Xuantian Immortal Cultivation Record

To reach Six Peaks Immortal City and enter the Southern Route, one usually passes through the territories of the Three Mountains and Seven Caves. If taking the Northern Route, one must traverse the lands of the Two Sects and Six Factions. The Two Sects are the Azure Wood Sect and the Flowing Fire Sect, while the Six Factions are the Brilliant Mountain Faction, the Three Yin Faction, the Golden Talisman Faction, the Illusion Moon Faction, the Cloud Water Faction, and the Bloodshed Faction.

These two major regions, one to the south and one to the north, cover an area of nearly two million miles. They are the two most powerful areas of cultivation forces outside the regions surrounding the Six Factions' mountain gates. However, these sects are constantly engaged in internal strife, and their structures frequently change. Most importantly, neither region possesses a medium-grade spiritual vein, lacking the conditions to become a medium-sized sect, and therefore, they are not valued by the Five Great Sects.

The cultivators of the Three Mountains and Seven Caves rarely venture into the territory of the Two Sects and Six Factions at Gloomy Earth Mountain. However, at the western junction of these two regions, there is a deep mountain swamp called Yu Mountain Marsh, a crucial place for producing natural treasures. Cultivators from both regions frequently visit this place to seek spiritual materials. Yu Mountain Marsh stretches across the main road leading to the northwest. Beyond this mountain range, another two hundred thousand miles to the northwest lies Gloomy Earth Mountain.

"Senior, look, that is Yu Mountain Marsh. This place combines the atmosphere of mountains and seas, it's truly magical. If not for the endless bounty of this place, neither the Three Mountains and Seven Caves nor the Two Sects and Six Factions would be anything more than water without a source, or trees without roots!" Min Huiye spoke naturally and eloquently, standing beside Zhang Yuanjing within Ape Thirteen's escaping light, advancing rapidly.

After meeting Fire Crow Daoist that day, Zhang Yuanjing only pondered for half a day before deciding to go to Gloomy Earth Mountain. After thinking it over, he felt that this so-called Xuan Yin Cave herb gathering seemed suspiciously shrouded in mystery, and without the Thick Earth Transformation Cauldron's assistance, it would likely be fraught with peril. As long as there was even a sliver of a chance to awaken the Transformation Cauldron, he wanted to try. If he succeeded, where could he not go! There would also be no need to detour via the Southern Route, saving a lot of time.

So, the following afternoon, he set off with Min Huiye. After leaving the area of Xun Mountain, they met up with Ape Thirteen, then took flight on their swords, heading straight for the northwest. To accommodate Zhang Yuanjing and Min Huiye, two Foundation Establishment cultivators, Ape Thirteen only flew at half speed, but even that was more than twice as fast as Zhang Yuanjing's own escaping technique.

Upon first seeing Ape Thirteen, Min Huiye was indeed startled, and also shocked by Zhang Yuanjing's strength. He thought to himself, "No wonder this Senior Zhang, despite only having Foundation Establishment strength, insisted on going to Gloomy Earth Mountain. It turns out he has a Core Formation stage spirit beast." Zhang Yuanjing naturally wouldn't explain what a battle partner was, letting him misunderstand.

Along the way, with Min Huiye guiding the way, Ape Thirteen easily avoided several dangerous places, so they traveled extremely smoothly, reaching the skies above Yu Mountain Marsh in less than twenty days.

Yu Mountain Marsh covers a vast area, with continuous mountain ranges and swamps stretching across it. It is said to extend westward for hundreds of thousands of miles, connecting to Dragon Mountain Marsh on the west side of Six Peaks Immortal City, creating a dividing line across this millions-mile-wide land. This is the true origin of the so-called Southern and Northern Routes.

The Yu Mountain Marsh at the junction of the Three Mountains and Seven Caves and the Two Sects and Six Factions is only the eastern starting point. Although it stretches for over ten thousand miles, it rarely has true demons of the Core Formation stage, which is why it can become an adventure paradise for cultivators of these forces.

"Huiye, are there any flying beasts in this area that are good at flying and move in groups?" Zhang Yuanjing had been talking with Min Huiye for many days and had become familiar with him, so he was much more friendly in his address.

