Chapter 302 – Forbidden Land: Ten Thousand Mountains, Familiar Yet Strange "Deer"…

Samadhi True Fire—this legendary flame capable of incinerating even Golden Immortals.

Though the Samadhi True Fire Lu Chen currently wielded differed somewhat from the mythical version of his previous life, it remained far beyond the resistance of Lu Yannian, who merely possessed a Nascent Soul cultivation and a severely wounded physical body.

Watching Lu Yannian writhing in agony within the flames, Lu Chen’s expression remained utterly unmoved.

When the moment felt right, Lu Chen waved his hand once more.

A Mystic Cauldron composed entirely of Primordial Qi materialized out of thin air, swiftly enveloping Lu Yannian.

At this point, Lu Yannian’s fate was virtually sealed—ten deaths with no chance of survival.

Unless he could, like a certain legendary monkey, transform calamity into opportunity through immense innate talent and great Luck, his only outcome would be refinement by the Samadhi True Fire.

But Lu Yannian possessed neither such extraordinary talent nor such great Luck, and most crucially… he was no monkey!

One hour later, the former master of Pine Mountain Temple had vanished.

In his place, a unique Dao Fruit materialized before Lu Chen.

[You have slain the Seventh Transformation Nascent Soul Stage (Master of Pine Mountain Temple/Mountain Deity of Pine Mountain). You have gained 30 million experience points. You have obtained a special item… Ancient Fiend Dao Fruit (Earth)]

[Name: Ancient Fiend Dao Fruit (Earth)]

[Grade: Unknown]

[Effect: Upon consumption, comprehend one Earth Dao principle and enhance Earth attribute cultivation Aptitude]

[Side Effect: Increases personal Karma and accelerates Heart Demon formation]

[Note: This Dao Fruit is heavily contaminated by Karma. Can be purified by spending 10 million experience points to eliminate side effects]

Lu Chen examined the Ancient Fiend Dao Fruit in his hand, contemplated briefly, then stored it away.

For someone who had mastered the Creation Pill Art like Lu Chen, directly consuming the Dao Fruit would be an immense waste.

He could fully maximize its effects through Alchemy refinement.

Moreover, at his current stage, he hardly needed improvements to Earth attribute cultivation Aptitude.

His present Aptitude could rightfully be called once-in-ten-millennia rarity.

Were it not for the imminent crisis from the Ancient Fiend World pressing upon both realms, keeping Lu Chen in a state of constant vigilance, he could simply find seclusion to cultivate peacefully for a thousand years—Immortal Ascension would be virtually guaranteed.

With Lu Yannian dealt with, the entire Pine Mountain became Lu Chen’s exclusive domain.

Originally, gaining complete control over Pine Mountain might have required considerable effort.

But Lu Yannian, fearing death, had recalled all disciples of Pine Mountain Temple.

Aside from those initially slain by Lu Chen, a significant portion of the remaining disciples had perished by Lu Yannian’s own hand.

After all, his final Law of Heaven and Earth technique made no distinction between friend and foe.

Ordinary Qi Condensation Stage and Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators would meet their ends even from mere exposure to its aftermath.

With these obstacles removed, Lu Chen could proceed smoothly with many plans.

Based on his current understanding of the Ancient Fiend World, minor Sects being annihilated periodically was commonplace here.

While Pine Mountain Temple couldn’t be considered a minor School, the fall of a single temple wouldn’t attract attention from the Great Thousand Mountains.

As long as the Deity Transformation Stage Cultivator Families of Great Thousand Mountains didn’t intervene…Lu Chen was absolutely confident he could complete his main mission.

Considering the timing, he might even meet the conditions for a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage by then.

And once he reached the Nascent Soul Stage, Lu Chen could begin cultivating his second Dharma Body.

By then, paired with the special innate divine ability of Heretical Avatar,

Lu Chen felt that even just one of his clones would possess the strength of a top-tier Nascent Soul cultivator.

In reality, within the Immortal Alliance Nine Provinces, in the western Forbidden Land: Ten Thousand Mountains.

The Ten Thousand Mountains was a forbidden land located in the western part of the Nine Provinces.

Guarding the Forbidden Land: Ten Thousand Mountains were the Barren Wilderness Academy and the Holy Land: Nine Luminaries Heavenly Capital from the Immortal Alliance.

On the outskirts of the Ten Thousand Mountains, numerous bizarre demons had gathered in a mountain.

These demons came in various types, each exhibiting semi-human forms.

Their gathering was certainly not for amusement.

“Why has the White Deer Fairy gathered us? Doesn’t she dislike contact with rough fellows like us?”

“I don’t know, but I heard it’s about something important.”

