Devour

Chapter 456 Demonic Obsession

Cheng Bai's soul was exceptionally clear, as if he had broken free from invisible shackles. His primordial spirit was ever-changing, roaming freely between heaven and earth, and could also freely separate divine thought avatars to travel freely.

His primordial spirit manifested from the Purple Palace, resembling an innocent infant, naked and with a clear and bright spirit.

The young spirit treads on the waves of a vast ocean of magical power, like a celestial child descending from heaven to inspect the Heavenly Court and overlook the magnificent Jianmu tree.

Beneath that imposing and mysterious exterior, Cheng Bai was startled to discover the hidden secrets within, and exclaimed in astonishment, "What's going on here?"

In the past, when he used his divine sense to examine his own dantian, he only felt that the Jianmu tree was full of vigorous vitality. Now that his primordial spirit has personally arrived, he sees a completely different scene with his more sensitive and sharp divine sense.

The towering Jianmu tree seems to blot out the sky, its thick branches winding like a dragon, displaying solemnity and strength, covered with a ferocious dragon scale-like skin, each piece like a mottled ancient rock that has been weathered by ten thousand years, covered with crisscrossing cracks.

The crack was filled with tiny, wriggling, blood-red tumors, like strange life forms conceived by some evil spirit, constantly oozing wisps of black energy as they contracted and throbbed.

Bathed in a dark red glow, the entire Jianmu tree exuded a sinister and eerie aura. Its trunk moved without wind, its massive form swaying and twisting, accompanied by faint, ghostly wails and howls, sending chills down one's spine.

Cheng Bai's vigilance was heightened. Past experiences flashed through his mind like lightning, and a terrifying suspicion suddenly surfaced: "Could it be that there was something wrong with the piece of Spirit Nourishing Wood I obtained in the underground palace of the Ninefold Abyss Swamp of Hatred, causing me to unknowingly become tainted by the demonic energy of the ancient demon race, thus eroding the foundation of the Jianmu tree?"

"No!" Li Tong shook her head repeatedly, decisively rejecting this guess. "The demonic energy in that place has long been exhausted. If there were any seriously harmful sources of pollution, I would have discovered them on the spot without missing a single one!"

Cheng Bai calmly sorted out his thoughts and asked, "Does my ability to devour everything for my own use, the Gluttonous Body, help me to dispel demonic energy?"

“The gluttonous phenomenon does indeed devour even demonic energy, and digests it completely, so it shouldn't leave any danger. Unless…” Li Tong pondered for a moment, his tone unusually solemn, “…I understand!”

Cheng Bai questioned, "Could it be a problem with the cultivation technique? Is there a conflict between the Six Paths Supreme Technique and the Bloodline Sacred Scripture?"

“There are currently no examples to prove that the two cultivation methods conflict.” Li Tong patiently analyzed the reasons. “In my opinion, your progress in the Five Realms of Profound Mystery has been smooth, without encountering any setbacks along the way. This is slightly different from the process that ordinary cultivators have to overcome numerous difficulties!”

Cheng Bai asked curiously, "Can things go too smoothly and cause problems?"

Li Tong explained in detail: "The five realms of non-action, non-thought, non-form, non-abiding, and non-obstruction correspond to the five aggregates of form, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness in the body and mind of sentient beings. If the mind deviates slightly at each stage, it may produce ten kinds of demonic delusions, collectively known as the 'Fifty Demonic Defilements.' Cultivators should break through the obstacles one by one in order to gradually improve their cultivation."

Cheng Bai exclaimed in surprise, "Fifty Yin Demons? I've never encountered one before!"

Li Tong continued, "That's because your Gluttonous Body bloodline is too powerful, forcibly suppressing the fifty Yin Demons. Before they could manifest, they had already made great strides, breaking through realms one after another. But these hidden dangers have always been there, deeply hidden in your body, and manifested in the Jianmu tree."

Cheng Bai pressed further, "How should I handle this matter?"

Li Tong replied, "Before a cultivator reaches the Nirvana Realm, they must either persist in fighting against demonic forces or become demonic themselves; otherwise, they cannot condense a Dharma Body! You once saw a prodigy who had reached the Five Profound Perfections and was able to slay fifty Yin Demons in one fell swoop, do you remember?"

Cheng Bai replied, "Tang Kong!"

Li Tong suggested, "It would be best to be like Tang Kong, taking advantage of the opportunity to slay all fifty Yin Demons to achieve the Great Perfection of the Five Mysterious Realms."

"I will do my utmost to achieve perfection." With this thought in mind, Cheng Bai's primordial spirit slowly descended to the top of the Jianmu tree, sat cross-legged on it, surveyed the towering divine tree, and received the continuous stream of magical power and spiritual light that gathered around him.

As his cultivation level increased, Cheng Bai, like a dragon emerging from its hiding place, broke through to a new realm.

His primordial spirit sank into a wondrous realm of unobstructed freedom, using his spiritual eyes to survey the universe within his body, resembling a deity who held the reins of mystery, examining the small world he had created.

Unexpectedly, a sudden change occurred!

