Chapter 464

Mount Móyún, Three Saints City

Myriad demons gather, demonic qi soars to the heavens.

After casually dealing with that heavenly demon, Zhang Jian immediately proceeded to Mount Móyún!

He activated the Innate Law Gate, his form appearing beneath Mount Móyún City.

Zhang Jian found that, no matter how many years passed, the demon race's order was always so noisy.

Even Mount Móyún, Three Saints City, such a demon race nation.

Though they seemingly established a demon city, established a trade market, established a teleportation array, some imitating the human race, yet many minor demons remained like refugees—calling them refugees still flatters them.

Each with bizarre aesthetics.

Some even sat directly by the mountain path, by the roadside, even at the market's edge, gnawing raw flesh and drinking blood.

Their time before taking human form was too long; many mountain-dwelling minor demons never learned what order was, only knowing the weak are meat and the strong eat, seeking fortune and avoiding misfortune, and never received any education.

On the contrary, many of those who had taken human form among the great demons understood honor and shame, knew the rules, or took human form—even if retaining a bestial demon body, they kept part of their crude nature, clearly distinct from ordinary minor demons.

Zhang Jian took human form, boldly striding through the gate into Three Saints City.

Gazing at countless bizarre demons hawking all manner of strange flowers and herbs, or demon limbs, pelts, inner cores, even souls, and even human essences, and even human slaves...

Everything was utterly primitive.

Yet it could be seen that these demons had one good trait: they largely followed instinct and were still adept at obeying the strong's arrangements.

But upon entering Three Saints City, Zhang Jian's brows slightly furrowed.

Upon entering this place, he felt a faint strangeness in his heart.

This strangeness was no different from when he had seen the 'heavenly demon' before.

"Mixed-blood from beyond the realm!"

Zhang Jian's gaze swept over the city; he glanced at several of those who had taken human form among the great demons, his eyes holding something odd.

As the innate god born of the Zhōushān Great Realm, he was abnormally sensitive to such existences.

This was like the 'mixed-blood' born of different races—appearance would show different traits; though the demon race had overcome this, before Zhang Jian, such an innate god, it could not be hidden at all.

"So many mixed-bloods—it seems the degree of infiltration exceeds imagination!"

Zhang Jian thought darkly.

With so many mixed-blood demons, Zhang Jian estimated the hidden extradimensional gates of the Three Saints Nation had likely been breached long ago.

A flash of stern light passed through Zhang Jian's eyes.

Who knows what those extradimensional demon gods hiding in the barbaric regions are preparing to do? Probably nothing good!

Extradimensional demon gods are like extradimensional devil gods—most possess strong aggression and plunder, certainly not benevolent.

He continued toward the depths of Three Saints City, and shortly after arrived before a majestic holy hall.

"Three Saints Hall!"

Gazing at this crude great hall before him, Zhang Jian's eyebrows slightly rose, and he immediately stepped into the hall.

This hall, built extremely ancient and simple, its surroundings dirty, yet inside there was a priest—this priest's face covered in patterns, merely kneeling at the center of Three Saints Hall, devoutly silently reciting scriptures.

Zhang Jian noticed that the scriptures this strange priest silently recited were a text he had never encountered before.

"Demon script!"

Zhang Jian heard it in his ears, his eyes holding something strange.

It is said that demon script is the writing of the demon race, transmitted from the extradimensional void.

Demon script, like dragon-phoenix seal script, ancient yin script, and Nine Sovereign yin script, similarly contains the mighty power of heaven and earth, unable to be borne by ordinary matter.

"Are you here to worship the Three Saints? Incense on the table, one medium-grade spirit crystal, one stalk!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian merely smiled faintly, glancing at the Three Saints' divine manifestations.

"My incense is beyond what ordinary people can endure!"

"Oh, which mountain lord are you?"

Upon hearing this, the demon priest instantly slowly opened his eyes; at this moment he also saw Zhang Jian in feather-silk golden robes, seeing Zhang Jian's noble bearing, unlike ordinary demons, his eyes slightly showed surprise.

Zhang Jian paid no heed, merely leaking a hint of majestic divine power, as if directly piercing the void, falling into this demon priest's heart; the demon priest's expression tightened, and he immediately said.

"No wish to worship? No need to force it, mountain lord, please do as you please!"

He seemed like an ordinary cultivator, actually making the one who initiated the concession yield.

Zhang Jian looked somewhat surprised at this demon high priest; he could see the extraordinary nature on this demon high priest's body, thus wanting to test a bit, but unexpectedly this demon high priest directly 'gave up'!

Zhang Jian then withdrew this hint of ill intent from his heart.

His gaze immediately fell upon the Three Saints' golden forms.

The Three Saints' ancestors were respectively the founders of the Three Saints Nation; with Zhang Jian's gaze coming and going, the identity of these Three Saints ancestors was also extraordinary, being formed from three ancient divine beasts taking human form; as to what specific divine beasts, what lineage, Zhang Jian currently cannot know.

