicitly, and Mu Guyue trusted Li Yan; they weren’t looking for anomalies in their companions. The two masterminds had accounted for every possible oversight.

The location where they “arrived” was one Dong Fuyi had specifically scouted after crossing the realm, ensuring it was close to the Black Demon tribe. This ensured their final journey home was short and relatively safe. Mu Guyue was both surprised and delighted by their “luck” in finding such a convenient spatial node. Trusting Li Yan as she did, she simply assumed her lifelong run of bad luck had finally turned.

Li Yan told Mu Sha many things. The boy was nothing like Li Zhaoyan; he was a bloodthirsty devil who had crawled out of a mountain of corpses—cold, calculating, and ruthless. He possessed a sharp judgment. Now that he felt his own weakness, he would do anything to grow stronger. Li Yan gave him the basic soul cultivation methods and warned him of the risks. He told Mu Sha to consult his mother if he had trouble, as Mu Guyue had been practicing soul arts for a long time.

However, the identity of a soul cultivator was sensitive and dangerous. He warned Mu Sha that if he ever used these arts, he had to ensure a “one-strike kill.” He forbade Mu Sha from teaching the art to anyone else; even a future cultivation partner would require Mu Guyue’s express permission.

Mu Guyue understood the terror of soul cultivation better than anyone. Because it was so terrifying, soul cultivators were often hunted on sight. Furthermore, Mu Guyue’s soul arts might not penetrate the defenses of a true soul-specialist, which would expose their secret. She maintained a perfect sense of discretion. She was no longer the proud woman who disdained sneak attacks; she had fully adapted to Li Yan’s rhythm. She enjoyed killing alongside him; it brought her a sense of grim satisfaction. Even in the most desperate fights, they found ways to slay their foes or escape.

Survival was the only outcome that mattered; there was no need for “fair play” or “honor” in a fight for your life. As Li Yan lectured and warned Mu Sha, Mu Guyue watched silently, her phoenix-like eyes carrying a heavy warning for her son.

Mu Sha was ecstatic to receive a legendary soul cultivation manual. Demon cultivators often lacked ranged attack options, which made it difficult for them to close the distance against slippery dharma cultivators. They focused on speed as their primary tool. While dharma arts could supplement them, dharma cultivators also knew how to defend against their own kind.

Demons preferred to break their own limits through physical mastery. But with soul arts, Mu Sha’s arsenal would change completely. He would become a nightmare for both body and dharma cultivators. Paired with his demonic arts, he could potentially fight those a full realm above him.

When Li Yan warned him to “pluck the grass by the roots” whenever he used soul arts, the joy in Mu Sha’s eyes was replaced by a frigid killing intent. His father had spoken; he would ensure no evidence of his actions ever remained.

“Your child will remember Father’s teachings. I will treat this as a family inheritance—those who see it must die!” He bowed deeply to Li Yan, his expression solemn.

Li Yan found the formality a bit jarring—he preferred the warmth of Li Zhaoyan—but in Mu Guyue’s eyes, this was exactly how things should be. Mu Sha had been raised to be respectful to her, and the military hierarchy was strict. Li Yan let it be; their environments were different, so he would let the boy remain as he was.

He was actually relieved to have such a son. He knew this boy would fly far and high, and he wouldn’t have to worry about him. Someone like Li Zhaoyan, on the other hand, needed to be tempered in blood and fire; without a powerful protector, her path would be short.

Finally, Li Yan told them he would return to find them after curing Bai Rou. He might have to return to the North Pastoral Realm to settle some affairs, and they were welcome to join him if they wished.

“We shall see. I will likely go with you. Senior Brother Shangguan and the others treated me well; I cannot simply vanish without a word,” Mu Guyue agreed after a moment’s thought. She knew Li Yan was referring to the Broken Army Sect.

Mu Sha watched the brief exchange. A flash of confusion crossed his eyes. To him, the Broken Army Sect was just a temporary shelter born of necessity. Now that they were returning to their tribe, why bother going back? It was a human sect and not to be trusted. Once a tool was used, it was used. Aside from his mother, his only bond with people was the camaraderie of the battlefield.

But Mu Sha also knew he wasn’t part of a simple family of three; his father had human wives. This didn’t bother him; in the lower realm, powerful Black Demons often took women from other races, though they were rarely the primary wife. He also knew he had a sister, and Li Yan had shown them portraits of the others. Mu Sha remained outwardly respectful, but his nature wouldn’t change overnight. He decided that if he ever met these people, he would simply avoid them. As for other humans… he would kill them as he saw fit.

This was exactly the nature Li Yan worried about—which was why he refused to leave Mu Sha in the lower-realm military!

While Mu Guyue thought Li Yan was going back for the Broken Army Sect, Li Yan was actually planning how to eventually bring Zhao Min, Gong Chenying, and Mu Guyue together. If Mu Guyue’s xenophobic nature could be softened by the upper realm, why not the others? Letting Mu Sha and Li Zhaoyan meet as brother and sister was his vision of a complete, harmonious home.

The two departed quickly. They knew a Malevolent Spirit Sect cultivator had nearly died saving Li Zhaoyan, and their decisive natures didn’t allow them to delay Li Yan’s journey. Furthermore, Li Yan truly couldn’t enter the Black Demon tribe; they hadn’t even mapped out the internal tribal politics yet.

They said their goodbyes.

What they didn’t know was that Li Yan did not leave immediately. He and Dong Fuyi stayed near the Black Demon territory. Li Yan was naturally cautious; he knew the Black Demons weren’t like the Malevolent Spirit Sect. In the sect, as long as your master or ancestor was alive, internal competition was manageable. But a demon tribe was a constant crucible of competition and suppression. He had to be certain the mother and son had established a firm foothold before he could leave in peace.

He waited for three years. Dong Fuyi agreed readily; he was immensely satisfied with Li Yan’s temperament and cultivation. He hadn’t been there to protect the boy as he grew, so he would indulge him now. This was the final task of their journey.

Li Yan was anxious about Bai Rou, so he used the time to search for cures within the Jiyou Realm. However, he found no new leads; the Sea of Consciousness remained a stubborn mystery. For tribal reconnaissance, Dong Fuyi would periodically hide his aura and enter the territory. Li Yan didn’t dare go inside. Dong Fuyi, once hidden, was undetectable even to Tribulation Transcendence experts. He didn’t want trouble, but if a Tribulation expert found him, he was confident he could escape.