Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 160 - 156 Yun Meng Swamp

Chapter 160: Chapter 156 Yun Meng Swamp

To human cultivators, the depths of Cloud Dreams Lagoon is a forbidden land, where countless demons gather, including many top-tier great demons.

This time, the departure of all Demon Kings from Cloud Dreams Lagoon also showed the world the lagoon’s formidable strength.

But against this backdrop, Qu Qingfeng actually plans to enter Cloud Dreams Lagoon, seemingly a decision of no return.

However, Qu Qingfeng still decides to go, as long as Aunt Mei nods.

At the same time as Qu Qingfeng makes his decision, Li Fan has already joined the journey with the Demon Kings, flying over the skies of Cloud Dreams Lagoon. Everywhere they pass, the demons beneath in the lagoon prostrate themselves. Even great demons of the Fifth Realm kneel and stay still, not daring to move recklessly.

Compared to humans, demons are filled with a wild nature, making them more reverent toward powerful demons.

The wind ruffled the white clothes on him. Bailong turned his head to look at Li Fan. Mr. Qu commanded his respect, and he didn’t expect that this human youth could reach such a level, which made him look at him with new eyes.

"Li Mountain Sword Cultivator?" Bailong asked.

"You know of Li Mountain?" Li Fan asked in return.

"Is there a demon in the Da Li world who doesn’t know of Li Mountain?" Bailong replied as if hearing something amusing, making Li Fan feel a bit foolish for his question.

Li Mountain has been slaying demons for a thousand years. It’s understandable if small demons don’t know it, but how could great demons not know of Li Mountain?

He thought Cloud Dreams Lagoon stood isolated here, but it seems the lagoon’s attention to the outside world is actually very high, being able to guess that he came from Li Mountain.

"Do you walk in the human world?" Li Fan asked curiously.

"When you arrive, you’ll naturally understand," Bailong responded with a smile.

Li Fan didn’t quite understand. Seeing Bailong unwilling to elaborate, he didn’t ask further.

On the journey, the Demon Kings advanced at an incredible speed, traversing space.

This Cloud Dreams Lagoon is vast. Even at the speed of a Sixth Realm Demon King, it still took a long time.

As they continued, mist filled the skies ahead, obscuring vision, seemingly gathered from demon energy, making even divine sense difficult to penetrate.

The group of demons passed directly through the mist. Inside, the number of demons gradually decreased, but Li Fan could clearly sense the demon energy growing stronger.

A mysterious aura surrounded the world, locking heaven with demon energy.

As they delved deeper, the vegetation below towered, and the mist gradually turned scarlet, extremely eerie.

"Is this the deepest part of Cloud Dreams Lagoon?" Li Fan thought to himself.

As they proceeded, he saw a blood-colored ancient tree, its branches and leaves blocking out the sky, resembling countless tentacles reaching the heavens. The leaves appeared to contain countless eyes, making Li Fan feel extremely uncomfortable.

Such a powerful Tree Demon.

And there wasn’t just one. As they moved, they saw them everywhere.

Human cultivators below the Seventh Realm arriving here would probably find it a dead end. No wonder the depths of Cloud Dreams Lagoon were known as a forbidden land for humans.

Moreover, these blood-colored Tree Demons were only one of the dangers.

The mist ahead turned green, and Bailong advised, "Hold your breath."

Li Fan understood, fearing it was toxic mist. Even the fog in the air wasn’t something low-realm cultivators could breathe in.

Entering the toxic mist made visibility even more blurred, uncertain of what demon released it.

Li Fan’s divine sense was also affected, making it difficult to spread.

"Open."

Bailong shouted coldly, instantly opening a path ahead. Whether ancient trees or miasma, they all gave way, allowing Bailong and the others to proceed.

Li Fan found himself flying above a swamp area, where he could occasionally see some demons, many of which were above the Fifth Realm.

"You don’t need to remember the route. Without a demon to guide you, you human cultivators, unless possessing formidable strength, cannot traverse this area," Bailong confidently said, "Of course, you also won’t escape."

Li Fan was not bothered about being seen through. Bailong wasn’t wrong. Besides the endless dangers, it was easy to get lost here. Was the lair of Cloud Dreams Lagoon’s great demons even deeper?

What further dangers lie there?

This way, even if he escapes, trying to find a way out is very challenging...

Li Fan paid no heed to Bailong and continued to observe.

After traveling for a long time and enduring various dangers, suddenly the view cleared.

Ahead was lush, verdant greenery, with trees emitting dense spiritual energy from nature.

They were flying above a forest. Overhead was a clear blue sky, prompting Li Fan to take a deep breath involuntarily.

However, he soon revealed an odd expression.

What was going on?

Bailong and the Great Demons’ lair shouldn’t have been in those dangerous areas?

But now they had emerged to this place, which was a haven.

"Surprised?" Bailong asked Li Fan.

"A little," Li Fan nodded.

"What do you think the deepest part of Cloud Dreams Lagoon is like?" Bailong laughed.

"Like that stretch of road before," Li Fan replied.

