“Guardian Abbot!”
The two robust Luohan lowered their heads and called out to the kindly old monk standing before them.
“Amitabha. I need to go in and check the situation again. Lately, I’ve had a bad feeling—I’m afraid something unexpected may happen.”
Guangdu’s frequent visits did not surprise the two gatekeeping Luohan.
As the Guardian Abbot, Guangdu was the most diligent person in the entire Buddhist Sect.
If the Demon Suppressing Cave were to show any abnormality, it would be a calamity threatening the entire World. Of course he couldn’t help but pay close attention.
The two Luohan simultaneously activated the identity verification technique.
The massive stone gate behind them slowly shifted open, releasing a wave of chilling air mixed with a nauseating stench of rot…
Guangdu put away his benevolent expression, his face growing solemn as he strode inside. As soon as he entered, the gate closed again.
The two Vajra Luohan continued guarding this “powder keg” that could threaten the entire World…
Guangdu walked downward, step by step. He didn’t know how long he’d been walking—yet there was still no end in sight.
On the wall beside the staircase, a history that no one wished to recall was recorded—
Ten thousand years ago, when the cultivation civilization was at its peak, seemingly endless Demons—or more precisely, the Demon Clan—broke free from the void here and plunged the entire World into chaos…
These Demon Clan members were not only extremely savage, but also cunning and devious.
While they devoured this World, they also incited division among all races and factions from within.
At that time, it wasn’t just the Demon Clan running rampant—there were also internal conflicts between humans and beasts, and heretical paths flourishing everywhere!
Fortunately, outstanding talents kept emerging, and many Enlightened Ones struggled to resist. Countless geniuses rose from the chaos.
For example, the Ancestor of the Sword Sect grew into a giant from amidst the turmoil and established the Sword Sect to resist the Demon Clan.
Heavenly Medicine appeared all over the World, providing tremendous aid.
Under the oppression of the Demon Clan, all races finally united as one, gathering the strength of ten thousand clans.
They pushed the Demon Clan back to their original outbreak point and used every available power and spiritual material to set up an unimaginable Seal Formation there!
That outbreak point of the Demon Clan is precisely today’s Demon Suppressing Cave.
Ten thousand years have passed.
Each faction gradually relaxed its vigilance, no longer stationing great manpower and resources at this place that had long since quieted down, leaving only the Buddhist Sect here to guard it.
Perhaps they believed the Demon Clan had already been sealed to death…
Thinking of this, Guangdu let out a soft chuckle.
Once complacency sets in, whether for the human race or any other, they will lose their caution and reverence.
This is the inherent weakness of living beings.
But Guangdu, who had accepted the transmission from the Youxu, knew that these Demon Clan members were still alive.
Though trapped for so long and greatly weakened, they remained an immense threat to a cultivation World that was no longer in its golden age.
Using knowledge from the Youxu, Guangdu was gradually sabotaging the aging Seal Formation.
If left to weaken naturally, it would still take another two thousand years for the formation to fail.
That should have been a disaster for the ten thousand clans two millennia from now.
But now, it could serve as a force to “transform” this turbid World…
“This time… it’s almost done…” Guangdu murmured.
After a long while, a vast, boundless cavern appeared before him.
On the cavern floor lay an intricate, dizzying array of formations, and scattered everywhere were bloodstains, faded over time.
One could only imagine the great cost paid to complete this formation.
Guangdu walked to a stone altar that enshrined a broken sword—one of the Formation Eyes of this array.
It was once the life-bound treasure of a peak Tianfu Enlightened One.
The sword’s name had long since been lost, but even after ten thousand years, it still radiated an awe-inspiring sword light!
The pitch-black power on Guangdu’s body suppressed the Buddha’s Light, shadows cast over his kindly face, making him resemble a demonic Buddha.
He infused his power into the formation. Abyssal black qi began to corrode the ancient sword that had lasted ten thousand years!
Sensing itself being eroded, the Xianjian’s self-defense mechanism was activated, instantly unleashing an unmatched sword aura at Guangdu.
But alas, after ten thousand years, the Xianjian that once slew Tianfu experts with its master was now exhausted…
Already covered in cracks, the broken sword finally shattered completely, turning into a pile of fragments, then dissolving into dust…
“The forty-fourth Formation Eye has been broken. The first layer of the formation is now nearly ineffective. The cunning beasts of Hell Gate will soon descend upon the mortal realm again!”
As if in response to Guangdu’s words, a blood-colored vortex of unknown diameter suddenly appeared on the ground.
From it, countless ash-gray, double-winged creatures flew out!
Very quickly, a Demon Clan member obviously much larger and more fearsome than the others slowly emerged from the vortex…
“Has it already been ten thousand years in the Outer World? Those rebellious ants must have long turned to dust…”
The great Demon Clan member had barely poked its head out and finished its lament when the vortex began to grow extremely unstable.
“Oh, it seems the passage is not stable enough for me to pass through just yet. Tch, the tricks those ants came up with are indeed troublesome.”
“Descendants of Hellkin from the Era of the Gods, with your unbroken lineage, you should recognize my aura. We need to work together.”
Hearing the transmission, the great Demon Clan member finally noticed the human standing nearby.
“Oh, was it you who broke the Seal ahead of time? Nether Void Puppet? You want to cooperate? Do you think you’re worthy? Step aside—don’t attract that one’s attention.”
The Demon Clan member had no interest in discussing “cooperation” with the insect before him.
He didn’t believe the Nether Void Puppet had anything to discuss with him.
Once the Demon Clan seized the World, the next step would be to deal with the Youxu.
After all, if they did not, whoever controlled the remaining World would have to die along with it.
“Without our help, it will be difficult for you to break this formation quickly. We can cooperate,” Guangdu persisted, unfazed by the slight.
But the Demon Clan member, as if hearing a joke, casually replied:
“Breaking this Seal is simple—sacrificing the Souls of several hundred million living beings should be enough to completely shatter it. Hmm, it would take some time… You can be the first.”
“You—”
Before Guangdu could finish, he suddenly felt the power of the Abyss within him rapidly draining away!
In that instant, he understood everything:
“So, my mission was merely to release the Demon Clan. The identity of Unifier only pertained to this task. Now that it’s complete…”
As the Abyssal power completely dissipated from his body, Guangdu’s consciousness paused for a brief moment.
When he came to again, he had reverted to that kindly Guardian Abbot.
He felt as if he’d just awoken from a long, hazy dream—but looking at the sky full of Demons, he knew it had not been a dream…
Without a moment’s hesitation, Guangdu gripped the Demon Vanquishing Pestle in his hand.
Behind him, the Thousand-Hand Golden Dharmic Image emerged as he faced the swarm of Demons in the sky!
Outside, a deep and urgent Warning Alarm echoed endlessly.
All the monks shot to their feet. This alarm—they had thought they’d never hear it in their lifetimes. It meant—
“The Seal is broken!”
……