Chapter 144: Demon Seven

“Are you from the Corpse Refining Sect?”

Just as no one answered Wang Changsheng, the purple-robed cultivator standing before the small floating mountain slowly turned around and looked at Wang Changsheng and the others, a faint smile playing on his face.

At first glance, Wang Changsheng thought the man was remarkably handsome, the kind of beauty best described as statuesque and elegant. Yet, for some reason, Wang Changsheng sensed a strange aura emanating from him—something utterly different from an ordinary cultivator.

“Be careful, Steward Wang!”

Chen Yuan suddenly stepped in front of Wang Changsheng, shielding him behind his body.

“What’s wrong?” Wang Changsheng immediately asked, his expression filled with confusion.

“This man carries a demonic aura!” Chen Yuan said gravely. “If I’m not mistaken, he should be from the Wilds Shrine!”

“The Wilds Shrine?”

Wang Changsheng was instantly shocked—wasn’t that his next destination?

The purple-robed cultivator noticed Chen Yuan’s tension but merely smiled lightly and said softly, “My name is Zi Wujiang. You can also call me Demon Seven.”

“Zi Wujiang? Demon Seven?”

Wang Changsheng surveyed the man who called himself Demon Seven with curious eyes.

“No need to be nervous. This isn’t a place to fight. Even though my Wilds Shrine has a grudge against your Corpse Refining Sect, I won’t make a move here!” Demon Seven said with a light laugh.

While Chen Yuan grew increasingly tense, Demon Seven’s calm and poised demeanor made him seem superior.

Chen Yuan understood this well, but it’s better to be safe than sorry—what if Demon Seven did make a move?

Given the immense gravitational pressure here, Chen Yuan wasn’t sure he could save Wang Changsheng if Demon Seven struck first.

Demon Seven turned back toward the floating mountain in the cave.

“What exactly is the Wilds Shrine? I don’t recall hearing about it before,” someone whispered.

“I don’t know either, but it should be a sect from the Wilds region…”

“I feel like I’ve heard of it somewhere, but I can’t quite remember…”

“I’ve heard it’s even stronger than Yun Palace Peak…”

…

After Wang Changsheng and his group arrived, many cultivators present learned about Demon Seven’s origins through their conversation. Before their arrival, no one dared to disturb Demon Seven.

Not because Demon Seven was overwhelmingly powerful, but because the foremost members of Yun Palace Peak stood behind him. Out of respect for Yun Palace Peak, no sect present dared to make a move.

Otherwise, this floating mountain would have surely provoked some reaction.

It was all due to the influence of Yun Palace Peak.

Wang Changsheng patted Chen Yuan on the shoulder, signaling him to step aside, then slowly approached the floating mountain. The closer he got, the heavier the pressure weighed on him. When he was still about twenty to thirty feet away, he found it nearly impossible to advance.

He began activating the Fire Phoenix Technique, determined to try once more—opportunities like this were rare.

“I advise you not to move forward any further!”

Just as Wang Changsheng prepared to take a step, Demon Seven’s voice came from behind him.

“Believe me, if you take another step, you might burst your body apart!” Demon Seven turned his head and looked at Wang Changsheng, a half-smile playing on his lips. “Though the Fire Phoenix Technique is profound, yours is too shallow.”

“If you had cultivated it to the fourth level, it might be worth a fight—close to the level of War God Mountain!” Demon Seven added.

Wang Changsheng’s expression shifted immediately—not because of the warning, but because Demon Seven recognized the Fire Phoenix Technique he was cultivating. This meant Demon Seven must be very familiar with the Yang family.

“Since I entered East Immortal Source, I’ve heard of Steward Wang’s reputation. I find you interesting, and I don’t want you to die so soon!” Demon Seven said before turning back to gaze at the floating mountain. His words seemed more like an explanation for his warning.

Wang Changsheng licked his lips, his eyes flashing with madness.

“I’m the kind of person who believes in everything—except superstition!”

With that, he fully unleashed the Fire Phoenix Technique and stepped forward deliberately. As his foot landed, he could hear the cracking of his bones.

He ignored Demon Seven’s advice and took the step. Once he planted his foot firmly, the wild look in his eyes gradually faded.

“You said I couldn’t do it?”

“Well then, let me take another step for you!”

Of course, seeing his own condition, Wang Changsheng knew he had already reached his limit. If he stepped forward again, even if he didn’t explode under the pressure, his body would surely be crushed to pieces.

