Shi Feiyang had slain Chuandeng Monk and wiped out the entirety of Haideng Temple, save for the core disciples who had sensibly sensed danger and slipped away early. The rest were all executed cleanly.

Afterward, Shi Feiyang didn't rush to leave but settled down there.

He was about to head to the Himalayas for an appointment with One Light Master and needed to make some preparations in advance. After all, One Light Master was a giant within the Demon Cult, and his mana had faintly caught up to that of Chi Li Lao Fu in days past. According to Shi Feiyang's assessment, even Tian Can would be more likely to lose than win in a duel against One Light Master.

Though Tian Can had already attained the level of a Heavenly Immortal and was merely one step away from ascension, a real duel wasn't just a test of cultivation level. It also depended on weapons, Magical Treasures, and other strategies and techniques, it was the ultimate competition of various factors combined.

One Light Master had practiced longer than Tian Can, managed the Demon Cult for many years, and had a multitude of disciples, having amassed a great deal of resources. Shi Feiyang discerned through the Gua Xiang that at least nine formidable treasures were in his possession. He could guess their rough shape and function, but due to insufficient detailed data, he couldn't deconstruct them.

Immediately, he separated out a wisp of Primordial Qi, shaping an image of himself and a message, and sent it to the North Pole to Xiankong Ancestor using the Flying Sword Transmission method.

Upon receiving the message, seeing that the Dragon Emperor had a matter to attend to, Xiankong Ancestor didn't dare to delay and had Ling Weisou travel along the Earth Axis to reach Outer Heaven Divine Mountain and find Deng Bagu.

Shi Feiyang told Deng Bagu that he wished to deal with One Light Master and that many of the karmic ties involved her. He asked if she wanted to join him.

He gave Deng Bagu a choice. Though she was originally from the Western Demon Cult, she had resolved to renounce evil and return to righteousness. She had not cultivated a Lifebound Demon and had ceased using many of the magic techniques she had practiced before.

If she stayed on the Outer Heaven Divine Mountain, she could avoid many of the entanglements. If she decided to leave the mountain, she would trigger many karmic threads, and the future would unfold in a different manner.

Upon hearing that Shi Feiyang was going to duel One Light Master, Deng Bagu became so agitated that even her hair seemed to quiver with excitement. She followed Shi Feiyang's instructions, settled her affairs, gathered all her Magical Treasures and other essential items, and took them with her as she entered the Earth Axis. She then traveled to the North Pole, and from there, flew to the Shu region.

Meanwhile, Shi Feiyang taught Xiong Man how to refine the Vajra Pestle. He himself extracted the Primordial Spirits of Chuandeng Monk and his two junior brothers, Bai Mo Daoist Feng Wu and Red Lotus Daoist Bi Xi. Inside the Underground Palace of Haideng Temple, he used the Golden Dharma Lamp to set up an Array and create a Dharma Platform. Returning the trio to their original state, he refined them into the Flower Evil Divine Gang.

He originally thought that the four members of the Kunlun Sect arrived to rescue Xiong Man to save face for Xiao Shijiu, and that with the matter settled, they would want to return. Unexpectedly, the four youngsters, hearing that he was going to challenge the renowned magical One Light Master, were immensely excited and reluctant to leave, wishing to continue participating.

Naturally, Shi Feiyang wouldn't refuse them. He instructed Huo Renyu to refine the Demon-Suppressing Cymbals and conceived an even better scheme for him, to maximize its power and add many more ingenious features.

Yu Xiao and Shi Mingzhu were also not idle; their enthusiasm surged as they pondered, "With Master Shi presiding here, preparing to topple Buddha Light Mountain's Zhuanlun Temple and eliminate the Old Demon One Light, we've long heard of this Old Demon's fame. Even our mentors dare not underestimate him. And with all his disciples and grand-disciples, relying solely on us is a bit too thin. We need to invite more people."

The two of them considered whom to invite and discussed with Shi Yuzhu and Huo Renyu, deciding that they must invite fellow disciples from both the Kunlun and Wudang Sects.