"Yes, Senior. There are many flying beasts here. There are two types that move in groups. One is called the Thorn Poison Owl, which can spray poisonous water like long thorns, and they often move in groups of a dozen or so. The other is called the Fang Finch, which is very small, shaped like a sparrow, with sharp teeth in its beak. Once they take off, there are hundreds or even thousands of them. Even Core Formation cultivators can only temporarily avoid their sharp edges," Min Huiye hurriedly said, worried that Zhang Yuanjing would rely on the protection of his Core Formation stage spirit beast and force his way through Yu Mountain Marsh from the air.

"Then let's not take risks and go through the ground!" Zhang Yuanjing still had lingering fears about aerial combat with flying creatures. Hearing Min Huiye's introduction, he immediately chose a safer route. "How long does it usually take to cross Yu Mountain Marsh?"

"At its narrowest point, Yu Mountain Marsh is only about ten thousand miles wide. If there are no fierce demons blocking the way, it can be crossed in about two days," Min Huiye said, seemingly very familiar with this place, as if reciting a family treasure. "I know three passages through this mountain swamp. The shortest one is only eight or nine thousand miles, but there are many demons on the road, making it dangerous to travel, and cultivators rarely go there. The longest one is over twenty thousand miles, but there are fewer demons and many cultivators come and go."

"Let's take the shortest one!" With Ape Thirteen as a powerful fighter, Zhang Yuanjing didn't care about the number of demons and immediately made a decision.

"Okay, I'll lead the way."

According to Min Huiye's guidance, Ape Thirteen landed beside a large lake. This lake is sandwiched between two mountains, with a water surface of a thousand miles in circumference, wide in the south and narrow in the north. The section that goes deep into the mountains is actually a large river, originating from several peaks over two thousand zhang high on the north side.

The route through the mountains is to go upstream along the river channel in the northern section of the lake. At the end of the river, there is a narrow mountain stream. After passing through the mountain stream, you will reach the northern side of Yu Mountain Marsh, where there is a dense forest stretching for thousands of miles, with many powerful demons in it, but they are all in the Spirit Awakening Realm. Passing through the dense forest is considered crossing Yu Mountain Marsh.

Yu Mountain Marsh is both a paradise for cultivators and a hotbed for demons. The treasures of this place have nurtured tens of thousands of demons. Because they fight with cultivators year-round, they are full of hostility towards any human who dares to enter Yu Mountain Marsh. Once discovered, they will attack in groups, determined to kill them. Therefore, cultivators who enter Yu Mountain Marsh always travel in groups, making Zhang Yuanjing's group of two people and one beast quite rare.

"Brother Ape, there will be a big battle in the future. In this mountain, you can let go of your restraints and fight to your heart's content, just consider it a warm-up!" Zhang Yuanjing looked into the distance across the lake, with lush greenery hiding unknown dangers. If he wanted to pass through quickly, he had to rely on Ape Thirteen to display his great power.

Ape Thirteen was immediately overjoyed, scratching his ears and cheeks. He quickly took off the clothes, leather hat, and mask that covered his fur, put them all into his storage bag, then somersaulted twice in place, grinning and saying, "Brother Yuanjing, should I kill all the enemies we encounter?"

Zhang Yuanjing was speechless upon hearing this, then a bold spirit arose. He thought that in such a dangerous place, there was no need to be restrained, so he completely untied him: "You don't need to use your aura concealment technique anymore, release all your aura. If there are still monsters coming, kill them all!"

Ape Thirteen raised his head and let out two strange cries, touched his storage bag, grabbed the Heaven Mixing Staff, held it in his hand, and shouted, "I, Old Ape, will clear the way, you just follow me!"

The three then proceeded north along the east bank of the lake. Before long, a water monster emerged from the lake, with a fish head and beast body, two feet on the ground, and long fins like hands, standing upright and rushing towards Zhang Yuanjing.

"It's a fish beast, a common demon in the swamp, its strength is..."

Min Huiye was introducing the characteristics of this beast when Ape Thirteen stepped forward and smashed it into a pulp with one blow. This was just a Savage Blood Realm late-stage demon beast, perhaps its intelligence was confused, or perhaps it thought that Ape Thirteen, this monkey demon, would help it, and rushed out in a daze.

"Brother Ape, speed up, don't bother with demons that can't keep up with our speed!" Zhang Yuanjing didn't even look at it, only urging them to speed up.

