NOVPUBMeet the demon…?
The Jade Empress stared at him, his smile gentle and sincere, wondering if she had misheard.
She was the one who had sealed the demon, and now he was asking her to take him to it?
After a moment of contemplation, she nodded. “Very well. I’ll accompany you.”
Her Dao comprehension allowed her to sense dishonesty, and she could tell he was sincere.
Indulging his request wouldn’t hurt.
After all, the demon couldn’t break free from its seal.
Besides, she had been hesitant to ask about his Innate Celestial Vessel. This was an opportunity to examine it herself.
Her eyes flickered, and she detached herself from Ye Qian’s body, her ethereal form materializing in the peach blossom forest.
Mu Zhi’an couldn’t help but steal a glance. She was stunning in her green dress, her delicate features as beautiful as a celestial being, her aloof demeanor stirring a primal desire within him.
He couldn’t deny the bold thoughts that crossed his mind.
However, with someone like her, actions without a proper foundation of affection were unwise.
After all, she was a Dao Integration Empress.
Ye Qian blinked, her consciousness returning. “Thank you for the inheritance, Senior!” she said, bowing gratefully to the Jade Empress.
The Jade Empress smiled, her beauty captivating. Her shoulders and neck were perfectly proportioned, her waist slender and alluring, her long legs hidden beneath her flowing skirt.
“We are compatible, child. It is fate. Honoring my legacy is the greatest reward you can offer,” she said, her voice as melodic as the guqin, her words carrying a soothing aura of Dao.
Mu Zhi’an noticed that her form seemed hazy and indistinct, as if she were a figment of his imagination. He felt an urge to touch her face, to confirm whether she was real or simply an illusion.
She turned to him, her expression hesitant.
“Young friend, I need to temporarily reside within your vessel. Do not resist when my consciousness enters,” she said, forcing a smile.
“I understand, Senior,” he replied.
Her voice was ethereal, like a melody from another world. He wondered what she would sound like when she was shy… I want to marry her… He thought, unable to resist the urge.
His vision blurred for a moment.
“Let’s go. I’ll conceal my aura, so the demon won’t sense us,” she said, her voice now echoing in his mind.
She was also curious about his intentions. Why did he want to meet the demon?
She had a suspicion, but she wanted to confirm it.
He instructed Ye Lingxuan and Ye Qian to return to their residence, then re-entered the bronze gate, heading back into the Dongtian.
He found several disciples still lingering near the nine caves, attempting to divine the “secrets of heaven.”
An Lingyue’s face was pale, suggesting she had encountered danger within one of the caves.
However, her aura was slightly stronger, indicating she had also received some benefits.
While the Jade Empress herself was the greatest treasure within the Dongtian, it didn’t mean there weren’t other opportunities.
After all, this place had once been the residence of an Empress. She would have left behind some traces of her power.
Nearby, a slender girl in a black dress, surrounded by a group of disciples, was performing a divination.
Song Ziyang, the Boundless Sea Peak disciple who had displayed hostility towards Mu Zhi’an, was among them.
What are they up to…? He thought, but he didn’t dwell on it. He entered the ninth cave alone.
“Someone tried to divine my fate earlier. That girl in the black dress,” the Jade Empress’s voice said in his mind.
Song Ziyi is trying to divine the Jade Empress…?
He pondered her words as he walked along the path.
Why would they try to divine her fate without any reason…?
And they shouldn’t even know about her existence. 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝘤𝘰𝑚
Which meant… Song Ziyi wasn’t divining the Jade Empress. She was divining… Ye Qian?
He reached the familiar pavilion, his mind still racing.
He opened the door, entering the ancient hall. A deep, menacing voice echoed through the air.
“Come here…”
It was a stark contrast to the Jade Empress’s ethereal voice.
He followed the voice, venturing deeper into the hall.
“…Come here.”
The voice grew louder.
He reached a closed door and pushed it open. Darkness gave way to light as he stepped into an ancient plaza.
Thick vines, resembling a spiderweb, converged from all directions, binding a withered arm in midair.
The sight was both impressive and disturbing.
“You’ve finally arrived,” a voice, ancient and weary, echoed from the arm.
“Were you the one who summoned me, Senior?” he asked.
“Indeed,” the demon replied.
“What do you need from me, Senior…?” he asked cautiously.
This entity was clearly dangerous. The “Friend of the Antagonists” title on his interface was glowing brightly.
However, it was clearly trapped within this hall. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have summoned a mere Core Formation cultivator.
“That woman… didn’t she stop you?” the demon asked.
“She’s meditating,” he replied respectfully.
“Hmph, she thinks she can seal me away with such a pathetic method? She will pay the price.”
So he’s also a Dao Integration expert… Mu Zhi’an’s heart sank. “Is there anything I can do for you, Senior?” he asked, looking at the withered arm.
The demon seemed pleased by his directness. “You cannot break the seal. However, if you bring me two things, I can rebuild my cultivation vessel.”
He could forcefully break the seal if he wanted to.
After a thousand years, the Jade Empress’s seal had weakened considerably.
However, forcefully using his spiritual energy would result in a devastating backlash, leading to his demise.
He needed to prepare beforehand, to rebuild his body.
“Tell me what you need, Senior,” Mu Zhi’an said.
“Rebirth Water, and the Heavenly Phoenix Fruit from the divine tree of the Jade Pool Sacred Land.”