Ever since the Patriarch of the Kunlun Sect ascended, initially, nine Great Elders would convene to discuss matters, known as the Nine Friends of Kunlun. But as time passed, with aspirations diverging, they set up separate abodes around the world, seeking their own enlightenment. After experiencing many disputes and changes, one of the elder nuns left in anger, leaving only four Great Elders to preside over major affairs.

Normally, these four also lived apart. For example, Mr. Zhong resided in Laojun Cave in Eastern Sichuan, Zen Master Zhifei in Golden Buddha Temple on Buddha Light Mountain in South Sichuan County, Wei Shaoshao, known as Youlong Zi, in Lion Cave in Fengxiang Gorge of Wushan Mountain – all within the bounds of modern-day Chongqing – and Tian Can's master in the Heavenly Pond of Changbai Mountain in the Northeast for solitary practice.

Overall, the hearts of the Kunlun Sect's members were too scattered; many uncles and elders were unreachable, did not care for taking disciples, and their sect was sparsely populated. Most lived alone in ancient caves amidst verdant hills.

After much deliberation, Yu Xiao and Huo Renyu couldn't find a suitable fellow disciple from the Kunlun Sect; not even the younger generation, and several suitable elder uncles were like carefree cranes at an unknown location.

On the other hand, the Wudang Sect was much more orderly. After the passing of the Heart-Enlightened Divine Nun, who cultivated both Buddhism and Daoism, the elder nun took up the position as Sect Leader. She and the Junior Sect Leader, Lingling Zi, managed the male and female disciples, respectively.

The elder nun had seven female disciples under her direction, collectively known as the Seven Maidens of Wudang, each as beautiful as a Heavenly Immortal.

Shi Mingzhu and Shi Yuzhu couldn't use the Flying Sword Transmission, so they went to Wudang Mountain in person to invite them.

The eldest sister, Zhao Danbi Zhang Jinwen, thought it was no trivial matter after listening and hurried to inform the elder nun.

After the elder nun had finished listening, calculated for a moment, she laughed.

Her appearance was very peculiar. Her head looked as if it had been struck with a pot-sized brick, her back of the skull caved in, the front of her face distorted, from either side lacking completeness as if she had only half a face, hence her name. When she laughed, it was all the more terrifying.

She not only did not recall Shi Mingzhu and Shi Yuzhu but also commanded Zhang Jinwen to take six junior sisters with her.

Wudang Seven Females was to mobilize in full force!

Half-Faced Elder Nun also told Zhang Jinwen to inquire of Linglingzi whether male disciples were needed.

After receiving the news, Linglingzi was very puzzled, wondering from where Master Shi emerged, actually recognizing Qingcheng Sect's Demon Suppression True Master Jiang Shu as a sworn brother, and even challenging One Light Master. What strength did he have to challenge the Old Buddha One Light from the Western Demon Cult?

He specially called the Shi sisters to carefully inquire. After learning about the events that transpired at Haideng Temple, he deemed them quite out of the ordinary, but to say they had the strength to break Zhuanlun Temple again seemed too far-fetched.

He was undecided but knew well that Half-Faced Elder Nun possessed profound Daoist technique and excelled in divination. Since she had dispatched all her disciples, there must be a deeper meaning.

Thus, he let the disciples beneath his tutelage choose if they wished to join, and if not, it was fine to abstain.

He had four disciples in total, known collectively as the Wudang Four Friends, who typically lived unfettered lives, disinterested in meddling in others' affairs; all declined to participate.

Only the junior disciple of another elder, Hao Xingjian, stepped forward. He obediently told his senior sisters he wanted to venture out for experience, to broaden his horizons. Consequently, Wudang Seven Females set off with this little junior brother toward Haideng Temple.

Shi Feiyang had been focusing solely on refining his magical treasure these past days, finding a crystal ball left behind by the Chuandeng Monk.

