In the new location of Mount Hua, the Earthly Spirit Star Cave, which served as the spiritual node for the Great Subduing Demon Array, a mouse demon no longer than three inches, its entire body covered in fur as white as snow, with eyes that darted about, their silver light glittering like distant stars, stealthily slipped into the Earthly Spirit Star’s abode. Familiar with the layout, it navigated the dozens of restrictions set by the Earthly Spirit Star, carefully approaching the star lord himself, who sat cross-legged in deep meditation. The small cavern, barely large enough to house him, connected to the heavens above, drawing down the whistling, intrinsic star power of the Earthly Spirit Star, while below, immense spiritual energy from the earth's core surged upwards. The Earthly Spirit Star Lord, clad in a purple Daoist robe draped over armor woven from starlight, presented an imposing figure, seated amidst swirling purple energy and silver light, a halo of silver spinning above his head, ceaselessly inhaling and exhaling the essence of heaven and earth.

The little mouse demon crawled to the seat of the Earthly Spirit Star. It sat up straight, its tiny paws clasped together, and bowed several times toward the star lord. Then, it tugged loose a tattered storage pouch from around its neck and retrieved several plates-sized green peaches, fist-sized purple plums, and a whole bunch of crimson grapes, respectfully placing them on the ground before the Earthly Spirit Star.

The Earthly Spirit Star, previously engrossed in his cultivation, slowly opened his eyes. He chuckled, exhaling two silver streams of light from his nostrils that gently swept up the mouse demon and held it in his palm. "You oil-thieving vermin, what tale do you bring today?"

Its small, delicate paws scrabbled against the Earthly Spirit Star’s palm. The mouse demon whimpered, muttering pitifully, "Star Lord above, this humble demon dares not lie. This small creature has been born for over sixty years, yet I have never tasted the flavor of cooking oil. How then have I acquired the infamous title of oil thief?"

With a slurp, the mouse demon wiped the drool from its mouth, bowed to the Earthly Spirit Star, and pleaded in a low voice, "Star Lord, please judge this matter. Today, the Elder Master took a severe beating. Even the iron bones and steel sinews of the Elder Master were broken in his spine. We, your humble servants, truly cannot carry on like this."

The Earthly Spirit Star’s expression darkened. He leaned close to the mouse demon and inquired softly, "The causes and effects—speak them clearly."

The mouse demon tugged at the long whiskers near its mouth and mumbled for a while. The Earthly Spirit Star frowned. Suddenly, he plucked a wisp of starlight from beside him, casually molding it into a letter, which he flicked outwards. A silver light flashed, and shortly after, another letter flew back into his hand.

Flicking his finger, he shattered the letter. A thread of divine consciousness flowed into the Earthly Spirit Star’s brow. The Star Lord slowly nodded, then smiled faintly at the mouse demon. "No matter, no matter. I shall give you a Star Pellet. Return and let Yan Jiang swallow it; it will ensure his life is no longer in peril."

Pausing slightly, the Earthly Spirit Star stroked the mouse demon’s head and chuckled, "Tell Yan Jiang and his junior brothers that the Venerable One has not yet returned, and they are forbidden to act rashly. Enduring the bitterness within hardship is the path to rising above others. Social graces, the cold and warmth of the mortal world, constant upheaval, even being shattered to pieces—all are merely necessary stages in the refining of the heart."

Carefully injecting a faint yet supremely pure strand of star power into the mouse demon’s body, the Earthly Spirit Star said gently, "The disciples of the Nine Nether Sect, though they appear to suffer tribulation now, are actually facing a magnificent opportunity. The great waves wash the sand away; the fierce fire refines the gold. If they can only endure this calamity, they will ultimately break the cocoon and transform into butterflies."

Looking at the mouse demon, who seemed to understand only half of what was said, the Earthly Spirit Star smiled. "Take your own family for example. Humble in origin, merely a litter of field mice from the mountains, yet you possess loyalty and righteousness, refusing to abandon the disciples of the Nine Nether Sect who are under duress. Your ancestor already possesses the Dao attainment of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, and you, at only sixty years of age, having witnessed so much and endured so many twists and turns, have already achieved the cultivation of the Void Realm."

"Every sip and every peck is predestined. If this calamity had not occurred, how could so many of your Nine Nether Sect’s demons have gained such Dao attainment in a mere ten thousand years?"

The Earthly Spirit Star smiled and pushed the mouse demon toward the door. "Go, go now. Give the Star Pellet to Yan Jiang. And tell him that the inspiration I feel today suggests their period of tribulation is about to conclude. Great prosperity follows the great calamity; it will all happen within these few days."

