Wasted Spiritual Root to Embark on Demonic Cultivation

Chapter 395

This mountain was so tall that its peak could not be seen. It towered into the heavens, rising who knew how many miles.It stood unshakably, like a pillar holding up the sky.

The Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain had sheer sides on all four faces, as if carved by blades and axes, forming perfectly vertical walls. Calling it a “mountain” was not quite accurate. In truth, it was a massive square stone pillar.

A spiral stairway of stone circled the mountain and wound upward. Every so often, there would be a black stone platform shrouded in mist and shifting light, hazy and mysterious.

On all four vertical cliff faces, enormous beast heads were carved into the rock.

A hexahorned dragon head!

Simply meeting the gaze of that stone carving, one could almost sense a trace of the beast god’s lingering divine might from ages past. It made one’s hair stand on end, and no one dared to look at it directly.

At the foot of the mountain stood an eighteen-story tower.

Lei Yao pointed toward it and said, “That is called the Heart Beast Tower. It manages all affairs related to Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain, and it is run by the most respected senior elders of the Northern demon race.

“The Demon King Banquet is being held on the airspace platform of the Heavenly Roc clan. We’ll follow Senior Black and the others first to learn the way. After that, we’ll bring Fellow Daoist over.”

Wang Yu nodded.

“That is only proper.”

The demon races of the Northern Severed Boundary Mountains were known as the “Northern demon race”, while those of the Southern Severed Boundary Mountains were the “Southern demon race”. In truth, the two sides did not interact at all.

They even hated each other, and this involved grudges dating back countless years. Calling them sworn enemies would not be an exaggeration.

Therefore, when the Northern demon race selected a Holy Lord and the Nine Great Demon Kings, they were in no position to manage the Southern demon race. Once news of this Demon King Banquet spread, the South would certainly imitate it as well.

The conflict between Taihu and the Crimson Kite Demonic Domain required crossing both the Southern and Northern Severed Boundary Mountains. The relationship with the native demon races thus became extremely important.

If one offended them carelessly and they suddenly struck hard at an unexpected moment, the losses would be immense.

Even something as simple as leaking intelligence or coordinates could lead to enormous trouble. That was why, whether it was Taihu or Crimson Kite, both sides were trying to win over the southern and northern demon races.

Otherwise, the Blood Reversal Sect would not have silently permitted the sect-guarding Demonic Flood Dragon to do business with these “poor relatives”. They would even specifically instruct the sect’s fourth-rank alchemists that no matter how busy they were, they still had to supply demon spirit pills on time.

Once you take something from someone, it becomes harder to turn against them. This was how alliances were formed.

After the aerial chariot passed by the Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain, it continued flying northwest. Along the way, Wang Yu saw many other demon races, and Lei Yao introduced them to him.

“On this side of the Northern Severed Boundary Mountains, there are mainly four demon clans that possess stable Earth-grade bloodlines, with more than ten demon kings who have taken human form.

“They are the Heavenly Roc clan, the Thunder Qilin clan, the Fire Crow clan, and the Medicine-Horn Deer clan. These four are recognized as the most likely to seize the position of Holy Lord.

“Below those four are the races whose bloodline only becomes Earth-grade when they produce an outstanding individual. There are eight such clans in total: Dragon-Python, Flame Lion, Giant Strength Ant, Demonic Tree, Vajra Ape, Shadow Hound, Evil Dragon Spider, and Mountain-Splitting Beast.”

Among the names of the Upper Four clans, only the Heavenly Roc sounded truly imposing. The rest felt rather plain. The Lower Eight, on the other hand, sounded more and more overbearing with each name.

The positions of Northern Holy Lord and the Nine Demon Kings amounted to ten seats in total. Ninety-nine percent of the time, they would come from these clans. A demon cat clan like theirs ranked even lower.

That mid-stage fourth-rank Two-Tailed Shadow Cat, the one Wang Yu called “Brother Black”, was the strongest expert of the demon cat clan, roughly around the fourth layer of the Nascent Soul realm.

