Otherwise, if a demon beast took a Zhu Yan Pill and transformed into a horrifying visage, it would be better to stick with its original form.
Xie Linlang quickly glanced at Kill Matt Night Senior before averting his gaze.
For this bird to make such a request meant one thing: either Night Senior already had a human form of his own, or he was a cultivator from the Human Race who had transformed into a Demon Race cultivator!
Xie Linlang said humbly, “I can give it a try, but this disciple is shallow in learning. Senior could also seek help from Senior Jin Ling or the others to debug the formula.”
Pei Jiye: “Don’t tell anyone else.”
He had come to Xie Yu precisely because this was originally Xie Linlang’s formula.
Back when Xie Linlang developed the Zhu Yan Pill, Pei Ji had been right there beside him, poking his cheek with foxtail grass and deliberately causing trouble.
Pei Ji knew a bit about the thought process behind this formula. Combined with the materials reverse-deciphered by other pill refiners, it had produced this version.
Xie Yu was, after all, a clansman of Xie Linlang; there should be some bloodline affinity bonus, right?
Pei Jiye didn’t care much about bloodline inheritance, but he himself had awakened his Demon Race Bloodline, and he had run into his brainless cousin Gao Chunqiu. Xie Yu had also shown talent in pill refining. In the end, Pei Jiye decided to give it a shot.
Few people knew that the Palace Lord of Silent Night Palace had changed—not beyond a handful of Demonic Cultivators, with the Tianling Sect Master knowing a little. The other immortal sect cultivators probably still thought the Jiye Palace Lord was some renowned elder from centuries ago.
Pei Jiye had a rough idea why this group was making such a big fuss to gather everyone for this Mustard Seed Realm event.
As the unlucky one who might be questioned, Pei Jiye’s response depended on the results of the Mustard Seed Realm exploration.
If Xie Linlang was truly still in the world, that was one option.
If Xie Linlang hadn’t reincarnated yet, then everyone could just die together!
Xie Linlang accepted Kill Matt Night Senior’s commission, giving him a reason not to get involved in the upcoming trials.
He simply went into seclusion.
Aside from Shen He occasionally coming to find him, Xie Linlang spent most of his time pondering the formula, using the rest to deduce just what “creative” demon his creative energies left in the Mustard Seed Realm would produce.
His Mustard Seed Realm was an immortal-grade item with its own spirituality. Anyone who thought the trials inside were merely tests of understanding and skill with pill materials would be gravely mistaken!
While Xie Linlang prepared intensively for the impending exploration, Shen He came to him and said that Hong Kui had successfully formed his core under Jin Ling Zhenren’s protection.
“Senior Brother Hong received a sect reward beforehand, so his Core Formation went smoothly, but he didn’t use up all the rewards.” Shen He seemed conflicted. “He asked if I wanted to trade with him. He can help me form my core quickly, giving me an edge in the Mustard Seed Realm contention. What do you think, Shizun?”
Xie Linlang was somewhat speechless. “You’ve only been cultivating for less than half a year. Forming your core now risks an unstable foundation—you might get struck dead by Heavenly Tribulation.”
Shen He sighed in relief. “You say so too? Great, I wasn’t confident either, but Senior Brother Hong kept saying that opportunities don’t come twice…”
Xie Linlang said ambiguously, “Is that so? The situation inside the Mustard Seed Realm shifts unpredictably. Higher cultivation doesn’t necessarily mean greater certainty.”
Shen He: “…Huh?”
Xie Linlang explained no further. He planned to form his core directly inside the Mustard Seed Realm.
With Li Pinghu helping disguise his identity anyway, no one would know how long he had lingered at Foundation Establishment Stage.
The Treasure Ship proceeded in stops and starts, passing two more trial sites before finally setting a straight course for the Boundary Gate.
That day, Silent Night Palace’s Treasure Ship finally arrived at the entrance between the True Realm and the Demon Domain.
Most of the disciples gathered on deck, where a waterfall over a hundred kilometers long stretched from heaven to earth ahead of them.
Demonic Qi and spiritual energy intertwined within the waterfall, forming a bizarre black-and-white cascade.
Magnificent arrays extended outward from both sides of the waterfall, translucent formations etched with winding, intricate patterns.
The left side consisted of pure spiritual energy, while the right surged with Demonic Qi.
Originally part of the same continent, the Demonic Qi from the Demon Domain flowed into the waterfall only to be filtered back by the arrays, and the spiritual energy from the opposite side underwent the same process, creating an artificial recirculation.
Over time, through countless ages of accumulation, the Demon Domain’s Demonic Qi content steadily increased, while spiritual energy gathered in the continent’s central region. Once these forces reached a certain scale, a siphoning effect emerged, ultimately turning the Demon Domain and True Realm into two starkly different cultivation environments.
“So this is the Boundary Gate…”
Shen He leaned on the railing, gazing distantly at the grand and vast waterfall, somewhat entranced. “Such terrifying power. How are we supposed to pass through?”
The hundred-kilometer cascade delivered a tremendous visual impact. The spiritual energy and Demonic Qi crashing down roared deafeningly as they scoured the earth.
Even the stray wisps of power made cultivators thousands of li away marvel at the immensity of heaven and earth’s might, the puniness of human strength, and the arduous path of the Great Dao.
Xie Linlang gazed quietly at the Boundary Gate.
He had come here once before, contemplating a journey to the Demon Domain or the Demon Race gathering grounds upon leaving the True Realm, but he had never followed through.
Traveling alone was too lonely. Without Pei Ji by his side, any scenery felt thin and dull. Better to return and seclude himself in pill refining.
“Everyone, disembark.”
Jin Ling Zhenren of the Soul Transformation Stage appeared at the bow, smiling as he beckoned the crowd. “I’ve already contacted the people from Dream Flower Immortal Sect. They’ll take us through the Teleportation Array. If all goes smoothly, we’ll arrive at Jiuxia Mountain tomorrow.”