“What important matter? I’ve been in seclusion in the mountains for years and know little of outside affairs. Can anyone fill me in?”

The demons chattered noisily, all wondering what arrangements the White Deer Fairy had in store for them.

“Silence!”

Just as the demons were growing impatient, a pair of child attendants emerged from a cave nearby.

The boy and girl appeared to be about six or seven years old.

Though they had bodies resembling human children, their heads were peculiar with single deer antlers.

The male Taoist Novice on the left had only a left antler, while the female on the right had only a right antler.

Although these two novices’ cultivation was low, merely at the Foundation Establishment Stage,

none of the demons present dared show them disrespect.

For behind these two stood the Mountain Lord of this land—the White Deer Fairy.

Thus, when the novices spoke, the previously noisy valley fell silent immediately.

Seeing this, the male novice nodded in satisfaction.

Then he addressed several Golden Core Stage demons in the valley: “Follow me. The Honored One wishes to see you.”

Several Golden Core Stage demons nodded and followed the two novices into the cave.

Upon entering, what greeted them was a cave residence resembling a paradise, filled with white spirit flowers.

Besides the enchanting white spirit flowers, another notable feature of this cave residence

was the countless white chains covering its walls.

Those captivating spirit flowers grew directly from these chains.

“Hiss… No matter how many times I come, the White Deer Fairy’s arena always makes me uncomfortable. It’s as if some unseen great power suppresses my entire being, making me dare not speak recklessly.”

“Who isn’t? Not to mention you—previously, some foolish Mountain Lords tried to move against the White Deer Fairy.”

“And guess what? Those fellows couldn’t even approach the cave residence before being trapped by countless chains, sealed within these mountains.”

“Among them were several great Nascent Soul Stage demons.”

“If even they met such a fate, what chance do we have?”

“Tell me, what cultivation level do you think the White Deer Fairy has reached?””Shh! Keep your voice down, is this something you should be asking about? Do you have a death wish?”

After some hushed whispers, several Golden Core Stage demons soon arrived deep within the cave.

Simultaneously, a boundary stone appeared before the group of demons… Biyou Mountain.

Behind the boundary stone lay a massive pond.

At the center of the pond stood a small mountain that was entirely emerald green.

And atop this small mountain was a palace.

Two Taoist Novices bowed respectfully toward the palace and said, “Honored One, the demons you requested have been brought.”

Hearing this, the surrounding Golden Core Stage demons also bowed respectfully toward the palace.

A person’s reputation is like the shadow of a tree.

They had heard plenty about the White Deer Fairy’s reputation.

Though these demons were respected Mountain Lords in their own territories outside.

But even among Mountain Lords, there existed vast differences.

Although the Ten Thousand Mountains claimed to have ten thousand peaks.

The number of famous mountains among them was actually quite small.

‘Biyou Mountain,’ located in the core region of the Ten Thousand Mountains, was one of the rare famous mountains.

It couldn’t be compared to the ordinary small mountains they managed.

After the demons waited by the pond for a moment, a voice as gentle as a clear spring flowed from within the palace.

“I need you to help me find someone.”

Several Golden Core Stage demons exchanged glances, then without hesitation said, “Please speak, Fairy.”

A portrait scroll flew out from the palace and landed before the demons.

Without doubt, the person the White Deer Fairy wanted them to find was the one depicted in this portrait.

However, after examining the portrait, the Golden Core Stage demons all showed troubled expressions.

Because for some reason, the portrait appeared very blurry.

They couldn’t clearly make out the facial features of the person depicted.

The only notable features were perhaps the subject’s pair of Lotus Pupils and a white Immortal Sword by their side.

Though it was merely a depiction of an Immortal Sword.

The demons could still immediately sense the terrifying Sword Intent contained within the portrait.

Even a portrait of unknown age could contain such terrifying Sword Intent.

The Golden Core Stage Wolf Demon examined the portrait, hesitated for a moment, then said, “Fairy, it’s not that we don’t want to help you find this person, but trying to locate someone with just a blurry portrait is like searching for a needle in a haystack.”

“Moreover, Fairy, you must give us some parameters. Otherwise, even if we want to search, we wouldn’t know where to look.”

The nearby Eagle Demon, Pig Demon, and Monkey Demon all nodded, indicating they shared the same sentiment.

They could help search for someone, but not with a portrait where even the face was unclear.

However, the White Deer Fairy had clearly anticipated this.

So after the demons finished speaking, she promptly responded, “The person is in the Immortal Alliance, I’m certain of it.”

“The Immortal Alliance?!”

Hearing that the person the White Deer Fairy wanted them to find was in the Immortal Alliance, the demons’ expressions turned very grim.

