Qian Family Patriarch swept his gaze over those present, the Qian Family’s elders and disciples, exchanging looks of disbelief.
They couldn’t believe their Patriarch actually wanted to tame the Devouring Demon Worm to serve the Qian Family.
“But Patriarch, the Devouring Demon Worm is a brutal creature. Our Qian Family might not be able to control such a demonic being…”
“Do not worry, I have my methods.”
The Qian Family Patriarch secured the cocoon and led the Qian Family members out of the cave.
Other holy lands and prestigious families’ elders and disciples failed to find any eggs of the Devouring Demon Worm.
The three sword maidens of Mysterious Lady Palace explored the dwelling cave of the Devouring Demon Worm, but found nothing.
Qiongxiao Sword Maiden said, “It seems that the Devouring Demon Worm has not left any eggs.”
Zi Yun Sword Maiden added, “The Devouring Demon Worm is a formidable member of the Demon Race. The strongest of the ancient Devouring Demon Worms was slain by Heavenly Sect Leader. There is no trace of the Devouring Demon Worm in the Demon Realm anymore. This might be the last one in existence.”
Golden Armor Heavenly General Li Tiangang said, “Such demonic insects should be eradicated entirely, lest they join forces with those in the Demon Realm, the consequences would be unimaginable.”
The three sword maidens nodded in agreement.
The not yet fully matured Devouring Demon Worm required the joint effort of four great experts from the Heavenly Court and additional power from the lower realm for its extermination.
If the Devouring Demon Worm reached full maturity, it would only become more terrifying.
“Other demonic insects do not need to be completely wiped out, the Valley of Doom can still provide materials for pill cultivation to all great holy lands and sects.”
“The number of demonic insects in the Valley of Doom is immense, impossible to annihilate completely. If the demonic insects sense our intentions and all escape the Valley of Doom, the surrounding Human cities and sects will suffer.”
“This time, although many capable individuals from the holy lands perished, we managed to eliminate this hidden danger. Once we rest, it will be time for us to return to our holy lands.”
Each holy land and prestigious family tallied their wounded and fallen members, preparing to return home.
There are countless demonic insects in the Valley of Doom; if stirred up, they could spread far and wide, hence the Heavenly Court did not fully eradicate the demonic insects of the Valley of Doom this time.
Usually, these demonic insects do not easily leave the Valley of Doom, only the Devouring Demon Worm poses a threat to the Heavenly Court.
Li Tiangang took stock of the losses among the heavenly soldiers and generals, with thousands fallen among the fifty thousand.
The heavenly soldiers and generals, numerous and with generally high cultivation levels, were the main targets of the Valley of Doom’s insect swarms, suffering heavy losses.
Li Tiangang furrowed his brows.
Leading the heavenly soldiers and generals to subdue the Devouring Demon Worm in the lower realm, suffering such huge losses, he inevitably faced punishment upon returning to the Heavenly Court.
People from Mount Taihua Sacred Land also prepared to leave.
Mount Taihua Sacred Land dispatched one Great Expert, four Divine Kings, and five strong figures. Apart from Lin Tianyi, who was at the bottom and injured, the other four were unharmed.
Three elders in the Immortal Emperor Realm perished, and dozens of Loose Immortal disciples fell.
However, Lin Xuantong, the Elder Ancestor of Lin Clan, Jiang Family Ancestor—these Divine King Realm upper echelons, with their long lifespans, have witnessed many younger generations perish; they did not feel much about it.
The path of cultivation is naturally defiance of the heavens, where countless geniuses fall.
Only those who linger at Ghost Gate Pass without dying, may rise to the higher echelons of the sacred lands.
Disciples of Lu Changsheng also gained experiences here.
Xiaojin, a demon cultivator who transformed from a koi, was somewhat fearful of the demonic insects of the Valley of Doom, but with many elder uncles protecting her, she remained safe.
Huo Wen, daughter of the Clan Leader of Candle Dragon, even revealed her true demon form during the fight, driving back a large number of demonic insects.
The bloodline suppression of the Candle Dragon Clan was almost comparable to that of the Devouring Demon Worm.
However, Devouring Demon Worms are scarce; each fully matured Devouring Demon Worm is a master of forbidden lands while the Candle Dragon Clan, being more numerous, only has the most powerful Candle Dragon ancestor capable of contending with a matured Devouring Demon Worm.
The biggest benefactor was Luo Xintang.
Luo Xintang, having the Thousand Poison Body and the only disciple of Lu Changsheng who practiced poison skills, quietly collected batches of deadly poison. Utilizing these demonic insects’ venom could potentially elevate Luo Xintang’s poison skills to a new level.
