Chapter 201: Chapter 144: Scheming_1
Translator: 549690339
Forty-nine days later, a mournful howl echoed throughout the Underworld.
Sitting atop the Cumulated Thunder Cloud, Xu Yang wore an indifferent expression, calm like a still ancient well.
After forty-nine days and relying on the cultivation of a Daoist Celestial Master, as well as Luotian Dajiao, the Thunder Series Divine Skills, the Xuanyuan Divine Sword, and other numerous means including Skill Traits, he had finally dispersed the Yang God and soul of the Black Mountain Old Demon.
Although the Yang God was shattered and the soul scattered, Black Mountain did not collapse and destruct.
After all, this was a mountain range, a part of Yin Mountain’s Earth Vein that existed for untold time.
Its size was too vast, its potentiality too profound, and its resources too abundant!
Even with the Xuanyuan Divine Sword drawing the essence of earth, it could not refine it in a short period of time.
If he were to stop now and neglect it, a second Black Mountain Old Demon might emerge after a million years.
But clearly, Xu Yang was not going to do that.
At this moment, the Xuanyuan Divine Sword had completely submerged into the mountain, even piercing through the Internal Pill at the Mountain Core of the Black Mountain Old Demon, continuously drawing the essence of the mountain’s Earth Vein, transforming it into nourishment to evolve itself.
Another project that would take a considerable amount of time.
Given the size of Black Mountain, even with the Xuanyuan Divine Sword, it would take years to refine it.
But Xu Yang was not in a hurry; he had plenty of time.
Moreover, with the Divine Sword buried in the mountain, transforming and growing by itself, it did not need constant attention, and he could spare his effort to deal with other matters.
However, he did not leave immediately but sat atop the Cumulated Thunder Cloud, where at some point he had again taken on the appearance of “Shi Jian.” With a sweep of his dust whisk, he said softly, “Come out.”
Though the words were softly spoken, they traveled far and wide, to a silence that followed.
After a moment, streaks of light darted across the sky, accompanied by the brilliance of auspicious clouds.
Several cultivators, riding clouds, arrived before Black Mountain, bowing deeply to him: “We’ve seen the Heavenly Master!”
“Fellow Taoists, there is no need for such formality.”
Xu Yang raised his hand in a gesture, helping them up: “You’ve worked hard guarding the Governors, so here are some Yin Yang Life Transformation Pills from me to regulate the Yin and Yang energies. Please accept them.”
With that, he swept his dust whisk, and several spirit pills flew out.
“This…”
“How could we?”
They were startled by this gesture, uncertain what to do with the spirit pills laid before them.
Eventually, an elder Taoist spoke up: “Guarding the Governors is our duty, undeserving of reward. How could we accept the spirit pills from the Heavenly Master?”
Xu Yang smiled: “They’re just a few spirit pills, nothing much really. Just accept them as a small token of my goodwill.”
“This…”
“Alright then!”
“We thank the Heavenly Master!”
Since he insisted, the cultivators no longer refused, and with a bow, they accepted the spirit pills.
Xu Yang sat on the Cumulated Thunder Cloud, his Divine Consciousness sweeping through all directions.
For forty-nine days, as he refined Black Mountain, thunder roared without cease, with flashes of lightning and occasional quaking of earth and mountains.
Such commotion could not have failed to draw attention.
In fact, all sorts of powers from the Underworld, including those ancient demons on par with Black Mountain, had noticed the changes here.
But they did not come to help.
Those who could come, dare not.
Those who dared, could not come.
The former goes without saying, their strength was inferior to Black Mountain so naturally they did not have the courage to provoke Xu Yang.
The latter, albeit on par with Black Mountain, were much like the Black Mountain Old Demon, constrained by their true forms and unable to leave their lairs; even if they wanted to help, they were powerless to do so.
Of course, they probably did not have the desire to help in the first place.
After all, they were demons; to expect demons to aid each other was unrealistic. At most, they would join an opportunistic battle where there were spoils to be had. But when facing an unbeatable foe, it was every demon for itself.
Hence, the demons did not come; instead, many sects from Taoism did.
In this world, there is the Dual Realm of Yin and Yang: the realm of the living for the Yang, and the realm of the dead for the Yin, with clear boundaries and specific duties.
But since the Ancient Times, the Heavenly Earth Prime Spirit had become dormant, and Ancient Immortal Gods ascended to higher realms, severely disrupting the order of the Dual Realm of Yin and Yang.
The Underworld in particular, as the dwelling for lost souls, had “Underworld Governors” responsible for the reincarnation of True Spirits. During the Ancient Times, there was a host of Governors and Nether Gods managing it.
After the ascension of these Governors and Nether Gods, the Underworld was left without divine governance, and with the Governors unable to enforce laws, order grew chaotic. Numerous Evil Ghosts claimed territory as their own, disrupting the balance of Yin and Yang and destroying the cycle of reincarnation, causing turmoil in the Underworld and even affecting the Yang realm.
Fortunately, the Ancient Immortal Gods had foresight. The major sects of Taoism had long since cultivated Divine Guard Generals, who were sent into the Governors to maintain order; each sect also appointed a True Monarch to oversee, barely managing to maintain the status of the Underworld.
The Taoists who came were the Daoist True Monarchs stationed by the major Taoist sects in the Governors.
Xu Yang genuinely appreciated these individuals who were actually doing the work.
Of course, he similarly admired their Taoist traditions, divine skills, and Mana Points.
Although he could not directly request anything from them now, establishing good relations and doing them a favor was always beneficial.
These True Monarchs found this very agreeable.
“Beneath the great reputation lies a true man indeed!”
“This Daoist Master Mingxiao is truly kind and benevolent!”
“With such mighty mana, even the Black Mountain Old Demon couldn’t escape his grasp?”
“Such spirit pills are a gift of nature; no wonder the Mingxiao sect has thrived so well these years.”
“Indeed, he is the most outstanding figure in Taoism in recent centuries. Unfortunately, his path does not align with our Buddhism…”
Among the group of Taoists, there were also two monks who, though they received spirit pills, inwardly sighed.
Xu Yang saw it but did not point it out, simply saying, “While it’s nothing new to mention, I must remind everyone that Pudu Cihang is no benignant force and harbors great ambitions. My fellow Taoist friends in the Northern Territory must be very cautious and on guard.”