Chapter 20: The Final Sub-Palace

Shaoyan Nong looked at the group of Wanxiang True Immortals before him, thinking to himself: "Maybe it really isn't in the Dao Canon Hall, or maybe one of them got it. But the Sorcerer River Immortal is just a demon immortal, not much of a background. Even if there are any techniques or divine powers, I'm afraid my Shaoyan clan already has them. And they are still of great use to me..."

"Everyone, since we've searched thoroughly, let's head to that final sub-palace," Shaoyan Nong said.

"Mm."

Ji Ning and the others each felt a tightening in their hearts.

"Let's go!"

Shaoyan Nong once again produced a magic treasure flying shuttle, over ten zhang long and three zhang wide. Ji Ning and the others found it quite spacious inside.

Swoosh!

The magic treasure flying shuttle shot straight out of the Dao Canon Hall.

...

Once outside, the Fiendgod Xiangliu Fang was already waiting.

"Young master." Xiangliu Fang transformed into a streak of light and flew directly into the long shuttle.

Shaoyan Nong smiled and nodded at Xiangliu Fang, appearing quite relaxed. Then he turned his head to look at the large number of demonic Dao-soldiers gathered outside the distant golden pillar of light, snorting coldly: "These demonic Dao-soldiers have blocked me time and again. Once I refine this immortal estate, I'll make them pay for it!"

"A mere demon clan from an immortal estate world, how could they withstand the Shaoyan clan?" Xiangliu Fang said with a smile.

Shaoyan Nong nodded.

Ji Ning and the others were secretly astonished...

Why did Shaoyan Nong seem not at all nervous or worried?

"So many demonic Dao-soldiers," Ji Ning thought. "The Wave Dao-soldiers and Yaksha Dao-soldiers are far beyond ordinary loose immortals. Even Xiangliu Fang could only be trampled. What other treasures does Shaoyan Nong have?"

"Senior apprentice-brother, he looks very confident," Mu Zishuo teased.

"Let's wait and see," Ji Ning transmitted.

As the magic treasure flying shuttle continued to fly, it drew closer to the golden pillar of light. The 'Wave Demon Soldiers' formed by over twenty thousand demonic Dao-soldiers and the 'Yaksha Dao-soldiers' formed by the Sorcerer River clan were already very close.

"Humans!" A deep voice resounded through heaven and earth.

Shaoyan Nong on the shuttle gave a cold smile, while Xiangliu Fang beside him spoke on his behalf: "What is it?"

"In truth, there is no need for you to fight with us, the demons of the immortal estate world. If you are willing to use the immortal estate key to open a passage, allowing my demon clan to go to the world of the Great Xia Dynasty, then we will also let you enter this final sub-palace," the deep voice said. Duohe Immortal and Wusui Immortal believed that since these humans dared to come despite facing so many demonic Dao-soldiers, they must have some reliance. So Duohe Immortal and Wusui Immortal quickly decided they could negotiate with the humans.

"Letting you out is not impossible," Shaoyan Nong said with a smile. "But I have one condition."

"Oh? Speak, what condition?" the deep voice continued.

"Very simple: give me all your Dao-soldier armor, and I will let you out," Shaoyan Nong's voice also resounded through heaven and earth.

"All the Dao-soldier armor?"

"Impossible."

"Kill this human."

"Delusional."

Various angry shouts arose.

These Dao-soldier armors were left by the Sorcerer River Immortal and were the greatest reliance for the demons' strength.

"Without the Dao-soldier armor, we demons would be like scattered sand. We couldn't even kill that Fiendgod beside you, and would probably be picked off one by one by that Fiendgod," the deep voice said angrily.

"I can swear a Heavenly Dao oath: if you hand over all the Dao-soldier armor, I will let you leave and will not pursue you," Shaoyan Nong said.

What attracted Shaoyan Nong most about these demonic Dao-soldiers was the Dao-soldier armor.

If he could get it easily, he wouldn't mind letting them go.

"Impossible!" the deep voice roared angrily.

"Then don't blame me," Shaoyan Nong shook his head.

"You are forcing us," the deep voice bellowed.

"Yes, I am forcing you. So what?" Shaoyan Nong sneered.

...

These powerful demons also had their pride. Shaoyan Nong's excessive demands enraged them greatly.

"Kill."

"Kill."

"Kill."

The towering waves covered the sky and directly slapped toward the magic treasure flying shuttle where Shaoyan Nong, Ji Ning, and the others were. But the flying shuttle nimbly rushed to meet the waves.

"Now is the time." Shaoyan Nong already had a strange disc in his hand, black and white in color.

"Shift Stars and Exchange Dippers!"

Shaoyan Nong suddenly roared.

Buzz~~~

The black-and-white disc floated up. A black light enveloped the entire shuttle, while a white light enveloped a part of the distant Yaksha Dao-soldiers.

"Whoosh!"

Space twisted instantly.

A part of the distant massive Yaksha Dao-soldiers vanished and appeared where the shuttle had been. Meanwhile, the shuttle had appeared where that part of the Yaksha Dao-soldiers had been.

"Open." As soon as the shuttle appeared, a passage to a hall door opened before it.

Swoosh.

The shuttle flew directly into the hall passage, and then the passage closed.

