The Eternal Way Chapter 160: The Demon Nest

At the main sect of Clear Mist Sect, on the tranquil mountain.

In the thatched hut, a few cups of tea were served, accompanied by the fragrance of beauties.

On the desk, a few words exchanged, heroes laughed and conversed.

Green Mountain's ruler put away his pen and paper, smiling as he said, "Truly, heroes erge from the young. When I was at the ninth rank, encountering soone of the eighth rank made tremble and unable to utter a word. Yet you, Li Qi, can face with composure and even dare to confront Jin Chi. Such courage, if spread, would surely inspire countless young talents."

Li Qi wiped his forehead nervously, lifting his cup for a strategic sip of water. "Your Majesty flatters too much. I rely acted as an interdiary. The true danger was shouldered by Your Majesty; there's nothing remarkable about ."

"Humble, humble," Green Mountain's ruler replied generously, without any condescending attitude. "I've already told several friends about your deeds, and they were all amazed. Ordinary ninth-rank cultivators would likely die of fright just witnessing our battles. Yet you remained calm while executing Jin Buhuan—this is no trivial feat."

This was indeed true. Li Qi himself had firsthand experience.

Before he entered the witchcraft path, he witnessed the battle between Bear Killer and Curse Demon King. Just sensing their killing intent nearly killed him outright.

That sliver of killing intent carried no energy—it was pure presence—but it almost terrified Li Qi to death. Only his unwavering willpower and a semi-suicidal act of tearing his own soul allowed him to endure.

The gap between them was vast.

However, exposure to such situations repeatedly could build resistance. Li Qi's luck and upbringing exposed him to grand events, so he grew sowhat accustod.

But these matters couldn't be discussed openly, so he simply replied, "Since childhood, I've been rather dull, insensitive to killing intent, which has given so advantages in this regard."

Upon hearing this, Green Mountain's ruler laughed heartily. Afterward, he added, "Such indifference can also be considered a rare talent. Let's not dwell on that. The reason I summoned you here is to speak with you personally and deliver your reward."

With a wave of his hand, he instructed the beauty beside him, "Xian'er, heal Li Qi's wounds. It's unpleasant to drink tea while injured!"

Hu Xian'er nodded obediently and stepped forward, extending her hand. "Mr. Li, please extend your hand so I may examine and treat you."

"Then I'll trouble you, Senior," Li Qi responded respectfully, without putting on airs.

He knew better than to act arrogantly.

Being lifted up by others didn't an he had the right to look down on them.

He extended his hand, and Hu Xian'er took it.

As their hands touched, Li Qi felt a sensation akin to warm spring water—soft, fragrant, and smooth.

It felt like his Dao heart was being tested at every mont...

But this feeling didn't last long. Once their hands connected, he suddenly felt a fla ignite within him.

It wasn't lust but a surge of yang energy flooding his cold and depleted organs.

Yin and yang harmonized within him, and his previous injuries were skillfully nded.

Was Hu Xian'er... performing surgery on him?

It wasn't rely replenishing yang energy—a crude thod that might make him feel better temporarily but wouldn't repair the underlying damage. Like a cracked vessel, pouring more water into it would only result in loss.

Shen Shuibei's approach was gradual nourishnt through food and dicinal pills, allowing Li Qi's body to slowly heal itself.

This thod had no side effects and suited Shen Shuibei's current abilities.

But Hu Xian'er employed a more direct thod, disregarding her own exhaustion and ntal strain, performing surgery directly within Li Qi's body.

Li Qi felt countless tiny threads of qi moving inside him—so like needles, others like thread, and so like blades.

Damaged organs, muscles, and bones were excised where irreparable, and salvageable areas were repaired.

Needles pierced, threads stitched, and cuts sealed—but without any pain.

Li Qi's sensation was extraordinary.

He suddenly understood Hu Xian'er's technique.

Was this... surgery at the molecular level?

It felt like nanobots repairing wounds inside his body, even restoring his microcosmic human realm.

Such skill was miraculous!

As the surgery progressed, Hu Xian'er's expression grew increasingly solemn. She began to sweat, and her body trembled slightly.

It was clear that performing such delicate operations at the molecular level placed a significant burden on her.

After about fifteen minutes, Hu Xian'er exhaled deeply. "Mission accomplished... Sir, your injuries are mostly healed."

Li Qi moved his body experintally.

Indeed, he was healed.

His body had fully recovered. All injuries, including hidden ones, were nded. Broken bones and tendons were reconnected, and the fissures in his microcosmic human realm were sealed.

"Thank you, Senior!" Li Qi bowed respectfully.

An injury that would have taken months to heal naturally was restored in just fifteen minutes. Truly impressive for a seventh-rank cultivator!

"No need for thanks. This is what I'm here to do," Hu Xian'er demurred, stepping aside and retreating to Green Mountain's ruler's side.

"Well, now that your injuries are healed, you won't linger in Clear Mist City for long. Have you decided where to go next?" Green Mountain's ruler asked with a smile.

"I plan to continue southwest, though I don't have a specific destination yet. I'm rely traveling without a set goal," Li Qi replied.

This wasn't entirely a lie. He truly didn't have a specific target in mind. As long as the direction was southwest, he'd follow his instincts.

"Then allow to point out an opportunity for you. Do you trust ?" Green Mountain's ruler chuckled.

"How could I not? Your Majesty has treated kindly. If I can't trust you, who can I trust?" Li Qi quickly responded.

"You can heed my advice. If you head southwest, roughly forty thousand miles away, you'll find a demon nest."

"The demons there differ greatly from the peaceful ones nearby. Those in the demon nest are incredibly bloodthirsty. Surrounding nations have relocated, and border defenses are tightly maintained. Battles frequently erupt."

