Chapter 100

Mount Devil's Back, in the eyes of many ancient sects, holy gates, and bordering countries, is a treasure trove. This place is rich in divine metals, abundant in spiritual herbs and elixir plants, with celestial beasts roaring and longevity spirits gathering in groups.

Although Mount Devil's Back is far from matching the legendary burial grounds of the old lands, it is still an invaluable treasure trove, being incredibly fertile.

As for the exact origin of Mount Devil's Back, no one can clearly explain it. Some say that Mount Devil's Back was naturally formed on this land, while others claim it came from beyond the heavens. Still, others say that Mount Devil's Back is the property of the gods...

Thirty thousand years ago, Mount Devil's Back belonged to the Ancient Sect of Face Washing. One could say that, as far as anyone could remember, Mount Devil's Back had always belonged to the Ancient Sect of Face Washing. However, thirty thousand years ago, the Ancient Sect of Face Washing suffered a devastating defeat at the hands of the Holy Heaven Sect. Although the Ancient Sect of Face Washing ultimately managed to defend its stronghold, they eventually lost Mount Devil's Back.

At that time, Mount Devil's Back was essentially the hunting ground of the Ancient Sect of Face Washing, and no one dared to touch it. Despite the abundant divine metals and precious iron, which made people drool, no one dared to challenge the Ancient Sect of Face Washing.

It wasn't until thirty thousand years ago, when the Ancient Sect of Face Washing suffered a crushing defeat and retreated to their stronghold, that Mount Devil's Back became unclaimed. Although the Holy Heaven Sect defeated the Ancient Sect of Face Washing, all the major sects and bordering countries in the Central Domain and throughout the world were eyeing Mount Devil's Back with covetous intent. Because of this, the Holy Heaven Sect did not dare to monopolize Mount Devil's Back alone, and it was declared to be shared by all.

Mount Devil's Back opens once every hundred years. Recently, some important figures from major sects and bordering countries have calculated that this time, Mount Devil's Back will open within the year, or at the latest, within the next three months.

Therefore, experienced major sects and bordering countries have sent their disciples to set out for Mount Devil's Back, hoping to seize the great opportunity to obtain the legendary treasures.

As the host country, the Treasure Saint Upper Country has also dispatched its disciples early to guard the entrance of Mount Devil's Back. Besides welcoming the disciples from various major sects and bordering countries in the Central Domain, they also screen for the qualifications of the sects or cultivators entering Mount Devil's Back.

Although Mount Devil's Back is said to be shared by all, in reality, only major sects and bordering countries, or renowned local lords, have the qualifications to enter. As for smaller sects or ordinary cultivators, they can only hope to enter.

In fact, Mount Devil's Back is not far from the Ancient Sect of Face Washing, at most a distance of over ten thousand miles. If the ancestral land of the Ancient Sect of Face Washing is shaped like a conch, then the Ancient Sect of Face Washing is now at the tail of the conch, while Mount Devil's Back is at the mouth of the conch. To reach Mount Devil's Back, the Ancient Sect of Face Washing must pass through their former site.

Calculating the date, the time to reach Mount Devil's Back is approaching. Li Qiyi plans to set out early to arrive at Mount Devil's Back and wait for its opening.

The selected disciples are all ready to depart. At this moment, Niu Fen transformed into a giant snail. Since there are many disciples from the Ancient Sect of Face Washing, Niu Fen's body became even larger, like a mountain.

Seeing such a huge snail, the disciples of the Ancient Sect of Face Washing were stunned. They had never seen such a large snail before.

"Set out." With Li Qiyi's command, Niu Fen carried the disciples of the Ancient Sect of Face Washing toward Mount Devil's Back. The disciples sat on the giant snail's back, feeling both excited and fresh.

This time, Li Qiyi is taking nearly a thousand disciples to Mount Devil's Back. Besides the three hundred disciples from Stone Washing Valley, Qu Daoli and Mo Fuhua each led a team, and Tu Buyu also accompanied them. The Great Elder Gu Tieshou also joined, while the other four elders remained in the ancestral land.

As Li Qiyi's sword attendant, Li Shuangyan also accompanied him. She is one of Li Qiyi's main fighters, so he definitely brought her along.

Nan Huairen, who has been running errands for Li Qiyi, naturally came along. Nan Huairen is loyal, and Li Qiyi would not forget to include him in the benefits.

In fact, even before the disciples of the Ancient Sect of Face Washing set out, people had already been stationed at the entrance of Mount Devil's Back for half a month.

The entrance to Mount Devil's Back is located about ten thousand miles from the ancestral land of the Ancient Sect of Face Washing. Here, a giant mountain range lies horizontally, like a giant dragon resting on the earth. The entire mountain range stretches here, as if dividing heaven and earth.

The entrance to Mount Devil's Back is in front of a cliff on this mountain range. The ridge of this cliff is several million miles wide, and standing on such a cliff, one can see the vastness of the surroundings.

The entrance to Mount Devil's Back is the highest peak in the area, extremely magnificent. Of course, this is just the entrance; the true Mount Devil's Back is vast beyond imagination.

The first to station at the entrance of Mount Devil's Back was the team sent by the Treasure Saint Upper Country. The vanguard team of the Treasure Saint Upper Country, besides guarding the entrance as the host to welcome disciples from various major sects and bordering countries, is also responsible for screening the qualifications of the sects or cultivators entering Mount Devil's Back.

