Chen Tian calmly followed the map's directions toward the next city. To enter a large city, Chen Tian needed to pass through three small cities and some scattered regions. Currently, Chen Tian was in a place called the Sha Tian Mountain Range. Standing in the sky above the mountain range, Chen Tian felt a peculiar sensation. This subtle strangeness made him stop. Chen Tian felt that this place was a little different. He unleashed his perception of heaven and earth, sensing dozens of people below the mountain range. Chen Tian landed on the ground, wanting to see what was happening here.
Looking at them, they seemed to be disciples of some sect. Chen Tian landed and stood at the periphery. At this moment, the outer areas of the mountain range were crowded with people. Chen Tian walked up to a young man in white and asked, "Brother, do you know what's happening ahead?"
Lin Tian was surprised that someone didn't know what was happening. Lin Tian turned to look at Chen Tian and said indifferently, "Brother, you don't know what's happening here?"
"I don't. I just came out and know nothing about the outside world."
Chen Tian knew that his origin from another world was a secret that absolutely could not be exposed, or it would bring him trouble. Upon hearing this, the young man suddenly understood. Countless thoughts raced through his mind. It seemed that Chen Tian was a disciple of one of those reclusive families. This was a great opportunity! He had to cling to this opportunity firmly.
Moreover, reclusive families were not to be trifled with by people like them. Lin Tian immediately became respectful and slowly explained, "There is a seal here, and beneath the seal lies a devil. In the past, three powerful figures of the empire joined forces to seal it here. It has been sealed for thousands of years. Now, the seal's power is not what it used to be, and the seal is about to break. These people who have come are the most powerful forces on the continent, wanting to fight the devil to the death."
"If the devil breaks through the seal, the entire world will fall into destruction. That devil is very terrifying. In the past, the empire dispatched thirty high-level cultivators of the thirteenth realm, but they couldn't deal with it. It was the three great emperors who joined forces to seal it here, which shows its unfathomable power."
"Then, according to what you're saying, even if these forces bring more people, they won't be a match for the devil, right?"
"If it were thousands of years ago, that would be true. But this seal also has the ability to weaken the devil. After thousands of years of suppression, its strength is less than one-tenth of its former glory. This is why these forces are so bold. Even the empire has not sent reinforcements because they know that even if this devil emerges, it won't be able to be arrogant for long. No one is willing to let it recuperate and regain its strength."
"Currently, the top four forces and four great families from the surrounding areas have gathered here. There are no less than several thousand people. Including middle-level cultivators, there are over five hundred. This devil is nearing its end. We are just here to watch the show."
Chen Tian's lips curled up. "I don't think so. I think this devil won't die."
Chen Tian sensed something interesting through his perception of heaven and earth. Chen Tian's words stunned Lin Tian for a moment. He thought Chen Tian was joking, but who knew that the devil would surely perish here today? This was an unchangeable fact. The cultivators from the top forces and families had gathered here. How could they possibly let the devil escape?
Chen Tian knew that no one would believe what he said, but so what? Chen Tian lived his life as he pleased and had no need to explain himself to others. What others couldn't notice, Chen Tian noticed. Chen Tian's figure walked out of the mountain range.
Chen Tian had an idea he wanted to try and see if he could succeed. After all, this devil could be a good helper. If successful, his means would increase, and his future hope would be greater.
As Chen Tian left the mountain range, a beam of black light shot straight into the sky from the entire mountain range. A roar resounded through the air. The elders and high-ranking officials of the forces who were in the sky above all took action. In an instant, blades clashed and lights flashed, with colorful rays illuminating the mountain range. The entire mountain range exploded into a flat plain with a bang.
"Phew, we finally dealt with this devil."
"Indeed! If not for the seal's effect, even if we all attacked together, we wouldn't have been able to harm the devil."
"Let's go back. It's over here, and we need to give an account to the empire."
"Disperse."
As the crowd gradually thinned, Chen Tian came to a mountain beside the mountain range. Standing before the mountain, Chen Tian spread out his palm. The entire ground rumbled, and a tunnel appeared before Chen Tian's eyes. Chen Tian stepped inside, and the tunnel was covered by the earth, as if nothing had happened.
Inside the tunnel, waves of darkness surged, accompanied by an uncomfortable aura. Chen Tian felt a sense of familiarity. This aura was very familiar, as if he had encountered it somewhere before. Chen Tian opened his palm, and the Water Spirit Flame illuminated the surroundings. The firelight shone as Chen Tian reached the deepest part of the tunnel. At the bottom, a creature entangled by black energy lay quietly on the ground.
Chen Tian looked at the creature before him and was shocked. It wasn't the creature itself that shocked him, but the aura entwined with it – the aura of the Evil Spirit race. This creature was being assimilated by the Evil Spirit race bit by bit. Chen Tian couldn't discern the species of the creature before him, but he knew that the Evil Spirit race was the enemy of the universe. Since he had encountered it, he had to help.
"It seems it just fell into a deep sleep, allowing the Evil Spirit race's aura to take advantage. This fellow sacrificed ninety percent of its strength to create a false god and is recovering its true form here. If I hadn't had my perception of heaven and earth, I wouldn't have discovered it."