The demon paused, then added, “Of course, I won’t be ungrateful. If you bring me these two treasures, I will bestow upon you a great opportunity, allowing you to reach the Nascent Soul Realm within a year.”
Normally, reaching the Nascent Soul Realm from the Core Formation Realm took three to five years. If one was unlucky and got stuck at the peak of Core Formation, it could take a decade, or even a lifetime.
The demon’s offer was incredibly tempting.
“Before that, Senior, I have a question,” Mu Zhi’an said, his expression carefully neutral.
“Speak.” The demon tried to maintain a “kindly old grandpa” persona.
“Why did you choose me, and not someone else?”
“The answer lies within you,” the demon replied. “You carry a mark left by my daughter.”
“Your daughter…?” He was stunned. “Who is your daughter?”
He couldn’t recall interacting with any demonic cultivators.
He had only met four: the two black-robed figures, the Demon Realm Empress, and Ying Guhuan.
But only one of them had left a mark on him…
“Are you… the Demon Realm Empress’s father…?” he asked, staring at the withered arm.
“Indeed.”
Mu Zhi’an’s mind reeled.
That ethereal fairy… she was ruthless. She had single-handedly sealed the Demon Realm Empress’s father within the Pilgrimage Palace?!
“Since you’re the one my daughter chose, I’m willing to give you a chance. Whether you seize it or not is up to you, young friend,” the demon said, his voice gentle and persuasive.
I don’t want to seize it. I just want to seize the Fairy Sister…
He hesitated, then asked, his voice filled with a mixture of eagerness and suspicion. “Can you swear that you’ll fulfill your promise if I bring you those two treasures, Senior?”
“You’re quite cautious,” the demon scoffed.
“I have to be, Senior. You’re a formidable being,” he replied with a smile.
The demon reluctantly swore an oath.
“I’ll obtain those treasures for you, Senior,” Mu Zhi’an said, bowing respectfully.
“I have a Soul Nourishing Pill here. It will nourish your consciousness and protect you from a single mental attack,” the demon offered.
He’s surprisingly generous… “Thank you for your generosity, Senior!” he exclaimed, his voice filled with gratitude.
“Don’t thank me yet,” the demon said, his voice a low growl. “I’ve sworn an oath. Shouldn’t you do the same?”
“I swear that I’ll obtain the Rebirth Water and the Heavenly Phoenix Fruit from the Forbidden Zone and the Jade Pool Sacred Land within a year. If I lie, may I be struck by lightning!” he declared.
Boom!
A thunderclap echoed through the hall, pleasing the demon.
“You’re a man of your word, young friend. Consider this Soul Nourishing Pill a welcome gift.”
A pill materialized in midair, landing in his hand.
A potent medicinal fragrance filled the air.
This fragrance… it’s at least a Seventh or Eighth-Grade pill… He felt invigorated just by smelling it.
He suppressed his excitement. “If there’s nothing else, Senior, I’ll take my leave.”
“Go.”
Silence descended upon the plaza as the demon’s voice faded away.
He left the hall, but instead of returning to the entrance, he opened the other doors, curious about what lay beyond.
However, they were just ordinary rooms.
He searched them, finding two seeds that resembled the Seeds of Dao Realization in the fourth room.
Unfortunately, they were inferior versions, useless to him.
Besides, he already had five.
He shook his head, abandoning his search.
He’ll leave these for the other disciples.
As he left the hall, he transmitted his voice to An Lingyue, who was still near the entrance. “Senior Sister, there’s a pavilion a hundred paces from the entrance of the ninth cave. Check the fourth door on the right. You might find something useful.”
An Lingyue looked up, spotting the handsome young man smiling at her.
“The fourth door…”
Her eyes flickered with anticipation.
…
Mu Zhi’an emerged from the Dongtian, stretching languidly. He felt refreshed and invigorated.
He had accomplished everything he needed to do. He could relax for a while.
His only remaining task was to accompany Ye Lingxuan to the Forbidden Zone in a month to meet her father.
He wondered if the master of the Forbidden Zone would challenge him to a duel, declaring, “If you can defeat me, I’ll allow you to marry my daughter.”
The thought of facing a Dao Integration expert filled him with apprehension.
Besides, meeting his future father-in-law was secondary. His main objective was to obtain the Rebirth Water… and that would be much more difficult.
He needed a reason, a reason compelling enough for the master of the Forbidden Zone to willingly hand over such a treasure.
And that reason lay with the demon.
However, there was no rush. He had a month to formulate a plan.
In the meantime, he could confirm whether Lingxuan herself qualified as Rebirth Water…
His thirst for knowledge was insatiable.
As the thought crossed his mind, the Jade Empress’s voice echoed in his mind.
“They’re coming.”
He looked up and saw several figures descending from the pavilion.
The woman at the forefront, clad in black robes, her voluptuous figure accentuated by the wind, exuded an aura of intelligence and mature beauty. She was Yan Ruyu, the Master of the Book Pavilion.
The other Peak Masters he was familiar with were beside her.
He realized.
I’m at the Core Formation Realm now.
For the past few months, these Peak Masters had treated him like a prized disciple, showering him with gifts and offering guidance. They had been eagerly awaiting his breakthrough.
And now he had achieved it.
The fish has been fattened… time to cast the net.
It seems I’ll be quite busy…
As the thought crossed his mind, the Peak Masters arrived before him.