He was barely standing on the edge of first-rate.

This Demon King Banquet was being hosted by the Heavenly Roc clan, and their support to become the Northern Holy Lord was also the strongest. What puzzled Wang Yu was that he had not heard of any Spirit Transformation demon venerable existing in the North.

In theory, there should be one, but they were likely hiding extremely deep.

There was almost no intelligence on the matter. Wang Yu pretended not to know, and for once, obediently followed the group into the cloud path.

Not long after, a massive structure floating within the sea of clouds appeared at the edge of his vision. It was ancient and elegant, overall circular in shape, like a coliseum. Around it were layers of rising steps that flared outward.

In the center, where the combat arena should have been, rows of low tables had been arranged instead. The place had been decorated with extravagant luxury, forcibly turning a dueling ground into an open-air banquet venue.

The weakest spectators were all third-rank demon races. They could already freely control the size of their bodies, making the scene look like a zoo. There were also quite a few Great Demons who had taken human form.

At a rough glance, there were at least a hundred of them.

That meant over a hundred Nascent Soul level experts, already far surpassing the number of Nascent Soul cultivators within the Blood Reversal Sect itself. The vast majority were early-stage, and they came from every kind of race.

Getting them to unite completely and push strength in one direction was simply impossible. Some predator-prey suppressions were naturally destined to prevent unity.

Just like humans had differences in regions and ethnic lines.

Internal conflict was a classic element that allowed countless clans to thrive endlessly.

Besides that, Wang Yu also saw quite a few human Nascent Soul cultivators like himself. There were people from Taihu, and people from the Crimson Kite Demonic Domain. He even sensed an extremely familiar Yellow Springs aura.

A late-stage Nascent Soul great cultivator from Yellow Springs Monastery!

He was most likely here to support the competition for the Nine Kings. Wang Yu did not recognize this person. He was casually chatting with a transformed Great Demon from the Evil Dragon Spider clan. Perhaps he noticed the lingering gaze for too long.

When he turned his head, he gave Wang Yu a nod as greeting.

Wang Yu felt awkward.

He immediately moved his gaze away, not expecting such a great cultivator to have such sharp perception. The other party’s attitude was a little strange, and it was also strange for him to appear at a Northern demon race Demon King Banquet.

Half the chaos in Maple Prefecture had been caused by Yellow Springs Monastery.

Wang Yu could not help recalling his earlier speculations about Yellow Springs Monastery.

If the Ice Prison Realm was regarded as a prison, then releasing ancient demons was equivalent to inciting the prisoners to revolt, and it was easy to be struck down by the jailers. This road had already been proven unworkable time and time again.

At present, only the Heaven Refining Demonic Sect is still attempting it.

As for Yellow Springs Monastery’s method, Wang Yu suspected it was to destroy the entire Ice Prison Realm. They had tampered with spiritual qi before, and the existence of the Dead Silence Desert was ironclad proof.

So far, there were still no signs of them stopping. At the same time, no one knew what new method they had found. It seemed they were advancing along two separate lines in parallel, with Elder Dizang’s branch serving as the main force in charge.

Yellow Springs Monastery’s traces could be found active throughout the realm. It was as if they were searching for something, and they had even assisted the Joyous Union Demonic Sect in releasing [Desire] Demon before.

The Blood Reversal Sect’s way of breaking the deadlock was even stranger. Based on the intelligence he had gathered, and after seeing the black stone tablet’s records of ancient hidden history, Wang Yu felt that they were trying to steal the power of the “prisoners”.

Or kill the “jailers”.

Or perhaps become the “jailers” themselves.

Among the five demonic sects, aside from the Nether Mountain Sect, which he had had relatively little contact with and whose purpose remained unclear, the ultimate goals and strategic direction of the other four sects…were all aimed at breaking free of the cage!

On this point, everyone’s objective was identical. Spirit Transformation Venerables were even more obsessed with it than anyone.

