"Has the Myriad Demon Sea been ruled by humans? Has humanity's status been greatly elevated."
"Yes!"
Receiving an affirmative answer, Yang Hong simply nodded and said nothing more.
Humans and demons were considered old enemies. Such an action by the Budao Temple was within expectation.
It was just that Yang Hong suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of loss. He had once wanted to save all the humans in the Myriad Demon Sea. Now, his enemy had accomplished it. He couldn't help but feel disgruntled.
He then asked again:
"Has the Budao Temple oppressed the demon race? Have the newly empowered humans retaliated by slaughtering demons?"
"Yes~"
Yu Kewei glanced at the group of people following Yang Hong, bit her lip, and still told the truth.
"As expected."
Yang Hong nodded, then shook his head with some annoyance, unsure whether to be happy, relieved, or sad.
Zhang Zhenyan, Ye Yudong, and other high-ranking members of Clear Wind Villa exchanged glances without speaking, their faces showing proud smiles.
As humans, they considered enslaving demons to be only natural. Upon hearing that the Budao Temple had single-handedly controlled and enslaved all the demons in the Myriad Demon Sea, they felt honored by association.
He did not interfere with the disciples' excitement. After all, he was also human and actually felt quite pleased in his heart. The only thing he was unhappy about was that he wasn't the protagonist.
"Zhang Zhenyan, repair the Seven Stars Gathering Spirit Array in Willow Blossom Plain later. After all, it's our meat base. Also, hand over the task of raising those demonic beasts to those people on Humanity Island."
"As you command."
After some thought, Yang Hong decided to give the humans who had just returned to Humanity Island an opportunity to integrate into Clear Wind Villa.
If they could adjust their mindset and work diligently, it would be good. If they dared to harbor any ulterior motives, he would directly expel them from Lihuo Plain.
He quickly settled Yu Kewei and let her and her group of tree and flower demons live and cultivate on the newly added spiritual mountain at the Tianheng position in Shallow Dye Plain.
At Yu Kewei's request, Yang Hong named this spiritual mountain [Goose Yellow]. It would be the main residential area for all plant-transformed demons in the future.
He had originally planned to continue setting up the Sea Horse Clan teleportation array in Willow Blossom Plain, next to Humanity Island. However, the new Great Azure Sky Willow Tree had only been cultivated to the sixth rank when Gu Boji interrupted him.
"Sect Master, Patriarch Chaoyang requests an audience."
"Hmm? Isn't that old fellow busy snatching people and disciples? Why is he looking for me?"
"Your disciple does not know, but he appears somewhat fatigued."
"Then go and see him."
After all, Clear Wind Villa and Chaoyang Sect had always had a good relationship. Yang Hong did not prevaricate and met Patriarch Chaoyang at the Clear Wind Mountain, which served as their sect's gate.
"Old man, have you been drained by some vixen?"
Seeing Patriarch Chaoyang, Yang Hong was startled and asked directly.
"Heh heh~ Daoist friend is still so humorous. This old Daoist is exhausted from toiling away, unlike you, Daoist friend, who spends your days tending to flowers and plants in leisure."
The once youthful-looking Patriarch Chaoyang was not just a little tired, but gaunt. His originally rosy and lustrous face had become thin and withered.
"Heh heh~ Old man, you are the leader of a ninth-rank sect with millions of disciples and countless subordinates serving you. What labor of mind and effort are you talking about?"
Yang Hong retorted dismissively, casually taking out a sixth-rank spiritual peach and offering it.
"Oh~ A sixth-rank spiritual peach. Clear Wind Villa's fame for excelling in spiritual plants is indeed well-deserved.
Hmm~ Delicious."
Having become familiar with Yang Hong, Patriarch Chaoyang was not polite. He snatched the spiritual peach and began to gnaw on it before finding a stool to sit down.
Yang Hong was reasonably polite. After Patriarch Chaoyang finished the peach, he asked:
"Old man, you don't visit without a reason. Speak your mind."
"Indeed, I have something to discuss. I need to borrow seeds, both spiritual plant grain seeds and ordinary grain seeds."
"Grain seeds?"
"Yes, grain seeds!"
Patriarch Chaoyang's request made Yang Hong stunned. How could a cultivator, and the head of a ninth-rank sect, need to borrow grain seeds?
Didn't every sect have a large quantity of various grains and seeds?
Even the laziest sect would store a large number of seeds.
"What major event has occurred?"
In response to Yang Hong's question, Patriarch Chaoyang glanced at Gu Boji and said, "You may leave. Do not let anyone approach."
"This?" Gu Boji did not move but looked at Yang Hong with a distressed expression.
"You may withdraw."
"Your disciple takes his leave."
Yang Hong knew that what Patriarch Chaoyang was about to say must be a secret, which was why he overstepped his authority to dismiss Gu Boji.
After Gu Boji closed the door, Patriarch Chaoyang took out a soundproofing array disk, set it up, and then said:
"Taiyuan Realm may have been invaded by demonic energy. Almost all plants are experiencing reduced yields, or even complete failure."
"What? Demonic energy!"
Yang Hong was shocked and stood up abruptly. If there was indeed an invasion of demonic energy, it would be a serious matter.
Didn't the war between immortals and demons start ten thousand years later?
Why were there now descending immortals and Buddhas, and an invasion of demonic energy?
"Daoist Chaoyang, is this matter confirmed?"
"It's not confirmed, but the greatest possibility is that it's related to demonic energy."
"Let's go together and see the plants you mentioned with reduced yields."
"Very well, I'll trouble you, Daoist Yang."
Hearing that Yang Hong was willing to venture out to investigate the spiritual plant issue, Patriarch Chaoyang rejoiced in his heart. He immediately put away the soundproofing array disk and led the way, preparing to depart.
However, as he was about to fly on his sword, Yang Hong pulled him and flew to a large mountain covered with willow trees.
Then, to Patriarch Chaoyang's astonishment, a silvery-gray light flashed, and he felt the familiar spatial teleportation power.
When his vision cleared again, the scenery before him had changed dramatically.
They had arrived in a verdant valley.
"Daoist Yang, is this a teleportation array? And it seems to be a very long-distance one."
"Hmm~ It is indeed a teleportation array. It's not that far, only a little over two hundred million li."
"Over two hundred million li? And you say it's not far?
This is already the teleportation range of a sixth-rank teleportation array, and I didn't even see the array before you teleported me."
Patriarch Chaoyang pointed at Yang Hong with trembling fingers, almost blurting out a curse.
"It's only sixth-rank. There's still plenty of room for improvement."
"Holy crap!"
Upon hearing Yang Hong's boastful words, Patriarch Chaoyang finally let out a profanity.
"You're amazing. Let's go and check the growth of the plants outside."
He simply stopped bothering with this show-off and flew directly on his sword. He released his divine sense and immediately discovered that their location was a thousand li outside Chaoyang Immortal City.
Disregarding whether Yang Hong could catch up, he poured all his magic power into the flying sword beneath his feet, transforming into a rainbow and disappearing into the horizon.
"Stingy old man."
Yang Hong muttered, and a seventh-rank flying sword appeared beneath him, carrying him like a silver streak as he gave chase.
A thousand li distance was merely a blink of an eye for them. In the blink of an eye, they arrived outside a mortal village and stopped.
Patriarch Chaoyang looked at Yang Hong, who was not out of breath and his face was not flushed, with lingering suspicion, questioning his true cultivation.
Yang Hong, after landing, let out a surprised exclamation and fully spread his divine sense to investigate the growth of the rice and vegetables in the farmland outside the village.
The more he looked, the more astonished he became, and his expression grew increasingly grim.