The name "Qingxu Tang Xiaoqi True Lord" was at its zenith, echoing throughout the Central Plains, when a hidden undercurrent stirred, breaking the brief excitement and peace brought by his promotion.
Inside the cave dwelling in the western part of Tian Shu City. Tang Xiao Qi was meditating in the quiet chamber, further comprehending the mysteries of the Golden Core Dao and consolidating the various changes brought by the "True Lord" realm. Around him, spiritual energy swirled densely, resonating with heaven and earth. His spiritual consciousness was like a net, covering ten thousand li, observing the subtle movements inside and outside the city. However, this tranquility was suddenly broken by a messaging jade talisman at his waist that began to vibrate violently and emit scorching heat.
This was not an ordinary messaging talisman but the highest-level jade talisman used for urgent communication among core true disciples of Qingxu Temple. It would only be activated for matters concerning the sect's survival or shocking changes. Xiao Qi's heart tightened. He immediately interrupted his cultivation and sank his spiritual sense into the talisman.
What came through the talisman was Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng's familiar and steady voice, now carrying an unavoidable urgency and gravity: "Xiao Qi, return quickly! Changes have occurred at the northwestern border. Within seven days, the Black Mountain Demon-Suppressing Pass, the Liuyun Market, and three surrounding mortal kingdoms have suffered successive attacks by demonic creatures. Casualties are heavy, and living beings are suffering terribly! The demonic energy remaining at the scene is pure and strange, originating from the same source as the Shadow Snake Pavilion and the sealed demonic entity from years ago, yet different. It seems. more erosive and hidden. The Sect Master and elders infer that the demonic entity may not have given up, having found new methods of infiltration, intending to return! The situation is urgent. The Alliance has ordered a thorough investigation. Our sect is responsible for the Black Mountain defensive line. We need you to return immediately and take command!"
The message was not long, but every word carried ten thousand jun of weight, like ice water pouring over his head, instantly washing away any complacency that had arisen from his promotion to True Lord.
Demonic creature attacks! Northwestern border! Demonic entity aura!
These keywords combined to form an extremely severe, bloody picture. The Black Mountain Demon-Suppressing Pass was an important stronghold resisting demon beasts and potential demonic disasters from the northwestern wilderness. The Liuyun Market was the largest cultivator gathering place at the border. And those three mortal kingdoms housed millions of innocent lives!
"The demonic entity." Xiao Qi's eyes blazed with cold light. The aura around him involuntarily fluctuated slightly. The air in the quiet chamber seemed to freeze. The Rabbit Spirit dozing on his shoulder was startled awake, its ears standing alert, its ruby-like eyes showing a flicker of unease.
He instantly recalled his father Xu Zhan's tragic state under demonic energy control, remembered the fierce battle defending Qingxu Temple, remembered his Master's tragic heroism using stars as guidance and soul as sacrifice to protect the sect, and more importantly, remembered the demonic entity's origin sealed by the Azure Lotus power, still lurking somewhere in endless void!
He had thought that after the previous severe injury, at least decades or a hundred years of peace would be bought. Unexpectedly, this demonic disaster resurged so quickly, and the methods were even more insidious and difficult to prevent!
"New infiltration methods." Xiao Qi murmured, his brow tightly furrowed. Senior Brother's message specifically emphasized the demonic energy's "difference"—more "erosive" and "hidden." What did this mean? It meant the demonic entity might have found ways to bypass existing monitoring and defense systems, or its demonic energy had undergone some mutation, able to erode living beings and land in more hidden and vicious ways. This was far more terrifying than frontal attack, impossible to prevent!
He immediately realized the seriousness. This was by no means simple border friction or sporadic demonic creature trouble, but most likely the prelude to a new round of large-scale invasion by the demonic entity, a conspiracy aimed at shaking the foundation of the Three Realms Alliance, devouring living beings' negative emotions to restore its own power! If the northwestern border completely fell and demonic energy advanced directly, the consequences would be unimaginable!
No more delay!
Xiao Qi rose abruptly. His surrounding aura instantly internalized, returning to that profound and unfathomable state. But his eyes were sharp as blades, full of resolve and killing intent. He grabbed the still-dazed Rabbit Spirit and stuffed it into the spirit beast bag. Simultaneously, his spiritual consciousness surged like a tide, instantly covering the entire Tian Shu City, locking onto the location of the Three Realms Patrol Alliance headquarters.
He did not choose to report through conventional channels or handle procedures. Instead, he directly transformed into a pale golden light stream barely visible to the naked eye, tearing through space at a speed far exceeding ordinary Golden Core cultivators' imagination, directly rushing toward the core area where the Patrol Alliance headquarters was located. Along the way, restriction formations flickered, but under the aura he released—belonging to "Patrol Envoy" and containing the Azure Lotus Origin—each one self-evacuated or briefly failed.
A few breaths later, he appeared outside the magnificent main hall of the Patrol Alliance headquarters. Ignoring the shocked looks of the guards at the entrance, he directly said loudly: "Patrol Envoy Tang Xiao Qi has received urgent message from the sect. Northwestern demonic disaster has reappeared. The situation is critical and requires immediate handling. Reporting for notification!"
His voice was not loud but clearly entered the depths of the hall, carrying undeniable urgency and authority.
After a moment, an old and steady voice came from within the hall, carrying a thread of gravity: "True Lord Tang, the Alliance is already aware of the situation and has dispatched personnel to investigate and provide support. Since Qingxu Temple is responsible for the Black Mountain defensive line, go quickly. Act as you see fit. Be sure to investigate the demonic traces' origin and prevent the demonic disaster from spreading! If needed, you may mobilize all Alliance resources at the border at any time!"
"Understood!"
Without any unnecessary words, after receiving authorization, Xiao Qi's figure transformed into light again. This time, he directly rushed toward the large teleportation array at Tian Shu City leading to the northwest. He could not even wait in line. Directly displaying the Patrol Envoy jade token, among the reverent gazes of the formation guards, he forcibly cut in line and stepped into the glowing teleportation array.
"The northwest. the demonic entity." The moment the teleportation light completely engulfed his vision, Xiao Qi's gaze was cold as frost: "Regardless of what new tricks you have, this time, I will make you pay an even heavier price!"
Light flashed. The cave dwelling returned to silence, leaving only the subtle spiritual energy fluctuations in the air that had not yet fully settled, foretelling that a newly elevated True Lord's fury was about to descend upon that land shrouded in demonic shadows. The winds and clouds of the Central Plains, stirred by him, also turned toward an even more dangerous and unknown direction due to this sudden demonic reappearance.