The Eastern Sea.
The Shen Family's main base — Zitan Wanque Island, the Purple Sandalwood Island of Ten Thousand Birds.
An elderly Gu Immortal stood before a stone door, waiting in silence.
The aura of Eighth Transformation emanated from the old Gu Immortal. He held a position of great authority — the current Grand Supreme Elder of the Shen Family, Shen Congsheng.
Rumble…
The stone door of the seclusion chamber slowly swung open, and two Gu Immortals stepped out.
The one in front wore a gray robe, his long hair a mix of black and white, draped loosely over his shoulders. It was none other than Shen Shang.
He specialized in the Human Path. His infiltration of God Emperor City had been a stroke of fortune. After breaking free from that place, the black fire wounds within his Immortal Orifice had completely healed, and his combat power had risen — he was now an absolute half-Immortal Venerable caliber fighter.
After stepping through the stone door, Shen Shang stopped to the side and smiled at the Gu Immortal behind him. "Fellow Daoist Lu, please."
This Gu Immortal was dressed in plain hemp garments, exceedingly simple. His build was as sturdy as a bear's, and he wore a bamboo hat that revealed only the lower half of his face — pale and drawn, still weak.
It was none other than Lu Weiyin, who had survived the Crazed Demon Lair.
Lu Weiyin offered a slight bow. "Senior Shen's Human Path techniques are truly extraordinary. This junior's injuries have already healed by thirty percent. I can only repay this kindness in the future."
Shen Shang laughed heartily. "Fellow Daoist Lu, there's no need to carry such concerns, nor do you need to call me Senior. In the Crazed Demon Lair, you and I fought side by side and cooperated closely — that kind of bond between comrades in arms warrants treating each other as equals."
Shen Congsheng chimed in with a smile. "You two, the banquet is prepared. Please, make your way there."
Before Lu Weiyin could politely decline further, Shen Shang laughed again and grabbed his arm, enthusiastically ushering him toward the feast.
The banquet was laid out in the open, situated at the very summit of Zitan Wanque Island.
Only three pavilions were set up. Shen Shang took the host's seat, Lu Weiyin the guest of honor's, and Shen Congsheng humbly took the last seat.
The fine wine and exquisite dishes on the stone table needed no introduction. Lu Weiyin took only small sips, his gaze drifting toward the distant horizon.
The sea stretched out like a mirror, not a ripple disturbing its surface. The last light of sunset painted the clouds in shades of fire.
"What a magnificent view," Lu Weiyin murmured in quiet admiration.
At that moment, thousands upon thousands of birds across the island cried out in song. Countless branches of purple sandalwood trembled faintly beneath the chorus, producing a wondrous harmony.
For a time, the blended sound of nature's music drifted lazily, spreading far and wide across the vast expanse of sea and sky.
Lu Weiyin couldn't help but display a look of deep immersion. He closed his eyes to savor it. A long while passed before he slowly opened them and let out a turbid breath. "I had long heard of the fame of the Shen Family's Zitan Wanque Island in the Eastern Sea. Seeing it today, the reputation is truly well-deserved. To have survived the Crazed Demon Lair and witness this sight — my heart feels nothing but peace and tranquility. Ah, it's truly wonderful to be alive."
Lu Weiyin's strength had already reached the peak of Eighth Transformation, and his defensive capabilities were particularly outstanding even among half-Immortal Venerables.
Yet the battle in the Crazed Demon Lair had fully shown him what it meant to be weak.
The hardships and suffering aside, Lu Weiyin had found himself on the razor's edge between life and death countless times. Recalling those perilous moments, even now he felt a lingering chill.
Shen Congsheng's curiosity was suddenly piqued, and he probed, "If it weren't for the announcements from Heavenly Court and Eternal Life Heaven, the entire Five Regions would still be kept in the dark. What exactly happened inside the Crazed Demon Lair? Not only were Immortal Venerable Juyang and Immortal Venerable Starscourge resurrected, but even Gu Yue Fang Yuan became the Refining Heaven Demon Venerable?"
Both Heavenly Court and Eternal Life Heaven had suffered losses. Although they had each gained considerably, Fang Yuan was the biggest winner of all. As a result, neither faction had disclosed detailed intelligence about the Crazed Demon Lair.
Now the world was in upheaval. After the initial shock among Gu Immortals, a flood of intense curiosity surged forth.
Shen Congsheng was no exception.
Lu Weiyin and Shen Shang exchanged a glance, then took turns recounting the events of the Crazed Demon Lair's battle, their expressions heavy with complexity.
After hearing the full account, Shen Congsheng fell silent for a long time.
The Limitless Demon Venerable's ambitions, Immortal Venerable Starsourge's calculations, Immortal Venerable Juyang's overwhelming power, Immortal Venerable Blessed Land's regrets, and Gu Yue Fang Yuan's patient endurance…
The level of that confrontation had been far too high!
So high that figures like Demonic Immortal Qijue, Zhan Budu, Old Ancestor Qihai, Lu Weiyin, and Shen Shang had all been reduced to mere supporting players.
The price paid for that clash was nothing short of terrifying.
Half-Immortal Venerables like Zhan Budu and Demonic Immortal Qijue had perished. Nearly fifty Gu Immortals under Fang Yuan's command had fallen. Eternal Life Heaven's Eight Extremes Sons had been cut in half. Within the Crazed Demon Lair, hundreds of millions of living beings — including Nie Kuangfeng, Bu Tiankong, and Duan Hu — had been annihilated!