"In that demon nest resides a fifth-rank demon lord nad Swallowing Heaven Demon Sovereign. Under him are six sixth-rank demon brothers—six peculiar toad spirits born from absorbing corrupted celestial energies, granting them mastery over the Six Illnesses."

Li Qi nodded attentively, recognizing the potential significance of the ruler's words.

Though Green Mountain's ruler didn't explain further, Li Qi understood.

According to ancient lore, heaven has six energies: yin, yang, wind, rain, darkness, and light.

These energies manifest as flavors, colors, and sounds, but when excessive, they give rise to the Six Illnesses.

Excess yin causes cold ailnts, excess yang causes heat ailnts, excess wind causes limb ailnts, excess rain causes abdominal ailnts, excess darkness causes confusion, and excess light causes heart ailnts. When these illnesses worsen, calamities arise.

These six sixth-rank demon kings must have cultivated using the negative, corrupted accumulation of celestial energies.

As for the fifth-rank Swallowing Heaven Demon Sovereign's foundation, Li Qi suspected Green Mountain's ruler didn't know either.

Cultivation foundations weren't casually revealed—they were life-and-death secrets.

If soone grasped your roots, they could easily devise counterasures.

Hadn't Li Qi defeated Jin Buhuan by exploiting this principle? After sparring with him, Li Qi hadn't exposed anything, while Jin Buhuan's roots were laid bare.

Perhaps Jin Buhuan thought he'd concealed himself well, but Li Qi's insight surpassed his ability to hide. This led to Jin Buhuan being completely suppressed during their duel, despite summoning his full power.

Of course, knowledge played a role. Not everyone knew how to exploit another's weaknesses, even if exposed.

Knowledge was precious. Not everyone had an encyclopedia morized or access to a library like Li Qi did.

To soone like Elder Si, basic knowledge Li Qi took for granted was entirely foreign.

"Is there sothing special about this demon nest?" Li Qi asked curiously after hearing Green Mountain's ruler's introduction.

"The demon nest itself isn't unique, but due to the lack of governance, chaos reigns. Demons run rampant, and righteous warriors often attempt to exterminate them. Battles are frequent," Green Mountain's ruler explained.

Li Qi nodded but wondered why the ruler recomnded this place.

"Recently, I learned that Swallowing Heaven Demon Sovereign plans to leave for the outer realms due to an opportunity, leaving the six toads behind to guard the nest. This creates a defensive gap."

"This alone isn't significant, but coincidentally, Righteous Sword Palace recently prepared to mobilize its elders to intercept and kill one of the sixth-rank toads, both to uphold justice and seek revenge."

"With this back-and-forth, Righteous Sword Palace might fail to kill the toad, but it will inevitably create a vulnerability in Swallowing Heaven Demon Nest. While useless to , it's advantageous for you, Li Qi. You can infiltrate and locate a nascent spirit treasure hidden in Ming Lake. It might aid in refining your spirit."

Li Qi finally understood the ruler's aning and was enlightened.

So the ruler was pointing out an opportunity for him.

For Green Mountain's ruler, this might be trivial, but for Li Qi, it was invaluable.

Without giving him the world, rely pointing out the location showed thoughtful consideration.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. May I ask what Righteous Sword Palace and Ming Lake are?" Li Qi inquired, unfamiliar with these terms.

"Ming Lake is a lake within the demon nest inhabited by water demons, but it shouldn't pose a problem for you," Green Mountain's ruler explained. "As for Righteous Sword Palace, it's a cultivation sect founded on martial arts, with upright rules and many chivalrous disciples. Its palace master is a sixth-rank cultivator, decently strong. Previously, Righteous Sword Palace interfered with the demon nest, resulting in one of the demon kings killing an elder. Already dissatisfied with the demon nest, they beca outright enemies, allying with neighboring nations to frequently attack the nest."

"This ti, Righteous Sword Palace learned of Swallowing Heaven Demon Sovereign's departure and plans to mobilize fully to sever one finger of the nest. This presents your opportunity."

"Further details won't help. It's better for you to investigate yourself. With your abilities, it shouldn't be difficult, right?" Green Mountain's ruler winked at Li Qi.

Clearly, the ruler believed in Li Qi's perceptiveness. Despite only arriving two days ago, Li Qi had discerned Clear Mist City's situation, exploited it, analyzed relationships among dozens of factions, and successfully united forces to suppress Jin Buhuan's allies.

For Li Qi, a hint was enough. Gathering intelligence afterward should be effortless.

"I understand now. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your guidance. I was pondering how to refine my spirit. Your kindness shall not be forgotten," Li Qi stood, bowing deeply and emphasizing his gratitude.

Li Qi knew he was currently insignificant. The ruler's kindness stemd from seeing his potential. Repaying this kindness was the best response.

"Haha, consider it advice from an elder. Since our business is done, I'll take my leave. You should collect so cultivation techniques before departing. Though Clear Mist Sect's demon techniques aren't profound, they're sufficient for beginners," Green Mountain's ruler finished his tea, smiled, and prepared to leave.

Li Qi, who had been standing, watched as the ruler stepped out and vanished. Turning to Hu Xian'er and Hu ier, he bowed. "Since official matters are concluded, esteed seniors, regarding the cultivation techniques..."

"Please follow , sir. I'll lead you to the repository," Hu ier imdiately replied, inviting Li Qi along.

Hu Xian'er watched them depart, then sighed softly. With a wave of her hand, the teaware floated up, cleaned themselves, and rearranged automatically.

Turning to the empty air, she whispered, "Master, why show such concern for a re ninth-rank child?"