Ye Xiu ascended into the Nine Heavens by utilizing Old Liu's sword-riding technique, yet the sky of the Boundless Realm was stripped of its former softness. Beneath the tempestuous winds of the Nine Heavens, dark clouds pressed low, punctuated by incessant lightning and thunder.

"Oomph!" As the pair skimmed over a mountain peak, a monstrous, long-haired mad wolf suddenly burst forth from the cliff face. Its body resembled a phoenix ablaze, and the flames radiating from its razor claws scorched the air. Its lunge nearly sent both men tumbling down the mountain.

"I... what in the world is this thing?" Old Liu rolled, flinging Ye Xiu aside in the process. He glanced back to see the wolf was enormous, its slobber dripping like potent acid, already corroding the thick bedrock. "Ye Xiu, are you alright...?"

Possessing the Soul of a Hundred Insects, Ye Xiu spun lightly, landing neatly on the trunk of a towering, ancient pine clinging to the cliff face. "Phew... what is wrong with this world? This creature doesn't feel like a native of the Boundless Realm; it seems more like..."

"Whoosh!" The mad wolf fixed its gaze on Ye Xiu, its forepaws sweeping down in an attempt to swat him into the chasm below. However, with a sudden evasion, it missed its mark. Still, the wolf's durable claws dug deep into the stone, anchoring it firmly. "Awooo... awooo..."

"Are you saying it resembles the divine beasts that appeared in the Dragon-Trapped (Sha Di) of the Seven Stars?" Old Liu descended on his sword and pulled Ye Xiu close. He eyed the mad wolf hesitantly; such a thing was identical to the divine beast that once attacked Mount Buxian. "Do you recall how Kasyapa, the Lord of the Bone Sect, snatched our Soul Talisman Artifacts? Could this creature have been summoned by them?"

Hearing this, Ye Xiu felt a chill run down his spine. "It seems Kasyapa has activated the Soul Talisman Artifacts out of desperation. The monsters summoned by these talismans could destroy everything on this continent. I vaguely remember that the founder of your Path of Oddities Technique once severed the Nine Progeny of the Dragon summoned by the Soul Talisman Artifacts back then. If that’s true, perhaps the Path of Oddities Technique can destroy these divine beasts."

"Let's destroy this one first." Seeing the mad wolf charge, Old Liu stomped his feet, crystalizing the ice beneath him to form a magical array. As the array solidified, the wolf slammed into the icy surface, struggling frantically until it slipped into the abyss below. "The power is there, but alas, a beast is always just a beast."

Ye Xiu sighed, gazing at the divine beast's furious eyes. "Divine beasts are descending even upon random mountain peaks. It seems the entire Boundless Realm has been invaded by them. We must hurry to Myriad Dao Mountain; there must be a way to eliminate them."

"Let's first figure out how to remove the curse on me, and then worry about the anomaly at Myriad Dao Mountain!" Old Liu had been out for some time, flying his sword across the Boundless Realm continent. Myriad Dao Mountain lay atop the highest peak, and the closer they got, the thinner the air became. In moments, the entire mountain was looming before them.

Ye Xiu took it in at a glance and understood the unique nature of Myriad Dao Mountain. Since the Sect Master Long Xuan was acting strangely, the whole mountain must harbor some hidden danger. A plan struck him, and he slapped Old Liu's arm. "If I want to understand the changes at Myriad Dao Mountain, I can't just charge up there with you directly."

"If you don't go up with me, how will you get there?" Old Liu knew the pitfalls of a frontal assault. The power behind Long Xuan was unfathomable, and even with their strength, they had no guarantee of forcing Long Xuan to comply. He was somewhat troubled. "Myriad Dao Mountain is just a sheer peak; you can't ascend alone since you can't fly."

