West Nether Cultivation Realm, beneath the Sha Family ore vein.

Within the cave mansion space of the Elemental Five Elements Demon Suppression Array’s sub-array, Qi Xiaoyu, clad in a plain robe, was sitting cross-legged in meditation. For years, he had been guarding this array without daring to make any mistakes.

As for the interior of the Luotian Hall, without the Heaven-Devouring Rat to break the restriction, he couldn’t enter the hall for the moment, so he simply waited outside.

Actually, he was extremely worried about Qin Ming’s safety. However, a battle involving mid to late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators was not something he could rashly join as an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Not only would he be of no help, but he might also risk his life and become a burden.

Yet, after spending years alongside Qin Ming, Qi Xiaoyu had a vague understanding of him. He knew Qin Ming had extraordinary fortune and was destined to be protected by the heavens.

Suddenly.

Within the space of the ancient cultivator’s cave mansion, a faint ripple in the void emerged, prompting Qi Xiaoyu to open his eyes and rise from his meditation.

A trace of vigilance appeared on his face, as this place was crucial for suppressing the ancient demon at Primordial Extreme Mountain.

Soon, before him in the air, countless green light spots slowly converged into a human figure, and an extremely terrifying spiritual pressure descended upon the cave mansion space.

Even Qi Xiaoyu, an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, felt an intense sense of dread under this spiritual pressure.

As the green lights gradually solidified, a verdant, towering figure appeared, akin to a long-standing ancient tree, serene and approachable.

"Fellow Daoist Qin! You’re alright! That’s wonderful!"

Seeing that Qin Ming emerged unharmed, Qi Xiaoyu’s face lit up with delight, and he hurried to greet him.

"I didn’t expect Brother Qi to still be guarding this place. Sorry to keep you waiting." Qin Ming said with a gentle smile, as if a breeze brushed his face.

Qi Xiaoyu waved his hand and said, "When the Luotian Hall changed drastically, without the advantage of the array, I would have perished inside long ago."

"But Fellow Daoist Qin’s divine techniques are astounding. I heard you battled the Celestial Hatred Demon Monarch and that Demon Sect Saintess. Could it be..."

Since seeing Qin Ming emerge, the aura of mana around him had become immeasurably profound. Qi Xiaoyu could no longer comprehend its depth, already hinting at the outcome.

In such a battle, only the living could emerge.

The Celestial Hatred Demon Monarch... must have fallen within Primordial Extreme Mountain.

This was a late-stage Nascent Soul great cultivator. Thinking of this made Qi Xiaoyu shudder with fear.

Qin Ming, now with increased strength, did not hide the truth and said, "Indeed, the Celestial Hatred Demon Monarch of the Blood Refining Demon Sect has been subdued. However, the Lan Bing Saintess had a life-saving Nirvana Divine Secret Technique and managed to escape. She should still be inside Primordial Extreme Mountain now."

"That... Brother Qin’s divine techniques are truly astounding! To be the top figure in the Human Realm, being able to slay someone like the Celestial Hatred Demon Monarch is indeed a great fortune for the Human Race! No wonder a few years ago, the external demonic path forces were in chaos and unwilling to wage war with the Human Race. It was because of this..." Although Qi Xiaoyu had anticipated it, hearing it directly from Qin Ming left him utterly shocked.

"Compared to what Brother Qin has accomplished, my meager efforts count for little. Moreover, I was merely following Elder Lu’s instructions to guard the critical points of the array, to prevent further troubles in Primordial Extreme Mountain."

After listening to Qi Xiaoyu, Qin Ming curiously asked:

"Oh? Cloud-Fishing Elder also emerged? That day I saw that Elder was about to battle the ancient demon, but was transported out by the Luotian Hall’s restrictions, unexpectedly to the outside world."

Qi Xiaoyu sighed in response: "Indeed, the ancient demon known as ’Rock Demon’ was truly formidable. If not for Elder Lu battling with severe injuries, it would’ve caused untold harm to the entire Human Realm."

"After its battle with Elder Lu, the demon wreaked havoc in the Three Kingdoms of Central Continent for five years, causing a bloody storm. If not for Venerable Bingyi of Ice God Hall, Venerable Fuyao of Star Palace, and Elder Lu joining forces to repel it, the disaster would have been unimaginable."

"Was the demon truly so powerful? Could it have reached the late-stage Divinity Transformation?" Qin Ming frowned and asked.

Such a ruthless ancient demon wreaking havoc in the Cultivation Realm was indeed unsettling.

Qi Xiaoyu said, "According to Elder Lu, the demon’s cultivation level was only slightly higher than theirs, truly a mid-stage Divinity Transformation realm, though it might not be its true strength, still recovering..."

"What about the situation in the Human Realm?" Qin Ming immediately changed the topic.

Qi Xiaoyu replied, "Sigh! It’s said that many Nascent Soul colleagues perished within Primordial Extreme Mountain. Even True Monarch Canghe of the Star Palace, True Monarch Miaoling of the Penglai Sect, and True Monarch Ice Profound of Ice God Hall, all three late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, fell there."

"Furthermore, City Lord Longyang of Celestial Sea Alliance and True Monarch Dragon Wood of Penglai Sect... they too did not survive..."

Hearing these familiar names, Qin Ming couldn’t help but sigh deeply: "Alas... I warned them long ago, never expected... Fellow Daoist Dragon Wood..."

"Yes, the consecutive loss of so many high-tier cultivators is an immeasurable blow to the Human Realm’s allied forces," Qi Xiaoyu said. "If not for Fellow Daoist Qin previously slaying numerous demonic Nascent Souls, and now eradicating the great threat of the Celestial Hatred Demon Monarch, the Human Realm might have already been overrun and occupied by the demonic path."