Chapter 40 ·Establishing the Righteous Alliance, Sealing the Mountain Gate

Could ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍this person be the True Lord’s offspring?

Naturally, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Xu Gang did not know that Nether Soul was one of the three bodies split from Gu Yan’s newly cultivated 《External Incarnation》 divine ability—the Evil Body.

This ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍body carried part of Gu Yan’s will and seventy percent of his strength, with a disposition inclined toward decisive killing and a strange, sinister nature.

It ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had been sent by Gu Yan to walk the mortal world and investigate whether other immortal cultivators existed, yet by chance, it encountered this incident.

“Playing ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍tricks! Since you seek death, I’ll grant it to you!”

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍gray-clothed martial cultivator was enraged by Nether Soul’s indifferent attitude. Exchanging a glance with his companion, the two erupted into action simultaneously!

From left and right, true essence surged as they unleashed deadly killing moves, aiming to end the battle in a single strike!

However, facing this fierce combined attack, Nether Soul merely clicked his tongue lightly.

Without any visible motion, his dark-robed figure seemed to blur for an instant.

In the next moment, the black-robed martial cultivator charging at him suddenly froze, a nearly imperceptible red line appearing across his neck.

The ferocity on his face instantly turned into extreme terror and confusion.

He seemed to want to lower his head to look, but his head had already tilted and slid off.

Thud!

The headless body collapsed, blood gushing like a fountain.

On the other side, the gray-clothed martial cultivator maintained his forward-charging posture, yet his chest had somehow already been pierced by a slender, pale hand.

Nether Soul’s hand emerged from his back, gripping a faintly beating heart that quickly dimmed.

“Ugh…!”

The gray-clothed martial cultivator’s life rapidly faded, his eyes wide with disbelief as he stared at the handsome face so close to him.

Nether Soul smiled, slowly withdrawing his hand, allowing the still-warm heart to stop beating in his palm.

Then he casually tossed it aside like discarded filth.

Shaking off the blood on his hand, his gaze turned with a half-smile toward the third person who had been lying in ambush and had yet to reveal himself.

“I’ve heard that the Hundred Thousand Mountains is home to many peculiar races. I’m rather interested.”

“So, my friend, could I trouble you to lead the way and show me around?”

Nether Soul’s voice remained calm, even carrying a hint of amusement.

The third person hiding behind a large tree was already trembling, his teeth chattering, unable to utter a single word.

“Oh? Don’t want to speak?” Nether Soul’s smile did not change, but there was no warmth in his eyes.

“Very well. I’ll take it myself.”

His figure flashed, appearing behind the hidden man like a ghost, his palm lightly covering the man’s crown.

“Soul Search.”

With a soft chant, a faint eerie glow flickered in his palm.

The martial cultivator’s eyes rolled back instantly, his entire body trembling violently like a sieve.

Moments later, Nether Soul released his hand, and the man collapsed like mud.

Though not dead, his soul had been damaged, leaving him a complete idiot.

“So, it’s in that direction…”

Having obtained the location, Nether Soul suddenly burst into loud laughter and recited:

“Demons run rampant in this filthy world, I raise my sword to question the heavens.

Only after washing away the blood and stench of the nine skies, shall the clouds clear and the moon shine bright!”

“Haha! Hundred Thousand Mountains, I, Nether Soul, am coming!”

Before the laughter faded, the dark-robed figure had already vanished like smoke, leaving no trace.

Only the thick scent of blood and the lingering echo of his wild, unrestrained poem remained, drifting through the valley.

Xu Gang struggled to sit up, staring at the scene before him, feeling a chill seep into his bones.

That Nether Soul’s strength was unfathomable, his methods ruthless and bizarre.

And his face bore some resemblance to the Longevity True Lord…

The connection, upon deeper thought, was terrifying.

Xu Gang did not dare to dwell on it. He knew this matter was no small one.

The most urgent task was to report back to the sect immediately!

Suppressing his injuries and lingering fear, he forced himself to calm the frightened children.

“Do not be afraid. The villains are gone. We must return to the sect at once!”

……

After Xu Gang returned to the sect while enduring his injuries, he immediately reported everything about Nether Soul to his master Qin Su and the Sect Master Daoist Xuanchen.

After hearing Xu Gang’s account—especially the part where Nether Soul resembled the Longevity True Lord yet used such ruthless and eerie methods—

Daoist Xuanchen exchanged a glance with Qin Su, a trace of meaning and gravity flashing in their eyes.

After a moment of contemplation, Daoist Xuanchen slowly spoke, “Since that Nether Soul did not harm you or the immortal seedlings, and instead resolved the crisis and killed the invading enemies…

Treat this matter as if you never learned of it, and do not mention it to others.”

Although Xu Gang’s heart was filled with confusion, he respectfully replied, “This disciple understands.”

He knew well that some matters were far beyond his level to comprehend.

……

Longevity Peak, inside the cave dwelling.

Through their mental connection, Gu Yan naturally knew everything that his Evil Body, Nether Soul, had done.

“Hundred Thousand Mountains… wanting to replace the Great Qian, yet choosing to provoke my Taiyi Dao Sect first?”

Gu Yan shook his head, finding it absurd.

“Shouldn’t one pick the softest target? Do we look easy to bully?”

He could not understand their logic and did not bother to think further.

The Evil Body had such a nature—acting on killing intent—and was perfectly suited to exploring the outside world for him.

Early the next morning, Daoist Xuanchen and the Supreme Elder Yunchenzi came together to visit.

Gu Yan welcomed them into his cave dwelling.

The moment they stepped inside, both felt refreshed. Dense and pure heaven-and-earth spiritual energy rushed toward them, far surpassing the outside world.

After just a few breaths, even the meager spiritual power within their bodies felt more lively.

“This place of yours, True Lord, is truly an immortal’s cave dwelling—a blessed land in the mortal world,” Yunchenzi could not help but praise sincerely.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two took their seats, and Daoist Xuanchen explained their purpose. In his words, there was inevitably some unease regarding Nether Soul’s actions the previous day.

After a moment’s thought, Gu Yan spoke directly, “There is no need for concern.”

“That Nether Soul is one of the external incarnations I recently cultivated through a divine ability. It embodies evil thoughts and killing intent, and is responsible for walking the world on my behalf to investigate whether other immortal cultivators exist.”

“As for the enemies from the Hundred Thousand Mountains, they are nothing more than a minor ailment. Since Nether Soul has already gone, he will handle it.”

“However, their intention to seize the Great Qian is something that requires attention.”

Upon hearing this, Daoist Xuanchen and Yunchenzi were first startled, then enlightened. The heavy burden in their hearts finally lifted.

So that terrifying and sinister Nether Soul was actually an incarnation of the Longevity True Lord!

While shocked, they felt even greater reverence for his methods.

After a moment, Yunchenzi stroked his beard and said thoughtfully, “These forces from the Hundred Thousand Mountains truly lack sense.”

“If they intend to seize the Great Qian, they should simply go. Why provoke our Taiyi Dao Sect?”

Daoist Xuanchen continued, “True Lord, after this incident, my senior uncle and I have discussed a long-term plan.”

“Now that our sect has obtained your immortal Dao inheritance, our focus must shift in the future.”

“It would be better if my senior uncle and I go to the imperial city of the Central Province in the Great Qian, and attempt to contact various righteous sects to form an alliance.”

“First, to gather strength and deal with external threats such as the Hundred Thousand Mountains.”

“Second, to allow our Taiyi Dao Sect to gradually withdraw behind the scenes, seal the mountain gate, and focus on cultivating the Great Dao in peace—so as to avoid attracting too much attention and trouble.”

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