Chapter 120: Demons Wreak Havoc Upon the Mortal Realm—Has the Opportunity Finally Arrived?

"Haha."

High in the sky, hearing the frantic, enraged roar of the old monster echoing from far behind, Lu Wufei felt incredibly jubilant.

This fight had wiped away all the lingering resentment from over twenty years ago, when that old demon had tried to rob him. It felt glorious.

However, Demon Kings were truly powerful, even the most inconspicuous among them. With his current strength as a disciple of Wuzhuang Temple—enough to crush the vast majority of fellow cultivators at the Golden Core stage—Lu Wufei still dared not be the least bit careless when facing a Demon King. After all, any monster capable of stepping into the realm of a Demon King had a life story that could be written into a legend.

This battle also made Lu Wufei value the role of magical treasures even more. Take that squirrel demon just now; setting aside its true strength, that Soul-Capturing Rope alone possessed a truly astonishing ability. Had an ordinary demon been caught by it, they would have had no choice but to surrender. It was only thanks to his twenty-plus years of seclusion in Wuzhuang Temple, where he had comprehended the great divine ability "Law of Heaven and Earth" from the *Hundong True Essence Heavenly Scripture*, that Lu Wufei had avoided real trouble today. Of course, he had other options, such as using the "Azure Wind Blade," but compared to the former, the latter was clearly inferior.

It was precisely because he had mastered "Law of Heaven and Earth" that Lu Wufei now possessed the qualifications to challenge the Demon King realm. After this first true test of combat since his enlightenment, Lu Wufei realized just how useful and powerful this great divine ability truly was. Naturally, the consumption of spiritual power was equally terrifying.

He casually produced a few blue-red spiritual fruits, popping them into his mouth one after another to replenish his energy.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak."

At this moment, sensing the scent, Little White poked its head out from the collar of Lu Wufei’s robe.

"Scared, were you?" Seeing the lingering shock in the little creature's pitch-black eyes, Lu Wufei stroked its head and smiled.

"Squeak."

Hearing the little one asking for food, Lu Wufei produced a few more crystal-clear fruits, each the size of a longan, and fed them to Little White one by one. These spiritual fruits were all plucked by Lu Wufei himself from the orchards within the Wuzhuang Temple’s grotto-heaven. Due to the presence of the Ginseng Fruit Tree—a heaven-and-earth spiritual root—everything nurtured within the dense spiritual environment of Wuzhuang Temple was extraordinary. Even the fruits from the trees on Longevity Mountain, upon which Wuzhuang Temple sat, could prolong life and provide effects equivalent to ordinary elixirs for mortals; let alone those grown inside the temple itself.

This was also the reason why, although Lu Wufei could find senior brothers skilled in every aspect of cultivation in the temple, he rarely encountered any who specialized in alchemy. The spiritual fruits of Wuzhuang Temple had effects similar to elixirs, but while all elixirs had some measure of toxicity, natural spiritual fruits had no such concerns; they were entirely beneficial and harmless. Lu Wufei had brought plenty of them on this journey, both to guard against injury and to satisfy his cravings. If this trip went smoothly, he would be able to let the Crow Monster, Red Skin, and the others from Wandashan have a taste.

"Whoosh."

The wind whistled past his ears. Lu Wufei looked at the vast sea of clouds surrounding and beneath him, navigating solely by his sense of direction. He flew until dusk, and feeling that he was sufficiently far from the territory of the squirrel demon, he changed his course and dived toward the sea of clouds below.

After scanning for a while, with Lu Wufei’s keen eyesight, he finally spotted flickering lights in the distance. He immediately turned toward them.

Not long after, before nightfall, he landed and transformed into an inconspicuous man in a blue robe, appearing before a city gate bearing the plaque "Jinhua Prefecture."

"Hurry, hurry!"
"Close the gates before the sun sets!"
"Hurry up!"

Before the city gate, a squad of soldiers in standardized armor was shouting at the people trailing in from the official road. Lu Wufei stood behind a long line of people, his gaze sweeping over the ten armored soldiers. They were sturdy and full of vitality—clearly skilled men with some martial prowess. Looking further, in a corner of the gate shaded by shadows, a man in Taoist robes sat with his eyes closed, recuperating.