Min Huiye also wisely shut his mouth, closely following Zhang Yuanjing's escaping figure.

Deterred by Ape Thirteen's pressure, there were few traces of demons along the way. Occasionally, a few low-level fish, insect, beast, and bird demons rushed out without knowing the immensity of heaven and earth, either scared back by Ape Thirteen, or simply smashed into a bloody mess by the Heaven Mixing Staff.

The two people and one ape kept moving without stopping, and soon entered the side of the great river deep in the mountains. The terrain here gradually became dangerous, and demons appeared on the hillside from time to time. Most of them were in the Savage Blood Realm, and occasionally there were Spirit Awakening Realm demons. As long as they didn't actively attack, the two people and one ape ignored them and just hurried on their way.

Two thousand miles deep into the mountains, several flying creatures finally couldn't bear it and swooped down from the sky, attacking Zhang Yuanjing and Min Huiye directly. These flying creatures were all in the middle and late stages of the Spirit Awakening Realm, with considerable strength. With their agile turning, they avoided Ape Thirteen's attack.

Zhang Yuanjing sneered, raised his right hand, and the Yin Wind Saber flashed out like lightning, cutting down a leading Spirit Awakening Realm late-stage flying creature. With a wave of his left hand, the Dragon Binding Vine flew out, binding another flying creature of the same strength in the Spirit Awakening Realm late-stage. Seeing this, the remaining flying creatures quickly flapped their wings and flew to a higher altitude. However, they were still circling overhead, not leaving.

"A White-browed Eagle and a Golden-striped Eagle!" Min Huiye happily picked up the two demons and said excitedly, "This living Golden-striped Eagle is worth a high-grade spiritual weapon!"

"Well, deal with the dead White-browed Eagle, the spiritual materials are yours, and the meat is for Brother Ape to eat!" Zhang Yuanjing put the Golden-striped Eagle into his spirit beast bag and instructed.

Ape Thirteen looked up at the large birds that were still circling, "Awoo awoo" cried out, waving the iron rod in his hand, appearing somewhat agitated.

"Brother Ape, don't fall for their trick to lure us in, it's better not to go into the air, and you can't catch up with them anyway. If you feel unhappy because you haven't fought, just go forward, and there will definitely be ignorant guys coming to your door," Zhang Yuanjing laughed inwardly, but quickly comforted him.

As expected, after passing through several narrow mountain paths, in a fairly open meadow, more than a dozen wolf demons surrounded them. These wolves had black fur all over their bodies, with a bright luster, like satin. They were eight or nine feet long and about six feet tall, comparable to strong horses. Their strength was all in the Spirit Awakening Realm, and the leader had already reached the Spirit Awakening Realm Great Perfection stage.

"Howling Moon Wolves!" When Min Huiye saw the pack of wolves, his face turned pale with fright, and his lips trembled slightly. "They, they are the Howling Moon Wolf pack. They usually only come out at night."

Zhang Yuanjing glanced around. It was only dusk at this time, and a bright moon was hanging between the cliffs, with a faint halo. The mountains were very dark, but not completely black. For cultivators, even relying purely on their eyesight, the surrounding things were still clearly discernible.

"Brother Ape, don't attack yet, this place is a bit strange. Let's get closer!" Zhang Yuanjing stopped the battle-hungry Ape Thirteen and looked around vigilantly.

"Huiye, what's so scary about Howling Moon Wolves?"

"Senior, this wolf is extremely fast, and it is good at hiding in the dark and ambushing opponents. The most terrifying thing is that they usually appear in groups. There are only a dozen or so here, but if they call for reinforcements, there may be hundreds of them," Min Huiye said haltingly, panting in his mouth. "Howling Moon Wolves have always been active in the mountains further west, and rarely appear in this section of the mountain swamp."

"Well, is there any strange spiritual medicine or other spiritual things here?" Zhang Yuanjing asked.

"I haven't heard of any. This is also one of the thoroughfares between the north and south, so there shouldn't be any spiritual things left behind."

More than a dozen Howling Moon Wolves wandered in the distance, their black and blue eyes staring coldly at Zhang Yuanjing and the others, their eyes greedy and bloodthirsty. However, they neither blocked the roads in front and behind, nor immediately launched an attack, as if waiting for something.