Chapter 140: The End of Matters

Ye Jiuyao watched as the massive sand sculpture was gradually absorbed into the Canglang Scroll. Once it had completely vanished, he let out a sigh and turned his attention to Cao Zheng.

"Elder Cao, are you alright?" Ye Jiuyao asked with concern as he approached.

Cao Zheng shook his head, looking at Ye Jiuyao with eyes full of gratification; the more he looked at the young man, the more pleased he felt. As for the others, it went without saying, but Cao Sisi was acting uncharacteristically, casting shy glances at him like a child who had done something wrong.

Ye Jiuyao naturally did not notice, but Yu Xiu and the others did. They shook their heads, knowing that such a union was impossible—much like how the fireflies on the ground could never be a match for the bright moon in the sky. Even if the firefly tried its best to shine, how many in this world would truly notice its light? After all, they existed on entirely different planes. Unless, of course, the moon were willing to descend from the heavens. Yet, witnessing the expression on Ye Jiuyao’s face as he suppressed the great demon, they knew he was perhaps not a man given to gentle sentiments, or perhaps his heart had simply yet to meet the one who could unlock it.

Ye Jiuyao remained oblivious to their thoughts. His only concern now was healing Cao Zheng, as the incident had been sparked by him. He began to channel his own vital energy to help Cao Zheng soothe the meridians damaged by the great sand sculpture. Cao Zheng was astonished; he could feel a continuous stream of pure energy pouring into his back. The purity of this energy was comparable to, if not greater than, the vital fluids found in sacred grottoes. It was so refined that it hardly seemed possible for a Sage—wait, that wasn't right. How had Ye Jiuyao become a Sage?

Cao Zheng suddenly realized that Ye Jiuyao had reached the Sage realm. Only a few hours had passed; how could he have broken through so quickly? Cao Zheng felt as if his head were spinning with stars.

"You... you have become a Sage?!" Cao Zheng exclaimed in excitement.

Ye Jiuyao did not answer, instead increasing the flow of energy to further stabilize the old man's body; if he didn't, the old man wouldn't last long. "Don't speak. Wait until your injuries are stable, then we can discuss the details," Ye Jiuyao said sternly, cutting off Cao Zheng, who clearly had more to say.

Half a quarter of an hour later, Ye Jiuyao let out a long breath, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He looked at Cao Zheng and shook his head. While the old man was safe for the moment, he would surely die within a year if he did not achieve a breakthrough.

"Elder, what level has your cultivation reached?"

"The peak of the Sage Lord level!"

"I see." Ye Jiuyao felt a surge of pressure. Once one reached the Sage Lord level, breakthroughs no longer relied solely on the accumulation of vital energy, but on profound insights. It was no longer about mastering a hundred paths, but about delving deep into one—unless, of course, one was a monstrous genius.

"Grandfather, are you alright?"

"I am fine. Let us wait for the return of the white-browed elder before we discuss further matters."

The others wanted to step forward and offer their concern, but upon hearing Cao Zheng’s tone, they realized that even the two elders could not make the final decision. After all, the tenets of the Qianye Sect were absolute; who would dare to defy them? No one dared, so they, too, had to comply.

"Ahem... you all continue talking, I have some business to attend to." Ye Jiuyao needed to slip away; he now held a great demon within him, and though it was suppressed within the Canglang Scroll, he remained uneasy.

"Go ahead. You are exhausted from this battle." Cao Zheng, old and shrewd, saw the look on Ye Jiuyao’s face and knew the youth had secrets he was not ready to reveal here. He let the matter drop, knowing there would be time for questions later. Moreover, the others were weary and in need of recuperation. Although a third of the Qianye Sect’s halls and pavilions had been destroyed, the sect was vast enough that they still had plenty of places to find shelter.

Cao Sisi wanted to follow Ye Jiuyao as he departed, but hesitated when she saw the injuries sustained by Yu Xiu, Cao Zheng, and the others. Ye Jiuyao bowed, took a step, and drifted away. He was heading back to the mysterious grotto, the birthplace of the Heavenly Demon Fire source, for it was the only place he deemed truly safe.

...

Inside the cave.

"I wonder what benefits this great sand sculpture will yield for me..." Ye Jiuyao murmured as he entered the Canglang Scroll.

The map within the scroll had expanded; more than a dozen locations were now lit up instead of just a few. Perhaps this was the benefit of becoming a Sage. Without pausing, he hurried to the cavern where the nine great demons were imprisoned. The spirit of the scroll, Cang Sangsang, appeared instantly.

"Young Master, this place..."

"It is fine. They are sealed within, and only their consciousnesses remain. They cannot affect me." Ye Jiuyao explained hastily, though Cang Sangsang looked uneasy. Before he could stop her, he had already stormed inside.

"Roar!"

The moment Ye Jiuyao entered, a terrifying gale roared toward him like steel blades. Yet, Ye Jiuyao remained undaunted. As a Sage, his physical body was unparalleled, far stronger than before. He had not feared them previously, and he certainly did not fear them now.

"Behave yourselves! Otherwise, if I find your true bodies, I will show you how I can suppress them!" Ye Jiuyao roared into the depths of the cave, his voice shaking the void.

"Roar." A growl echoed back from the cave, but it carried a hint of submission. Ye Jiuyao was the master of the Canglang Scroll; while he had been no threat before, he was now a genuine danger to them. They had no choice but to yield.

The Sage realm was the threshold of truly comprehending the power of heaven and earth; only now could Ye Jiuyao be considered to have stepped into the ranks of the truly powerful. Without reaching this stage, there would always be a slight resistance in absorbing and controlling energy, but that had changed. Although one of the nine great demons was gone, the remaining seven—plus the one that had not yet appeared—exerted a pressure that had not diminished; rather, it had become even more terrifying. It was as if, seeing a companion struck down, the others had grown enraged, their power rising by several degrees. Such was the state of the seven remaining great demons.