CHAPTER 712: CHAPTER 97: LEADING THE CROWD INTO THE SEA TO SEARCH FOR DEMONS_2

These dozen disciples dared not disobey and all nodded in agreement.

Zhang Yan said no more. With a sweep of his sleeve, he called out, "Rise!"

In an instant, a cloud of mist surged forth, enveloping these disciples and lifting them up. They felt their bodies lighten as if a buoyant force had taken hold, propelling them helplessly toward the Sea Eye.

After a moment of daze, they looked around carefully and realized they were enveloped in a layer of mist.

This mist was particularly unusual—neither solid nor dissipating, thin as a cicada’s wing. Not only could they see the torrents of seawater around them clearly, but each individual could also observe one another. As soon as they overcame their initial discomfort, they were surprised to find that they could speak to each other with perfect clarity.

Mo Ying secretly marveled. She was a descendant of Mo Tianhua and had encountered several Hua Dan cultivators before, so she wasn’t lacking in experience. However, witnessing such transformations of Elixir Evil indicated that the one controlling it had reached a realm where transformations were made at will, unpredictable in their flexibility and strength.

One disciple couldn’t contain his excitement and exclaimed, "Before coming here, I never imagined that it would be Uncle Zhang himself escorting us!"

The powder-robed female cultivator surnamed Bao, who had spoken earlier, followed up with amazement, "Indeed! I’ve long heard tales of Uncle Zhang’s reputation. Seeing him today, though he lacks any airs, merely standing in his presence makes it hard for me to breathe."

The other disciples nodded in agreement. Though Zhang Yan’s words carried a touch of humor, merely standing there exuded an aura of imposing dignity, compelling everyone to unconsciously restrain themselves and tread carefully.

Among the lower-level disciples, Zhang Yan’s reputation now preceded him. After all, he was the only True Disciple in a hundred years who had risen from the Lower Court, without being born into a noble family or sponsored by a great sect.

Following his monumental triumph in shattering the God-Slaying Array, dueling a hundred cultivators with a single sword, and claiming a spot among the Top Ten Disciples, each of these exploits became the stuff of discussion and a source of inspiration for many.

Zhang Yan moved downward, slicing through the waves with ease, his expression relaxed and composed.

Years ago, he followed the ocean currents downward, taking approximately an hour to reach his destination. But now, being a Hua Dan cultivator in the Second Realm, having broken through the Shell Barrier, he no longer needed that much time—even with the added burden of over a dozen disciples.

In the span of merely an incense stick, he saw a bright light ahead, signaling the entrance to the Sea Eye. He let out a shout, summoned his Elixir Evil, and charged through the gateway.

The disciples felt a resounding tremor and a flash of light in their vision, only to discover that they were now in a vast, magnificent cavern. Grand waters poured down like a mighty cascade from above, yet the mist surrounding them acted like a barrier, deflecting the flow to either side. Astonishment filled their hearts.

Zhang Yan’s gaze flickered like cold lightning as he swept his eyes around the cave. His brows knit slightly—he noticed that the Spiritual Energy here was far denser than before.

While this seemed advantageous, it was actually an ill omen. It signified the imminent arrival of a Demon Tribulation—transformations in the heavens and earth caused shifts in fate, leading to the gradual expansion of this Demon Cave.

Having been here before, Zhang Yan now felt those changes more profoundly and intensely.

His thoughts moved swiftly. With a sweeping motion of his sleeve, he descended to the ground, withdrawing his Elixir Evil to release the group of disciples.

Glancing back, he noticed two disciples looking dazed and muddled, seemingly on the verge of falling asleep.

Shaking his head, he suddenly shouted sharply. The two disciples jolted at the sound, snapping out of their stupor to regain clarity.

Zhang Yan cast them a glance and said coolly, "This place is swarming with Devils, especially those Yin Demons, which are formless and invisible, adept at invading the mind to wreak havoc. Although I am here to guard against harm from Walking Demons or True Demons, when it comes to Heart Demons, I cannot constantly provide protection. You’ll have to rely on your own vigilance. If you cannot overcome this trial, you are unworthy to call yourselves Mingcang disciples."

These twelve disciples felt their hearts tremble upon hearing these words, forcing themselves to grow more cautious and focused.

Zhang Yan stood with his hands behind his back, surveying his surroundings.

Before arriving, he had already been pondering the events of years past. Was it an act of the Blood Essence Sect itself, or merely the actions of its disciples?

On the surface, the two situations might appear the same, yet they were vastly different.

If it was truly an entire sect he faced, he knew he lacked the ability to contend with it. But if it was merely one or two cultivators from the same realm, he had no fear whatsoever.

Based on his speculation, the Blood Essence Sect disciples that had come here in the past likely stumbled upon this place by chance, rather than their sect intentionally targeting this site.

He had reasons for thinking this way.

First, the internal structures of Demon Sect disciples tend to be highly disorganized, unlike the cohesive gatherings seen in great Xuanmen sects. Often, disciples within the same sect might not even recognize each other. As long as their cultivation techniques matched, they could be considered "fellow disciples."

This structure arose from the principles inherent in their cultivation techniques—the Demon Sect thrives on plunder and slaughter. Too many disciples congregated in one place would inevitably lead to internal strife, culminating in the expulsion or death of some, leaving only the strongest standing in dominance.

Thus, within the Six Demon Sects, the six primary Demon Caves are occupied only by their sect’s most powerful factions, rather than the entirety of the sect’s forces.

Zhang Yan reasoned that if he were one of those Blood Essence Sect disciples, finding such a small Demon Cave would surely bring elation. No matter the rationale, they would undoubtedly conceal its existence, even going to great lengths to prevent the news from spreading. This theory aligned with the behaviors displayed by those Demon Sect disciples in the past.

As for the number and cultivation level of those Blood Essence Sect disciples, Zhang Yan had formed some estimates.

Years ago, Qi Yuntian dispatched Nascent Soul Elders to search for another entrance but failed to locate one, likely due to scant clues and insufficient manpower. This also implied that the other site was relatively distant from here.

If the Blood Essence Sect disciples were few in number and located near the entrance, they would have found Devils easily without delving deeper. However, if there were many disciples, they likely cleared the Devils nearby and gradually explored further inward.

Yet a large number of disciples would also increase the likelihood of leaks.

Hence, Zhang Yan boldly speculated that the group of Blood Essence Sect practitioners in the past was most likely composed of one to three Hua Dan cultivators with their respective disciples.

But years had passed, so circumstances might have changed. He couldn’t rule out the possibility of higher-realm Demon Sect cultivators appearing, necessitating careful planning.

Zhang Yan deliberated for a long while, a sharp gleam gradually sparking in his eyes while a cold expression settled on his face.

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