The appearance of a Yellow Springs great cultivator here really could not help but make Wang Yu overthink things. After considering it for a moment, he let the matter drop. He had no intention of making contact with them.

Once the cat aerial chariot came to a stop, Wang Yu followed the Black and White couple to the Heavenly Roc Clan’s administrative offices, where he obtained a guest version temporary pass. With it, he could move freely throughout this region.

There was no need to worry about unnecessary trouble arising.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, just the banquet phase of the Demon King Feast will last at least two months. After that, there will also be combat matches between over a hundred transformed great demons. When the treasure exchange begins, I will notify you.”

“Alright.”

Wang Yu had no objections. This was what they had agreed on long ago.

“Oh right. Before the battle to contend for the Holy Lord begins, notify me as well.”

“Easy.”

After settling things with Brother Hei, Wang Yu looked toward Lei Yao, who was staring at the venue absentmindedly. He coughed once to bring her back to her senses, then spoke.

“This trip was thanks to Miss Lei’s help. Shall we head to the Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain?”

“...Alright!”

Once she helped Wang Yu build connections and vouch for him, securing his qualification to climb, she would leave on her own and continue on to Maple Prefecture to fulfill the dream she had sworn to long ago.

When they returned to the vicinity of the Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain,

Lei Yao suddenly said, “Fellow Daoist, does what you said back then about helping me still count?”

“Of course.”

Wang Yu was puzzled, but he did not say much. He agreed immediately. This sort of attitude was exactly where his title, “the honest and trustworthy young master”, came from!

During this period of time, Lei Yao had truly treated him well.

If she could help, she would help.

Returning a bit of favor was nothing worth mentioning.

“After the Demon King Banquet ends, and after Fellow Daoist finishes climbing the Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain and gains something from it, can you come find me here?”

She handed him a sachet. Inside was a piece of fragrant Grease-Scent Spirit Jade, and the location had been recorded within it.

This request was rather strange. While nodding in agreement, Wang Yu still set expectations in advance.

“Miss Lei, this isn’t difficult for me to do, but I will not do something like throwing an egg at a rock.”

“I know. When the time comes, you will understand how you should help.”

“Alright!”

After that, the two of them landed together before the entrance of the Heart Beast Tower outside the Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain. The gates stood wide open, and the interior was quiet as well.

Lei Yao swept her gaze around, then called loudly into the tower.

“This junior, Lei Yao, has come to pay respects to Third Uncle!”

At once, a lively argument erupted from within the tower.

“Lei Yao? A Thunderfire Temple cultivator?”

“She called him Third Grandpa. Who’s Third Uncle?”

“I’m third in my family, so that means she’s calling me!”

“Dead crow, get lost! That’s my fourth younger brother’s junior.”

After a bout of chaos that left everything in an uproar, an old man stepped out from the darkness. He had white whiskers and gray hair, a tall and burly frame, long limbs, and a dark complexion. Near his sideburns, close to his ears, there was a strip of black feathers.

Between his brows was a black marking resembling a trident.

At a glance, it was obvious he was a bird-type demon. From his features, it was hard to identify much more. He did not seem like one of the Upper Four Clans or the Lower Eight Clans.

Most likely, he was a mutated specimen from some lesser species group.

As Wang Yu sized up the old man, the old man was also scrutinizing him.

“Little Lei Yao, is this the guy you mentioned before, the one who wants to challenge the Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain?”

“Yes, Third Uncle. Fourth Uncle asked me to pass along his greetings to you.”

The old man waved his hand helplessly.

“I know Fourth Brother’s temperament well. No need to speak up for him. Is he doing alright?”

Hearing that, Lei Yao looked as if it was a bit difficult to say. She held it in for quite a while before finally finding the words to describe it.

“He has a whole crowd of wives and concubines…”

“Just as I thought!”

After hearing it, Third Uncle became even more spirited.

“Has he produced any descendants?”