Demon Seven glanced back at Wang Changsheng.

“Childish.”

He muttered lightly before turning back to watch the floating mountain, ignoring Wang Changsheng.

After standing there a moment, Wang Changsheng retreated back to his original spot and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Steward Wang!”

The Corpse Refining Sect members all looked toward him.

Wang Changsheng waved his hand. “It’s nothing—just a bit of a blood surge. I just need a moment to recover.”

He was truly grateful to Li Yunqing. Without the Fire Phoenix Technique that Li Yunqing taught him, Wang Changsheng wouldn’t have made it this far.

“Hey, that Demon Seven—what exactly is that thing?” someone asked.

“Yeah, out of respect for Yun Palace Peak, we’ve been watching all this time. Why don’t you tell us what’s going on?”

“Demon Seven, come on, don’t you owe us all an explanation?”

…

After Wang Changsheng’s little episode, much time had been wasted, and all eyes were on Demon Seven, who was obviously as clueless as everyone else about the floating mountain.

When asked, Demon Seven didn’t respond, continuing to gaze at the floating mountain.

The members from Yun Palace Peak, the He family, the Outsiders’ Pavilion, and the Corpse Refining Sect all stood still, unmoved.

“I’ll give it a try—see what that thing is!” a seventh-level Golden Core cultivator said after pondering for a moment.

Now that such a mysterious place had been discovered on War God Mountain, what if it was a legacy site? If he were the first to make contact, wouldn’t his chance of receiving the legacy be greater?

Besides, the only apparent danger was the heavy gravity. If it became unbearable, he could retreat. Wang Changsheng, a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator, managed to pull back—so surely he, at the seventh level of Golden Core, could do the same.

With that reasoning, the seventh-level Golden Core cultivator slowly approached the floating mountain.

Demon Seven did not intervene but watched as the cultivator drew near.

“I advise you to stop, or you will die a terrible death!” Demon Seven warned softly.

The seventh-level Golden Core cultivator was taken aback; he hadn’t expected Demon Seven to actually step in.

He then glanced toward Wang Changsheng.

Wang Changsheng’s expression was unreadable; it was hard to tell what he was thinking.

Demon Seven had stopped Wang Changsheng from advancing further, but Wang Changsheng hadn’t listened. After taking a step forward, Demon Seven showed no reaction. Seeing many eyes on him, the seventh-level Golden Core cultivator gritted his teeth and stepped forward again.

He drew closer and closer to the floating mountain. Demon Seven remained motionless, and the cultivators present quickly realized that Demon Seven was all bark and no bite—there was no need to fear him.

Moreover, if Demon Seven truly blocked someone, he would be opposing all the cultivators present.

Aside from the seventh-level Golden Core cultivator, many cultivators began to approach the floating mountain as well.

However, members from Yun Palace Peak, the He family, the Outsiders’ Pavilion, and the Corpse Refining Sect stayed put, unmoved.

A low hum suddenly resonated.

As the crowd neared, the floating mountain trembled, emitting a buzzing sound. Then, a ripple slowly spread outward from it.

Seeing the ripple spreading, Demon Seven immediately withdrew with a grave expression.

The nearest cultivator—the seventh-level Golden Core—halted. The ripple washed over him, and everyone saw his form twist and distort along with the wave.

His face contorted as he opened his mouth wide, seemingly unleashing a deafening roar. Yet, for unknown reasons, no sound reached anyone’s ears.

The ripple vanished in an instant, and with it, the seventh-level Golden Core cultivator disappeared, reduced to dust without a trace.

“What… what just happened?”

“What’s going on? Did he just vanish into thin air?”

“No trace left behind—what does this mean?”

…

The remaining cultivators looked on in horror as the seventh-level Golden Core cultivator vanished without a trace.

For many cultivators, reaching Golden Core level was no small feat. After years of struggling in the cultivation world, they had grown used to life and death and were not easily frightened by death.

But now, what they faced was not merely death—they didn’t even know how they died!

Just a ripple passed, and he was gone without a trace, turned to dust. Was this even death?

“Retreat! Fall back!”

“Quick, retreat!”

Many cultivators shouted hoarsely. The disappearance of the ripple did not mean the danger had passed. Only when they returned to their original positions did they reveal faces filled with lingering fear.

“I warned you all earlier, but you didn’t listen. Did you think I was joking?” Demon Seven said with a light laugh.

He then slowly approached the floating mountain again, his gaze fixed on it, his expression turning serious.