Chapter 271 - The Sky Demon Cult’s Mountain Guarding Array

Chapter 271: The Sky Demon Cult’s Mountain Guarding Array

Once again, Jiang He could not sleep.

He lay in his bed, tossing and turning but never dozing off.

For some reason, once he closed his eyes, Wang Siyu, Sora, and Boa Hancock’s silhouttes would appear in his mind.

Hell, forget them showing up—they would actually do embarrassing stuff to him! It was too much!

And that was not all.

Aside from that trio, even Mu Wanqiu would join the fray. Therefore, while Jiang He first assumed that he was simply brimming with energy, he changed his mind…

How could he be brimming with energy?

He had had a tough time farming the entire day, and he should be tired and worn out. Moreover, if he were brimming with energy, why would Mu Wanqiu suddenly appear in his mind?

It was not like he lusted after her body.

Sitting up on his bed, he glanced at the time…

It was not even two in the morning.

“How am I suppose to weather through a long night like this?” Jiang He breathed a long, helpless sigh, and stood up to wear his clothes.

With no signs of falling asleep over the night that stretches on, he had to get something to do, releasing the Twenty-Three Swords in passing to help him get drowsy.

After getting dressed, Jiang He step out into the farm, nonchalantly retrieving the Cloudscraper Vine.

Jiang He shivered for some reason as he watched the Cloudscraper Vine’s eighteen tendrils turned into a green light and creep inside his own body.

Still, he froze as he stepped out of the farm.

“I’d only thought of getting dressed and ready to go, but I forgot that I didn’t decide on where I’m going…”

Right then, Jiang He felt as if he had nowhere to go despite the vastness of the world.

Should he head to Shenongjia and ask the ancient daemon cultivator about plant life cultivation?

“That’s…not good, is it?”

“After all, cultivation techniques tend to be secrets not easily passed to others. And I’ve only met the ancient daemon cultivator once, and the process hasn’t been pleasant…boldly going them isn’t quite right.”

Jiang He felt that demanding—no, loaning a plant life cultivation manual from the ancient daemon cultivator would need an appropriate excuse.

And since he was not going to the ancient daemon cultivator, he would have to look for the Sky Demon Cult.

“Yes.”

“That bunch has been sending their people after me every other day over the last two months. Even if I don’t take that into account, the Sky Demon Cult’s Saint had actually made a pact with the Dragoncroc Emperor to try to kill me. If I did not feel inspired enough to take the initiative and kill the Dragoncroc Emperor, I would be living in fear everyday and fearing being ambushed.”

Moreover, Jiang He and the Sky Demon Cult’s Saint were friends in spirit who have never met.

He had always wanted to see for himself what the Sky Demon Cult’s Saint was like that he could dupe such a big bunch of imbeciles to serve him.

Yan Dehao had mentioned that in the handful of occasions he had entered and left the Sky Demon Cult’s base, it would always be in the region of Mount Thunder in Miaojiang.

Jiang He turned on his phone and checked online.

It turns out that Mount Thunder was a scenic spot in the outback of Miaojiang called Mount Thunder National Forest Park.

There were even those who claimed that Mount Thunder, the tallest mountain in Miaojian, was a Holy Ground a realm of clouds. Dense mist wafted along its unending mountain forests like a realm of immortals existing in the mortal world.

Yan Dehao had mentioned Mount Moon as well, so Jiang He searched about it as well.

As a matter of fact, Mount Moon was in the outback of Miaojiang and not too far from Mount Thunder…

“Yan Dehao said that whenever he teleported, he would not be more than 50 km away. It seems that the Sky Demon Cult’s base must be between Mount Thunder and Mount Moon…”

“Still, is that old chap screwing with me?”

“I remember him saying that there is also a flatland aside from the Sky Demon Cult’s base… are there any flatlands in the outback of Miaojiang?”

As Jiang He had never been to Miaojiang, he was not sure.

However, he suspected that what Yan Dehao had seen was a mirage.

After confirming the location Mount Thunder, Jiang He placed his phone inside his System Backpack and unsheathed his Scarlet Flame Sword.

There were now twenty-four boxes in his System Backpack, which allowed him to store more things inside. This was unlike before when he could not actually fit in some of his spoils, let alone his phone, which Jiang He had to worry about breaking every time he fought.

Still, there was one drawback from putting his phone in the System Backpack—having no signal.

That being said, it was now in the middle of the night and there were no calls to be expected, so going without signal is fine.

Clasping his hands behind his back, he stood on his sword and felt the whistle of the winds beside his ears, although his thoughts were a mess.

“Right now, what is sure is that there must be a mountain guarding array outside the Sky Demon Cult’s base.”

“I’ve only learned the Ice and Fire Duality Sword Array and know nothing about the mountain guarding array, and I would have to rely on brute strength to break it if I can’t get in. I just hope that I am able to break it.”

Jiang he was rather apprehensive.

