Cai Li explained coolly, "In this battle, Lao Qi not only killed a Tier Three Celestial Demon and dozens of Tier Two Celestial Demons, but he also helped Master repel the Demoness, completely turning the tide."

Upon hearing this, Huang Shen, Master Wanqing, and Hua Yutang all looked on in utter disbelief.

’How long has Seventh Junior Brother been in the sect? How could he already have such terrifying abilities?’

Especially since just a few years ago, he had specifically asked Huang Shen and Feng Ziang for help to deal with the Mad Daoist for Madam Ye. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

And now, only a few years later, their junior brother was already this powerful.

Even though he had made a great showing in the Earth Abyss back then, it was like the difference between heaven and earth compared to the accomplishments Cai Li described today.

Sun Fuguo said, "Fang Cheng, after this, take this Talisman Decree and go to Celestial City Peak. The Supreme Elder wishes to see you."

With that, he presented a Talisman Decree, faintly shimmering with Demonic Light, which floated before Fang Cheng.

Fang Cheng accepted the Talisman Decree and said, "Thank you, Master."

’As for the Demon Buddha Lineage, I’ll inform Sun Fuguo in private so the Yinluo Sect can make preparations in advance.’

Sun Fuguo’s gaze swept over the disciples. "This battle has brought me one step closer to the Life Soul Realm," he said dispassionately. "But this final step is still as difficult as ascending to heaven. In the coming days, I will enter death seclusion. If I succeed, I succeed. If I fail, this life of mine will be over..."

"That is why I have summoned you all, to impart my teachings to you one last time."

The six disciples sat upright, their expressions solemn as they looked at Sun Fuguo.

Fang Cheng’s eyes flickered. ’I never expected Master Sun Fuguo’s will and determination to achieve the Dao to be so resolute that he would enter death seclusion.’

’I suppose only a man with his mental fortitude could cultivate his Sword Technique to such a terrifying degree.’

Fang Cheng sighed to himself and began to listen intently to Sun Fuguo’s teachings.

...

「Three days later.」

Fang Cheng and his fellow disciples emerged one by one from Sun Fuguo’s Cave Mansion.

’I never found a suitable opportunity to bring up the Demon Buddha Lineage. Now that Master is about to enter death seclusion and I have to meet the Supreme Elder, I might as well inform the Supreme Elder directly.’

With various expressions on their faces, they bade each other farewell and went their separate ways.

Fang Cheng rode his Escape Light toward Celestial City Peak. He hadn’t flown far from Demon Lion Peak when he heard a sweet, melodious voice call out from behind him:

"Junior Brother, please wait a moment."

Fang Cheng turned and saw his Fifth Senior Sister, Hua Yutang, catching up to him.

She wore a long gown and carried herself with a dignified air. Looking to be in her late twenties, she had the appearance of a gentle and stunningly beautiful young madam.

This woman had been a concubine to an Inner Sect Elder of the Wang Family. Later, due to her outstanding talent in the Sword Dao, she rose step-by-step from concubine to Outer Disciple, then Inner Sect Disciple, and finally to her current position as a True Disciple. One could say she had truly defied her fate.

Fang Cheng looked at his beautiful senior sister and smiled. "Is there something I can help you with, Senior Sister?"

A playful light flickered in Hua Yutang’s beautiful eyes. She glanced at him, her lips curving into a smile. "What, can’t I call out to you unless I need something?"

She unconsciously exuded a subtle, seductive charm—a quality that could be felt but not articulated.

’The old saying is true,’ Fang Cheng thought, now understanding it on a deep level. ’Every beautiful woman has her own unique brand of beauty.’

Her long gown billowed in the wind, cinched at the waist by a white silk ribbon that left the alluring curve of her waist and hips on full display.

Fang Cheng’s expression turned serious. "We don’t interact much, Senior Sister, so I naturally assumed you must have called out to me for a reason."

Hua Yutang feigned a pout. "And you have the nerve to say that. You’ve been in the sect for years, but you’ve never once offered to visit your senior sister’s Cave Mansion."

Although she was the concubine of that Inner Sect Elder from the Wang Family, their relationship had been in name only ever since she became Sun Fuguo’s disciple. They each had their own Cave Mansion.

Sensing the hidden meaning in her words, Fang Cheng chuckled. "I will definitely pay you a visit another day, Senior Sister. Today is just inconvenient, as I have to go see the Supreme Elder."

Hua Yutang gave a charming smile and flew to Fang Cheng’s side. "Alright, I’ll stop teasing you," she said softly. "I noticed just now that your Life Soul has sustained a hidden injury. As it happens, I have a Spiritual Medicine in my Cave Mansion with a miraculous effect on healing such wounds, so I was thinking of having you come over."

Fang Cheng inhaled the subtle, orchid-and-musk-like fragrance in the air. His gaze fell upon her delicate, fair face, and he smiled slightly. "Thank you, Senior Sister. I’ll head over shortly."

A faint smile touched Hua Yutang’s lips. "In that case, I will prepare some fine wine and delicacies and await your grand arrival, Junior Brother."

With that, her long gown fluttering, she abruptly flew backward, transforming into a streak of sword light that returned to Demon Lion Peak.

Fang Cheng watched her departing figure, a thoughtful expression on his face. After a moment of contemplation, he continued toward Celestial City Peak.

...

Before long, Fang Cheng arrived before a towering and majestic mountain.

Celestial City Peak.

It was the most majestic peak on Yinluo Island, rising like a pillar to the heavens and looking down upon all other mountains.

He still remembered coming here to comprehend the Netherworld Sword Technique back when he had just become an Inner Sect Disciple.

The Yinluo Sect’s Scripture Pavilion was situated beneath a cliff on this very mountain, held aloft by the hands of a Strong Bone Demon formed from a high-grade, third-rank White Bone Relic.

The Scripture Pavilion was one of the Yinluo Sect’s three great forbidden grounds.

The second was the Earth Abyss.

And the third was the very place Fang Cheng was headed to today.

At that moment, Fang Cheng looked up and saw it: the Fourth-rank Magical Artifact, the Bone Daoist Palace, suspended in the sky above Celestial City Peak.

This magnificent, immense Daoist Palace was forged entirely from white bone, its surface covered in bizarre and intricate patterns that exuded an ancient yet pure demonic aura.

The Bone Daoist Palace constantly devoured and expelled vast quantities of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. Turbulent clouds swirled around it, and violent astral winds raged.

Without a Talisman Decree to grant them passage, any ordinary Life Talisman Cultivator who drew too close would be swept away by the torrents of astral wind that crashed like waterfalls and surged like tides around the Bone Daoist Palace.

Fang Cheng took out the Talisman Decree and channeled his Magical Power into it. A beam of Demonic Light from the talisman enveloped him, instantly carrying him up to the Bone Daoist Palace.

In the blink of an eye, he landed on the massive platform before the gates of the Daoist Palace.