Chapter 270: Chapter 260: Entering the Eastern Wilderness Academy, Learning about the Demon Slaying List

Standing above the expanse of Green Heaven, Hong Yuan’s will descended upon the Sword Tao Incarnation, gazing down at the battered and scarred land below.

Green Heaven is the first of the Nine Heavens, its space far more robust than the mortal world.

Yet even so, the punch from that young Heavenly Horned Ant Emperor had obliterated nearly a hundred miles of this area—truly an extraordinary show of strength!

Involuntarily, Hong Yuan thought of his Original Body, his Demonic Body.

If the Power Tao Incarnation finds the tribulation so difficult, my Original Body and Demonic Body will only face greater hardships.

By then, won’t I be facing several Young Emperors? Perhaps even Young Emperors from the Human Race will appear!?

The path to eternal life is indeed a difficult one. However, I possess Longevity Martial Arts, so there is no need to rush, no need to rush.

With this thought, Hong Yuan released the Heavenly River Sword and employed Divine Power to destroy the scene.

Earth-level Divine Power—Ancient Sword Dragon Transformation!

Fifty Green Grapes Immortal Nuances were infused into the Divine Skill Talisman for the Ancient Sword Dragon Transformation.

Accompanied by a dragon’s cry, a silver Sword Flood Dragon materialized in the sky.

In a flash of lightning, it pierced through the void, and the Tao Marks left by the Power Tao Incarnation’s tribulation were immediately eradicated by Hong Yuan, leaving no trace behind.

With a glance towards the south, it swung its tail and disappeared without a trace.

Not long after Hong Yuan left, the place welcomed several Martial Saints.

Some rode on divine rainbows, while others transformed into thunder, each one exuding an extraordinary presence.

This group of people were the top Marquises and Kings within the Daxuan Dynasty!

"That just now was the trail of the Marquis of Dragon Sword, wasn’t it..." said the Northern Guard King, dressed in a dark python robe, squinting his eyes.

"Indeed, our Marquis of Dragon Sword does keep a low profile~" Luoyin Marquis commented with a hint of emotion.

The other Martial Saints remained silent, quietly observing the site.

The Northern Guard King was a leading figure of the Phoenix Princess faction, while Luoyin Marquis was part of the Crown Prince faction.

The two did not see eye to eye and had underlying conflicts.

But Martial Saints are "Immortals" who transcend the ordinary, fully capable of ignoring the imperial power struggle between the Phoenix Princess and the Crown Prince.

Moreover, with the Daxuan Dynasty on the decline, their status as Martial Saints had become even more detached.

The Demon Clan has four Holy Lands; the Human Race has Five Great Academies.

Both stand side by side in the world, competing against each other.

The Five Great Academies of the Human Race all belong to the Tao Heritage of the Dragon Sun Martial Emperor. They contain multiple Creations and even secret techniques and treasures to help Martial Saints overcome tribulations, making them truly marvelous.

They serve as a Holy Land for young Martial Saints to further their studies, gathering Heavenly Talents from the Five Major Continents of the Human Race, each with extraordinary capabilities.

Most importantly, they do not care about one’s origin, only whether these Martial Saint prodigies have grasped the essence of the Human Tao spirit.

Human Tao spirit—

For instance, if a young Martial Saint wishes to enter the Eastern Wilderness Academy, they must comprehend the Human Tao spirit and be recognized by the Book Mountain of the Heaven Earth Secret Realm.

Hong Yuan had taken advantage of Zhang Yinghe’s moment of grasping the profound meaning of ’As Heaven maintains vigor through movement, a gentleman should constantly strive for self-perfection.’ This allowed the Heavenly River Sword to forcibly squeeze in, barely securing an opportunity from the Book Mountain within the Heaven Earth Secret Realm.

「One day, the Eastern Wilderness Academy welcomed an unexpected visitor.」

Eastern Wilderness Academy, the Tao Heritage of the Dragon Sun Emperor. Hong Yuan thought with emotion, lifting his eyes to observe the scene before him.