"Hmph! Small matter," Ye Xiu declared. With that, he released his grip and leaped off Old Liu's sword. His body flattened like a gliding insect, and this bug, carried by the wind, instantly hovered along the sheer face of Myriad Dao Mountain. "I believe I told you I possess some cultivation related to demonic insects. Don't forget, insects can move freely across solid surfaces."

Old Liu sneered and spun his sword blade, soaring upwards. Before leaving, he remembered to caution Ye Xiu, "You'd best ascend from the side. At the Summit Sword-Unsheathing Pavilion, there’s an ancient bell capable of attracting all weaponry. Remember, whatever you do must wait until Long Xuan lifts the curse on me!"

Having experienced much, Ye Xiu knew caution was paramount. Upon reaching the summit, he immediately spotted the large bell in the Sword-Unsheathing Pavilion. Using his hands as pincers, he burrowed into the ground, expertly evading the disciples to infiltrate the Dao Gate. "The peak is so high; I never expected the platform at the very top to be so vast. What function does Myriad Dao Mountain truly serve in the entire Boundless Realm?"

Old Liu, being highly valued by Sect Master Long Xuan and possessing superior talent, was naturally greeted with cheers by all the disciples upon reaching the summit of Myriad Dao Mountain. He held his head high, paying no attention to those around him. In his heart, Myriad Dao Mountain held only Long Xuan, and the power behind Long Xuan.

In a lofty pavilion, Long Xuan sat cloaked in shadow. The iron chains on his wrists and ankles appeared even heavier now. "Heh heh, I didn't expect you to return so quickly. Where is the Beast Flame Heavenly Key I demanded?"

Old Liu presented the Beast Flame Heavenly Key with one hand, tossing it towards Long Xuan's waiting palm. He bowed his head deeply. "The Beast Flame Heavenly Key has been retrieved. I request the Sect Master to lift the curse upon me."

Long Xuan stood up and, with a single gesture, flung the chain from his arm towards Old Liu. The chain coiled around Old Liu's neck like a striking serpent, instantly releasing a cloud of black smoke. "The curse is lifted. I still have a few questions for you."

Hearing this, Old Liu felt a surge of relief. He had always been puzzled by the Beast Flame Heavenly Key. "This key is merely an ancient implement; what use does the Sect Master have for it?"

"Do you know that the Beast Flame Heavenly Key unlocks the land of Boiling Beast Flame? And the Boiling Beast Flame is no ordinary place," Long Xuan shifted his posture, and it was easily discernible that the voice originated from the power behind him. "It is a mysterious location recording the fusion of righteous and evil powers. To grasp its secrets is to grasp limitless strength, is it not?"

"The fusion of righteous and evil power?" Old Liu felt this phrase described the current state of Myriad Dao Mountain quite accurately. A righteous Daoist mountain range whose cultivators wielded strange, dark curse techniques—was this not a fusion of good and evil? Or perhaps like Ye Xiu, an anomaly capable of harboring all manner of conflicting energies.

Long Xuan’s voice deepened lazily. "All of this must wait until I fully unlock the third layer of the Demon-Quenching Pavilion. I truly wonder how that fellow, the Supreme Dao Master, managed to break through the second layer's Demon Pool. Until I obtain the Grand Profound Dao Curse Technique, my power cannot be freed."

Old Liu had heard of the Demon-Quenching Pavilion before; the Supreme Dao Master had mentioned it to him. The Grand Profound Dao Curse Technique was indeed sealed within, but no one knew exactly what it was, how to acquire it, or anything concrete about it. "Sect Master, I observed the Demon-Quenching Pavilion to be nothing more than an unremarkable pavilion on the mountaintop. Could it possibly contain multiple layers of reality?"

"The Demon-Quenching Pavilion seals the divine beasts that invaded the Boundless Realm. The first layer, the Cage of Trapped Beasts, has shown some unrest these past few days. I suspect divine beasts have already begun to appear in the Boundless Realm," Long Xuan wiggled his fingers. The first layer only held obstructive beasts; with sufficient power, they were not to be feared. "What did you learn during your trip to Barren Bone City?"