The Crystal Ball Reflection was a distinct method within the Western Demon Cult. In former years, Chi Li Lao Fu also possessed a large crystal ball. After his rebirth into the Otherworldly Demon Realm, it was passed on to Poison Dragon Venerable. It was said to be as large as a bushel, allowing Poison Dragon Venerable to set up a Dharma Platform, kneel to pray, and cast magic. This way, he could receive support from the Demon Realm across the vast distance, revealing every major and minor event within ten thousand miles inside the crystal ball.

One Light Master's crystal ball was smaller than Chi Li Lao Fu's, and Chuandeng Monk's was even smaller, only as big as a fist. Nevertheless, it proved quite marvellous. Chuandeng Monk had previously employed the crystal ball to cast spells from afar, on one hand, utilizing his disciples' vital blood for linkage, and on the other, making use of this crystal ball. He could launch attacks from Shu directly at Shi Feiyang on Jiuhua Mountain and Jiang Shu at Jiufeng Mountain in Fujian. He almost succeeded in burning Jiang Shu to death with Demon Fire.

Shi Feiyang realized the crystal ball was quite valuable, meticulously studied it, and uncovered its marvellous uses.

His mind was wholly occupied with it. Learning that the Wudang Seven Females had all arrived took him by surprise; he hadn't expected the reclusive and peculiar Half-Faced Elder Nun to permit all her disciples to come and support him, considering the origin of this affair stemmed from his scheduled duel with Old Demon One Light. Therefore, everyone who came was considered to be lending him support.

Besides the Wudang Seven Females, there was also a little junior brother, a disciple of Hao Xingjian, making Shi Feiyang even more astonished. As the youth came to greet him, their eyes met, and Shi Feiyang was suddenly taken aback.

It turned out that after Zhang Sanfeng ascended from the Wudang Sect back then, leaving behind five disciples besides the senior sister who practiced both Buddhist and Daoist dual cultivation, Heart Bright Divine Nun, there were also Lin Mang, Li Qingsheng, and Hao Xingjian.

The five great elders intermingled, with no subservience amongst them, gradually drifting apart. Lin Mang and Li Qingsheng even dabbled in the Evil Path, falling into the Demon Path, committing countless evils.

Heart Bright Divine Nun, together with her junior brother Linglingzi, knelt in front of their master's divine statue to pray to Zhang Sanfeng. During an apparition of True Master Sanfeng, they were directed to find a Demon Refining Sword Technique in the underground chamber.

The two of them sneaked off to Qianling Mountain in Guizhou, refining nine Taiyin Splitting Light Swords. Upon returning, they summoned the other three before Zhang Sanfeng's divine statue, loudly denouncing the sins committed over the years, proclaiming that the teachings they had violated were utterly unforgivable.

Among them, Hao Xingjian had committed the least wrongdoing and was the first to repent, admitting his mistakes before the founder's statue and secluding himself with his disciples in the North Sea for thirty years of penance.

The other two, Lin Mang and Li Qingsheng, refused to accept this. They had each gathered many disciples and, with their students, grand-students, and great-grand-students, totaling over a hundred, relied on their multitude to oppose Heart Bright Divine Nun and Linglingzi. A massacre ensued at Purple Cloud Palace between the two factions.

In the end, Heart Bright Divine Nun and Linglingzi, relying on the nine Taiyin Splitting Light Swords, purged their sect, killing ruthlessly with heads and blood flowing like a river, slaughtering Lin Mang and Li Qingsheng along with all their disciples and grand-disciples.

Speaking of Hao Xingjian, he took his disciples into seclusion in the North Sea amidst ice and snow, setting the strictest of precepts for harsh self-cultivation to atone for their sins.

The disciples he had accepted were also a mixed bunch. They either couldn't bear such restrictions and suffering and left stealthily, or harbored resentments, deviating from their path, with many perishing due to misfortune.

In little more than a decade, all his descendants had withered away, leaving only Hao Xingjian remaining.

Hao Xingjian himself would have faced demise at the hands of an Independent Immortal but fortuitously took a liking to a young boy that year, accepting him as a closed-door disciple, inadvertently helping him overcome a dangerous fated tribulation.

The child was born to a North Sea fisherman's family, whose mother dreamed of a youth shrouded in colorful auroras entering her womb, later born clutching a piece of jade!

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