Chapter Twelve: The Valley of Seventy-Two Demons

Yang Nan understood everything clearly now. Without a method of control, monsters could easily turn against their masters. If one could tame these demon soldiers to strengthen their own power, then when disciples of Kunlun left the mountain, they would be considerably stronger than those of other sects. Master Qingya was truly a genius, not only securing a vast estate for Kunlun but also, with ingenious foresight and painstaking effort, laying plans for the benefit of future generations. In terms of wisdom, methods, and magical prowess, he was a figure to be revered!

Yet, with such extraordinary talent, how did he end up mysteriously disappearing?

After attaining immortality, shouldn't he have been able to ascend to the celestial realm?

"Senior Brother, since Master Qingya was so powerful, could it be that he ascended to the heavens?" Yang Nan asked in confusion.

Hu Yuan smiled bitterly. "I had the same thought when I first heard the story. Later, I learned it was not the case at all. The ascension of another celestial saint from our sect would be a momentous event and could not have happened quietly. Moreover, Master Qingya merely sat down in meditation and was never seen again. His Soul Stone remains intact, and his physical body is still in the Kunlun Ancestor Hall. If he had ascended, how could such strange circumstances occur? This has become the greatest mystery in the history of Kunlun."

His Soul Stone is intact? The body remains, but the soul is gone? That certainly is not ascension…

Neither dead nor alive, a body without a soul. How bizarre!

Yang Nan frowned. He could not imagine who could possibly have slain Master Qingya, who was already the greatest martial expert in the world at that time! There was indeed something strange about all this…

Suddenly, a thought struck Yang Nan: Wasn't the technique Master Qingya practiced at the time the Threefold Divine Sword Art? Other than this peerless art, where else in the world could one find a method that merged the three swords of spirit, soul, and essence to vanquish all evil?

Master Qingya's state of neither life nor death truly was the ancient enigma of Kunlun. Could it be related to the Threefold Divine Sword Art?

That art was unmatched in power, but what of its drawbacks? Might it cause one to disappear mysteriously, just as Master Qingya did?

Yang Nan pondered for a long time. Coming to himself, he looked at the big-bearded man and grinned. "Thank you, Senior Brother, for sharing all these stories with me. Now I finally know the origins of the Demon Valley." Regardless of the connection between the Threefold Divine Sword and Master Qingya’s disappearance, that was not a concern for Yang Nan at present. What he needed to worry about was how to truly establish himself within Kunlun!

The big-bearded man wore a look of deep concern. "Junior Brother, the Demon Valley swarms with fiends. Over the past two thousand years, several demon kings in there have reached the level of grandmasters. It’s said that the Roc Demon King has reached the peak of the grandmaster stage and is about to shed his beast form to become a venerated demon king. Even a direct inheritor of Kunlun might not fare well there. You must be careful. Your new post as mountain steward is highly demanding. If you fail to collect the tributes, it's dereliction of duty. If you cannot subdue the demons, you’ll become a laughingstock. The sect leader remembers Master Qingya’s legacy and is reluctant to send experts to suppress them forcibly. This assignment will not be easy."

Such a duty required both subduing demons and collecting tributes. Without strength, it would be extremely difficult. Seeing that Yang Nan was only at the Soldier Master level, unable to match even a single demon king, Hu Yuan was genuinely worried for him. If Yang Nan failed against the demon kings and returned, he would be a laughingstock.

Sensing the sincere concern on his senior brother’s rugged face, Yang Nan felt a warmth in his heart and smiled. "Thank you, Senior Brother. However strong these demon kings are, they wouldn’t dare truly annihilate a Kunlun disciple, would they? As long as I have the means to quell their rebellious hearts, there shouldn’t be a problem. Besides, I have a few helpers in the Immortal Mansion whom I intended to bring to Kunlun anyway—now I can take them with me to bolster my reputation."

Hu Yuan laughed. "That's true. So long as you don't provoke them, they wouldn't dare kill you outright. Kunlun’s authority is not to be trifled with. As an inner disciple, it’s only natural for you to bring attendants to guard your cave. Just register them with me and I’ll give you a decree—you may bring them along. But your mission is fraught with danger. Consider your actions carefully, Junior Brother."

Straightforward by nature, Hu Yuan was indignant that this young junior, after being schemed against, was being sent with mere Soldier-level strength to negotiate among a host of fearsome demons. Thus, he did all he could to make things convenient for Yang Nan.