The mouse demon obediently nodded, its tail—which was an inch longer than its own body—held high. With the tiny, sesame-seed-sized Star Pellet held in its mouth, it shot out of the Earthly Spirit Star’s cave in a streak of light.

Just outside the cave where the Earthly Spirit Star cultivated in seclusion, the entrance was densely sealed with Daoist talismans and restrictive seals. Overarching, clear light coiled around the area—these were restrictions inherited from Kunlun’s secret teachings; rising purple energy signified the secret methods of the Zhongnan lineage. The immortal arts of Kunlun and Zhongnan had erected at least twenty to thirty thousand layers of seals around the Earthly Spirit Star's residence, enough to immobilize him completely.

Yet, despite such meticulous sealing and restriction, there remained a tiny, narrow passage, just large enough for the small mouse demon to pass through freely.

The mouse demon darted out of the Earthly Spirit Star’s cave, twisted its body, and transformed into a mischievous-looking little boy. He shrugged, tightened the ragged cloth around his waist—a coarse sack riddled with more than a dozen holes—and cautiously crept along the mountain path.

After walking only three or five li, several Daoist boys wearing apricot-yellow robes came out laughing boisterously. Upon spotting the little mouse demon, a thin bolt of lightning immediately struck down, causing the demon to convulse and fall to the ground. One Daoist boy shrieked sharply a few times, rushed forward, and stomped viciously on the mouse demon’s face, kicking him over ten paces away, followed by a torrent of curses.

The little mouse demon struggled pitifully to rise, kowtowing repeatedly to beg forgiveness from the boys. Dusty and disheveled, it slipped into a side path by the road and rushed forward for more than ten li, arriving at a colossal mining operation.

This circular, open-pit mine plunged deeply into the earth, over ten li deep. The uppermost layer of tunnels spanned about a hundred li in diameter. Within the mine, at least twenty to thirty thousand mountain spirits and water ghosts who had managed to cultivate human forms moved about listlessly. Their magical powers were completely suppressed, and they relied only on the robust physique of spirits and monsters, wielding common magical artifacts as tools to chisel away at the rock and extract Zakla crystals.

Nearly a hundred massive demons—rhinoceroses, white tigers, and flood dragons, all possessing the cultivation level of a Heavenly Immortal—were forced to revert to their original forms, dragging heavy ore carts sluggishly through the pit. The demons who mined the Zakla crystals tossed the gleaming crystals into the carts. Once a cart was full, these huge beasts would haul it to the mine's exit and hand it over to a group of purple-robed Daoists stationed there.

These purple-robed Daoists, whose cultivation also reached the Heavenly Immortal realm, were exceedingly strict in counting the Zakla crystals delivered. If any portion did not satisfy them, they would condense their immortal power into long whips and savagely lash the dragging demons, often leaving the monsters torn and bleeding, writhing upon the ground.

Every demon in the mine was listless and devoid of expression, yet deep within their eyes, a venomous flame of resentment was faintly burning. Occasionally, when they glanced at the Daoists when no one was watching, a terrifying surge of killing intent flashed in the corners of their eyes.

However, all the demons forcibly suppressed the murderous intent in their hearts, continuing to dullly carve the stone and excavate Zakla crystals... No matter how furious they were, they were no match for these Daoists. Their magic was entirely confiscated, and they possessed only low-tier magical artifacts for excavation. Many were not even adequately clothed, some merely wrapped in a piece of coarse cloth or an animal hide.

In the distant pit, bundled neatly within baskets, lay the last set of somewhat clean clothes belonging to the Nine Nether Sect disciples. Despite this, they preferred to work naked rather than wear their robes after a day’s labor.

No matter how dire the circumstances, even after ten thousand years, they remembered: they were disciples of the Nine Nether Sect!

The little mouse demon passed through the mine, following a narrow, winding path past dozens of locations where Nine Nether Sect disciples—demons and ghosts—were performing hard labor in the spirit herb gardens, forges, and alchemy chambers. Finally, it arrived at a silent valley.

This was a desolate, barren valley where not a blade of grass grew. At the back of the valley stood three or five small thatched huts. At the entrance was a delicate Daoist temple constructed of magnificent green jade. Occasionally, several Golden Armored Zombies and fierce-looking great demons emerged from the thatched huts, while inside the Daoist temple at the valley entrance, dozens of purple-robed Daoists chanted sermons and paid respects to the Three Pure Ones enshrined on the altar.

