Chapter 392: Let the World Remember the Dignity of the Thousand Demon Caves

"My lord, cultivators of the Transformation of Spirit Realm do not have such a thing as body tempering."

The Xuanming Spider Emperor felt regret for having spoken wrongly just now, so it became even more tactful.

A demon beast like itself had to explain such basic knowledge to a cultivator—just thinking about it was absurd.

"I know."

Shen Yi gave a slight nod.

After breaking through to the Transformation of Spirit Realm, a cultivator's flesh and blood are entirely replaced by the Dao Infant, equivalent to shedding one's old form and gaining a brand-new spiritual body, naturally impossible to temper by ordinary means.

The Nine Demons Transforming into Demon Art is merely a Slain Hunyuan Art.

It was just infused with too much demon blood, and during the Transformation of Spirit Realm, it underwent a transformation alongside that group of immortal demons.

That's how I now have the strength to contend with the Thousand-Legged Emperor in physical combat.

At the early stage of the Transformation of Spirit Realm's later phase, that is likely already the limit.

"Yet in the former Nanyang Sect, many cultivators enjoyed close-range combat."

The Xuanming Emperor pointed to two jade slips: "Using various methods to enhance the spiritual body was, in the past, also a structured path."

Shen Yi reached out and took them into his palm, feeling their smoothness; two prompts appeared on his panel.

【Transformation of Spirit. Divine Sparrow's Rebirth: Not Yet Entered】

【Return to Void. Heavenly Phoenix Immortal Body: Not Yet Entered】

"My lord?"

Seeing the other fall silent, the Xuanming Spider Emperor looked over curiously and whispered cautiously: "Are you not satisfied?"

"It's fine."

Shen Yi shook his head, a flicker of complexity passing through his eyes.

He was merely feeling a sense of reflection.

This was the first time he had obtained a set of techniques directly leading to later realms.

The sense of security from having a clear path ahead was beyond words.

He no longer had to fear that, at the end of his cultivation, he would be left to rely on a pile of demon beasts' desperate speculation—and still gain nothing.

"Rest assured, My Lord, I have read both these techniques. As long as you take me to kill Bai Hong, there will be no mishaps."

The Xuanming Spider Emperor hurried to demonstrate its value.

"What does it have to do with that?" Shen Yi turned his head to look.

"Spirit body arts differ from body tempering—they enhance the body through external means… Bai Hong guards the Alchemy Pavilion. Most of the pills were consumed, but it holds all the alchemical formulas left behind by the Nanyang Sect."

The Xuanming Spider Emperor rubbed its long legs.

The two's conversation came to an abrupt halt.

They slowly turned toward the cave dwelling.

A familiar voice echoed within the Scripture Hall.

"Come out. The Emperor has something to say to you."

"..."

"My lord, this one is not friendly."

The Xuanming Spider Emperor withdrew its gaze: "This fiend has treacherous intentions. Do not keep him around."

Shen Yi casually returned it to his panel and stepped out of the Scripture Hall.

The previous several Emperor-level demons all stood in reverent postures, surrounding two figures in the center.

The one in front was naturally the noble white steed.

Beside it was a woman with a voluptuous figure and horns growing from her head.

"Report to My Lord: Ninth Cave, Great-Horned Black Eagle." The Xuanming Spider Emperor transmitted the message via soul resonance.

Among the Ten Emperor-level demons, excluding the top three, the rest were nearly equal in strength.

Even in its prime, the Spider Emperor would not necessarily have defeated it.

"Lion Emperor, we meet again."

The Great-Horned Emperor was one of the five pairs of eyes seen earlier in the sky.

She had roughly learned the lion's temperament, so she did not put on airs—instead, she greeted him first.

"No small talk."

Bai Hong cut her off, gazing coldly at the Golden-Eyed Lion with a calm voice: "I suspect that ferocious tiger has already arrived and informed you in advance, so there's no need for me to waste my breath."

Upon hearing this, the Great-Horned Emperor covered her lips and let out a light laugh.

The lion had truly angered Bai Hong beyond repair.

She had never seen Bai Hong, the Emperor, speak sarcastically before—clearly mocking the lion as a suckling child who needed constant care from the Jin Chi Emperor.

