Sect Master’s Immortal Journey

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Meng Zhang coughed heavily.

"Well, some of the things you're discussing are beyond my understanding. Could you explain them to me?"

Meng Zhang's intention wasn't just to ease the tension but also to clarify his own doubts.

Since the Extreme Sword Spirit General showed no intention of speaking, Luo Ye Daoist Master took the initiative to explain. These matters, though top secrets of the Dark Alliance, were known to the Extreme Sword Spirit General, thus making secrecy unnecessary.

How the Extreme Sword Spirit General came to know these secrets was not pursued by Luo Ye Daoist Master, nor could it be.

It's widely known that the Demonic Path inheritance in the Grand Dust World originated from beyond the heavens. The great demons from beyond used various means to spread the Demonic Path to this world, nurturing Demonic Cultivation.

All cultivators who practiced the Demonic Path would ultimately become devoted to it, serving the great demons with unwavering loyalty.

The power of Demonic Cultivation was undeniable. With mysterious techniques and diverse methods, their combat abilities far exceeded cultivators of the same level.

Apart from the chosen disciples from major cultivation sects, ordinary cultivators often couldn't match a Demonic Cultivator of the same level.

Demonic Cultivation brought numerous disasters to the world. Each Demon Catastrophe caused chaos in the Cultivation World, leading to widespread suffering.

Demonic Cultivation had become a cancer to this world, a source of endless calamity. Thus, effectively restraining Demonic Cultivation was a consensus among many cultivators.

The top sects in the Cultivation World each had their own methods to subdue demons. However, these were closely-guarded secrets, inaccessible to the average cultivator.

Out of desperation, some cultivators began to study the Demonic Path techniques, leading to the concept of "using the demonic to control the demonic."

This idea gave rise to a special kind of Demonic Cultivation. They practiced the Demonic Path but not to serve it. Instead, their goal was to eradicate Demonic Cultivators and eliminate the Demonic Path.

For various reasons, the number of such Demonic Cultivators began to grow.

The Dark Alliance, being a congregation of the darker aspects of the Cultivation World, had many cultivators who had encountered Demonic Cultivation. Some of them turned to the Demonic Path, becoming this special kind of Demonic Cultivator, an anomaly within their ranks.

These cultivators had noble ideals, willing to sacrifice themselves, which was admirable. However, their ends were often not pleasant.

If these cultivators weren't slain by righteous cultivators, and somehow managed to grow, they would eventually fall completely into the Demonic Path, losing themselves and becoming true members of it.

According to Luo Ye Daoist Master, due to certain reasons, many in the Dark Alliance studied Demonic Path techniques, aiming to overcome its pitfalls and avoid tragedy.

The Dark Alliance would promptly eliminate any of its members who completely fell to the demonic, losing themselves.

The masters in the Dark Alliance had made significant progress in their study of Demonic Path techniques over the years. The modified Demonic Path techniques they practiced were much safer, not as prone to leading practitioners astray.

As Luo Ye Daoist Master reached this part of the explanation, the listening Extreme Sword Spirit General scoffed disdainfully, clearly unimpressed.

Luo Ye Daoist Master didn't get angry but patiently explained further. Many in the Dark Alliance practiced the Demonic Path out of necessity.

Her senior brother, Daoist Master Withered Branches, had once battled Demonic Cultivators alongside Luo Ye Daoist Master before reaching the Gold Core stage.

Daoist Master Withered Branches, protecting Luo Ye Daoist Master, suffered grave injuries from a Demonic Cultivator and was entangled with demonic energy.

Luo Ye Daoist Master, too, was wounded by Demonic Cultivation and tormented by the demonic energy.

Faced with similar situations, the two made different choices.

Daoist Master Luo Ye exiled himself to the Endless Sea of Sand, where he ceaselessly battled against demonic energy, enduring its relentless assault. Meanwhile, Daoist Master Withered Branches, having switched to the Demonic Path after renouncing his former ways, actively absorbed and refined the demonic energy within him, evolving into a unique practitioner of Demonic Cultivation.

Later, Luo Ye encountered Meng Zhang and, with Meng Zhang's assistance, who was practicing the "Sun-Moon Wheel Turning Sutra," not only expelled the demonic energy but also preserved his foundational strength unharmed. Though Luo Ye was reborn and made significant breakthroughs in his cultivation base, he still couldn't match the cultivation speed of Daoist Master Withered Branches.

Years passed, and Luo Ye achieved only a mid-stage Gold Core cultivation base, while Withered Branches reached the late stage of Gold Core. Such cultivators who actively practiced Demonic Path techniques were the Dark Alliance's top secret. Luo Ye wouldn't have known this if not for his connection with Withered Branches.

Moreover, to sever ties—at least superficially—these Demonic Path practitioners had no further contact with the Dark Alliance. They had long departed from the Alliance, severing all relations.

By seeking Withered Branches' help through old connections, Luo Ye actually breached the rules of the Dark Alliance. However, given the significance of a certain treasure, he felt compelled to do so. Fortunately, Withered Branches, remembering their past camaraderie, agreed to offer limited assistance.

Luo Ye explained all this to reassure Meng Zhang, who had bravely accepted Daoist Master Black Fox's risky proposal, mainly to assist her. Hearing Luo Ye's detailed account, Meng Zhang no longer harbored any doubts. Even the disdainful Extreme Sword Spirit General didn't object to or refute Luo Ye's explanation or the plan.

The four waited until dawn was about to break, then left for a base nearby. Withered Branches provided four cloaks, practical low-level magic tools that concealed their appearances, masked their auras, and helped in identifying each other.

Upon reaching the foot of a hill, they found a Second Rank flying ship, specially designed for cargo, much larger than typical ships of its class, with ample internal space. Many cultivators, dressed similarly, had already gathered there. Most were moving cargo, while some boarded the ship empty-handed.

Despite the crowd, there was hardly any conversation, mostly just gestures. They seemed indifferent to strangers, focused solely on their tasks. Meng Zhang's group, cloaked, went unchallenged and unquestioned.

Luo Ye, seemingly familiar with the place, silently led them onto the ship. In the surrounding darkness, similarly dressed cultivators occasionally emerged, joining the crowd. Like Meng Zhang's group, many boarded the ship empty-handed, their cargo—if any—concealed in their storage magic tools.

In the Jiuqu League, due to a shortage of Void Nether Stones, storage capacity was limited. For transporting large quantities of goods, they relied on large-scale Demonic Beasts or, as in this case, flying ships.

[Read at Patreon.com/maxnkoga , without ads and support the work.]