Chapter 82: The Path of Cultivating Demonic Arts

The foundation of demon magic is indeed easy to establish, but the tempering of the physical body is unimaginably cruel. One must merge oneself into a blazing alchemical furnace, be burned by raging fire, frozen by icy cold, suffocated within the furnace, and even pierce one’s own mind with a spiritual spike.

And this is only the first step.

The second step requires stabbing every inch of one’s body with blades, letting blood cover the entire body, replacing all one’s blood, and then killing all the pain within the flesh.

The third step is to enter a haunted realm, using the blood of countless fierce ghosts to temper the spirit, forging an external incarnation from the spirit, which then forms one’s life-bound demon lantern.

Only then does one begin to learn demon magic.

According to what the Divine Willow said, he used the blood of a hundred fierce ghosts before he succeeded in forging an external incarnation, and later forming the life-bound demon lantern was a true brush with death.

But once you pass these three tests, your cultivation will advance by leaps and bounds, far faster than the ways of Dao, and with far fewer bottlenecks.

Cultivating the Dao, however, requires an epiphany with every year of progress. This is why so many who pursue the Dao often train in the mortal world, refining themselves among the living, comprehending the cycle of passion and death, so that they may slowly attain enlightenment.

Hearing these words, Chu Youcai suddenly felt his mind waver.

It was as if he could see countless flaming red lotuses blooming in hell, with corpses floating in the sea of death, and many life-bound demon lanterns drifting to the far shore, only to be devoured by a colossal demon.

The scene was so savage and bloody.

In that moment, the demon’s eyes, as large as bronze bells, suddenly turned toward Chu Youcai. With just one glance, Chu Youcai felt his very soul about to explode.

He jolted awake.

He found himself still inside the golden pagoda, the hourglass atop it already emptied.

The Divine Willow sighed and said, “Three hours is not much. I can only teach you the foundational script of demon magic. There’s no time to impart the experience and insights. Remember, you are wise at heart, your future lies in the Dao. Never pursue demon magic! Remember this!”

At that moment, the Divine Willow spread his hand, and at once, the golden pagoda shattered inch by inch, and both Chu Youcai and the Divine Willow returned to the mortal realm.

At this instant, only three breaths had passed in the human world.

The Divine Willow had clearly reached his limit; the wine cup in his hand was on the verge of bursting.

Then, he tossed the wine cup onto the locust demon and resolutely placed himself in front of Chu Youcai.

The cup exploded instantly.

A succession of world-ending sounds rang out, like the howling of countless demons in hell, filled with sharpness, annihilation, and punishment, as if a thousand volcanoes erupted at once.

Everything nearby was almost blown to pieces.

Yet Chu Youcai and the others were completely shielded by the Divine Willow’s body, not suffering the slightest harm.

Chu Youcai looked at the Divine Willow, this person who was like half a master to him, shielding him so completely, while he himself had no way to protect the other. A wave of sorrow welled up in his heart.

The roar of explosions was endless, echoing to the horizon.

This scene immediately caught the attention of a distant sword-light, which suddenly bent in the air and sped toward them.

Upon the sword-light were Yan Nantian and Chu Yuwei.

The Divine Willow finally collapsed backward, his vitality drained, clearly at his last breath. He turned his gaze to Chu Youcai, eyes filled with countless hopes.

Chu Youcai nodded heavily, determined to pass on demon magic as the Divine Willow wished.

Seeing this, the Divine Willow’s expression became peaceful.

Meanwhile, the locust demon’s location was blasted into countless fragments, with not even bones remaining.

Then, a flame like a candle rose slowly from where the demon had fallen, shimmering in iridescent colors, unspeakably beautiful, as though some mysterious force sustained it, flying toward a distant mountain.

No matter how the wind blew, the candle flame did not flicker, let alone go out.

A shudder ran through Chu Youcai’s heart: could this be the life-bound demon lantern, about to be absorbed by hell?

Almost simultaneously, a dark aura seeped from where the locust demon had died and entered his body.

None of the others seemed to perceive this dark aura.

Suddenly, Chu Youcai felt his lifespan surge from one year to eleven years in an instant.

Joy flooded his heart: the locust demon had gifted him ten years of life force?

He was puzzled, though—the locust demon had cultivated demon magic for fifty years. By rights, it should have yielded fifteen measures of life force.

“Perhaps the explosion weakened and dissipated its essence? Or maybe its life-bound demon lantern was absent? Or perhaps the demon wasn’t slain by me alone?”

No matter the reason, Chu Youcai felt that gaining ten measures of life force was already the best possible outcome.

Once, he wouldn’t have dared even dream of this.

From barely three years of life left to now possessing eleven, he had survived countless ordeals.

Now, he could wield the cursed treasure more freely.

At this moment, however, Chu Youcai suddenly heard a strange, low, oppressive buzzing.

Listening closely, he realized the sound was coming from underground.

Everyone sensed it now, and as they focused, the ground in front of them exploded with flying sand and rocks!

Countless giant locusts burst through the surface from underground!

Chu Youcai was thrown to the ground by the immense impact.

At the same time, he noticed that these giant locusts were all clad in golden armor, their eyes brimming with bloodlust.

It seemed that, at the moment of the locust demon’s death, a surge of power had erupted within it, causing all these locusts to evolve!

Now, tens of thousands of golden-armored locusts glared viciously at Chu Youcai and the others, murderous intent radiating from them.

Erniang and Yan Yunfei’s faces changed dramatically.

For them, fifty years of demon magic was an insurmountable chasm. Each time one reached fifty years of cultivation, one had to endure a thunder tribulation, and upon surviving it, one’s power would multiply. So, even dozens like Erniang and Yan Yunfei together could not have withstood the locust demon. Now, with its death, the tribulation’s power had been released into these locusts, making them even more formidable.

They could not possibly win. Retreat was the only option.

Exchanging a glance, Erniang and Yan Yunfei understood each other’s thoughts. Without delay, they raised their cursed treasures, forming a circle of light, and prepared to flee.

Just then, an overwhelming tide of fire surged from afar, blanketing the sky and earth, threatening to engulf everything.

Even from several miles away, it felt as if the entire Guiyuan Temple might go up in flames.

It was as if ten thousand volcanoes were erupting at once, lava cascading everywhere.

What could this be?

Suddenly, the tens of thousands of golden-armored locusts grew restless, as if sensing something, panic spreading among them.

“Why is it so scorching hot?”

Chu Youcai was exhausted, barely able to stand, and under Erniang’s protection quickly swallowed a medicinal elixir, regaining a bit of strength. He then noticed that the golden-armored locusts seemed frozen in place, no longer attacking.

What was happening?

Almost simultaneously, a sword-light flashed from the distance.

When the sword-light arrived, all the surrounding flames were extinguished as if snuffed out by an invisible wind.

Could a single sword-light command all the fires under heaven?

Yan Yunfei was overjoyed. “It’s someone from my Yan Clan! They must have received my flying sword message and finally sent help!”