The little mouse demon, head bowed, not daring to breathe too loudly, crept past the Daoist temple and into the valley. Despite its caution, it was spotted by a pair of Daoist boys sitting on the threshold, who playfully summoned a small bolt of lightning to strike it. The mouse demon’s fur stood on end. Trembling, it bowed and greeted the two boys profusely, finally managing to struggle into the valley.

Where the two Daoist boys could not see, the mouse demon fiercely bit its lip, its silver eyes revealing a shadow of near-mad hostility. These mere Golden Core Daoist boys dare to be so presumptuous... Your grandpa Mouse has the cultivation of the peak Void Realm! The little demon walked into the valley with a dark expression, barely managing to suppress the killing intent boiling within, maintaining a calm countenance as it entered the central thatched hut.

The hut was small; only a cloud-bed carved from mountain stone occupied the center. Nothing else was present.

Yan Jiang lay gasping on the cloud-bed, his body covered in deep, bone-penetrating gashes, crisscrossed like he was nearly shredded into fragments. He stared with bloodshot eyes at the roof of the hut.

The little mouse demon darted into the hut and urgently spat out the sesame-seed-sized silver Star Pellet, forcing it into Yan Jiang’s mouth.

"Elder Master, this is the Star Pellet sent by the Earthly Spirit Star Lord. Swallow it quickly; your injuries will be greatly improved."

The mouse demon didn't need to say more. As soon as the Star Pellet entered Yan Jiang’s mouth, it dissolved into streams of pure spring water that flowed throughout his body. The horrifying wounds immediately began to writhe and close, soon restoring him to the appearance he held before being injured. Even the fractured bones within his body made audible cracking sounds as they realigned and healed; the tingling pain made even the ancient zombie, Yan Jiang, let out a soft groan of agony.

After a while, four sharp, golden fangs emerged from Yan Jiang’s mouth, and he sprang up from the cloud-bed in a single roll.

Sitting cross-legged on the cloud-bed, Yan Jiang looked at the worried little mouse demon and asked, "Little Silver, what did the Star Lords say?"

The mouse demon, Little Silver, shook his head, muttering incoherently, "The same old tune: Endure hardship to rise above others. Little Silver saw that the Star Lords are sealed tightly by the Heaven-Defying Vein Locking Grand Array set up jointly by Kunlun and Zhongnan, and they themselves cannot move. This is just superficial talk."

Yan Jiang sighed deeply. The veins beneath his skin slowly bulged and then, after a long period, slowly subsided.

Forcing down the toxic fire in his heart, Yan Jiang ground his teeth and cursed softly, "Endure hardship to rise above others—we ancestors are enduring hardship, but in the last three years, thousands of our sect members have had their Nascent Souls and Golden Cores forcibly extracted for alchemy. The Nine Nether Sect hasn't gained a single new disciple in three thousand years! How can we face our Master? How can we face our senior and junior brothers? How can we face the young ones of our sect?"

A faint wisp of purple energy continuously condensed between Yan Jiang’s brows. The resentment and poisonous fire of his fate surged in his heart.

Yan Jiang’s internal True Qi ran wild, inadvertently stirring the silver clear current healing him into utter chaos. With a few crisp snaps, the bones and tendons he had just mended shattered again into pieces. Yan Jiang grunted heavily and collapsed helplessly back onto the cloud-bed, unable to move.

The few Golden Armored Zombies and great demons stared blankly at Yan Jiang. After a long silence, they all sighed heavily.

The little mouse demon grumbled, "Elder Master, this is unavoidable. The knife is in their hands now. Even if we fight to the death, it will only hasten our demise. Ah, Silver is not afraid of death, but Little Silver’s recently born nephews and nieces—they are too pitiful."

Yan Jiang was speechless. He merely stared blankly at the thatched roof. After a long while, he sighed mournfully, "Master, Senior Brother, Little Junior Brother—if you were not dead, why have you not returned after ten thousand years? Those scoundrels from Kunlun and Zhongnan, they have gone too far!"

At the core area of Mount Yunhua, over the largest spiritual nexus, a grand and luxurious Daoist palace echoed with celestial pronouncements.

Above the main gate of the Daoist palace, three characters, each the size of a zhang, were strikingly visible: "The Immortal Palace." These characters, seemingly forged countless times with gold and mercury, shone brilliantly, so bright they caused pain to eyes from tens of li away.

Inside the spacious and bright Daoist palace, several crane-shaped incense burners emitted fragrant plumes of dragon saliva incense, filling the hall with rich aromas.

