The True Demon Sect is primary, and the True Way Demon Sect is secondary.
Chen Jiuyang could feel that this time, he could awaken not only the patriarchs of the True Demon Sect but also those of the True Way Demon Sect.
Dark, dense fog enveloped Chen Jiuyang, and then the sacred artifact painting slowly unfurled.
"Rumble!!!"
The ominous, terrifying, dark, and boundless realm of Chongming Sea, shrouded in dark clouds, appeared. Thunder flashed, and waves roared. Below lay an endless expanse of soul lamps.
"The Sacred Path contention, merging with other lineages, does not grant the privilege of self-awakening patriarchs."
The voice of the sacred artifact painting echoed.
Among the boundless soul lamps, Chen Jiuyang's soul lamp suddenly blazed with golden light, shooting straight into the sky and bursting forth.
It pierced into the terrifying, thunder-filled dark clouds.
"Rumble!!!"
The soul light flickered, illuminating a corner of Chongming Sea.
Within the dark clouds, an aura of destruction, a terrifying presence that made one's heart tremble, slowly awakened.
Giant, terrifying pupils slowly opened from within the dark clouds, as if to pierce through all things in the world.
What cultivation level did such a terrifying aura possess?
It was unknown which patriarch it was.
Chen Jiuyang had inherited the sect leader's legacy. The Nine Demon Sects had many slumbering patriarchs, a considerable number.
"What is it that awakens me? Has the great war already begun?" the patriarch's deep, emotionless, and indifferent voice sounded.
The sacred artifact painting fluctuated, communicating with this patriarch.
"Hmm? A sect leader of the Venerable Realm at the young age of twenty-seven, walking the Sacred Path contention, has already brought the True Way lineage under the Sacred Sect. Not bad, a good seedling. Let me examine your foundation. The path of the Human Emperor, not bad, not bad."
"The great era is reviving, and we have successors."
The indifferent, cold, and vast voice showed a hint of fluctuation, repeatedly uttering "not bad."
The spirit of the sacred artifact painting transmitted to Chen Jiuyang, "This is the patriarch of the True Way lineage, 'Cheng Yun'."
Chen Jiuyang immediately cupped his fists and bowed respectfully, saying, "Greetings, Patriarch 'Cheng Yun'."
Someone as extraordinary and monstrous as him, with the title 'Qian Yang', was considered a thorn in the side by many. However, his combat power and achievements proved his right to bear the title 'Qian Yang'.
And this patriarch before him was actually named 'Cheng Yun', even more exaggerated and outrageous than his 'Qian Yang'. Who knew how terrifying his strength was, and he was a patriarch of the True Way Demon Sect.
"Hmm, according to the rules of the Sacred Path, since you have embarked on the Sacred Path contention, I shall leave a legacy for you. However, you carry much karma and an aura that is not tolerated by heaven and earth. If I impart divine abilities to you, you might attract the attention of pseudo-Dao immortals."
An aura not tolerated by heaven and earth?
Chen Jiuyang's heart was startled. Was he referring to the divine abilities taught to him by Princess 'Shi Le'?
"Is there anything you desire?"
Chen Jiuyang's thoughts raced. Since this patriarch could not impart divine abilities to him, he was not lacking in weapons, cultivation methods, or elixirs.
After pondering for a moment, Chen Jiuyang spoke, "Replying to Patriarch 'Cheng Yun', my wife is stranded in the Lesser Immortal Realm. May I ask the patriarch to go to the Lesser Immortal Realm and bring my junior's wife back to the mortal world?"
"Hmm, the Lesser Immortal Realm of Burial Emperor Star. The karma in that world is too deep. If I were to go in person, it would trigger array attacks. You may ask for something else."
"..."
This Patriarch 'Cheng Yun' had also been to the Lesser Immortal Realm and had left deep karma there. What had he done?
Chen Jiuyang pondered, "This disciple wishes to step into the Imperial Path as soon as possible. My current cultivation is weak. Does the patriarch have any way to help me quickly cultivate my Dao to perfection and step into the Imperial Path?"
Patriarch 'Cheng Yun's' giant pupils fell upon Chen Jiuyang, and his indifferent voice sounded, "The laws of the mortal world are incomplete, and you are walking the path of the Human Emperor. Your destiny is self-formed, and you cannot use the sect's destiny to supplement your Dao."