Old Liu had no useful intelligence to offer other than reporting the chaos in Barren Bone City and that other races in the Boundless Realm seemed involved in the war. "I don't know why, but on my way back, I was attacked by a long-haired mad wolf—that must be the divine beast you mentioned, Sect Master."

"Indeed," Long Xuan tugged fiercely on his chain and let out a long breath. "It seems those ambitious entities have begun their movements. The disturbance of the divine beasts means I must accelerate my pace. Listen to me..."

"Yes!" Old Liu felt an ominous premonition. He didn't know if Ye Xiu had successfully infiltrated the main hall, or if their combined strength could overcome Long Xuan.

"It was by quenching your Demon-Breaking Sword in the water of the Demon Pool that your Ghost Punisher was forged. The emergence of the Ghost Punisher was a mere coincidence, yet perhaps it can break the Demon Pool for me!" Long Xuan had a plan, and Old Liu was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate. "I order you to travel to the Demon-Quenching Pavilion and find the Grand Profound Dao Curse Technique for me. What say you?"

"Is the Sect Master not afraid that I..." Old Liu's meaning was clear: the Grand Profound Dao Curse Technique, being the zenith of all curses, would be claimed by anyone who found it.

Long Xuan remained unruffled and unconcerned by Old Liu's reservations. "I forgot to mention, not everyone can master the Grand Profound Dao Curse Technique. One must first possess the Profound Root Dao Body, which is what I am currently cultivating. I plan to enter seclusion soon to consolidate my power. Your task is to help me find a method to break through the second layer of the Demon Pool."

Damn it, using me as a vanguard! Old Liu cursed Long Xuan repeatedly in his mind, though he kept silent. He nodded and turned to leave the main hall. Where on earth was that brat Ye Xiu right now? The entity behind Long Xuan seemed like a detached master observing the chaos. While the Boundless Realm descended into turmoil, he sought the Grand Profound Dao Curse Technique. Could this technique truly be the most terrifying thing in the entire realm?

Returning to his quarters, the various disciples served Old Liu as if he were royalty. However, in this Dao Gate, one could not eat meat, see beautiful women, let alone enjoy television or other forms of entertainment. The gap between the Boundless Realm and the mortal world, separated by a single wall, was too vast.

"Don't you find the chains behind Long Xuan incredibly familiar?" Ye Xiu dropped down from the ceiling, his line of thought proving sound. "Back in the Red Cliff Cemetery, didn't we help a Daoist wearing a Ghost Mask? He had chains exactly like those on him."

"Heavens, can you not just drop down like that?" Old Liu broke out in a cold sweat from the shock, but upon a second glance, he recalled the scene. "I also suspected he might be the Ghost Mask. Damn it! Ye Xiu, you were in the main hall just now? I didn't even notice."

"I was just in the strata beneath the hall." Ye Xiu held up his hands, displaying his hardened fingers. "If he knows you, why not meet you directly? Why chain up Long Xuan instead?"

Old Liu nodded and offered an explanation. "He just said he needs to cultivate something called the Profound Root Dao Body. Does this cultivation require borrowing the vessel of another?"

"So, you’re going to the Demon-Quenching Pavilion to find the Grand Profound Dao Curse Technique for him?" Ye Xiu teased, picking up a red apple near Old Liu and taking a bite. "The Grand Profound Dao Curse Technique requires this Profound Root Dao Body. Neither of us has it, so what good is entering the Demon-Quenching Pavilion for us?"

"If we don't go, what is the alternative? Do we flee together, or do we try to kill him?" Old Liu was deep in thought. "My Demon-Breaking Sword, after absorbing the power from the Demon Pool in the Demon-Quenching Pavilion, transformed into the current Ghost Punisher. While its power isn't drastically different from the Demon-Breaking Sword, the more I use the Ghost Punisher, the stronger I feel my own power becoming."

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