On the steps below the hall, several rows of young Daoists, dressed in green, blue, and yellow robes, stood neatly arrayed, listening intently to the profound truths of the Dao emanating from within the main hall. These young Daoists, distinguished by the colors of their robes, possessed cultivation levels ranging from Void Realm, to Heavenly Immortal, to Golden Immortal. The few figures standing at the very front, wearing apricot-yellow Eight Trigram robes, were already at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm. Inside the hall, two high-backed cushions woven from purple and gold silk floated above a sea of green clouds.

True Man Bai Shui and True Man Han He occupied the high cushions, solemnly expounding upon karmic morality and reciting verses of profound virtue. They had completely taken control of their physical bodies; their Dao attainment was already at the level of a Middle-Grade Grand Unity Golden Immortal, and their magical power was firmly established at the peak of Low-Grade Grand Unity Golden Immortal strength.

Combining the sacred Daoist principles of the Kunlun and Zhongnan lineages with the remnants of the Grand Dao rules from another universe embedded in their physical forms, the insight and vision of Bai Shui and Han He had grown immeasurably—millions of times—superior to what it was ten thousand years ago. With a slight movement of their eloquent tongues, they could utter the supreme truths of the Dao; a few casually spoken verses of Four-and-Six truth could send their seated disciples into raptures, as if a brilliant, heaven-reaching path had suddenly opened before them.

The two old Daoists had cultivated their bodies to appear venerable and filled with Daoist virtue, with wisps of purple smoke rising above their heads. However, above them was empty space, with nothing truly substantial; only occasionally would a few golden lotuses fly out of the purple mist, transforming into vast showers of light-rain spraying outwards.

This light-rain was also impure and mixed. Upon landing, it splashed and fragmented into blue and white lotus blossoms. But even these lotuses grew awkwardly, some looking as if they had been heavily trampled by an ox hoof, appearing unsightly. This indicated that the two old Daoists’ attainment was impure and their power inexact, insufficient for complete control over the strength they possessed.

Beneath the green cloud expanse, two white jade cushions sat to the left and right. True Man Zheng Yi and True Man Xiao Zhang sat upon them, listening to the two old Daoists debate the Dao with smiling faces. Both Zheng Yi and Xiao Zhang now sported long beards, presenting the image of true immortal elegance, befitting their status as the current leaders of their respective sects.

Below Zheng Yi and Xiao Zhang, nearly a hundred Daoists sat on both sides, wearing faint smiles, listening calmly and effortlessly to the debates between the two ancestral masters. Occasionally, when someone grasped a new insight, the purple mist and golden radiance above their heads would steadily increase by a fraction, clearly showing a further advancement in their Dao attainment and magical power.

After ten thousand years of planning and accumulation, the Kunlun and Zhongnan lineages could be considered strong and well-equipped, a far cry from their past state. Combined, the two sects now represented a mid-tier power in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, capable of vying for dominance in a region.

Just as True Man Bai Shui was explaining the profound method of refining the golden lotus in the fire while forging the vital spirit, a purple-robed Daoist hurried into the main hall and knelt respectfully on the palace steps, nearly a hundred zhang away from the assembled elders. "Reporting to the two Ancestral Masters and all the Patriarchs, the disciples managing the alchemy chambers report a shortage of refining materials. The output from the spirit herb gardens is insufficient, and we have gained more newly advanced disciples in recent years. Even the basic foundation-laying elixirs are in short supply."

After Bai Shui and Han He ceased their moral pronouncements and allowed the Daoist to speak, this purple-robed disciple delivered his report with extreme reverence.

"Insufficient alchemy materials? How are the disciples managing the herb gardens doing their jobs?"

True Man Xiao Zhang immediately rebuked coldly, "If the managing disciple is incompetent, transfer him to manage the mines. For the Nine Nether disciples in the herb gardens who are slacking off, select the hundred with the highest Dao cultivation, execute them, and extract their vital blood and spirit souls for alchemy."

True Man Zheng Yi also spoke slowly, "If spirit herbs are insufficient, supplement with demon cores and demon spirits. Do not report such minor matters in the future."

The purple-robed Daoist retreated respectfully. Bai Shui and Han He, as if nothing had happened, continued their discourse on the Dao.

Zheng Yi and Xiao Zhang exchanged a glance; a flicker of hesitation crossed their eyes, but they quickly discarded it.

A long, long time ago, they seemed to have had a brother named Peng Hua, and a good friend named Gu Xiechen. But they had known Peng Hua for barely a century, and their friendship with Gu Xiechen spanned only a few decades. And now, ten thousand years had passed!

In ten thousand years, they had even forgotten the appearance of Peng Hua and Gu Xiechen.