"This..."

"This..."

Duohe Immortal and Wusui Immortal were completely stunned. All the demonic Dao-soldiers were also stunned, staring blankly at the floating black-and-white disc. As its internal power was exhausted, the disc silently shattered.

"They went in?"

"They just went in like that?" In the eyes of Duohe Immortal, Wusui Immortal, and every demon, there was disbelief, anger, and despair.

"It shouldn't be like this. It shouldn't," Duohe Immortal said, his eyes filled with endless fury. He raised his head and let out a grief-stricken roar.

Wusui Immortal silently shed tears.

Defeated.

Completely defeated.

If this were a life-and-death battle, moving a small part of the demonic Dao-soldiers would be trivial. But this was not a life-and-death battle; the opponent only needed to move those Dao-soldiers away to enter the final immortal estate sub-palace.

"From now on, the immortal estate will be refined, and we will be controlled by another clan," Wusui Immortal murmured.

At that moment, countless demonic Dao-soldiers roared in grief and despair...

...

Swoosh.

A long shuttle appeared in the hall. Inside, Shaoyan Nong, Xiangliu Fang, Ji Ning, and the others all emerged.

"Hahaha," Shaoyan Nong laughed heartily as soon as he entered. "Finally arrived at the last sub-palace. Oh, this hall is quite magnificent, much more so than the previous four sub-palaces."

Ji Ning and the others were still stunned by the black-and-white disc from before.

It had directly swapped positions between the distant demonic Dao-soldiers and their own side.

What kind of treasure was that?

At least Ji Ning had never heard of it.

"It is much more magnificent. Every pillar has exquisite carvings," Xue Hongyi said beside him.

"The last sub-palace. Once I refine it, the entire immortal estate will be under my control, and the tribe's test will be passed. I'll also gain an immortal estate," Shaoyan Nong said cheerfully, then sighed. "Pity, though. This time entering the immortal estate, I lost two of my three strongest treasures."

"Treasures are meant to be used. After controlling the immortal estate, the young master will surely obtain even better treasures," Xiangliu Fang said beside him.

"I hope so." Shaoyan Nong was still pained inside.

The Dingzi Scroll and the Shift Stars and Exchange Dippers Dharma Disc were two of his three strongest treasures, treasures that even many loose immortals did not have. They were hard to obtain even with enough liquid elemental essence, as they were too rare. Shaoyan Nong had accumulated them over many years, but for the position of 'Feather Divine Duke,' he couldn't care less.

"Getting this immortal estate counts as breaking even, and even a bit of profit. Those demons, hmph, prepare to be slaves for generations," Shaoyan Nong's eyes flashed coldly. "And that Xue Hongyi, his immortal-grade magic treasure... I must get it too."

Now that they had reached the fifth sub-palace, some thoughts that had been suppressed began to surface.

Xue Hongyi's immortal-grade magic treasure...

The breathtaking Yu Wei fairy...

Everything made him anticipate.

"Boom." Suddenly, Xiangliu Fang pointed a finger into the distance. A black divine power flew out and struck the hall wall, upon which three characters appeared: 'Sorcerer River Hall.'

"Sorcerer River Hall?" Ji Ning and the others were startled. "It's named after the Sorcerer River Immortal's own Dao title. This sub-palace must be the most important of the five."

Shaoyan Nong looked and laughed, saying heartily: "Everyone, an immortal estate always has a main hall. It seems the main hall among the five sub-palaces is this Sorcerer River Hall. Everyone be careful. Since it's the main hall, it should be where the Sorcerer River Immortal usually lived, so it will certainly be more dangerous. You'd better not leave my side. With Uncle Fang and me nearby, if you go far, Uncle Fang won't be able to save you."

"Whoosh." Shaoyan Nong took out a bag and opened its mouth.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh~~~

One by one, Zifu Disciples flew out. These were the ones he had put away when they first entered. Shaoyan Nong had judged then that these Zifu Disciples would be useless in the battle against the demons of the immortal estate world, so he had temporarily stored them. Fortunately, these Zifu Disciples did not need to breathe and could survive in the bag.

"Listen up. This is the last sub-palace, and likely much more dangerous. All of you be careful," Shaoyan Nong instructed.

"Yes." All the Zifu Disciples respectfully acknowledged.

"Let's go."

Shaoyan Nong and Xiangliu Fang walked ahead.

Ji Ning and the others exchanged glances.

"Did you feel it? Shaoyan Nong's attitude is starting to change," Cangjiang True Immortal transmitted. "Earlier, he was very polite to us. I was puzzled then: why would a high-ranking young master of the Shaoyan clan, the strongest candidate for the next Feather Divine Duke, be so polite and humble? It seems it was all pretense. Now that we're at the fifth sub-palace, his domineering nature has shown."

Ji Ning and the others nodded.

One by one, they followed Shaoyan Nong and Xiangliu Fang. The large group of Zifu Disciples scattered around, scouting ahead and covering the rear.

They advanced along a corridor.

Shaoyan Nong was leisurely and relaxed.

"Hmm?" Shaoyan Nong suddenly stopped, looking at a fork in the road not far away, and smiled. "I sense it. The central hub of the fifth sub-palace is ahead."

...