Eternal Divine Religion

East Victory Divine Continent, Silent Bone Forest.

Li Xingtian followed the path of the two Golden Core cultivators ahead. These two had been specifically arranged to assist him in taking over the elite forces and handling subsequent matters.

Having familiar faces to aid in the work was naturally a good thing—it would save him a lot of trouble, and many trivial tasks could be delegated to subordinates.

However… these two remained tight-lipped about their destination and mission, only stating, "Your master instructed that for secrecy's sake, we can only disclose the details once we arrive."

Though puzzled, since it was his master’s arrangement and these two were also assigned by him, Li Xingtian suppressed his doubts. After all, whatever the task was, he would eventually find out.

Li Xingtian had been inside the Silent Bone Forest for a while now. The place was eerily quiet, with only the faintest sounds of beasts occasionally breaking the silence before quickly fading away. Here, it seemed as if making any noise was a capital offense.

Moreover, the forest gave Li Xingtian an unsettling, sinister feeling. The towering mountains and dense woods concealed numerous caves and crevices—perfect hiding spots.

Li Xingtian mused inwardly—no wonder his master called this an elite force. Even their hiding place was meticulously chosen.

The cultivator to his left gradually slowed his pace and spoke respectfully, "Sect Leader, the base is inside the mountain to the front left."

Li Xingtian frowned slightly—Sect Leader? Base?

What kind of title was that? Was this how the leader of the elite cultivators was addressed? It sounded odd, giving him a strange feeling.

But he dismissed the thought after a moment. After all, secret forces of the Eighteen Immortal Sects might have unconventional titles.

"Mm, thank you," Li Xingtian nodded lightly. "Since we’ve come this far, it’s time you explained. What should I call the two of you?"

The tall, lean cultivator who had spoken earlier replied, "This subordinate is Zuo Wen, your Vice Sect Leader. The one beside you is Yu Jing, the Head of the Punishment Hall under your command. Any… inconvenient tasks can be handed to him."

"If you prefer not to deal with sect affairs, you may leave them to us."

"Our current mission is simple—expand our influence. The rest has already been arranged by your master."

Li Xingtian was beginning to grasp the situation. His gaze shifted to Yu Jing, who stood beside him with a gentle smile.

The three of them moved swiftly, arriving inside the cave in moments.

The cave had been hollowed out extensively, its interior supported by spells, creating a vast space.

As soon as Li Xingtian stepped inside, his eyes swept over the scattered figures—cultivators draped in black robes, lounging or lying against the cave walls.

A rough count put their numbers at just over forty.

No matter how he tried to justify it, Li Xingtian couldn’t bring himself to see this group as "elite cultivators."

Yu Jing landed, his previously amiable expression vanishing in an instant, replaced by a ruthless glare. His voice was sharp with reprimand:

"If you want to die, keep lying there! If not, get up and greet your new Sect Leader in two breaths!"

The moment his words fell, the previously sluggish robed figures scrambled to their feet, forming a line before immediately dropping to their knees. Their voices, though uneven, carried some vigor:

"We pay respects to the Sect Leader!"

Li Xingtian’s gaze swept over them, finally understanding what his master had meant by "elite cultivators"—and what his role here would be.

He turned to Zuo Wen, whose expression remained cold. "What is the name of our sect?"

Zuo Wen’s demeanor softened slightly. "As per the envoy’s instructions, we are righteous warriors. However, given his… connection with the Evil Spirit Sect, we’ve been named as their brethren—also called the Evil Spirit Sect. If we ever stir up trouble beyond our means, we need only invoke this name."

Li Xingtian could only sigh inwardly—his master truly held grudges. Even after all these years, he refused to let the demonic cultivators he’d crossed paths with in Yuzhou City off the hook.

"If you’re going to be demonic cultivators, then act like it!" Li Xingtian roared, striding toward the elevated seat at the front. "Have you forgotten why you became demonic cultivators in the first place?"

The cultivators below froze, some lifting their eyes to stare at Li Xingtian, clad in pristine white robes.

Li Xingtian calmly took his seat on the highest throne, his gaze sweeping over the demonic cultivators below.

Since this was his master’s task, personal preferences no longer mattered. His duty now was to execute his master’s plan flawlessly.

When it came to pretending to be a demonic cultivator, he was indeed the better choice. His master had made the right decision.

Though Li Xingtian had never personally roused others’ emotions before, having followed his master for so long, he had at least learned how to deliver a proper speech.

He was no longer the Li Xingtian who could barely string together a few words.

"You didn’t become demonic cultivators just to lie here waiting for death."

Slowly and deliberately, Li Xingtian removed the white robe draped over his shoulders. At the same time, a surge of blood qi erupted from his body, flooding the cavern in an instant with a crimson haze.

The kneeling cultivators felt their own blood qi churn violently, as if compelled by the overwhelming force.

Terror widened their eyes as they stared at Li Xingtian, who now resembled a blood-soaked sovereign.

They had all assumed they’d been captured by righteous forces, that their surrender was merely a prelude to execution. But now, witnessing the new Sect Leader’s blood qi…

Could it be that the righteous factions were the ones who had truly surrendered?!

Li Xingtian’s eyes gradually tinged with blood-red. "You became demonic cultivators because you had no other path—because you refused to resign yourselves to mediocrity."

"Once you set foot on this road, there’s no turning back."

"On this path, you either advance to the peak or die a worthless death."

"Playing it safe is a luxury for ordinary people. None of us—neither you nor I—have that choice."

"Remember this well: on this path—"

"There are no cowards!"

Li Xingtian turned his gaze to Yu Jing, whose face was still frozen in shock, and barked:

"Pass down my order! Anyone who fears death shall be offered as a blood sacrifice!"

"Anyone who hesitates in battle or disobeys commands—burn them alive!"

Yu Jing’s expression shifted to one of reverence, though his eyes flickered imperceptibly toward the surrendered demonic cultivators… Not a single one of them was unafraid of death.

By the new Sect Leader’s standards, they could all be sacrificed on the spot.

Li Xingtian sat high upon his throne, the thick blood qi behind him billowing like a scarlet banner.

His voice thundered: "I don’t care about your past. Under my rule, cowards have no place. If you don’t want to die, prove your worth as demonic cultivators!"

Yu Jing clasped her hands with fervent admiration and proclaimed:

"May the Sect Leader reign for millennia! May the Evil Spirit Sect endure for eternity!"

Zuo Wen swiftly followed suit, and the kneeling dark cultivators below echoed the chant with even greater vigor this time.

"May the Sect Leader reign for millennia! May the Evil Spirit Sect endure for eternity!"

Most of them weren’t truly moved by Li Xingtian’s speech.

As practitioners of the dark path, they knew well—the righteous sects would at most end you with a single sword strike.

But a dark cultivator like this, whose overwhelming bloodlust felt like the descent of a demonic sovereign, would consider a swift death an act of mercy.

With such terrifying blood energy, it was likely this new Sect Leader was little more than a human in appearance now.