Judging by his strength... hmm, a cultivator at the early Foundation Establishment stage.

It was normal for the gates of Jinhua Town to be guarded by soldiers, but to have a Foundation Establishment cultivator on watch? Was there something they were guarding against?

With this thought, Lu Wufei looked up at the sky over Jinhua Prefecture. At first glance, it seemed perfectly normal. But after he blinked, a green light flickered in his eyes, and he clearly saw that above the entire Jinhua Prefecture, beyond the dense human aura, a faint white light screen enshrouded the city.

A magic array.

Seeing this, the corresponding records he had read in the library of Wuzhuang Temple immediately surfaced in his mind. It was a large-scale magic array. Was it to guard against monsters? Or ghosts?

Lu Wufei quickly understood. He looked closer and saw that above the white light of the large array, a thin layer of blood mist floated, enveloping the entire Jinhua Prefecture.

Did this mean all the people in Jinhua Prefecture were under a curse of bloodshed? Lu Wufei felt startled as he looked at that thin layer of blood mist.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak."

Just then, Little White, having woken up, poked its head out from Lu Wufei's collar, its aura as a mid-stage Demon General beginning to leak out. None of the people or soldiers in the queue noticed anything unusual. However, in the corner behind the soldiers, the Taoist-robed cultivator suddenly changed color, standing up as a small, round mirror hanging at his waist began to shine brilliantly.

Seeing this, Lu Wufei reached out and stroked Little White's head. The demonic aura that had been unconsciously leaking from the creature vanished instantly.

"Search!"
"Search them thoroughly!"
"The Monster-Detecting Mirror has reacted; there must be a monster hiding among them!" the young man in the blue robe shouted sternly.

"Quick, we need reinforcements!"
"Nobody move!"

The soldiers were terrified. They had all seen monsters and knew how formidable they were. The squad leader immediately called for backup and strictly ordered everyone in line not to move. Soon, the heavy clanking of armor and weapons sounded as two squads of fully armed soldiers emerged from the city gate, quickly fanning out and aiming their weapons and crossbows at everyone in line.

In an instant, the people being surrounded were filled with terror; several children were so frightened by the murderous atmosphere that they began to cry.

***

"To flush out the monster, we have no choice; please forgive us!" said the lead man in black armor. "Begin."

The soldiers immediately accelerated the search, with the Foundation Establishment cultivator now participating directly. Lu Wufei patted Little White's head, the true culprit, and waited quietly.

The sky grew dark. The last trace of the setting sun trembled on the western horizon. As darkness encroached, the lead man frowned. Fortunately, the soldiers were experienced, and the search concluded quickly. However, finding nothing unusual made the man's brow furrow even deeper. He couldn't help but ask, "Daoist Li, is it possible for your mirror to malfunction?"

The Foundation Establishment cultivator, taken aback, was uncertain himself. "I cannot be sure, but..."

"General, the sun is setting!" a squad leader reminded him. The man gritted his teeth and ordered, "Open the gates, let them all in!"

"Quick!"

As soon as he spoke, those who had been checked surged into the city. Soon, after everyone had squeezed through, the soldiers retreated inside. At that moment, the last of the sunset vanished, and all light was swallowed by darkness.

From outside the city gates, cries began to ring out continuously: "We haven't gotten in yet!" "Wait for us!" "My whole family is here!" "Officer, wait for us before closing the gate!" "Help, what is that?" "A monster! Help!" "Save us, someone save us!" "Mother! Father, where are you?" "Daughter is scared..."

Cries for help, screams, and wails echoed from the pitch-black night outside the thick city gates. The soldiers turned a blind eye, instead speeding up the closing of the gates. When the gates slammed shut with a bang, the lone cultivator immediately stepped forward, chanting a low incantation and casting several spells to reinforce the gates.

Walking within the crowd, Lu Wufei felt it immediately. He saw the faint white light of the array covering Jinhua Prefecture strengthen significantly.

"It seems the trouble in Jinhua Prefecture is growing," Lu Wufei thought, watching the thin blood mist above the array also intensify. He withdrew his gaze and walked toward the brightly lit, bustling streets of Jinhua Prefecture.

***

"Master Liu, was that man suspicious?"