While the Ten Thousand Mountains were indeed designated as Forbidden Zones by the Immortal Alliance.

For most demons of the Ten Thousand Mountains, the Immortal Alliance was similarly a forbidden territory they dared not enter.

Only a few core Mountain Lords within the Ten Thousand Mountains were bold enough to occasionally lead their subordinates to raid the Immortal Alliance for supplies.

These ordinary Mountain Lords at the Golden Core Stage didn’t possess such courage.

With their level of cultivation, if they casually approached the White Tiger Great Wall of the Barren Wilderness Academy…Perhaps they wouldn’t even need the Immortal Alliance cultivators to do anything – just the ‘Killing Aura’ from the White Tiger Great Wall alone would be enough to make their souls fly away and spirits scatter.

“Naturally, we won’t send you to your deaths, nor will we have you take unnecessary risks…”

As the White Deer Fairy’s voice faded, four magical garments and four pure white Dao Fruits flew out from the palace, landing before the four demons.

Looking at these four white magical garments as thin as cicada wings and the four crystalline Dao Fruits,

the four Golden Core Stage demons immediately revealed excited expressions.

The former were clearly precious magic treasures that could allow them to freely enter the Immortal Alliance,

while the latter were Dao Fruits that could help them ‘achieve enlightenment’.

Although demon cultivators far surpass human cultivators in physical strength and lifespan,

they share one fatal weakness:

Their ‘wisdom roots’ are far inferior to those of human cultivators.

Insufficient wisdom roots mean most demons can only rely on instinct during cultivation.

This not only easily leads them down many wrong paths but also makes their cultivation efforts yield half the results with double the effort.

However, these magical garments and Dao Fruits were clearly not so easily obtained.

“After finding that person, give this to him. He will naturally understand then.”

As these words fell, an exquisite jade-like branch flew before the several demons.

Looking at this branch and the pure Primordial Qi emanating from it,

the demons suddenly recalled an unverified legend.

Legend has it that the White Deer Fairy was originally just an ordinary sapling in her early years.

But after receiving guidance from an Immortal, she not only developed wisdom roots

but also obtained superior immortal techniques.

From then on, she soared rapidly, her cultivation advancing a thousand miles each day.

However, most demons of the Ten Thousand Mountains didn’t believe this legend.

After all, if the White Deer Fairy’s origins were truly so remarkable,

why would she be trapped in Biyou Mountain, and why wouldn’t she have Immortal-level cultivation?

Therefore, most demons of the Ten Thousand Mountains believed this was just some exaggerated description of the White Deer Fairy by certain demons.

But upon seeing this branch, they suddenly felt the legend might not be entirely unfounded.

After all, just this single branch made them feel refreshed and invigorated.

As for the complete original form of this branch, what kind of power it might possess – the demons didn’t even dare to imagine.

One must remember that the White Deer Fairy’s other title… is ‘White Deer Fairy Tree’.

Weighing the pros and cons, the four Golden Core Stage demons immediately spoke in unison:

“We will definitely not disappoint the Fairy.”

“Mm, you may leave now.”

“Yes.”

Ancient Fiend Nine Realms, Pine Mountain.

After Lu Chen’s renovations, Pine Mountain had now taken on a completely different appearance.

Although from the outside, the entire Pine Mountain hadn’t changed much and was still filled with Karma,

within Pine Mountain, a mountain-within-a-mountain had emerged.

This mountain-within-a-mountain was created by Lu Chen after purifying Lu Yannian’s corpse.

It not only retained most of Lu Yannian’s cultivation level from his lifetime,

but most importantly, Lu Chen had also infused the Mountain God Edict Power from Lu Yannian’s body into this mountain-within-a-mountain.

Standing atop the mountain-within-a-mountain, Lu Chen took out a seed of the ‘Azure Cloud Apricot Tree’ from his chest.

The function of the Azure Cloud Apricot Tree was to purify spiritual power.

Of course, an ordinary Azure Cloud Apricot Tree alone couldn’t purify the Karma of ‘Pine Mountain’.

But when combined with the Mountain God Edict Power and Lu Chen’s specialized catalysis using Primordial Qi…Then this Azure Cloud Apricot Tree that grows will no longer be comparable to ordinary Azure Cloud Apricot Trees.

Lu Chen held the seed of the Azure Cloud Apricot Tree and planted it at the summit of the mountain within the mountain.

Afterward, he began using his Primordial Qi to continuously catalyze the seed.

Before long, a crystalline, jade-white sapling broke through the soil.

Looking at the sapling, Lu Chen smiled and said, “I hope it won’t disappoint me, after all, this is the key to gaining a foothold here…”

(End of Chapter)