Only knowing they are respectively the divine beasts transformed from the Qing Lion clan, Qing Ox clan, and Qing Sheep clan, possessing extremely profound cultivation.

These three demons in the past were able to lead demon hordes to repel human sages and even part of the ancient human immortals' attacks, and suppress numerous ancient great demons in the barbaric regions—enough to see their formidable nature.

Of course, more importantly, they have another origin; they left behind the demon script inheritance for the Three Saints Nation, as well as several treasures to suppress the Three Saints Nation.

At this moment, Zhang Jian's gaze turned toward the void.

For some unknown reason, since entering the Three Saints Hall, he has always been able to faintly sense a gaze falling upon him from deep within the void.

That gaze is very wondrous, wandering within and without the void; even if Zhang Jian used the innate spiritual awareness of an innate god to sense, he never found its source.

He originally thought it was these three dirty golden forms of the Three Saints within the Three Saints Temple.

But after careful investigation, he found these three golden forms, though having some incense qi, had no abnormality whatsoever.

Zhang Jian then glanced again at that timid-faced, strange 'mixed-blood' demon high priest, confirming that gaze was not coming from him either.

"Truly strange!"

Zhang Jian thought darkly, since attaining innate godhood, no one has ever been able to deceive his eyes before him.

Could it be from beyond spacetime, or perhaps from some forbidden zone above fate and the great Dao of heaven and earth? Any immortal or god with such cultivation would not need to spy—they could simply observe directly.

Zhang Jian pondered darkly in his heart, then stepped forward and left the Three Saints Hall.

After leaving the Three Saints Hall, he noticed that gaze still lingered, as if following him.

This only made Zhang Jian more curious.

After Zhang Jian left, the timid, shrinking high priest of the Three Saints Hall pressed his nearly jumping heart, wiped the nonexistent cold sweat from his face, and felt a lingering fear in his eyes.

"Good heavens, I was scared to death—when did this realm still harbor such a terrifying old demon?"

"The ancestral master said there were treasures here, but what treasures? More likely a Yama King!"

"If this old demon discovers my true form, it'll be disastrous—I'd better slip away; this place is no fit for lingering!"

As he chanted, he didn't even bother to collect offerings here; he stripped off his ritual garments, chanted a spell, and a stream of light appeared before the altar—yet it was a gaunt, ragged old demon in only his undergarments being dragged out, his form turning into a stream of light and vanishing.

The gaunt old demon's face was covered in patterns, his hair disheveled; at this moment he dazedly awoke, looked around, glanced at his feet, feeling utterly bewildered—he remembered only receiving a young demon clan member before quickly falling asleep.

He still couldn't make sense of the situation.

……

Meanwhile, Zhang Jian noticed that strange gaze still tailing him; after a hundred or so paces, it vanished completely, leaving him feeling quite strange.

Having found nothing, and after confirming it wasn't due to his own identity being exposed, Zhang Jian continued strolling, all the while searching for the demon lord's resting place.

Now, in Demon Cloud City, myriad demons gather, coming from all directions, mixed and chaotic—perfect for him to fish in troubled waters.

Before it awakens, I must find the demon lord's resting place and deal with it!

Now, in the Three Saints Kingdom, the most exalted demon master has fallen, leaving only two ancient demon marshals in charge.

One of these two ancient demon marshals is called the Vine Dragon Demon Marshal, the other the Nine Infant Demon Marshal.

The Nine Infant Demon Marshal holds the highest status, said to be one of the most outstanding demon kings among the descendants of the Three Saints Ancestor, merely lacking a thread of fortune, missing the demon sovereign position by a hair's breadth, and thereafter has always assisted successive demon lords as a left-hand aide.

Zhang Jian soon wandered through most of Three Saints City.

Three Saints City is vast in area, containing all kinds of districts; Zhang Jian even saw places resembling mortal bitter kilns and brothels, many demons frequenting them, not to mention some powerful transformed great demons.

Yet before him, the Pavilion of Spring Wind and Fine Rain surpasses mortal elegant venues in grandeur and splendor, where a crowd of demons skilled in harvesting yin to supplement yang bustle about.

Fox demons, snake demons, mountain spirits, and various strange beings gather there.

At this moment, a voice sounded beside Zhang Jian's ear.

"So, Lord Wang, where do you come from? Why hesitate here instead of going in to sit?"

Zhang Jian glanced over, only to see a figure in green robes, with extraordinarily handsome features, silently appear behind him; at this moment, this green-clad demon cultivator wore a smile.

Zhang Jian noticed a jade pendant at her waist and a jade flute in her hand, his eyes showing some surprise.

He then casually said.

"Not interested!"

Hearing this, the green-clad figure laughed.

"This Pavilion of Spring Wind and Fine Rain is no ordinary place—famous throughout the barbaric regions; rumor has it there are maidens from all tribes, including witch women of the human Yin-Yang Demon Sect—only what you can't imagine, nothing you can't see!"

