However, Celestial Venerable Hongxuan still compensated with a considerable amount of Spiritual Liquid, which was of great help in the cultivation and planting by the Immortal Farmer.

After dealing with the remaining materials, they headed towards the route that had been invaded by the Demon Cultivators.

On the way,

Fu Manman smiled at Gu Lan and said, "Senior Sister Gu, you really are generous."

Facing her former junior sister, Gu Lan felt no ill will, but she did feel that her changes were truly significant. In Gu Lan’s memory, Junior Sister Manman was a very shy and timid person. At that time, she was small and thin, always hiding behind the Sect Leader, sneaking peeks. Now, not only was she tall, her figure was also fuller and softer, and the biggest change was her personality—confident, mature, and generous. Truly a good child.

Gu Lan couldn’t help but think of Luo Qingyao. What had she become now? Was she still as cute and lively, with her cheeks puffed out?

"Junior Sister Manman, it’s you who truly surprised me." Gu Lan said, "With the role of Human World Executor Dao and Little Freedom Official. It’s fortunate we met here."

Song Weiyu laughed, "Little Manman really is the most capable child to have come out of our Eternal Immortal Sect."

Fu Manman chuckled, "That’s not me."

"Is there anyone more capable than you?"

"Of course. Of course." Fu Manman said it twice, but the second time her enthusiasm wasn’t as high.

Song Weiyu then realized it could be related to Fan Wubing. She had heard about it; Fu Manman’s relationship with Fan Wubing was quite deep. She often teased her own disciple about how Fan Wubing must have forgotten her by now, but her foolish disciple always insisted that Junior Brother Wubing wasn’t that kind of person...

But what was the result?

Song Weiyu still remembered that the day the news of Fan Wubing’s death came, Gu Lan rushed to the Sea of Eternal Life immediately. After returning, it was as if she had lost her soul, lying in the fields for over a month, refusing to go anywhere.

Fu Manman never knew what the relationship between Gu Lan and Fan Wubing was, so many words in her heart were stifled and unspeakable.

After arriving at that route,

Celestial Venerable Hongxuan descended to a certain spot, "This is the place. To avoid any hidden hazards, the route now bypasses this area."

Fu Manman looked at the newly constructed route not far away, with Flying Ships speeding back and forth. Then she quietly sensed the area; after a year and a half, the Demonic Qi had completely dissipated and couldn’t be determined. She then asked,

"Do you know whose Demonic Qi it was back then?"

Celestial Venerable Hongxuan felt quite remorseful, "The route was busy at the time, and I was eager to cover it up, so I didn’t investigate carefully." He gritted his teeth and said, "Delaying such a serious matter was a grave mistake on my part!"

"Dwelling on it now is meaningless; we need to understand what type of Demonic Qi it is." Fu Manman searched for any residual Qi.

At this moment, Gu Lan stepped forward and said, "Maybe I can give it a try."

Fu Manman remembered the way Senior Sister Gu could restore the material’s spiritual aura, "Does Senior Sister Gu have a way?"

"It’s been a long time, so I can’t guarantee it, but I’ll do my best."

After speaking, Gu Lan released an obscure and complex Dao intent, enveloping the space around them.

Then, everyone saw that the space began to change quickly. The changes were very strange, looking like it was... reversing.

Celestial Venerable Hongxuan slightly furrowed his brow, trying hard to think about what kind of Great Dao this was.

Golden lines in Fu Manman’s eyes flowed slowly as if she was lost in thought.

The speed of change became faster and faster.

But Gu Lan grew more strained, her body beginning to tremble uncontrollably. Nearby, Song Weiyu was a bit worried.

The color drained from Gu Lan’s face until a wisp of Demonic Qi suddenly appeared out of nowhere, lingering in the space.

Celestial Venerable Hongxuan’s brow twitched, "It’s precisely this Demonic Qi!"

Fu Manman raised her hand, waving swiftly to fix everything in the space.

Over there, Gu Lan had exhausted herself due to such a great consumption, collapsing into Song Weiyu’s arms. This was still her first attempt to restore changes that had happened so long ago.

After feeling it for a while, Fu Manman gravely asked, "Celestial Venerable, what was the behavior of those who were initially invaded by the Demonic Qi?"

Celestial Venerable Hongxuan said, "Their foundations were polluted, with things growing in their flesh akin to roots."

Fu Manman took a deep breath, "Then it can be confirmed. It is the Decaying Demon Dao."

"The Decaying Demon Dao! One of the Eight Great Demon Daos, that Decaying Demon Dao?" Celestial Venerable Hongxuan broke into a cold sweat, only now realizing the magnitude of his error.

Fu Manman pondered for a moment, "Some time ago, in a barren mountain forest in the southeast region of Taiping Continent, Beast Demon Dao’s Demonic Qi appeared." When she passed by there then, she not only sensed the Demonic Qi of the Beast Demon Dao but also felt Qingyao’s Sword Intent. But when she tried to pursue it, she found that Qingyao’s Qi had already headed north, leaving Taiping Continent, and from the direction, it was heading to Sword Continent.

Celestial Venerable Hongxuan trembled as he asked, "Both Decaying Demon Dao and Beast Demon Dao have shown themselves in Taiping Continent? Last time, after White Jade Capital and Wenxin Heaven jointly exterminated the demons, hadn’t they all disappeared without a trace?"

"Demon Dao forces are resurging."

"For what purpose?" Celestial Venerable Hongxuan couldn’t help but ask.

Fu Manman thought for a moment and replied, "Perhaps... it has something to do with the Path of the Demon Lord. After Ke You Demon Lord’s death and Dao dissolution, the position of the Nether Demon Dao’s leader was left vacant. The only thing compelling other Demonic Daos to reveal themselves would likely be the Path of the Demon Lord."

As a Little Freedom Official, she specifically studied these matters.

Because monitoring Demonic Dao forces is also part of the responsibilities of a Little Freedom Official.

Celestial Venerable Hongxuan was almost in tears, having never imagined that indulging his own selfish desires could lead to such a catastrophe.

Fu Manman reassured him, "Celestial Venerable, do not worry. We will need your cooperation for the subsequent investigations."