Chapter 113: Achieving a Decade of Demonic Arts

The Locust Demon, gazing down at Chu Youcai’s severely wounded form, let out a mocking laugh: "In my eyes, you are nothing but an ant. Even if you have cultivated demonic arts, that remains unchanged!"

Just then, the battered body suddenly vanished. Behind the Locust Demon, a brilliant radiance descended from the heavens, a beam of dragon and snake energy that pierced the firmament and engulfed everything in its path.

The wounded body had been nothing more than an external avatar. The true Chu Youcai, having sacrificed a year of his lifespan to channel the power of a curse, had unleashed the Fish-Scale Blade once again. This maneuver left him with only two years of life remaining.

The Locust Demon, however, had been prepared. With a swift movement, it summoned the Blood-Red Eye before it in the blink of an eye. Countless flashes of fire erupted, blocking the strike that had seemed destined to succeed. The resulting shockwave slammed into Chu Youcai, causing his entire body to convulse as he was thrown heavily to the ground, unable to even twitch. Despite possessing nine years of demonic power, the disparity between him and his opponent remained vast.

Ten breaths passed in a flash, and then the Locust Demon’s figure materialized directly before him. "I knew you had an avatar, and I guessed you would try this," the demon said coldly. "Why persist in this futile struggle? Through ten years of cultivation and by consuming the beauty of the mortal realm, I have rebuilt thirty years of demonic power. At your current level, how could you possibly oppose me?"

"Offer me your flesh and blood! Let your soul be forged into my life-bound magic lamp!"

With a sneer of disdain, the Locust Demon moved its hands again. The Blood-Red Eye, consuming another ten years of its demonic power, unleashed a torrent of light that cascaded down upon Chu Youcai. The overwhelming pressure made Chu Youcai feel as though his body were shattering; he could neither move nor retaliate. His body grew cold, and a thousand thoughts raced through his mind. The faces of his loved ones flickered before him, followed by a wave of despair as he faced the demon. The creature was unstoppable.

Yet, he would not yield. He had only two years of lifespan left, and his demonic cultivation was only at nine years. If he died here, he would lose another year, leaving him with only one year after the trial—not enough to utilize any cursed artifacts, and certainly not enough to survive.

Summoning his final ounce of strength, Chu Youcai moved his fingers in a sharp gesture. A formation flared at his fingertips—the Six-Jia Divine Array—causing the Locust Demon’s attack to falter for a heartbeat.

Seizing this moment of respite, Chu Youcai ignored the agonizing pressure and pulled the Tuo-Dragon Mountain and River Pearl from his robes. Sacrificing another year of his life, he unleashed the cursed artifact once more. At this moment, his inner vital energy was reduced to a mere inch.

Fueled by the power of the curse, the Tuo-Dragon Mountain and River Pearl conjured the fury of the heavens and earth. Howling winds tore through the air, and the power of endless snowfields descended, shaking the very mountains and rivers. Under this desperate strike, the Locust Demon’s Blood-Red Eye was held at bay; for ten full breaths, it could not advance a single step.

Seeing the pearl, a flicker of shock crossed the Locust Demon’s eyes. "A Brocade-level cursed artifact! Heavens, to think such a thing exists! No wonder you have managed to grow so powerful!"

Greed surged within the demon. Unable to wait for the ten-breath duration of the Blood-Red Eye to end, it lunged toward Chu Youcai with reckless abandon, determined to seize him the moment the duration expired. It had only heard of Brocade-level artifacts in legends; no one in the Kingdom of Loulan had ever possessed such a supreme treasure. It was certain that after using a cursed artifact three times in succession, Chu Youcai would be spent, and this moment of exhaustion was its window of opportunity.

Chu Youcai realized then the true value of a Brocade-level artifact—it was far superior to the Bronze grade. Facing the demon’s desperate onslaught, he had no choice but to retreat, dodging and weaving. He felt his strength ebbing away. He had only one final inch of vital energy left; if he were to invoke the curse again, he would be reduced to ash, even if he won.

Yet, in this moment, his mind became preternaturally clear. The scenes of his trial flashed before him: the seductive techniques he had identified as illusions, the palace women he had ignored, the demon’s promise of power and dominion he had seen through as a lie.

Facing the pressure of death, only one thought remained in his mind: "Better that one family cries than the whole road cries."

The locust had slaughtered countless people in the mortal world. Such a creature deserved no pity. By destroying it, he could save countless innocents. The Tao was not about blind tolerance; it was about balance, control, and discipline. In that instant, Chu Youcai grasped the true measure of demonic power. It was not about having an infinite supply, but about the right amount at the right time.

His thoughts coalesced into a crystalline force that surged deep into his mind, striking a hidden meridian. A seal was broken, and his power began to sublimate. With a thunderous roar, Chu Youcai felt a cataclysmic shift within his body. His demonic cultivation surged against the bottleneck and shattered it, successfully reaching the ten-year threshold.

He felt the ancient, hidden forces of the world rushing toward him, lifting his very soul. Without hesitation, he poured all ten years of his demonic power into the Tuo-Dragon Mountain and River Pearl.

The Locust Demon shrieked in despair, but it could not muster a fourth use of its cursed power. Amidst the flames and the radiance of the dragon and snake, the demon was ground into nothingness. Its consciousness was obliterated, and six inches of vital energy spilled from its form, flowing into Chu Youcai.

His remaining lifespan instantly surged from one year back to seven. Standing tall, Chu Youcai felt a profound transformation. Having attained ten years of demonic power, he could now use cursed artifacts without sacrificing his lifespan. More importantly, through this trial, he had gained the ability to transmute his demonic arts into the power of the Tao.