Yang Nan knew this senior brother was someone worth befriending, but in the world of cultivation, only strength mattered. Without strength, even if the Primal Master wished to protect him, it would be in vain. He was resolved to see the Demon Valley for himself. Perhaps after ten years of bitter cultivation in Kunlun he could become a grandmaster, but would they give him that time?

If he did not go to the Demon Valley, everything would be lost. If he went, there was at least a sliver of hope! This, Yang Nan had thought through long ago. His mind made up, he put aside his previous resentment and began to ponder the various situations in the Demon Valley.

The Demon Valley nominally belonged to Kunlun, and Hu Yuan was well-acquainted with its affairs. The Spirit Beast Mountain was said to have seventy-two demon valleys, but few true grandmaster-level monsters. There was only one great demon king, the Roc Demon King. For monsters, cultivation was difficult. Back then, the seven great demon kings only achieved the grandmaster stage over two thousand years with Master Qingya’s arts and pills—a rare fortune. If Kunlun truly wanted to exterminate them, they could do so in one fell swoop. Thus, the demons dared not truly rebel; they merely made trouble from time to time.

Within the seventy-two demon valleys, the seven demon kings were: the Roc Demon King, the Eagle Demon King, the Tiger Demon King, the Horse Demon King, the Monkey Demon King, the Tree Demon King, and the Flower Demon King. The Roc Demon King was the most formidable, skilled in wind magic, with natural wings, incredibly swift light magic, a body like refined iron, and ancient demon clan battle techniques—superior to all the others. The rest ranged from the first to the seventh level of grandmaster stage.

Most of the demon soldiers serving as menials on Kunlun Mountain were originally selected from there. Low-level demons were docile, but as their power grew, so did their rebellious inclinations—a natural progression. Later, seeing discontent among the valley fiends, the Kunlun disciples began breeding their own demon soldiers on the mountain. Though weaker, these were essentially domesticated monsters.

Compared to those from the Demon Valley, they were naturally more obedient.

Unfortunately, after Master Qingya, a master of beast-taming, vanished, Kunlun’s later generations never managed to develop a complete demon-controlling art. Thus, the current rebellion of monsters became possible. In the past, inner disciples sent to Spirit Beast Mountain simply hoped for peace, collecting tributes if possible, ignoring the monsters’ mischief. So, although the tributes dwindled, there was peace. If Yang Nan made a mistake on this trip, he might bring disaster upon himself!

If he failed to collect the tributes, he would be blamed. If he tried, he risked angering the demon kings. If he couldn’t control them, he’d be mocked for incompetence. What an impossible assignment!

After hearing all that Hu Yuan had to say about the Demon Valley, Yang Nan formed a plan. If he could accomplish this, he would truly establish himself in Kunlun. Whether he liked it or not, he had to do it. Thus, his mind resolved, he focused entirely on overcoming the coming ordeal.

"Senior Brother, please wait here. I must go down the mountain to gather some helpers. Farewell for now." Declining Hu Yuan’s invitation to stay, Yang Nan left Purple Cloud Peak. Gazing at the many peaks of Kunlun, he thought to himself: If I pass this trial, the Li family faction will owe me a debt! This enmity from their plot against me is now settled—one day, I will return it in full!

Yang Nan was no meek and gentle soul. He could swallow his pride while weak and endure being plotted against, but could never simply act as if nothing had happened!

His uncles hunting him across a thousand miles—he had endured. Leaving his home behind—he had endured. Now, being forced to subdue demons—why not endure once more?

Only by becoming strong could he turn things around!

Yang Nan once again rode on his Shadow Mist, returning to his cave. The previous steward of the Demon Valley had not yet returned the command token, so he had a month before he needed to take charge. Yang Nan could use this time to prepare. On returning, Commander Shrimp, noticing his young master’s rare grave expression, guessed much and quickly and respectfully welcomed Yang Nan inside.

"Old Shrimp, get ready. We’re going down the mountain to fetch Old Crab and the others." All Yang Nan’s possessions were stored in his Rivers and Mountains Ring. Apart from his personal demon guards, nothing else needed to be taken. The cave had no servants or treasures—its doors could stand wide open.

Hearing that they were going to fetch General Crab and the others, Commander Shrimp could not help but beam with delight. Though he had lived at ease on Kunlun, there was a hint of loneliness. To bring his old comrades to this immortal land was indeed a great joy.

Seeing Commander Shrimp so pleased, Yang Nan felt his own gloom lighten somewhat. He then gathered over a hundred demon soldiers, stowed them in the Rivers and Mountains Ring, and rode the Shadow Mist down the slopes of Kunlun.