On a high pavilion beside the city gate, two figures stood by a room window, looking down at the blue-robed Lu Wufei. The speaker was the iron-clad leader from the gate.

"Since your sect's mirror cannot be wrong, that man is one of the suspects," the man continued. Beside him, an elderly Taoist in white robes nodded. As he looked at the blue-robed man walking below, golden light flickered in his eyes.

After a moment, seeing nothing out of the ordinary, the white-robed old man frowned. "His aura is clear and pure; he does not appear to be a monster. We need only keep a slight watch on him."

"I understand, Master," the man immediately nodded.

Lu Wufei naturally sensed that he was being watched, but he didn't care. He walked straight toward the bustling streets. Jinhua Prefecture was indeed worthy of being the only large town in the vast surrounding region. The flow of people and the liveliness exceeded that of the two human towns he had visited in the West Niuhe Continent.

Walking along the noisy street, Lu Wufei strolled leisurely.

"Squeak..."

Little White poked its head out again, eyes wide, glancing around. Having had many experiences in the human world, Lu Wufei stopped when he reached an inn called "Hao Kelai" and walked in. After securing a room, he surprised the waiter by ordering the best wine and filling the table with every dish on the menu, only stopping when the waiter warned him there was no more room on the table.

It was peak business hours, and the inn was crowded. Lu Wufei was led to a spacious table, holding Little White while waiting for his food.

Just then, at a smaller table nearby, a young man carrying a sword sat down. The young swordsman placed his cloth-wrapped scabbard on the table and asked, "Waiter, why does Jinhua Prefecture close its gates and forbid entry after sunset?"

The waiter immediately replied, "Young master, you've asked the right person. It's said that outside our Jinhua Prefecture, monsters appear every night, that's why they won't let anyone in or out."

The young swordsman's eyes lit up. "Monsters outside Jinhua Prefecture? Is what you say true?"

The waiter, with the calm demeanor of a big-city dweller, said, "Of course! Half a year ago, anyone entering had to be checked by cultivators from the Kunlun Sect. Didn't you see them when you entered?"

The young swordsman wasn't embarrassed, smiling, "I didn't notice. You said there are Kunlun Sect cultivators stationed here? No wonder you're all so unafraid."

The waiter continued, "Of course! Before they arrived, people died every day. But since those cultivators came, they've killed several huge monsters—they were so big and scary! But ever since then, there hasn't been a monster in the city. We trust those Kunlun cultivators, of course. Many people want to be their apprentices. I tried, too, but unfortunately, I lacked the talent."

The young swordsman's eyes shone even brighter. "Can anyone go?"

The waiter nodded. "Of course."

The young swordsman asked, "Where can I find these Kunlun cultivators? How do I become an apprentice?"

The waiter cleared his throat and gestured with his fingers. "A registration fee. We can help you register."

Hearing that it required money, the young swordsman hesitated. The waiter didn't rush him, just added, "Without us to register and recommend you, you wouldn't even find the door. That's the Kunlun Immortal Sect; it's a rare opportunity."

Hearing this, the young swordsman took out a thick bundle from his person and pulled out some money. "How much is the fee?"

The waiter said, "One tael of silver."

The young swordsman felt a pang of pain, but handed over a small piece of silver.

The waiter laughed. "What is your name?"

"Yan Chixia!" the young swordsman said immediately. "My name is Yan Chixia, don't you forget it!"

"Rest assured, I won't," the waiter said. "Ten days from now, I'll take you and the others to meet the Kunlun cultivators."

The waiter walked away, but Lu Wufei looked at the young swordsman named Yan Chixia. He was young, plain-looking, and even a bit mature for his years, but his eyes were exceptionally bright and spirited.

*Yan Chixia, Kunlun Sect...*

Hearing this, Lu Wufei estimated that he was likely the same Yan Chixia from his own memories. He wasn't too surprised by the man's appearance in the Journey to the West world—after all, his own arrival and the very existence of these Three Realms were the greatest surprises of all.

"This guest, your food has arrived."

The waiter began serving. Soon, the table was covered in various dishes, making the impoverished young Yan Chixia swallow his saliva and glance over repeatedly. Under the shocked gaze of the young man, Lu Wufei wiped the entire table clean, then carried Little White to his room upstairs.