“Junior sister, why do you always dabble with these poisons? It’s creepy.”
Li Jianfei saw Luo Xintang labeling different treasure bottles with names of the poisons she collected and commented from aside.
Luo Xintang rolled her eyes: “It’s none of your business.”
“…”
Li Jianfei was rebuffed and had no choice but to leave awkwardly.
“Hmph.”
Luo Xintang glanced sidelong at Li Jianfei and continued categorizing the collected poisons.
This disciple might become a Poison God in the future.
Lu Changsheng knew that if the poison cultivation technique was cultivated to the highest realm, it could kill a great expert in the Longevity Immortal Realm; the Devouring Demon Worm was a prime example.
“Immortal Yuexi from Mysterious Lady Palace has arrived.”
Zhao Wuyan nudged Lu Changsheng with his elbow.
Following the direction Zhao Wuyan hinted at, Lu Changsheng saw a fairy approaching him, her hair piled high, with slender, willow-leaf eyebrows and skin as white as jade, clad in a water-green long dress, passing through the disciples of Mount Taihua Sacred Land.
“If it weren’t for your timely rescue, I would have…”
Yuexi’s bright eyes carried sincere gratitude; without Lu Changsheng, she would have been swallowed by the Thousand-Eyed Demon Centipede.
“In the face of death, one cannot refrain from saving others.”
However, Lu Changsheng was indifferent—having faced life and death many times was not only a trial for himself but also a chance to earn favors.
“You…”
Yuexi looked at Lu Changsheng with new respect.
This guy actually is a good person.
“I’m soon to return to the Mysterious Lady Palace with my master; I owe you a favor. If you ever need help, come find me. This is my token. With it, you can enter the barrier of the Heavenly Court and even come to the Mysterious Lady Palace to find me.”
Yuexi handed over a jade pendant to Lu Changsheng, which bore only the character “Xi”.
The jade pendant was a personal item with a faint fragrance.
“Then I shall not refuse your kindness.”
This time, Lu Changsheng did not decline and accepted the jade pendant.
Owing someone a favor was more difficult to repay.
Of course, the premise is that the other party is an honorable person who returns favors; otherwise, if one was dealing with a malicious person, they wouldn’t care about owing favors.
“I actually hope you won’t need to find me for help, as that would mean your situation isn’t good… Till we meet again.”
After giving out the jade pendant, Yuexi returned to the ranks of the Mysterious Lady Palace and went back to the Heavenly Court with them.
“Our Junior Brother Lu really is quite charming,” Zhao Wuyan remarked wistfully, “I wonder where Fairy Chunhua has gone…”
Zhao Wuyan, who had formed a cultivation pair with Fairy Chunhua from Hidden Dragon Temple and ascended after their tribulation, had yet to reunite, and was quite worried.
With the departure of the people from the Heavenly Court, the cultivators from various Holy Lands also formed teams and left the Valley of Doom with grandeur.
With the death of the Devouring Demon Worm, the remaining demonic insects in the Valley of Doom dared not provoke this fierce group of human cultivators and let them leave.
Lu Changsheng was contemplating his next moves.
In the Valley of Doom, he acquired numerous Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, which could be used to teach his disciples and possibly generate some special treasures.
Additionally, he needed to continue cultivating the Eternal Indestructible Art to temper his body.
The highest realm of the Eternal Indestructible Art enables one’s physical body to rival a Second Grade Taoist Instrument, nearly invincible within the Divine King Realm.
Lu Changsheng was only a step away from reaching the Divine King Realm, and with another period of secluded cultivation, he could become a ninth-grade Divine King.
“I’ve used up all the Ancestral Dragon Blood Pills and Sword Dao Divine Fruits; I need to accumulate more treasures.”
Lu Changsheng realized there was indeed much work to be done.
He also planned to cultivate his disciples to reach the Divine King Realm, so that at his command the disciples could easily annihilate an Immortal Sect or even an Immortal Dynasty.
As they just left the Valley of Doom, the Ancient Qian Family Patriarch said to everyone, “There’s an urgent matter in my family that I need to handle immediately; my fellow daoists, until next time.”
The Ancient Qian Family’s party hastened away from the main group and rushed back to their territory.
The others didn’t mind; after leaving the Valley of Doom, there wasn’t much danger, and they each went their own way.
Lin Xuantong watched as the Ancient Qian Family’s people disappeared and then turned to Lu Changsheng and Lin Qinghan, “Longevity, Han’er, when we return to the Sacred Land, you will start taking over some of its affairs.”