Zhang Jian's expression remained calm, and he simply said.

"Hmph, alas, I have no taste for this! I sense your aura is pure and refined—likely different from other demons—could it be you, too, stand before the Pavilion of Spring Wind and Fine Rain just to watch the spectacle?"

The green-clad demon cultivator's narrow phoenix eyes brightened, and she immediately said.

"You have keen eyes! Still, I don't know where your blessed abode is—how should I address you?"

After a slight pause, she clasped her hands and said.

Zhang Jian, however, had no intention of entangling with her; at a glance he saw this green-clad demon cultivator was actually an extramundane demon god, with considerable cultivation, though young in age; deep in her bloodline pulsed a primordial, overwhelming aura.

Zhang Jian, however, felt no interest in her.

For she was suffused with utterly orthodox immortal Dao methods.

Likely from some proper immortal lineage.

When immortals exterminate extramundane demon gods, they pick and choose—not strike at everything; beings like this before us are simply not worth wasting time on.

Slaying them might yield minor gains, but trouble would surely follow.

Zhang Jian stepped forward to leave, but the green-clad demon cultivator had no intention of letting him go.

The green-clad demon cultivator has an extraordinary origin, with innate spiritual awareness extremely strong; for some unknown reason, upon seeing Zhang Jian, she faintly sensed his body reeking of an extremely pleasant fragrance, which she took to heart.

At this moment, she was also using a secret method to covertly probe Zhang Jian's reality and illusion—only to be greatly astonished to find that the Zhang Jian before her was merely a 'Foundation Establishment' demon cultivator?

She repeatedly used her innate divine ability, innate spiritual awareness induction, and the other seemed only an utterly ordinary 'demon cultivator', possibly having cultivated for just a few hundred years.

This thought arose, and she could not help but give rise to the idea of taking him by force.

But just as she thought of 'taking by force', she suddenly saw Zhang Jian's form vanish into the vast sea of people.

"Gone?"

A 'Foundation Establishment' demon cultivator actually vanished before the eyes of this true immortal?

This made her blink in surprise.

"Dare to toy with me?"

A hint of annoyance appeared on her jade-like face, she glared wildly around, yet still detected no trace of Zhang Jian.

Her expression resentful, she silently vowed to surely find and toy with this 'little demon' who played her!

Zhang Jian's form, however, appeared before a Demon Sovereign Temple.

Within the Demon Sovereign Temple are enshrined several demon sovereigns born of the barbaric regions, and the incense here is quite strong.

Zhang Jian gazed around, and silently thought to himself.

"Demon Cloud Ridge gathers myriad demons—truly all kinds of demon beings are here; yet these extramundane demon gods, having heard some rumor, all rushed into Three Saints City—could it be that something great is about to happen here, unknown to others?"

Zhang Jian's eyes flickered.

At this moment, Zhang Jian's heart stirred.

That special feeling of being "watched" reappeared in his heart; his eyes scanned the surroundings, his gaze strange.

"I want to see just what you are."

Nine-colored light slowly emerged around him, enveloping the surrounding area, and in an instant his figure vanished.

……

"Three hundred years have passed, and still no one has seen me. If this continues, I'll soon go mad!"

Before the Demon Emperor's Temple, yet another invisible figure floated in midair, seated atop the temple roof, his eyes filled with the vicissitudes of time.

His face seemed that of a youth, yet at this moment, looking at his own eyes, they were full of old cocoons.

Yet in his eyes there was some wooden dullness, stupidity.

Shi Rui was originally a human.

He lived in a small village of clear waters and beautiful scenery in Qingli Prefecture; one day, while going up the mountain to set traps, he encountered an old demon who was captured and taken into a demon cave.

That was the cavern dwelling of a mountain demon ghost.

But his luck was good—he did not become food for the demon ghost; instead, due to a sacrificial ritual, he was sent as an offering to the Three Saints City.

Originally, after the sacrifice, he was to be slaughtered and used as meat for the demons, but three hundred years ago, the demon high priest guarding the Three Saints Hall heard he was the son of a carpenter, skilled in carving with his hands, and so summoned him to repair the three holy ancestral statues in the Three Saints Hall.

But he was merely an ordinary carpenter—how could he repair the golden bodies of the Three Saints?

He originally thought he was doomed!

Failing to repair the golden body, he would surely be eaten by the demons acting as overseers, but instead he encountered an earthquake, crushed by the collapsing Three Saints statues.

Moreover, after death, his soul and body were "swallowed" by a strange bead, turning him into this peculiar state.

After becoming formless and shadowless, he discovered that surrounding demons could not detect him, including the fierce demon high priest.

This invisible form had also once entered the central Three Saints Palace, yet there the demon king, demon god, and even the two demon marshals could not perceive his gaze.

At first he found it novel, but after three hundred years, only endless boredom remained; he had grown accustomed to countless lives and deaths, partings.

Including many demons within Three Saints City who had been replaced in large numbers.

Such immortality made life worse than death.