"If you wish to quickly cultivate your Dao and step into the Imperial Path, you should go to the Lesser Immortal Realm. That world once had Human Emperors and loose immortals. Its heavenly laws are complete, and it contains the fundamental laws of the Immortal Realm."
"You can go to the Central Continent of the Lesser Immortal Realm and walk the path of the Human King. The end of the Human King's path is the Sacred City. Most of the top prodigies in the Lesser Immortal Realm who wish to step into the Imperial Path will walk the Human King's path."
The Human King here is not the 'Feng Wang' in the Dragon Kingdom's Sword Master system, but a title corresponding to the martial arts system, the Human King.
The next step beyond the Venerable Realm is the Imperial Path, and one can be called an Emperor.
Therefore, in the Venerable Realm, there is the path of the Human King.
"The path of the Human King is fraught with danger. Even if you walk the path of the Human Emperor, the risk of falling is extremely high. Your talent is good, and you are a rare junior of my Sacred Path walking the path of the Human Emperor. Thus, you can summon the rotating patriarch of the ancestral land to be your guardian and accompany you to the Lesser Immortal Realm."
"After stepping into the Imperial Path, you can return from the Lesser Immortal Realm. By then, you will be qualified to come to the ancestral land and make further plans."
"The rotating patriarch as a guardian?"
Chen Jiuyang's heart was immediately moved. To be a patriarch, one must at least have reached the Dao Integration stage of the Immortal Path. The Dao Integration stage cultivation is not insignificant even in the Lesser Immortal Realm. The next step beyond that is the Tribulation Transcending stage.
If he used the reason of Patriarch 'Cheng Yun', would finding a patriarch with higher cultivation to take him to the Lesser Immortal Realm to find Zi Xuan be faster?
Pretending to advance openly while secretly crossing the enemy's territory.
This matter seemed feasible.
If the Dao Integration stage cultivation was not enough, then he would conquer another sect and find a patriarch with higher cultivation to go to the Lesser Immortal Realm.
The current Patriarch 'Cheng Yun' had already refused to go to the Lesser Immortal Realm.
Moreover, he didn't know what cultivation level the rotating patriarch guarding the ancestral land possessed.
It was something to look forward to.
Chen Jiuyang's thoughts raced in his mind, and he respectfully said to Patriarch 'Cheng Yun', "Thank you, Patriarch 'Cheng Yun', for bestowing the Dharma."
"It is nothing. You are walking the Sacred Path contention, and you may have the opportunity to ascend to the Immortal Realm in the future."
As Patriarch 'Cheng Yun's' voice faded, his giant, terrifying pupils slowly closed, and he fell into slumber.
"Whoosh!"
That ineffable, immense terror gradually receded like a tide.
But the sacred artifact painting had not yet disappeared.
The scene in the painting shifted, arriving before a thatched hut.
There sat a man in black, with a calm expression, a saber hanging from his waist, and a young appearance.
"An Soul, one of the Ten Famous Sabers of the Demon Path!"
Was this the rotating patriarch of Chongming Sea?
"Hmm?" The man sitting before the thatched hut suddenly opened his eyes. He possessed a terrifying aura capable of shattering the sea. "What is it, 'Eternal Tribulation'?"
The spirit of the True Demon Sect's sacred artifact painting was named 'Eternal Tribulation'.
After a period of communication, the rotating patriarch's gaze pierced through layers of space and fell upon Chen Jiuyang, looking at Chen Jiuyang with a hint of 'amusement':
"You are that twenty-seven-year-old Venerable Realm junior, walking the path of the Human Emperor, engaged in the Sacred Path contention?"
"Not bad. Your combat power surpasses that of your peers, reaching the 'Forbidden' level. As long as you do not perish, the ancestral land will have a place for you in the future, comparable to us."
'Eternal Tribulation's' voice echoed in Chen Jiuyang's mind, "This is Patriarch 'Wu Mian', who is on duty at the ancestral land for the 1,296th year of this rotation."
Chen Jiuyang was immediately moved. He hadn't expected Patriarch 'Cheng Yun' to notify the spirit about the matter of the guardian.
The Demon Path was truly formidable in this regard, unlike the pseudo-Dao.