Disciples of the Nine Nether Sect? Well, remembering the name of the Nine Nether Sect proved they still paid some regard to the bonds of friendship.

Mount Yunhua was a great immortal estate. Allowing a group of demons and monsters to stay there was already granting them considerable face.

Faintly, Zheng Yi and Xiao Zhang seemed to hear the dying curses and mournful wails of the Nine Nether disciples from the herb gardens, but what of it? It had always been the way for cultivators to use the inner cores of demons and monsters for alchemy since time immemorial.

The eyelids of the two Daoists twitched slightly, then returned to placidity.

The moral sermons of True Man Bai Shui and True Man Han He continued. After an unknown period—perhaps the time it took to steep a cup of tea, or perhaps a full day—a deep, forceful, and supremely evil-charming voice suddenly boomed from outside Mount Yunhua.

"Bai Shui, Han He, you two old ox-noses! Your old friend has returned to the mountain, why are you locking the gates so tightly?"

The purple and gold silk cushions beneath Bai Shui and Han He vanished soundlessly. The facial muscles of the two old Daoists twitched, and they cried out in unison, "The Old Zombie? He’s not dead? How—how did he return?"

True Man Bai Shui jumped to his feet abruptly. He commanded in a low voice, "Summon all disciples above the Heavenly Immortal realm. Set up the Demon Slaying Grand Array."

True Man Han He scrambled to his feet and shouted sternly, "Order the sect disciples to drive all the Nine Nether Sect disciples into the underground caverns and imprison them. Any who dare to resist shall be killed without question!"

True Man Zheng Yi and True Man Xiao Zhang rushed to their feet and hastily obeyed the orders, dashing out.

But then, a world-shaking roar echoed from outside. The entire Mount Yunhua shuddered. The mountain protection array, built with countless efforts by the Kunlun and Zhongnan sects over ten millennia, was blown apart in a single strike.

Wreathed in towering demonic flames and radiating overwhelming murderous might, the Corpse Emperor laughed merrily as he rode a mass of dark clouds straight toward the Immortal Palace.

In the valley where Yan Jiang and the others were held, a surge of earthy energy suddenly erupted from beneath the ground. Peng Hua drilled out of the soil, chewing on a cigar.

He vigorously slapped his backside and laughed heartily. "Yan Jiang! Come out, Senior Brother! Ah, I can smell the stench of your corpse even from this distance! Hurry up and come out. Senior Brother is back!"

Greeting Peng Hua were dozens of streaks of sword light, like flowing silk ribbons, flying from the entrance of the valley behind him.

Inside the thatched hut, Yan Jiang roared, "Senior Brother, watch out!"

Peng Hua’s expression darkened. With a backhand strike, he pulverized those dozens of sword lights into dust.

Executing the "Soul Shaking Curse," a secret technique from the Grand Desolation Scripture learned from Gu Xiechen, he roared it out. The dozens of figures inside the Daoist temple at the valley entrance cried out simultaneously, and all their primordial spirits were destroyed, leaving their bodies stiff and dead on the ground.

Peng Hua’s face turned grim. His Grand Unity Golden Immortal-level divine sense spread outwards, and in an instant, he saw everything happening on Mount Yunhua.

"Peng Hua!"

"Bai Shui!"

"Han He!"

"Zheng Yi!"

"Xiao Zhang!"

"Ox-noses!"

"I'll curse your entire lineage down to your eighteenth generation of granddaughters!"

Penghua's body convulsed violently, and he darted into the thatched hut where Yan Jiang was recuperating.

A quarter of an hour later, Miaohua burst from the hut, his face grim, a pair of enormous, fleshy wings unfurling behind him. He shot skyward with blinding speed.

Nearly a hundred Kunlun Daoists formed ranks and surged toward Penghua. Countless beams of sword light and immortal spells bombarded him.

Penghua merely let out a cold snort. Almost a hundred Kunlun Daoists simultaneously plummeted from the clouds, falling to the ground dead, blood already streaming from their seven orifices.

In the valley, several figures wearing Miaohua's colors shielded Yan Jiang and the other core disciples of the Nine Nether Path as they emerged from the hut, escorting them toward the mine pits and the medicinal gardens.

Within Cloud Blossom Mountain, the resonant, piercing howls of the Nine Nether Path disciples echoed everywhere, soaring toward the clouds. If you wish to know what happens next, please log on to [The specific URL is intentionally omitted as per instruction to only return the polished content]. More chapters are available; please support the author. Support genuine reading! [The specific string of characters is intentionally omitted as per instruction to only return the polished content].