As If a Nightmare

Central Continent, Pifu Ditch.

Dappled sunlight fell like scattered gold upon a wide, green river surface, willow tendrils brushing the water.

Tiny flying insects drifted over the river like swirling snowflakes.

Donggua, compared to before, had now undergone a complete transformation.

With cultivation at the peak of the Soul Transformation stage, her right arm already bore the direct origin patterns bestowed by Xu Linglong.

This signified that Donggua, despite her cultivation still being somewhat lacking, was now a trusted confidante in the eyes of the Heavenly Demon, Xu Linglong.

The demon race admired strength, and also admired those who could climb their way to the strong.

Donggua's gaze was sharp, looking with a sense of vitality at her brand-new subordinate force.

Nascent Soul cultivators were everywhere, Golden Core cultivators could be grabbed by the handful.

There were even two Soul Transformation stage demonic cultivators.

Although there were also quite a few insignificant Foundation Establishment brats, they were at least obedient.

Indeed, the higher one climbed in realm, the more one's teammates transformed from walking pigs into normal people.

At the very least, Donggua found them quite easy to command.

Though not as effortless and relaxed as under Cui Hao's command, they were at least far more sincere than Cui Hao.

In that entire previous team, it seemed besides herself and Xigua, everyone else was Cui Hao's person.

That wasn't being a boss; that was clearly being pushed to the front as a clownish performer.

Here, although she undertook more tasks and had to scheme more, at least the people under her command were truly hers.

Though the pressure was also greater than before, needing to report directly to Xu Linglong,

at least her life was much better than it used to be.

No longer was she constantly being hunted down or deceived blindfolded by Cui Hao.

The worst had been following that damned monk Wukong, fighting a small skirmish daily, a major battle every three days, all while he chanted sutras to appease his spirit.

Donggua had almost been beaten into mud-paste.

Her current life finally allowed Donggua to feel a genuine sense of happiness.

She had also shaken off the panic of death shadowing her every step, ready to take her at any moment.

Although Pifu Ditch was an extremely inconspicuous place in the Central Continent, not just anyone could hold territory in the Central Continent.

The tasks Xu Linglong assigned to Donggua were no longer about starting some evil cult either.

It was about establishing a proper orthodox sect.

The evil cult was the initial, desperate path, while the orthodox sect was the solid step forward.

Evil cult missions were given to lowlifes, those not considered core personnel.

Once caught, those above would truly abandon the entire operation without a second thought, afraid of getting even a speck of dust on themselves.

Donggua had previously been among those lowlifes.

But the current Donggua was no longer.

Naturally, since Donggua's face was practically on a wanted list across the Central Continent, she currently operated as the behind-the-scenes mastermind.

However, all of this was still a vision for the future.

The establishment of an orthodox sect was slow and required immense resources.

Clearly, Xu Linglong was no great philanthropist who would fund and support the entire process.

So, at the moment, Donggua was still in the process of gathering resources.

And the fastest way to do that was naturally—to first set up an evil cult.

After all, an evil cult with no bottom line could truly scrape the earth clean.

Furthermore, for running an evil cult, Donggua had a unique advantage—the Evil Spirit Sect.

She genuinely had connections with many people within the Evil Spirit Sect, having started her career with an evil cult, after all.

As a force not to be ignored in the demonic cultivation world, Donggua could use this banner without any burden.

Any trouble stirred up, the Evil Spirit Sect would claim responsibility.

And she could also exchange resources and information with the Evil Spirit Sect.

If there were any good projects, they could naturally collaborate.

Once the orthodox sect was developed in the future, she could also use the Evil Spirit Sect as a channel for laundering and fencing goods.

Donggua certainly had the ability; after calculating the entire situation, she also had the capability to steer her envisioned plan onto the right track.

Everything was proceeding smoothly and quietly.

Now, making small moves in the Central Continent no longer attracted the attention of various forces like before.

The gaze of all major powers was now fixed on the Western Ox-horn Continent.

Most people in the cultivation world naturally believed that the direction of the Western Ox-horn Continent would determine the future development of the entire cultivation world.

Information from the Western Ox-horn Continent was severely blocked, apart from the blatant movements of the Buddhist sects.

News from the three great sects was extremely secretly blocked.

To uncover information, one naturally had to turn their attention there.

Donggua felt that the timing, geographical advantage, and human harmony were all on her side.

Only one thing still puzzled her.

Every time Donggua reported her progress to Xu Linglong, Xu Linglong's attitude was always one of extreme indifference.

As if the task she personally assigned and the reports she personally listened to were trivial matters.

As if she had simply found something random for Donggua to do first.

Fortunately, Xu Linglong would always offer some words of encouragement at the end.

Although it was pie-in-the-sky promises, the pies Xu Linglong painted were ones Donggua was very willing to eat.

Because the pies Xu Linglong painted were utterly beautiful.

So beautiful they made her heart yearn for them.

Most importantly, Xu Linglong truly had the ability to fulfill those promises.

"Archbishop, the plundered resources have been tallied and sealed within the hidden vault."

A Nascent Soul stage demonic cultivator reported humbly, bowing before Donggua.

Donggua glanced over:

"How is the search for disciples with talent progressing?"

The Nascent Soul demonic cultivator clasped his hands in response:

"A few have been found and their training has begun."

Hearing this, Donggua nodded with great satisfaction:

"Nurture them carefully. Loyalty above all."

The Nascent Soul demonic cultivator hastily assented:

"This subordinate understands."

Donggua waved her hand, signaling the demonic cultivator to attend to his duties.

The demonic cultivator was also very perceptive, offering a humble bow before retreating slowly.

Donggua let out a heavy sigh.

Thinking too much was useless. Doing the task at hand well and enjoying this wonderful present life was enough.

Donggua's gaze swept over the orderly demons carrying out their tasks in this small Pifu Ditch.

If such days could last long, it would actually be………………

Before Donggua could finish the remaining words in her mind,

a beam of extreme light descended from the sky, swiftly followed by the rapid expansion of a ritual barrier that completely enveloped the entire Pifu Ditch.

Then, dozens of radiant streaks of light closed in from all directions.

Their momentum was fierce, their actions swift and ruthless.

Several flashes of sharp, cold light later, all the demonic cultivators not covered by the ritual barrier were slaughtered.

Donggua's eyes widened in shock, her expression stunned, before she could fully process what was happening,

an utterly terrifying spiritual power blasted through the entire river of Pifu Ditch, revealing the secret realm built at the riverbed.

Dozens of Soul Transformation stage cultivators from the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect landed within the formation.

Flying swords darted, spells flew.

Most demonic cultivators at the Soul Transformation stage still relied on blood essence for cultivation, their foundations naturally incomparable to the lavishly trained cultivators of the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect.

The situation was almost one-sided.

Donggua, believing she reacted extremely quickly, drew her bone sword.

But the moment it was drawn,

everything seemed already settled.

Only the agonized cries of demonic cultivators echoed in Donggua's ears.

Donggua felt the searing pain of spiritual power tearing at her, the icy river water on her face in stark contrast to the warm blood splattering onto her.

Her eyes remained wide open, staring straight ahead at everything.

Donggua's mind went blank.

As if it were all a dream.

At this moment, she only wanted to wake up, to escape this terrifying nightmare.

But Donggua also seemed to have forgotten.

She had never been asleep.

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