“He has. One of them looks very much like you, but he chose to walk the path of savage beasts. His body is far too huge, so Lei Yao didn’t bring him this time.”

“No matter, no matter. It’s good enough that there’s an heir.”

After the brief pleasantries, Third Uncle finally turned to Wang Yu.

“Young man, have you ever learned about the Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain?”

“Miss Lei already told me everything that needed to be said. I understand the basic situation.”

“Good.”

Without wasting any time, the old man straightforwardly took out a True Spirit Contract. Written on it were the terms for sharing the inheritances, while everything else obtained would belong entirely to Wang Yu.

On the large sheet of contract paper, there were only a few sparse lines of characters.

After confirming there were no issues, Wang Yu signed it and obtained another token. The old man explained, “This token will ensure that when you climb to those platforms, you’ll be able to rest there for a period of time.

“Even if you leave midway, as long as you haven’t failed a challenge, you can re-enter directly from the platform’s position and continue climbing.”

In other words, those platforms in the middle of the winding mountain path stairway were essentially save points. The situation was very clear.

Even if he climbed halfway and left to attend a treasure exchange meet, as long as he departed from a platform, he could resume from that same progress point next time.

“Each person has three attempts. Remember this. You absolutely must not leave from the mountain path steps. Even if you use an escape technique and fly, you cannot leave the staircase’s range.”

If he encountered an “enemy” along the way, his fighting space would be severely compressed. In all likelihood, he would only be able to endure head-on.

After giving one or two reminders, the old man no longer bothered with Wang Yu. Perhaps he did not hold much hope. After all these years, the inheritances that could be taken had mostly already been claimed.

Even if the number of inheritances was as vast as the sea, it still could not withstand the power of time.

What was lacking were only the very top few. To obtain those, one had to reach the summit. Whether he reminded him a little more or a little less made no real difference.

With that time, he might as well talk more with Lei Yao.

Old monsters like them, with the lowest realm among them being mid-stage fourth-rank, had experienced far too many things over the course of their long lives. Having one or two people who could accompany them to the very end was already a kind of fortune.

After their concerned greetings, all kinds of strange questions followed, mainly probing into the condition of the old man’s Fourth Brother. From the sound of it, he seemed to be serving in Thunderfire Temple as a guardian spirit beast, watching the gate.

Seeing the two chatting enthusiastically, Wang Yu headed alone toward the Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain. At the entrance stood an archway painted vermilion, with a blue plaque and embroidered golden characters. Written on it were the words:

Immortal Ascending!

“What a massive claim.”

He muttered inwardly.

Wang Yu stepped forward and entered. Although he had already prepared himself mentally, the instant he truly set foot on the stone steps, it was as if a heavy hammer smashed straight into his heart.

It was a soul-shaking blow, like a strike to the head.

It was an extremely rare form of mental assault. If not for his attainment in the mind Dao at the Empty Self Realm, Wang Yu would have been forced to stop for a long time before he could recover.

Now… after slightly regulating his breathing, he decisively stepped onto the second stair.

This time, he felt an endless crushing pressure descend, trying to force him down to the ground. It was similar to gravity.

But also somewhat different. It did not only act on his body surface. Even his internal organs could clearly feel the oppression.

Even at this level, Wang Yu endured it easily.

When he stepped onto the third stair, flames suddenly spread over the surface of his body. Raging fire seemed determined to burn his flesh to ashes, but unfortunately, its power was lacking.

It could stop Core Formation cultivators, but it absolutely could not stop a Nascent Soul.

The entrance of the Ancient Beast Ancestral God Mountain was on the eastern side. To climb from the bottom all the way up this face required a total of 1,080 steps, after which one would reach the first resting platform.

Continuing onward after that led to the mountain path steps on the northern side.

Another 1,080 steps, then it turned west, then south, spiraling upward. Because the structure on all four sides was almost cubic, every time it turned a face, there was a resting platform.

Wang Yu climbed at astonishing speed, immediately drawing the attention of the old men within the Heart Beast Tower.