Back in his room, he found a steaming bathtub already prepared. Lu Wufei lay in the tub, feeling the hot water massage his tired body after the morning's battle, and his divine sense stirred.

Lines of faint white virtual ink characters appeared before his eyes:

[Host: Lu Wufei]
[Realm: Late Golden Core (99,999/100,000)]
[Experience Points: 398/14,000]
[Soul Power: ...]
[Technique: Hundong True Essence Heavenly Scripture (Perfected); Demon Race Breathing Technique (Perfected)]
[Abilities: Seventy-Two Transformations (Great Success) (1545/2000); Staff Technique (Perfected)]
[Divine Abilities: Qiankun in the Sleeve (Perfected); Law of Heaven and Earth (Entry) (45/100); Golden Light of Earth-Traversal (Perfected)]

Watching the data, Lu Wufei remained calm. There was nothing to say about his realm; he had reached this level a year or two ago while at Wuzhuang Temple. He had continued to cultivate until he had a realization, at which point he sought his teacher, Zhenyuanzi, for guidance. He had previously wondered why his senior brothers Qingfeng and Mingyue's mentions of "sudden enlightenment" hadn't helped him break through, but after asking, he learned that his smooth progress to the late Golden Core stage already owed much to those moments of enlightenment.

After all, the journey from early to late Golden Core involved more than one threshold. However, Lu Wufei believed it might be related to his virtual panel. Cultivation was a process of understanding one's heart and nature, and no one was an exception. Perhaps when he encountered the opportunity his teacher mentioned, the shackles would break with a single touch.

As for his Soul Power and experience points, he hadn't had many chances to gain them during his twenty years at Wuzhuang Temple. In the five months since he left, he had gained some from monsters that had foolishly sought him out in the mountains on the edge of the Nanzhan Buzhou continent. But as his strength grew, the difficulty of gaining experience rose accordingly.

He continued reading down the list. The *Hundong True Essence Heavenly Scripture* was perfected. The Seventy-Two Transformations, the miraculous art for avoiding the three disasters, had reached the Great Success stage, though there was still a long way to go before perfection. The *Qiankun in the Sleeve* and the *Golden Light of Earth-Traversal* were both perfected.

Although he hadn't mastered a better flight technique, Lu Wufei was calm. Enlightenment could not be forced. And to have mastered the *Golden Light of Earth-Traversal* at the Golden Core stage was already a stroke of immense luck. Many senior brothers in the temple hadn't mastered any flight techniques at all.

What’s more, three years ago, he had successfully mastered the *Law of Heaven and Earth*—a true great divine ability. He was truly gifted. He hadn't boasted about it; one must have a heart of defense, and even Qingfeng and Mingyue didn't know. He had tested it today; it was a great ability, though the difficulty of cultivating it matched its name.

"Splash, splash." Little White played in the water.

Lu Wufei dismissed the data panel, exhaled a long breath, and blew open the window. Listening to the bustling street below, he looked at the hazy blood mist and the half-blood moon that had appeared in the sky, his eyes narrowing.

In the days that followed, Lu Wufei took Little White to explore the bustling Jinhua Prefecture. However, as the blood mist above the city thickened and swallowed more of the blood moon, everyone in Jinhua Prefecture seemed affected, becoming irritable and prone to violence over trivial matters. Rumors and monster-mongering began to spread. As the soldiers also fell under the influence, the city began to descend into chaos.

At the city lord's pavilion, the white-robed Taoist, surrounded by dignitaries, said solemnly, "We must invite a True Monarch to descend!"

He walked to the window, took out a short golden sword, and after chanting a long incantation, the sword glowed brilliantly and flew toward the high sky. It moved with incredible speed, breaking through the array and the blood mist in a blink.

Just then, a gargantuan, sky-covering monster appeared outside Jinhua Prefecture, opening its mouth to swallow the golden sword.

"Black Mountain Old Demon!" The white-robed Taoist turned pale as he gazed at the colossal, terrifying monster. Behind him, the dignitaries of Jinhua Prefecture were trembling, their faces filled with despair.

In the inn, Lu Wufei, lying in his tub and looking at the colossal monster outside the city, felt a surge of joy: "A peak Demon Commander monster, only a step away from a Demon King... It seems quite extraordinary. Could this be the opportunity my teacher spoke of?"