The vanguard team of the Treasure Saint Upper Country is led by Marquis Zhenwei, who is from the same generation as Marquis Zishan. Notably, Marquis Zhenwei's family has a good relationship with the Dong family, and he also has a close friendship with Dong Shenglong!

When the team of the Treasure Saint Upper Country stationed at the entrance of Mount Devil's Back, many cultivators had already gathered, especially the scattered cultivators and small cultivators in the vicinity, who came early to observe from a distance.

These scattered cultivators or small cultivators definitely do not have the qualifications to enter Mount Devil's Back, but they hope to take advantage of the chaos to sneak in. Even if they cannot enter, they can at least observe the important figures from the major sects and bordering countries from a distance. If they have the chance to see the real people or ancient saints, it would not be a waste of the trip.

When the team of the Treasure Saint Upper Country stationed at the entrance, these scattered cultivators also wisely kept their distance, observing from afar. They were not foolish enough to challenge a behemoth like the Treasure Saint Upper Country.

"Marquis Hunyuan has arrived—" Not long after Marquis Zhenwei stationed at the entrance, a marquis riding a dragon horse arrived. This marquis was accompanied by only three or four attendants, but his aura of Hunyuan blood was overwhelming, making many small cultivators change their expressions.

"Marquis Hunyuan is remarkable. He received the special permission of the Human Emperor to enter Mount Devil's Back within fifty years of being ennobled," many small cultivators said enviously as they saw Marquis Hunyuan approaching.

When Marquis Hunyuan arrived, Marquis Zhenwei, as the host, only greeted him from a distance, without any special hospitality. Marquis Hunyuan also did not act arrogantly in front of Marquis Zhenwei and settled down on his own.

Then, several marquises of the Treasure Saint Upper Country who had the qualifications to enter Mount Devil's Back also arrived, but most of them could only enter alone!

"Purple Mist Temple has arrived—" As time passed, disciples from other major sects and bordering countries outside the Treasure Saint Upper Country also arrived.

A rainbow appeared from the horizon, spanning the cliff. When the disciples of Purple Mist Temple arrived, Marquis Zhenwei ordered his disciples to welcome them.

The disciples of Purple Mist Temple were all extraordinary, with blood auras like rainbows. A discerning eye could see that most of them had reached the Tianyuan realm!

For young disciples to reach the Tianyuan realm is already quite remarkable. Especially ten years ago, during the difficult era, the heavenly mandate was submerged, and the essence and energy of heaven and earth were exhausted, making cultivation extremely difficult!

"Dragon Lake has also arrived, remarkable. This time, Dragon Lake is led by the young master. It is said that the young master of Dragon Lake is a giant python that has cultivated into a demon and has the potential to become a demon emperor!" someone said with awe.

When Dragon Lake arrived, a dragon's roar was heard, and a giant dragon spanned the sky, carrying over a hundred disciples on its back, each with a prominent aura. However, most of the disciples from Dragon Lake were demon races, with various appearances, including disciples with eagle heads and human bodies, disciples with ox horns, and disciples with human heads and bird bodies...

As more and more disciples from major sects and bordering countries outside the Treasure Saint Upper Country arrived, the cliff became bustling. It can be said that any sect or cultivator in the Central Domain with the qualifications to enter Mount Devil's Back would not miss this once-in-a-hundred-years opportunity.

"Why haven't any ancient saints arrived?" As more and more major sects and bordering countries arrived, some less experienced cultivators were curious and asked.

"You don't know. Legend has it that Mount Devil's Back was once a hunting ground for the disciples of the Ancient Sect of Face Washing, used to hone and reward the young generation. Therefore, only cultivators below the ancient saint realm can enter Mount Devil's Back. Otherwise, they will be suppressed by the invincible immortal aura if they try to force their way in!" an old cultivator explained.

An even older cultivator shook his head and said, "Now, ancient saints do not easily appear. The difficult era lasted for thirty thousand years, and most of the great figures above the real person realm achieved their status thirty thousand years ago. During these thirty thousand years, whether ancient saints or holy emperors, most of their cultivation did not advance. The ancient saints who emerged during these thirty thousand years can be counted on one hand. Therefore, the ancient saints from thirty thousand years ago have either reached the end of their lifespan and passed away or have stopped their cultivation to avoid aging and are hiding, unwilling to come out."

Legend has it that thirty thousand years ago, the Black Dragon King suddenly went berserk and fought the Sky Stepping Immortal Emperor, trying to strip the Sky Stepping Immortal Emperor of the heavenly mandate. This battle was so fierce that it made the gods weep and the ghosts wail. It is said that in the end, the heavenly mandate was torn apart, and the essence and energy of heaven and earth were exhausted, making it the most difficult thirty thousand years for all cultivators.

During these thirty thousand years, many great figures who had already achieved the real person or ancient saint realm found their cultivation at a standstill due to the exhaustion of the essence and energy of heaven and earth.

Such a difficult era forced countless real persons and ancient saints to die of old age. Those who managed to escape this calamity, including ancient saints and even holy emperors, all stopped their cultivation to avoid aging and hid, not daring to reappear.