Chen Tian couldn't help but sigh at the creature. To abandon ninety percent of its power for freedom – what immense determination it must have! Chen Tian couldn't bear to see this creature being assimilated by the Evil Spirit race's aura. Once the assimilation was complete, the creature would regain its full power, and with the help of the Evil Spirit race's aura, its strength would soar to a higher level, endangering the entire world.
Chen Tian's palm emitted a gray-white aura. The aura of chaos appeared in his palm. As his palm struck out, chaos emerged, and the heavens and earth made way. The Evil Spirit aura was merely a form of evil aura derived from chaotic energy. Before Chen Tian's chaotic energy, the Evil Spirit aura retreated like evil spirits encountering sunlight or thunder, gradually dissipating.
The Evil Spirit aura gathered together, instantly forming a black ghost face. A roar emerged from the ghost face: "Who is it? Who has disrupted my plan?"
"It's me, a high-level Evil General?"
Chen Tian sensed the aura of the Evil Spirit ghost face and confirmed that it was a high-level Evil General. However, this was not its true form, but an essence formed by its aura. Otherwise, Chen Tian would have died with just a glance from a high-level Evil General.
"No, impossible. You, you, who are you? How can you possess chaotic energy?"
"Boy, I won't spare you! You ruined my plan. When you come to this world, I will tear you to shreds, and your soul will be burned in netherfire."
"A mere trace of aura dares to be so presumptuous before me. How noisy!"
Chen Tian roared, and the chaotic energy on his palm became even more immense. The Evil Spirit aura was gradually entangled by the chaotic energy, and the Evil Spirit aura was removed. Chen Tian was sweating profusely. Using chaotic energy was very tiring, as it was not easy to control. However, just as he was on the verge of exhaustion, Chen Tian finished the removal.
Chen Tian collapsed on the ground. The dark aura gradually dissipated, and the creature's appearance appeared before Chen Tian's eyes. Chen Tian looked at the massive creature before him. The devil was actually a demon dragon! Yes, the creature that had fallen into a deep sleep was a demon dragon. Chen Tian touched his forehead. What should he do to make it form a contract with him?
Chen Tian opened his palm, and a contract paper appeared. Chen Tian's consciousness entered the demon dragon's consciousness sea. For other cultivators, this was a dangerous act, but Chen Tian was an exception. After merging with three worlds, Chen Tian's mental power and consciousness were incredibly strong. He could move freely in the consciousness of a mere demon dragon as if it were his own backyard.
In the demon dragon's consciousness, it was in a deep slumber. Chen Tian spoke, "Wake up, wake up."
"Who are you? Why are you in my consciousness?"
The demon dragon opened its eyes and looked at the human boy before it with curiosity. It had entered its consciousness sea. Had humans become so powerful during its thousands of years of sealing?
"How about forming a contract with me? I'll take you out of this world, help you recover your strength, and even surpass your past peak."
"Boy, are you boasting? My peak strength was beyond your imagination. Moreover, even though I am asleep now, I know my predicament."
"If I appear before humans, I will be hunted and pursued by all humans in the world. My body is being eroded, and I cannot move at all. I can only seal myself to remain conscious."
"I know your worries, but what I want to tell you is that the Evil Spirit aura has been removed by me. You have not been eroded. As for your strength, I have a way to help you recover without anyone discovering your existence."
Chen Tian's calm demeanor made the demon dragon hesitate. It had abandoned ninety percent of its strength, leaving only one percent. Its current strength was only at the middle-level in this world, not particularly strong. The only thing to do was to find a place to recuperate and slowly regain its strength.
Recovering strength would take a long time. The demon dragon would need hundreds, or even thousands, of years to return to its peak. The energy in this world was scarce, so the demon dragon could only remain underground, and its recovery would be as slow as a turtle.
"Alright, I agree."
The demon dragon spoke cheerfully. For some reason, it felt that this human before it would bring it a new life, even a transformation. A voice deep within its heart told it so.
Chen Tian nodded with satisfaction and then placed the contract paper before the demon dragon. The demon dragon glanced at it, its expression shifting from shock to horror. This was energy and rules that did not belong to this world. Could it be that this human before it, like itself, came from another world?
The demon dragon was certain that the young man before it was definitely not from the same world. If they were from the same world, the demon dragon would be very familiar with the world's energy and aura on this contract. The strangeness indicated that it came from another world.
Perhaps it could truly leave this place and return to that realm. Without hesitation, the demon dragon extended its dragon claw and touched the contract. A pair of wings appeared on Chen Tian's forehead. The black demon dragon wings transformed into a demon dragon wing magic array and then disappeared.
Chen Tian's consciousness returned to his body. The magic array appeared on his forehead, and the demon dragon's body was absorbed into it, disappearing from Chen Tian's sight.
Chen Tian's goal for this trip had been achieved. Chen Tian did not hesitate and left immediately, eager to complete the trial. The immortal cultivation world was waiting for him to save it!