Yang Yuhuan stared at the arrogant Blood Demon, her heart filled with defiance, though deep in its recesses, strands of envy arose unwillingly. She was born a beneficiary of rules, yet simultaneously shackled by them. If one day I too could become the creator of rules...

In the end, it was Bai Mei who spoke, his tone calm as he fixed his gaze on the Blood Demon, lost in thought over something unknown.

"Zhang Xiaofan, your coming here surely isn't to mock the Sect Leaders seated here. May I ask what advice you intend to offer?"

The Blood Demon's crimson gaze pierced Bai Mei as he emphasized each word: "Zhang Xiaofan has already perished beneath the God Slaying Spear; now, only Blood Demon You Quan remains."

"My purpose here isn't to entertain a bunch of trash. Three months from now, on the eighth of August, there will be a battle on the Bashu Plain. If you fail to show up..."

The Blood Demon pointed at each of the Sect Leaders seated there, declaring, "I will slaughter you one sect at a time."

Moments ago, the Sect Leaders who had been outspoken now hung their heads, unable to meet the Blood Demon's gaze, appearing like trembling quails.

Bai Mei didn't hesitate and decisively responded, "Fine. On the eighth of August, I shall lead the righteous path to meet your Demon Dao in battle."

The Blood Demon, satisfied, smiled at the sight, glanced at this body of his avatar, and said, "This avatar still holds some power. Care for a little sparring?"

With those words, a surge of blood light enveloped him, transforming him into a Blood Spear that shot directly at Bai Mei. Quick to react, Bai Mei formed a hand seal, releasing a flying sword full of talismans from his forehead. It radiated powerful Spirit Light and collided head-on with the Blood Spear.

Nearby, Li Qing acted swiftly, intoning, 'By command, protect!' A golden barrier materialized out of thin air, enveloping the three of them—Boom!

Though Bai Mei intentionally dampened the force of the clash, the entire conference hall was demolished. The Sect Leaders who had previously appeared like quails now desperately defended themselves against the explosion, yet they were still gravely injured, left in a state of utter disarray.

When the dust settled, only the trio from Chang'an along with Bai Mei and the disciple who had previously delivered messages were left unscathed.

After a moment, loose stones shifted as a middle-aged Daoist previously thought to be lying lifeless now poked his head out to confirm the Blood Demon's departure. Only then did he sigh in relief and roar furiously, "Outrageous! Outrageous! Master Bai Mei, you must uphold justice for our righteous path!"

Bai Mei had no interest in arguing with this man and, after saying a few perfunctory words, transformed into a streak of light and vanished, his destination unknown.

As the crowd dispersed, the trio hurried home to cultivate, determined to secure any advantage they could for the upcoming Dao-Demon battle. The Sichuan region, distant from the Great Tang and Fairy homes, was now bereft of forces to offer them aid. Everything would rely on their own strength.

Three days later, Dan Chenzi paid them a surprise visit. Accompanied by Li Qing, the trio, and four members of the Xuantian Sect who had recovered from their injuries, he led them to the ancestral shrine of Shu Mountain. At the shrine's center were statues of The Three Pure Ones, with Taiqing seated in the middle.

Below them was a sculpture of a young man in white. Upon seeing the statue, Li Qing couldn't be more familiar—it was the same figure he'd encountered days ago. His mind surged with questions: Was his ancestor some kind of alley-dweller? Why did the whole world seem to worship his ancestor?

Bai Mei gestured for the five to sit on the cushions and, noticing Li Qing's astonishment, directly explained, "Back when I was eighteen, I entered the realm of Emei and stumbled upon the legacy of Taiqing's Daode Tianzun. At the time, my cultivation was still shallow, and I couldn't attain the true teachings.

During that era, the Emperor Ziwei, not yet ascended to his imperial position, was also cultivating in Emei Mountain for a time. While cultivating, I occasionally met him and benefited greatly from his guidance."

With a nostalgic sigh, Bai Mei pulled out a gourd from his waist and continued, "This was gifted to me one day when the Great Emperor, returning from a drink with friends, happened to encounter me."

The five individuals were captivated by the Immortal Treasure used to store wine, though as Bai Mei revealed, it was merely a wine container that Nezha and Zhao Gongming had taken after their drinking session.

After reminiscing for a while, Bai Mei finally addressed the matter at hand: "In the upcoming battle with the Blood Demon on August eighth, though I claim to have cultivated for many years, I cannot say with certainty whether I can defeat him. Back when the Emperor Ziwei departed, he left behind two True Fires for Shu Mountain. After countless cycles of refinement with the Taiqing God Talisman, they have now become extraordinary Immortal Artifacts. Whichever among you earns their recognition, I will gift them to you."

Among everyone present, none were more thrilled than Yang Taizhen and the Xuantian Sect. Yang Taizhen sought to strengthen herself to defeat the Blood Demon and prove she was the strongest, while the Xuantian Sect aimed to avenge their master.

Once Bai Mei finished recounting the history, he led the five away from the Floating Island to a site deep underground beneath the Two Forms Microdust Array. As they descended further, the surrounding temperatures grew increasingly terrifying until finally, they arrived at an array gate—the site where Nezha had once sealed Nanming Lihuo and True Sun Fire.

After years of nurturing within the Emei Mountain Range and forging through the Two Forms Microdust Array, these two True Fires had evolved into potent treasures.

"You only need to gain the recognition of the Inner Fire Essence. But remember, spiritual treasures possess sentience; you must not force them."

The first to step forward was the vengeance-driven Xuantian Sect disciple. After bowing to Bai Mei, he approached the flaming crimson jade wall and infused it with mana, attempting to capture a thread of Fire Essence within.

However, as soon as his mana touched the flames, it was instantly consumed as fuel. The previously placid blue and golden lights turned restless, vibrating wildly. Suddenly, the flames hopped erratically, and the Xuantian Sect disciple's outstretched arm was scorched dry by the intense heat. Waves of unbearable pain battered his spirit repeatedly,

but the disciple showed no intention of backing down. To his surprise, the golden light within the mountain began to edge closer to him. Summoning all his strength, he activated Emei's heart method to counter the intrusion of Fire Poison, controlling his body with steely resolve to prevent movement.

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