Xuantian Immortal Cultivation Record

In that instant, Zhang Yuanjing and the Fire Crow Taoist felt the world spin, their souls tremble, and their bodies were enveloped in turbid air. They fell rapidly from the sky, and after a few breaths, they landed, dazed and confused, on a high platform.

The surroundings were empty, a breeze caressed them, and the turbid air gradually dissipated. The strong smell of incense sticks filled their nostrils, followed by deafening chants and shouts.

As the two descended from the sky, the surrounding noise vanished, becoming utterly silent.

A moment later, ecstatic shouts erupted like a tsunami, jolting them awake from their stupor.

"Candle God! Candle God!…"

The Fire Crow Taoist looked around and saw that he and Zhang Yuanjing were on a ten-zhang-high platform. Below them, to the south, a dense crowd of people stood on the ground, numbering perhaps over ten thousand.

These people had black paint on their faces, pointed hats made of animal bones and skins on their heads, and bare upper bodies painted with black dragon totems. They waved their arms and shouted "Candle God" wildly, their feet moving to the rhythm of a unique dance, twisting their bodies back and forth, exuding a strong, rugged aura.

Around the crowd were banners like clouds and halberds like forests, with hundreds of powdered and adorned white-clad women holding colorful ribbons, exposing their snow-white bellies, and performing enchanting dances.

Further away were towering giant peaks, like spears inserted into the sky. The mountains were barren, with only grotesque strength and desolation. Endless turbid air enveloped the valley, constantly assaulting and pressing down on them with intense malice, before receding again.

This was a vast mountain valley. The high platform was built against the mountain, with a large cave several zhang in size directly behind it. Black air billowed from within, and gusts of wind stirred, occasionally spewing out clusters of yellow crystals, which were actually magic stones. Some were of high quality, sparkling with brilliant light, being either mid-grade or high-grade.

Above the cave stood dozens of burly men, each over ten zhang tall with bulging muscles, holding iron shovels and long spades, occasionally scooping up large black stones and throwing them into the cave.

To the left, a lean-to rested against the hillside, beneath which sat a dozen powerful demonic cultivators. The ones in the front row all possessed strength above the late stage of the Saint Core Realm. They stared blankly at the nine humans and one ape on the high platform, with expressions of surprise, suspicion, sneering, indifference, or contemplation.

"Senior, is this… the Candle God Sect's stronghold?" Zhang Yuanjing asked the Fire Crow Taoist via voice transmission, without betraying any emotion.

The Fire Crow Taoist's face twitched twice as he replied, "Yuanjing, did you hear what those people below are shouting clearly?"

Only then did Zhang Yuanjing carefully try to distinguish the mixed-up, rumbling sounds, and he was immediately shocked: "Candle God? It seems we've really arrived in the Candle God Sect's heartland!"

The Fire Crow Taoist nodded: "A dozen Saint Core Realm demonic cultivators, tens of thousands of followers, it's at least a branch altar, and an extremely important one at that. This scene looks like a sacrifice!"

Zhang Yuanjing's heart sank, and he said with concern, "A sacrifice? This is a major event for the Candle God Sect. Our sudden appearance here will be difficult to explain!"

If a battle were to break out, with Zhang San not yet recovered, the two of them, being Core Formation cultivators, plus Zhang Yuanjing's two spirit beasts, could at best break through the encirclement, but it would be difficult to escape the subsequent pursuit.

"Yuanjing, don't be anxious. Since they didn't immediately attack and haven't taken any action yet, there might still be a chance. Let's wait and see! If we get into a fight, we'll break through separately, and whoever can escape, escapes!" the Fire Crow Taoist said calmly.

Zhang Yuanjing nodded, knowing this was a prudent plan, and said nothing more.

The two then turned their gazes to the two Saint Core Realm Completion demonic cultivators under the lean-to.

The stone platform was not far from the lean-to, less than a hundred zhang away, so both sides could clearly see each other's faces.

One of the two Saint Core Realm Completion demonic cultivators had a face like gilded gold, light red hair, eyes like copper bells that radiated yellow light, a golden crown on his head, a large red robe, a black silk belt around his waist, and a jade bowl in his hand, sipping blood-colored liquid. The other was dressed as a Taoist Qi refiner, with a star crown and crane-white hair, a feather robe embroidered with ribbons, a clear and bright demeanor, and the appearance of a highly virtuous person.

When the two saw Zhang Yuanjing and the Fire Crow Taoist looking at them, the golden-crowned demonic cultivator rolled his eyes, revealing a fierce light, while the star-crowned demonic cultivator nodded with a smile, expressing goodwill.

Beside the two Saint Core Realm Completion demonic cultivators were two Saint Core Realm late-stage demonic cultivators. They stared at Zhang Yuanjing and the Fire Crow Taoist on the stone platform, their eyes shifting as if pondering something.

After half a quarter of an hour, the tens of thousands of people below no longer shouted "Candle God" but began to sing solemn hymns. The lyrics were neat, with four characters per sentence, magnificent in language, and stirring in meaning, possessing a power that captivated the soul, making even an experienced old cultivator like the Fire Crow Taoist want to immerse himself in it.

After the hymns ended, there was a deafening series of cannon blasts and earth-shattering gong sounds. Finally, their ears were clear, and everything was silent. The tens of thousands of men and hundreds of women all turned their gazes to the two on the stone platform, revealing expressions of anticipation and fanaticism.