The Eastern Wilderness Academy was hidden within Bayong Mountain, accessible only to those with the fate and ability.

Here, birds sang and flowers bloomed in abundance, the weather was fine, and the surroundings were wreathed in ethereal, misty clouds.

Heaven and earth were connected, creating a unique climate, complete with waterfalls hanging from the sky.

The trees were ancient and robust, brimming with vibrant vitality.

The deeper one walked, the richer the human presence became, and a sense of tranquility settled over one’s spirit.

This was a precious place, truly a treasure!

Unknowingly, Hong Yuan arrived at the gates of the Eastern Wilderness Academy.

A very simple wooden door seemed as though anyone could open it, yet the occasional emanations of deep, ancient cultural heritage made Hong Yuan unconsciously stop his steps and quietly scrutinize this simple wooden door.

"Mu Ruan, do you think the Marquis of Dragon Sword can push open the wooden door and step into the Eastern Wilderness Academy?" Shuiyan asked softly, her eyes filled with inquiry.

Mu Ruan looked at her good friend, then peeked at Phoenix Princess Tang Xi, who was seated in the main seat. Seeing that Tang Xi showed no reaction, Mu Ruan replied softly,

"The Marquis of Dragon Sword hails from the Demon Tao and possesses an extremely strong killing intent. I’m afraid he’s about to suffer greatly and lose all face."

Tang Xi raised her hand to her face, concealing her expression, and sighed internally: The Human Tao spirit isn’t so easily comprehended. Anyone who grasps it can be called a contemporary great scholar. You, a Demon Cultivator, why bother humiliating yourself like this?

Not only was the Phoenix Princess paying attention, but the Daxuan Crown Prince Tang Anshi and his subordinates were also watching from the sidelines.

Basically, every idle official and aristocrat within the Daxuan capital had arrived here.

A Martial Saint from the Demon Tao attempting to enter the Eastern Wilderness Academy—how utterly ridiculous!

Under the expectant gaze of the crowd, Hong Yuan slowly pressed his hand against the wooden door.

BUZZ. BUZZ.

Space began to tremble, and fallen leaves danced upon the wind.

The green robe on Hong Yuan’s body rustled, fluttering up and down.

In a trance, Hong Yuan’s consciousness drifted, and he once again reached the Book Mountain of the Heaven Earth Secret Realm.

This mountain was truly peculiar: its rocks and vegetation were all crafted from white paper, while its streams and waterfalls were of pitch-black ink. Where the ink waterfalls crashed into deep pools, they stirred up myriad splashes that transformed into written characters.

These characters each contained different Tao and principles, interpreting the laws of this world.

But at the next moment, Book Mountain revived on its own, severely rejecting Hong Yuan.

However, a small, grass-like manifestation of the character ’Sword’ suddenly appeared within Hong Yuan’s will, forcibly gaining Book Mountain’s acknowledgment; this was the ’Sword’ character Xiao Cao.

This ’Sword’ character Xiao Cao was precisely the opportunity Hong Yuan had forcefully seized years ago with the help of the Heavenly River Sword.

At this moment, it fully revealed its purpose.

For a time, various thoughts flashed through Hong Yuan’s mind, conjuring up memories unique to the Sword Tao Incarnation.

The shattered essence of sword-type Instruments, the conviction of ’revenge’ entrusted to him, the campaigns in Qingyang and Nanyang, the battles at Qinglu Taoist Temple, the gratitude of his senior martial brother and sister-in-law, the joy of Yue’er...

A flash of sword light burst from Hong Yuan’s eyes. "I have no dreams, but I can protect the dreams of others!"

CREAK—

The wooden door slowly creaked open, revealing the space within. Hong Yuan stepped forward and entered, his expression tranquil.

He left behind a group of stunned nobles and officials.

Treating human lives like grass, a Demon Cultivator who used people for his practice—he could actually enter the Eastern Wilderness Academy!?

