Inner demons were formless, invisible, and they lurked within every cultivator's heart. Elder Madman's inner demon blocking his path to the Heaven Profound Realm was exactly the reason behind his struggle for centuries.
That was the most common form of inner demons. More terrifying inner demons could take physical form, often appearing as twisted reflections of the cultivator, identical in appearance but opposite in temperament.
Some were so powerful that they would seize control of their host, dragging them down the demonic path. Regardless of their form, once awakened, an inner demon could deal a devastating blow to any cultivator's soul.
As cursed energy gnawed at Liu Wuxie's mind, he felt his inner demon stirring within him. His path had been smooth in recent years, and each breakthrough came naturally without resistance.
The smoother a cultivator's cultivation path, the more damage they would take from an erupting inner demon. Once the inner demon had erupted, the damage taken would be nearly irreversible.
Tian Wucang, on the other hand, remained unaffected. As a member of the abyssal race, even if he were to fall into the demonic path, it would only be a return to his origins.
They advanced through winding tunnels until a faint glimmer of light appeared ahead.
"We're almost out," Liu Wuxie said. They followed the rising path and finally emerged from an abandoned cave. Liu Wuxie spread his divine sense to scan the surroundings before stepping into the open.
"We've left the Eighteen Peak Cities," Tian Wucang remarked.
They were now standing on the outskirts, beyond the reach of the cities' surveillance. For the time being, they were safe.
"Brother Tian, it's up to you from here," Liu Wuxie said. Since he didn't know the Barefooted Elder's location, he had to rely entirely on Tian Wucang for guidance.
"The Barefooted Elder resides in Ghosthead Mountain," Tian Wucang explained. "It's about a month's journey from here, and the journey there won't be smooth. If they discover us, they'll launch an ambush."
As the Harbinger of Misfortune, the Barefooted Elder had long secluded himself in a treacherous, desolate region. Ghosthead Mountain was remote, perilous, and devoid of life.
"We'll do our best not to be discovered," Liu Wuxie said, his voice resolute.
No matter how dangerous the journey was going to be, he would definitely reach the Barefooted Elder. Nothing could stop him.
"It won't be easy," Tian Wucang warned. "There's only one road to Ghosthead Mountain, and tribal warriors are guarding it heavily. Cultivators have sealed off the path to stop those trying to approach him. They would certainly execute anyone suspicious on sight."
"Is there no other way?" Liu Wuxie asked, frowning. He could handle Earth Profound Realm experts with strategy, but Heaven Profound Realm cultivators were a different story.
"There's no other route. Only one road leads there," Tian Wucang said helplessly.
"Then draw me a map," Liu Wuxie said. "Once we get close, I'll go on alone."
"No," Tian Wucang said, refusing outright. "That mountain is too dangerous. I've been there once with my father, an Abyssal Emperor, when I was a child. I know the terrain. You don't."
With no place left for him in the Eighteen Peak Cities, Tian Wucang decided to follow Liu Wuxie.
"Very well. Let's move," Liu Wuxie said, nodding.
At dawn, they set out without hesitation, turning into streaks of light that vanished into the horizon.
A month-long journey was ahead of them. Along the way, Tian Wucang introduced Liu Wuxie to the customs of the Eastern Domain.
Unlike the Central Plains, which were ruled by sects and major powers, tribal clans governed the Eastern Domain. It was a land steeped in ancient traditions, strikingly similar to the archaic clans found in remote corners of the Central Plains.
As they crossed rugged mountain ranges, neither dared to linger atop any peak.
"Up ahead is Reverent Light City, the only major city in the Eastern Domain," Tian Wucang said, "Let's rest here for a day."
After two weeks of nonstop travel, exhaustion overwhelmed them both, especially Tian Wucang, whose weak cultivation meant that his body was already at its limits.
"Alright," Liu Wuxie agreed.
He was feeling exhausted, too. The cursed energy of the Eastern Domain was taking a heavy toll on him. When he had just entered, the cursed energy was faint, but it had been accumulating within him over the past two months, and it was slowly pervading his meridians.
Following a narrow mountain path, they emerged before a vast city sprawling across the plains and teeming with cultivators.
The Eastern Domain stretched vast and brimmed with spiritual resources. If not for the overwhelming cursed energy permeating the region, this land would have become a paradise for cultivation.
As they joined the flow of people entering the city, something unexpected caught their attention. Enforcers plastered posters across the city gates. Liu Wuxie and Tian Wucang both stopped to take a closer look.
"This is strange," Liu Wuxie muttered, "Why does Reverent Light City have our portraits?"