The colossal Jianmu suddenly opened a pair of enormous eyes, seemingly present yet brimming with substantial pressure, peering upwards at the tiny primordial spirit. A demonic obsession, a mixture of temptation and flattery, invaded its consciousness: "Child, congratulations on achieving immortality and eternal life!"

Faced with such sweet praise, Cheng Bai's primordial spirit smiled and said, "I have only just begun to explore the path of immortality. The more I realize how vast the universe is, the further I am from truly becoming an immortal and attaining the Dao."

The demonic obsession continued to incite, "In just a few months, you have transformed from an ordinary mortal into a peerless master. Even the Great Wisdom Venerable, who was in the Nirvana Realm, had his weapon taken away by you and suffered a crushing defeat! This is something to celebrate."

Cheng Bai's primordial spirit pondered the battle and shook his head, saying, "If we had really fought, I would have been no match for Venerable Da Hui in a single move. I only managed to win by chance by using a trick and taking advantage of the situation."

The demonic obsession then urged, "Since Bei Tingjun has repeatedly shown you favor, and you're already tempted, why not go with the flow and secretly take her as a concubine? With the help of the Bloodline Holy Scripture's dual cultivation method, you'll definitely make a great leap forward in your power!"

Cheng Bai's primordial spirit chuckled, "I did have some feelings, but that's a different matter from taking action. Of all evils, lust is the worst. We should judge by actions, not intentions, because no one in the world is perfect. Although I am not perfect, I am not an evil person! Now that my progress is rapid enough, it is best to consolidate my foundation. Reckless advancement may not be a good thing."

His attempts to seduce her, though repeatedly thwarted, failed. He quietly closed his eyes and fell into silence.

The blood-red tumors covering the Jianmu tree seemed to have dimmed and shrunk somewhat.

Cheng Bai's consciousness returned to its place, and he slowly opened his eyes from meditation. His eyes shone with profound light, and he chuckled softly, "The cultivation is complete."

With a slight thought, Cheng Bai left the Golden Pagoda, carefully put away the immortal artifact and the True Martial Stone Bed, walked to the window, and opened the window of the inn room.

The fresh, pleasant air rushed towards him, bringing him a sense of comfort and a feeling of freedom and joy, as if he could roam the world at his own pace.

However, the strange appearance of the Jianmu tree and the hidden dangers of the Fifty Yin Demons are like a sword hanging overhead, making people dare not be complacent in the slightest.

"The Great Dao is long..." Cheng Bai gazed into the distance, his eyes unwavering. "I will surely slay the fifty Yin Demons and attain the Great Perfection of the Five Limitless Mysteries!"

Looking out over the fields, the rising sun shines brightly, generously showering the world with golden light, making every street and alleyway clear and full of vitality.

Above the Crane-Stopping Platform, several melodious and lingering chimes spread like ripples, their echoes lingering and startling away a few cranes that were swimming nearby.

This bell is no ordinary bell; it is a special "welcoming bell" reserved for certain distinguished guests with prominent backgrounds, and it only rings when guiding the guests' flagship into port for berthing.

The tranquil atmosphere of the academy is like a pond with a pebble thrown in—calm on the surface, but with subtle undercurrents in the depths.

The sky was high and the clouds were light, the blue sky was clear.

An exceptionally large celestial patrol vessel sliced ​​through the sky and sailed in, its two sides extending like the wings of an ancient celestial bird, gradually closing inward as the vessel slowed down, its entire body faintly reflecting the golden light of runes.

Cheng Baixing's eyes lit up, and he said with delight, "It's the spirit boat that Ningxiang left in Shanhui City! It seems that we won't see the new ship built by Wantong Xuanmen for a while."

A wild roar came from the direction of Zhumapo, echoing through the mountains and streets.

The majestic, windswept Gobi Desert is the Sword Camel Dragon, which has traveled a long distance from the far west.

With a deep, majestic roar, the Dark Moon Tiger galloped swiftly from the south, crossing mountains and valleys.

The bird with a clear, sharp cry that seems to pierce the clouds is the silver griffin that flies over layers of mist to reach the northern ice plains.

Cheng Bai raised an eyebrow, using his Phoenix Force to discern the subtle fluctuations in the power of all things around him, and laughed, "It's truly lively. Many are old acquaintances, varying in strength, with mixed relationships of friend and foe... Even Senior Leng Yi has shown up here. These are prominent figures who are usually impossible to invite, yet now they've gathered together from all directions for a gathering of immortals!"

He crossed his arms, lightly tapping the edge of his armor with his fingertips, and gazed at the magnificent Qingyun Tower, which appeared even more majestic and spectacular in the glow of the ancient trees. He pondered, "What mysteries does that so-called 'Lost Ocean' hold that would make Master Li mobilize so many people to invite heroes from all over the world to join him in this grand event?"

As the morning sun shone down, its light and shadow brushed across Cheng Bai's thoughtful profile. The gentle breeze seemed to quicken.

Distinguished heroes from all walks of life, as if drawn by an invisible thread, gathered from all corners of the world to rush to the Taotie Academy, where a storm was brewing and turmoil was about to erupt.