After rushing several thousand kilometers so boldly in the middle of the night, it would be embarrassing if he failed to break the mountain guarding array.

“If I really can’t infiltrate the Sky Demon Cult’s base or break the mountain guarding array, I would have to use my ultimate move!”

***

Meanwhile, at the great canyon where the Sky Demon Cult’s base stood, the remaining two Sky Demon Cult Cardinals, four Holy Children, three Elders, over a dozen Decans, fortyish Fiends, and the average cultists who near a thousand in number were kneeling in a vast square.

They had been kneeling over a dozen minutes, but not only was there not one ounce of impatience in their faces but they were actually filled with zeal!

Soon…

They shall meet the Saint!

For the many Sky Demon Cultists, they were not afraid of getting their bodies mangled and their bones broken to be in the Saint’s good graces.

Still, it was not their idiocy, but them being extensively brainwashed…and not through evangelism, but by a secret spirit technique that sowed a seed of ‘faith’ in the realm within their heart.

Of course, from Jiang He’s perspective, they were all idiots.

What year is it?

And you are still joining cults?

Even so, the truth was that most Sky Demon Cultists had no other options. Most of them were wanted criminals and fugitives who committed grievous crimes.

Another few minutes passed.

Suddenly…

Roar!

A deafening bellow echoed from the depths of the canyon, and in the next split second, the colossal Water Serpent took to the clouds.

Its monstrous form slithered amidst the mists and arrived at the center of the square in a flash.

Then, the Sky Demon Cult’s Saint stepped off lightly from the Water Serpent’s flat head and drifted down from above.

“Your Holiness, you grace us with your presence!”

“Long may Your Holiness live!”

Thunderous voices resounded from the lips of the many kneeling cultists.

Soon, the Sky Demon Cult’s Saint touched down.

She studied the crowd, extended her hand and gently pressed the air, and the raucous cultists all quieted immediately.

“Is everyone here?”

The Seventh Elder came forward then and answered reverently, “Your Holiness, there are still three Grands, fourteen Heavenly Generals and three hundred believers who have yet to return. They are in action abroad, unable to return at the moment.”

After all, it would be a dream for a handful of rank-eights and rank-sevens to cross the oceans, given how much more dangerous the seas were compared to land in this day and age.

With Feral Avian occupying the skies, catching a flight to cross the seas was…impossible.

Nonetheless, the Sky Demon Cult’s Saint did not fuss about it.

She spoke flatly, “On this day, every believer has been recalled for the great plan of the Holy Ones. They have spoken to me, and in twelve days, the Holy Lord shall personally move to open the Stargate, allowing the Holy Envoys and the Holy Legion to descend upon Earth…”

Her voice was hoarse and androgynous, but despite its evenness, it rang clearly beside the ears of every Sky Demon Cultists.

All of them were roaring in fervor, their zeal flaring even harder.

“In twelve days, every believer shall charge with me into Lingzhou City, offering the hundred thousand souls residing in that place as blood sacrifice to welcome the Envoy’s Legion…”

“All who serve shall be rewarded, for the Holy Lord would generously award you with the sacred forms of the Holy Ones and bless you with longevity.”

“Is life even worth celebrating? What is there to fear of death? People, it is time to present your bodies for the Holy Faith!”

One of the Holy Children roared.

“For the Holy Faith!”

“For the Holy Faith…”

Endless bellows echoed like a tidal wave, while a disdainful smile appeared beneath the golden mask of the Sky Demon Cult’s Saint.

What a bunch of morons.

Holy Faith?

Holy Ones?

There has only ever been sky demons and their singular Demon Lord. What even are the Holy Faith, the Holy Ones or the Holy Lord?

Of course, demonic or holiness had no difference for these zealous believers.

She waved her hand impatiently.

The three Elders and the four Holy Children hence rose, driving forth their qi like thunder as they cried resoundingly, “Silence! The Saint has decreed that all shall be baptized in the Holy Lake. From now on, all shall enter the lake in groups of a hundred, and we shall flatten Lingzhou City after the baptism!”

The many cultists roared once again.

The three Elders and the four Holy Children had to speak up again for them to slowly clam down, and soon, a hundred cultists were selected to go forth towards the Holy Lake.

“Your Holiness!”

The two cardinals came before the Sky Demon Cult’s Saint then.

She smiled. “You two shall escort the divine beast to the vault and bring out every treasure within and improve everyone’s combat ability as much as possible.”

“By the way, there may be spies mixed in among the believers, and I shall single them out later and offer them to the Sky…Eh?”

Suddenly, the Saint’s face twitched and she quickly looked up into the distance.

Boom!

A dull rumble echoed as if the entire canyon was struck by an earthquake, shaking likely once.

In the next instant…

Ooom!

Around the great canyon, a streak of radiance arose like a wave.

The Sky Demon Cult’s mountain guarding array was attacked and activated on its own!