The sect detailed Liu Wuxie's recent movements on the posters. Even though the words "Barefooted Elder" were never written outright, the signs were clear.
"The entire Eastern Domain knows about you now," Tian Wucang whispered, "Aside from me, everyone here wants you dead. They won't let you reach the Barefooted Elder."
Liu Wuxie's expression darkened. He pulled out two bamboo hats to conceal their faces.
The authorities displayed multiple posters showing his various appearances, from the moment he entered the Eastern Domain to his disguise as an abyssal devil. Each portrait undeniably depicted him.
"Let's go," Liu Wuxie said.
As long as they stayed disguised, no one would recognize them. They only needed one day of rest before moving on. Blending into the crowd, they entered Reverent Light City, a vibrant place bustling with life.
Inside, they rented two modest rooms at an inn and retired for the night.
Downstairs, the inn's lobby buzzed with chatter.
"The Eighteen Peak Cities just issued a bounty. Whoever kills that brat will get a mountain of treasures and personal guidance from a Heaven Profound Realm expert."
Liu Wuxie heard it clearly from his room.
The entire city was abuzz with talk of hunting them down. After all, the chance to receive guidance from a Heaven Profound Realm expert was an irresistible reward.
"I heard he's heading to Ghosthead Mountain," a cultivator at the Earth Profound Realm said, "We just need to set an ambush."
"Yeah. Let's intercept him."
"But there are so many paths leading to the mountain. How are we supposed to find him in that mess?"
"There's only one path into Ghosthead Mountain. Patrols have already sealed every major road in the vicinity. The authorities would rather kill a thousand innocents than let one escape. No one dares approach Ghosthead Mountain anymore."
"Exactly. Anyone heading in that direction must be Liu Wuxie."
The authorities had plastered his name across every bounty board in the Eastern Domain.
Just then, there was knocking on the door.
"Come in," Liu Wuxie said.
Tian Wucang stepped inside. He hadn't gone to sleep.
"Brother Tian, is something wrong?" Liu Wuxie got up and walked over. At this stage, he had to rely on Tian Wucang to reach the Barefooted Elder.
"So, should I call you Gu Yu or Liu Wuxie?" Tian Wucang asked. He had wanted to bring it up earlier when they saw the bounty posters, but he held his tongue, as there were too many eyes around.
Now, with just the two of them present, he couldn't avoid confronting the truth anymore.
"Please don't take offense, Brother Tian," Liu Wuxie said with an apologetic look. "You understand my situation back then. I couldn't afford to reveal my identity. Liu Wuxie is my real name. Gu Yu is just an alias."
Tian Wucang nodded. He didn't blame him. If he were in Liu Wuxie's position, he would do the same.
"Our journey to Ghosthead Mountain won't be easy," Tian Wucang said, taking a seat. He didn't linger on the name but grew serious about the path ahead of them.
Liu Wuxie sat down as well. They could still hear the voices from below. Cultivators from various factions had already blocked every main road to Ghosthead Mountain. Even worse, reinforcements had poured in and sealed off every possible route to the mountain.
Breaking through by force was nearly impossible at this point.
"I'm going, even if my destination is a dragon's den or a sea of fire," Liu Wuxie said with unwavering determination in his eyes. He would press forward without hesitation for Han Feizi, even if the road ahead meant death.
He had once risked everything for himself. How could he retreat now?
"We can't just barge through. We need a plan," Tian Wucang said. The two of them alone couldn't break through, not with ambushes and patrols everywhere.
Even if they managed to get close, the poisonous miasma of Ghosthead Mountain would tear them apart ten times over. Without the Abyssal Emperor's guidance, Tian Wucang would have perished on his first visit.
"I already have a plan," Liu Wuxie said as he took out a map.
Along their journey, Tian Wucang sketched a rough outline of the mountain's terrain.
From Reverent Light City, there were four main paths leading toward Ghosthead Mountain. Patrols had sealed all four paths, but those four routes were still the only ways in.
"Which one do you plan to take?" Tian Wucang asked, surprised that Liu Wuxie had already formed a strategy.
"Here," Liu Wuxie said, pointing to a marshland marked with a broad river system.
"You plan to go underwater?" Tian Wucang asked. Although his cultivation wasn't high, he quickly understood Liu Wuxie's intentions.
"Exactly. Moving through the river gives us a better chance of slipping by unnoticed," Liu Wuxie said. It wasn't completely safe, but it was far less dangerous than traveling on land, where patrols monitored every step of the way.