At this moment, the star-crowned, crane-haired demonic cultivator laughed loudly, stood up, and said to the golden-crowned, yellow-faced demonic cultivator beside him, "Law King, Hall Master Lü, Hall Master Qi, let's go. The sacrifice is complete, and all eyes are on us. We should go up and welcome the envoys of divine grace. Wouldn't it disappoint the followers if we slight the envoys!"

The golden-crowned, yellow-faced demonic cultivator snorted coldly: "Envoys of divine grace? Very well, since this Law King has been in charge of the Netherworld Cave for two hundred years, this is the first time an anomaly has appeared during a sacrifice. It can be considered a blessing from the Candle God. We must ask clearly and not let divine grace be wrongly bestowed!"

The star-crowned, crane-haired demonic cultivator then said to the two Saint Core Realm late-stage demonic cultivators who were still sitting, "Two virtuous brothers, let's witness it together? Seeing clearly will make it easier to report back to Right Divine Envoy and White Law King!"

A burly man with rough facial features and hair as messy as weeds stood up and said in a muffled voice, "Then let's go take a look. Anyway, they did emerge from the Netherworld Cave. To think that two Core Formation cultivators could survive in the Netherworld Cave is quite a rarity. Hehe, I, Old Qi, wouldn't dare to go in there."

Another Saint Core Realm late-stage demonic cultivator, with a face as black as the bottom of a pot, gold-painted eyebrows, eyes like lightning, and a red beard under his jaw, which was very imposing, also stood up, shook his short, fat body, and said in a deep voice, "Let's go!"

The golden-crowned, yellow-faced demonic cultivator, with a displeased expression, took a step forward, and a gust of Yin wind rose beneath him, carrying him onto the high platform.

The Fire Crow Taoist glanced at Zhang Yuanjing and transmitted his voice: "Don't move rashly, and don't say anything carelessly. But be prepared to break through. If there's any danger, attack immediately, without hesitation!"

The other three demonic cultivators each displayed their skills and flew onto the high platform in turn.

The golden-crowned, yellow-faced demonic cultivator pointed to the sky and asked the Fire Crow Taoist, "Whose will do you uphold?"

The Fire Crow Taoist's expression tightened, recognizing that this question was full of mystery, and he dared not answer casually.

Just as he hesitated, a voice rang in his ear: "If you want to live, answer according to what I say. The answer to this question is—Candle God!"

"Candle God!" The Fire Crow Taoist's eyes swept slightly. None of the four people in front of him moved their lips, and he couldn't tell who was transmitting the voice. However, he had no choice at this time but to answer according to this person's guidance.

"Aww! Yoyoyoyoyo…" The crowd below heard their conversation clearly and let out deafening cheers and shouts.

The golden-crowned, yellow-faced demonic cultivator's face darkened, and he looked back at the lean-to, where a demonic cultivator with gloomy eyes gently shook his head at him. He couldn't help but feel annoyed. The other three demonic cultivators on the platform hadn't transmitted any voices, and in the lean-to, under his subordinates' monitoring, no one had been seen transmitting voices either. Could it really be an envoy of divine grace? What a load of bull! This Law King doesn't believe it!

The golden-crowned, yellow-faced demonic cultivator's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he asked again, "What is your purpose here?"

The Fire Crow Taoist smiled slightly, waited for a breath, and sure enough, that voice came again, saying four words: "Bestow blessings on behalf of the god." So, he repeated these words, without adding a single one.

The golden-crowned, yellow-faced demonic cultivator's face became even more unsightly, and he asked again, "What blessings do you bestow?"

That voice said, "Heal Lord Candle Dragon."

When the Fire Crow Taoist heard this, he was shocked and couldn't help but hesitate. The so-called "Lord Candle Dragon" was the Candle God Sect's divine beast, Candle Dragon, which was the foundation of the Candle God Sect. How could he heal it?

At this time, that voice added, "Answer quickly, or you will surely die."

The golden-crowned, yellow-faced demonic cultivator noticed the Fire Crow Taoist's hesitation, and a look of suspicion flashed in his eyes. He glanced at the other three demonic cultivators on the platform, and finally landed on the star-crowned, crane-haired demonic cultivator, who smiled at him slightly, showing no abnormality.

"Heal Lord Candle Dragon!" The Fire Crow Taoist dared not delay any longer and said decisively.

The tens of thousands of followers below roared "Woo-hoo!", then shouted wildly, "Divine grace descends, may the Holy Sect prosper forever!" The strong men standing by the deep cave sang and danced, waving iron shovels and long spades, striking gold and iron, making clanging sounds. Everyone, from top to bottom, was immersed in fanaticism.

Above the high platform, Zhang Yuanjing scanned with his spiritual sense and saw that the vast majority of these ten thousand people were Blood Refinement Realm demonic cultivators, with a small number being Foundation Establishment Realm demonic cultivators. Among them were many Foundation Establishment late-stage, and even Completion Realm demonic cultivators, but each of them seemed to be immersed in it, fascinated and intoxicated, all in a state of fanatical belief, and he couldn't see any pretense. He couldn't help but be secretly shocked, and his understanding of the Candle God Sect's power grew even greater.

The golden-crowned, yellow-faced demonic cultivator had a cold smile on his face, and his murderous eyes swept over the Fire Crow Taoist before asking again, "When will you bestow the blessings?"

His peripheral vision secretly landed on the star-crowned, crane-haired demonic cultivator on the left.

The Fire Crow Taoist waited for two breaths, and when he didn't hear the voice coming, he answered ambiguously, "When the time is ripe, the Candle God will naturally give guidance!"