"How is this possible..." Shuiyan and Mu Ruan’s eyes widened, their silver ornaments trembling and emitting a crisp, pleasant sound.

Bo Qing... The pupils in Phoenix Princess Tang Xi’s eyes contracted as she murmured the name under her breath.

Luoyin Marquis, the Northern Guard King, and the other Martial Saints were just as astounded; in fact, their expressions turned even graver as they regarded Hong Yuan.

The Human Tao spirit is easily spoken of, but those who truly understand it are invariably the prodigies of the Human Race.

In an instant, due to Hong Yuan’s sudden emergence, undercurrents once again surged beneath the Daxuan Dynasty.

Within the Eastern Wilderness Academy, with its towering mountains, flowing waters, and lines of pavilions.

Kong Yande, the Elder of the Eastern Wilderness Academy, stood silently behind the wooden door.

The breeze stirred, swaying the willow branches on the trees, setting off Kong Yande’s moon-white scholar robe and lending him an elegant and graceful air.

"You’ve come, Blood Tao boy. Eh? How could it be you!?" Kong Yande stared silently at Hong Yuan.

According to Book Mountain’s feedback, the one who had received the Human Tao spirit inheritance was supposed to be a passionate youth. Yet, the one standing before him was a murderous fiend, a wielder of the Demon Sword...

One truly cannot judge by appearances, just as the sea’s depths are immeasurable. I was too fixated on my preconceptions.

Kong Yande then shook his head and laughed lightly.

"Come with me."

With that said, Kong Yande began to introduce the architecture of the Eastern Wilderness Academy to Hong Yuan.

Hong Yuan did not say much, quietly following behind Kong Yande, silently memorizing all kinds of information about the Eastern Wilderness Academy in his heart.

The Eastern Wilderness Academy was one of the Dragon Sun Emperor’s Tao Heritages, containing the Great Emperor’s True Transmission.

Hong Yuan had recently confronted the aura of a Young Emperor, so naturally, he would not take this lightly.

"Clear Heart Platform," "Scripture Pavilion," "Hundred Arts Tower," "Demon Slaying List"...

In an instant, Hong Yuan’s gaze fixed on the Demon Slaying List, specifically on the seventy-sixth name.

His eyes landed on the seventy-sixth entry: *Demon Slaying List, 76th: Xuan Qi from Dragon God Sacred Land, original body is the Furious Abyss Dragon...*

"Don’t look. Although the rewards for killing the powerful Demon Cultivators on the Demon Slaying List are generous, you’re currently in no position to handle those eighty-one most ferocious Demon Saints," Kong Yande said indifferently.

"They are not only powerful, but they are also protected by the Demon Clan’s destiny, each being a pillar of their race."

"If you wish to hunt them, you’ll need to reach the Eighth-Rank Big Shot realm at the very least. That’s not something for you to ponder now; your journey has just begun."

At this moment, Hong Yuan’s heart was already surging with tumultuous waves, as if heaven and earth were overturned.

It seems my Demonic Body isn’t safe at all beside the Black Dragon Demon Saint. He’s a ticking time bomb!

Moreover, if the Demonic Body steps into the Demon Saint Realm, its ranking will definitely be higher than the Black Dragon Demon Saint, and the challenges it will face then will only be greater!

There’s no choice; the talents of the Demonic Body have already been revealed and cannot be hidden.

On one hand, the reconstruction of the Great Moon Virtual Mirror is a must.

On the other hand, I must emulate Tianli and become the absolute overlord in the battle for the Ten Thousand Domains, advancing in one fell swoop to become a Demon Saint.

By showing my worth and obtaining substantial protection from the Demon Clan, I can then stay long-term at the Dragon God Sacred Land.

At this moment, Hong Yuan quickly adjusted his goal for the battle of the Ten Thousand Domains.

He resolved to analyze specific situations as they arose and adapt accordingly.

This Demon Slaying List had truly caught Hong Yuan off guard, but fortunately, he still had time.

The battle for the Ten Thousand Domains would require thorough preparation. He couldn’t afford to slack off.