The Danxin Sect's crisis was averted without a trace, but not without a significant cost.
One Golden Core cultivator died in battle, and of the more than 50 Foundation Establishment cultivators left to defend the sect, only a dozen or so remained.
If Xiao Fei had not stepped up at the last moment, single-handedly holding off the attacks of the old sect leader and over 100 rogue cultivators, the disciples of Danxin Sect would have been annihilated.
After the battle, the eyes of all Danxin Sect disciples towards Xiao Fei had changed.
No one had expected that this former alchemy prodigy, after disappearing for decades, would return with such formidable strength.
They wondered what he had experienced during those lost years.
The Danxin Sect was in disarray after the great battle, with ruins everywhere. Fortunately, the Qi Refining disciples had not been completely wiped out. After the Foundation Establishment cultivators collected the valuable spoils, the remaining arduous tasks were handed over to the Qi Refining disciples.
In a grand hall, Ancestor Shangguan and Ancestor Peng sat at the head, while Xiao Fei, following behind True Person Guangling and Zhu Yu, stood below.
"You all performed admirably in this battle. You will each receive a batch of supplies from the sect's treasury, and all participants will be generously rewarded. Subsidies will be provided to the families of those who perished."
Ancestor Peng waved his hand, setting the reward standards.
"Many thanks, Ancestors!"
After True Person Guangling bowed in gratitude, he asked,
"May I ask, Ancestors, what is the matter with this demon?"
Although there were records of demons in some sect scriptures, they were not detailed. True Person Guangling, like others, only had a vague understanding of them.
"Demons are not native beings of this world. They originate from other realms and arrive here through certain spatial channels.
Tens of thousands of years ago, several passages to other worlds suddenly appeared in the cultivation world, and dense demonic energy emanated from the other side.
At that time, many viewed this as a great opportunity, believing a golden age of cultivation was about to dawn. Some even entered the passages to explore the worlds beyond, hoping to gain fortuitous encounters.
However, these individuals never returned. It is unknown whether they found their fortunes or became fortunes for others.
Concurrently, many beings different from humans emerged from these passages. These creatures were bizarre in appearance, with peculiar combat methods, and they called themselves demons.
The arrival of the demons quickly plunged the cultivation world into chaos, nearly leading to the extinction of humanity in this realm."
The human race of this world, at a great cost, finally managed to expel the demons. The remaining demons were either slain or sealed.
However, after this war, the world suffered immense losses, damaging its foundation. The concentration of spiritual energy declined, and many rare spiritual items became extinct.
The overall cultivation level of the entire cultivation world dropped by several tiers compared to before.
"Since the demons were all slain or sealed, where did this Nine-Eyed Demon come from?"
"Although the remaining demons in this world were slain or suppressed, they left behind demonic seeds."
"The origin and existence of these demonic seeds are unfathomable. Some individuals, upon unknowingly coming into contact with a demonic seed, develop inner demons. These inner demons gradually influence and distort a person's mind.
The inner demons reside within cultivators, feeding on their malevolent thoughts and various emotions to grow. Eventually, when an inner demon reaches a certain level of maturity, it hatches, becoming a new demon."
Ancestor Shangguan seemed to be in a good mood today, patiently explaining some of the demons' characteristics to them.
Xiao Fei then had a general understanding. The sect leader must have been a normal person, but somewhere, he was invaded by a demonic seed.
Without his own awareness, it gradually altered his beliefs and behavior, eventually turning him into a rogue cultivator.
Until the end, when the old sect leader was burned to death by Xiao Fei, he was unaware that his mind had been deeply corrupted by demonic influence, and he had become a host for the demons' growth.
Many demonic cultivation techniques currently prevalent in the cultivation world are pirated versions of demonic race techniques.
The rogue cultivator who took the young demon might have done so for research into cultivation techniques, or for other purposes. It is difficult for outsiders to guess.
From the mouths of the Nascent Soul Ancestors, Xiao Fei also heard a secret: the Falling Dragon Abyss, the entrance selection mission for the four great sects of Lu Kingdom, was the place where human ancestors slew a demon dragon in ancient times.
The corpse of this demon dragon transformed into the Falling Dragon Abyss.
Xiao Fei couldn't help but recall the bald man he encountered in the Falling Dragon Abyss. His divine abilities were strange and difficult to deal with, and his second sister's ability to devour essence blood was obtained from that bald man.
However, the four great sects later sent people to investigate, but found nothing.
After Ancestor Shangguan shared some information about the demons with them, they prepared to take their leave.
"Xiao Fei, stay behind. The rest of you may go."
"Yes!" True Person Guangling and Zhu Yu bowed and turned to leave.
Only the two Nascent Soul Ancestors and Xiao Fei remained in the hall.
Xiao Fei was puzzled. Ancestor Shangguan had previously mentioned that he should find her after this battle.
He had initially thought Ancestor Shangguan was coveting his beauty. Now, seeing Ancestor Peng also remaining in the hall, and with their solemn expressions, it didn't seem to be about such matters.
Xiao Fei wondered whether to feel fortunate or disappointed.
"Xiao Fei, I think highly of you. To have endured decades in a squalid place like Eagle Mountain Kingdom yet remained true to your original intentions, untainted by the mire, your disposition is beyond that of ordinary people."
Ancestor Shangguan praised him again.
When a person is in a certain environment, they are easily influenced by their surroundings and eventually assimilate with them.
Despite cultivating techniques like those of zombies and struggling among rogue cultivators for decades, Xiao Fei still held loyalty to the sect. This was what the two Ancestors valued most.
Only such disciples are truly reliable, worthy of important responsibilities, and, of course, most suitable for being sent to their deaths.
"Your performance in the battle this time was outstanding, saving the entire situation. I intend to reward you.
Here are several items; you may choose one as your reward."
As Ancestor Shangguan spoke, she extended her hand, and ten items appeared before her, floating in the air.
These ten items might not be much to Nascent Soul Ancestors, but to a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Xiao Fei, each one was a treasure.
Seeing this, Xiao Fei felt a sense of heaviness.
If she merely intended to reward him, there was no need for such a grand gesture. He was just a small Foundation Establishment cultivator; frankly, he didn't deserve it.
Any single item, passed through True Person Guangling, would have sufficed.
For those in positions of power, deigning to meet him in person and offer praise was already a great boon, enough to make a subordinate willing to lay down their life.
Now, not only was he being praised to his face, but he was also being offered precious treasures, which weighed heavily on Xiao Fei.
There was once a mortal general who personally helped a soldier by sucking out a festering hemorrhoid. The soldier was deeply moved and could only repay the general with his life.
However, it was too late to refuse now; it would only be seen as ungrateful. When a superior offers you favor, you must accept it gracefully.
Moreover, among the treasures before him, there were indeed several that he greatly desired.
There were third-tier materials, second-tier rare spiritual medicines, as well as spirit artifacts, elixirs, and other items. Each one was enough to make Foundation Establishment cultivators fight fiercely for it.
Finally, Xiao Fei's gaze settled on a section of lotus root.
This section of lotus root was very fresh, with many vibrant rootlets still attached, preserving its vitality well.
This item was called the Nine Bends Golden Lotus, a crucial material required for refining a substitute puppet.
Xiao Fei had long wanted to refine a substitute puppet. He had gathered all the other materials and now only lacked the Nine Bends Golden Lotus.
Since Ancestor Shangguan had presented it as a prize, he decided to claim it first.