"You humans like to live in elegant and luxurious environments, yet think top-tier demons would live in such harsh conditions?" Bailong smiled interestingly, "But this is good. Humans have many virtues, but their arrogance is deeply ingrained."

"Today, open your eyes a bit."

Li Fan fell silent at Bailong’s words and continued forward, finally flying over the forest area.

In front of him, the landscape suddenly opened up, revealing ridges; when he looked down, he saw rows of houses and villages.

Li Fan was stunned, thinking he had arrived at a human settlement. But on closer inspection, those bustling below... were not humans, but demons.

But these demons seemed to live together by human customs.

"Surprised?" Bailong stood with hands behind his back, gazing confidently ahead, "You humans pride yourselves as extraordinary, thinking of yourselves as the lords of all creatures. Certainly, humans possess innate advantages, with intelligence and comprehension far surpassing demons, and rely on generations of ancestral inheritance to thrive. However, you are also proud and arrogant."

"Compared to humans, the survival methods of demons are more savage and bloodthirsty. As a result, their intelligence can’t be passed down, only within individual tribes, limiting the growth of the entire Demon World. Therefore, we need to learn from humans."

"Otherwise, why do you think I spared Mr. Qu? It’s because I respect human cultivators like him, who pass down human wisdom. This is what we demons lack."

"But we are getting better."

Bailong thought of the Demon Saint, admiration in his eyes.

This was all due to the leadership of the Demon Saint, giving rise to such prosperity. During this process, they encountered too many hardships and opponents.

Even today, the wild nature of demons is hard to tame. Fortunately, with Lord Demon Saint present, oppression is possible, and no one dares to question.

Li Fan felt a chill upon hearing Bailong’s words.

If the demons of Cloud Dreams Lagoon were like he had previously imagined, though dangerous, they were still manageable. As long as humans had powerful cultivators to reach here, they could suppress the demons emerging from Cloud Dreams Lagoon.

But the Cloud Dreams Lagoon in Bailong’s words made him feel even more danger.

Demon World, continuously evolving and growing.

And humans... were rife with suspicion and infighting.

As they pressed forward, Li Fan gradually saw more demons, including a city of demons, with many great demons taking human form, and even half-human, half-demon forms, making it rare to see demons in their true form within the Demon City...

Demons were learning to emulate human survival modes, gradually shedding their wild nature in the process.

From Bailong himself, one could sense the absence of demonic wildness, and even a touch of elegance.

"We’ve arrived."

Bailong whispered as a grand demon city appeared ahead.

Many buildings in the city were built from large stones, emulating the human world, yet maintaining a wild style.

"Lord Bailong."

Upon entering the city, many seeing Bailong in the sky showed respect, bowing in greeting.

"Is that young man human?"

Quite a few demons noticed Li Fan, wondering why Lord Bailong brought a human here?

Li Fan stared at the demons below. Here, more demons had taken human form, becoming more apparent the further they went. If it weren’t for the strong demon energy, it might have been indistinguishable from the human world.

Additionally, as they went, the architecture became increasingly exquisite and beautiful, and Li Fan even saw many human-like courtyards and pavilions.

He gazed ahead, and in the distance, Li Fan saw a towering palace, grand and majestic, exuding an ancient oppressive aura.

From that direction, Li Fan sensed an unexplainable pressure, as if someone was watching him.

"That’s the Demon Saint Palace, the residence of Lord Demon Saint," Bailong informed.

"What rank is your Lord Demon Saint?" Li Fan asked curiously.

Humans have a straightforward way of classifying demons, directly by numbers corresponding to human cultivation realms.

Bailong is in the early stages of the Seventh Realm, corresponding to the initial stage of the myriad phenomena realm.

As for Lord Demon Saint that Bailong mentioned?

At least superior to Bailong.

So, is it the pinnacle of the Seventh Realm?

Or perhaps, the Eighth Realm?

If it’s the Eighth Realm, it’s somewhat terrifying...

Currently, Li Mountain doesn’t even have an Eighth Realm cultivator.

Cloud Dreams Lagoon shouldn’t be able to have one, either.

Perhaps Demon Saint is not a measure of the realm, but a title, like an emperor among humans.

Bailong paid him no mind.

Bailong led Li Fan to a courtyard not far from the palace, where female demons were present. Seeing Bailong arrive, they bowed in greeting: "Lord Bailong."

"Prepare him for a bath and a change of clothes, then bring him to see Lord Demon Saint with me later," Bailong instructed the female demons before he and the Demon Kings headed to the palace for their report.

The two female demons looked at Li Fan. They were in human form, with fox-like eyes, charming eyes looking at Li Fan, exuding a seductive allure.

Seductive arts.

"A human?" one female demon laughed, amazed to see a human here.

"Fox Demon?" In Li Fan’s eyes, a golden light flashed briefly.

"Lord Bailong asked us to prepare a bath and a change of clothes for you, young master, please," the female demon said with a smile.

"Is Lord Demon Saint so particular?" Li Fan remarked with strange expression.

This Demon Saint has quite the presence. Why is it like meeting a human emperor, requiring a bath and change of clothes?