"In ten days, I want the outside cultivators to remember the dignity of the Thousand Demon Caves."

The white steed slowly turned: "No one is to make a mistake. Otherwise, don't blame me for being too harsh—it won't be settled by a few boastful words."

As soon as the words ended, it transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the horizon.

"Lion Emperor, please go first."

The Great-Horned Emperor smiled and extended her hand.

She found this lion quite interesting—after all, not every demon beast dares to point weapons at the white steed.

She feared it might be a fleeting moment.

The Ten Emperor-level demons normally do not kill one another.

But there are countless ways to deal with someone.

"..."

Shen Yi strode forward, heading toward the exit of the Thousand Demon Cave.

The Bai Hong Demon Emperor's counterattack against the cultivators seemed hasty, yet it left him no room for negotiation.

Even if he wanted to send a message through Lady Qinghua, there was simply no time.

In just ten short days, Great Qian could not possibly formulate any countermeasure.

He could only take it one step at a time.

As Shen Yi focused his mind, Jin Zhu, far outside the Thousand Demon Cave, suddenly transformed into a Dharma image ten zhang tall and shot violently toward the direction of the Martial Temple in the Imperial City!

"The Lion Emperor need not worry."

The woman with the giant horns on her head slowly fanned her wings, floating beside the lion: "You have only just taken control of the Eighth Cave, so you may not be clear, but based on Bai Hong's strength, no more than two people outside could stop it."

"Coincidentally, those two dare not come out."

"Enjoy this leisure time in peace; it will be difficult to leave the Thousand Demon Cave again in the future."

Speaking thus, the giant-horned Demon Emperor lazily stretched both arms, then flapped her wings, and her entire body instantly vanished into the horizon.

"..."

Shen Yi took a deep breath and likewise rushed out of the Thousand Demon Cave.

However, to his slight surprise, the white horse, which had left long ago, was now waiting outside the cave.

And before it stood dozens of figures, standing silently.

Each one was capable of unleashing a disaster in Great Qian no less than Lady Qinghua's.

"Where are you going?"

Shen Yi walked forward slowly.

"You do not need to know; just follow this Emperor's orders."

The white horse glanced at him casually.

Shen Yi gazed calmly ahead, his palms slightly clenched; the Dao Palace, never before manifested, tremmed faintly within the void.

Since leaving Outside Qingzhou, he had not fought a battle without confidence for a very long time.

But if necessary, he could try.

Great Qian, Songzhou.

An iron pillar as tall as a towering tree, its surface engraved with dense formation talismans, with streams of light like swimming fish diving into the clouds.

Such a profound and mysterious scene had gradually become something the common people passing by were accustomed to.

Only occasionally would someone look up, a few rays of reassurance welling up in their eyes.

"Old Master Zhu, the Martial Academy is recruiting disciples; why don't you let the young men in your family give it a try?"

Several Demon-Suppressing Captains saw the elderly man with crane-like white hair and a youthful face walking past and greeted him with smiles.

Since Great Qian issued the order to establish Martial Academies, coupled with various city-protecting formation arrays,

countless forces from outside Great Qian have already surrendered and joined.

The Zhu family before him is merely an insignificant part of that.

"Considering it, considering it."

Old Master Zhu smiled as he stared at the iron pillar, a hint of coldness appearing in his flickering eyes.

Beside him, an old woman in green robes, seemingly somewhat dazed, hooked her arm through his, leading the old man toward the end of the street.

Until they entered the newly added large courtyard.

All figures inside immediately stopped their actions.

Whether sweeping the floor or strolling, though their clothing differed and their ages varied, the sharp gleam in their eyes was exactly the same.

Any one of them could easily slay the General of Songzhou.

It was only because they had recently suffered a heavy blow and could not yet discern the situation that they removed their black-and-white robes and stepped into the most barren Songzhou of Great Qian.

"Clean up and prepare to go to the Imperial City."

Old Master Zhu returned to the main hall with a smile that did not reach his eyes.

The Xu family's formation arrays, the Martial Academy based on Soul Transformation techniques... Great Qian is truly different from before.

In the mountains, one knows not the passing of years; descending the mountain, one remains an immortal.

Wherever he is, it can be called the Profound Light Cave.

(End of this chapter)