Chapter 199: The Thunder Sound Universal Transformation: Yang Poison, Yin Poison!
Wu Gorge was one of the Three Gorges of the Long River.
Its collapse would not only devastate the surrounding area but also disrupt the river’s flow, causing widespread flooding.
Shi Hao looked at Little Demonic Mother, “You’re clearly not trying to stop him. What do you want?”
Little Demonic Mother said, “I’ve already told you. I only want the Black Phoenix Poison Pearl. Nothing else.”
Shi Hao asked, “And the Poisonous Sunflower Sect?”
Little Demonic Mother said, “They’re more ambitious. They want not only the pearl, but also the Primordial Yellow Dao Body and the Thunder Venerable divine crystal.”
“The Primordial Yellow Dao Body was cultivated by the Poisonous Sunflower Sect. Although called a ‘Dao Body,’ it’s actually a demonic body, a vessel of pure yang poison. Tomorrow at dusk, Yi Shenzi will transfer his soul, infused with the Yin poison of the underworld, into this body, achieving a fusion of yin and yang. The Shen Ting Sect has been preparing for this for a long time. It’s irreversible, even for Yi Shenzi himself.”
“But the Poisonous Sunflower Sect has infiltrated the Shen Ting Sect. ‘General Shui Lei,’ one of the Five Thunder Generals, is secretly working for them. That’s how they learned about the plan.”
“The Black Phoenix Poison Pearl is currently with Yi Shenzi in the Melting Sun Demonic Abyss. No one else can enter. Therefore, the Poisonous Sunflower Sect can only wait for Yi Shenzi to emerge, carrying the pearl, to fuse with the Primordial Yellow Dao Body.
“And that fusion process… that’s our opportunity.”
Hou Bomin, the Monkey Thief, sighed, “But that will also be when the Shen Ting Sect’s defenses are at their strongest.”
Little Demonic Mother snorted, “The Poisonous Sunflower Sect had originally planned to use the Eastern and Western Plague Stars to weaken the Shen Ting Sect, but someone interfered with their plan.”
Shi Hao smiled, “Don’t blame me. Tu Baoquan tried to kill me. He happened to be carrying the Plague Dispelling Talisman, and I happened to be near those mountain ghosts when they were attacked by the plague. Their plague also affected the mountain ghosts.
“I couldn’t just stand by and watch, could I?”
Little Demonic Mother snorted.
Shi Hao said, “But this might actually be beneficial.
“With their plan foiled, the Poisonous Sunflower Sect will have to improvise. They were hoping to cripple the Shen Ting Sect and then launch a surprise attack. Now, with the Shen Ting Sect still relatively strong, it will be a more even fight, and we can take advantage of the chaos.
“Speaking of which, what was your original plan?”
Little Demonic Mother said, “The Sui Marquis Pearl… The Primordial Yellow Dao Body is a vessel of pure yang poison, while Yi Shenzi’s soul carries yin poison. During the fusion process, I need someone to touch the Dao Body with the Sui Marquis Pearl. This will disrupt the fusion, separating the two and releasing the Black Phoenix Poison Pearl.”
Shi Hao nodded, “I understand. We can help you obtain the pearl. The question is, what’s in it for us?”
Little Demonic Mother stared at him, “What do you want?”
Shi Hao said, “Seven thousand taels.”
Little Demonic Mother said, surprised, “Seven thousand taels?” She hadn’t expected him to be so direct, so mercenary.
Shi Hao said, “That’s right. There are four of us, plus three others with the mountain ghosts, seven in total. One thousand taels each. We’ll be working for you.
“If we simply cooperate without any… binding agreement, neither of us will trust the other. It’s better to be clear about the terms. Seven thousand taels is a lot of money, but for you, it’s a small price to pay.
“The Black Phoenix Poison Pearl is useless to us, but the silver is very real. And for you, if you can achieve your goal with just seven thousand taels, there’s no need to risk killing us or betraying us later.”
He smiled, “I’m guessing the Black Phoenix Poison Pearl is essential for your advancement to the high ranks. That’s why you’re so determined to obtain it. And for us, preventing this catastrophe, protecting the mountain ghosts, and striking a blow against the Poisonous Sunflower Sect, our enemies, while also earning a substantial reward… it’s a win-win situation.”
“And a successful transaction can lead to future collaborations. Once you reach the high ranks, we’ll have a powerful ally. I’m being so frank because cooperation is our only option.
“Both the Shen Ting Sect and the Poisonous Sunflower Sect are stronger than us. If we don’t work together, we’ll all fail.”
He looked at her intently, waiting for her answer.
Little Demonic Mother, after a moment of thought, nodded.
As he had said, the Black Phoenix Poison Pearl was essential for her advancement.
Reaching the high ranks was the dream of every martial artist.
She had been famous fifty years ago, but her cultivation had been stuck at the fourth rank, forcing her to undergo the Blood Bath ritual, to be reborn.
The phoenix blood within the Black Phoenix Poison Pearl was crucial for her breakthrough. She couldn’t afford to fail.
As for seven thousand taels… it was a large sum.
But money could be earned; the phoenix blood couldn’t.
“Agreed,” she said.
Shi Hao and Hou Bomin left the valley.
He had wanted to speak with Yuejiao, but Hou Bomin pulled him aside.
The bright moonlight illuminated the landscape, a beautiful night, the fourteenth day of the eighth month.
But for Wu Gorge, usually shrouded in mist and clouds, this was unusual.
The ground below, scarred and cracked, crisscrossed by lines of white, electrical energy, was a desolate sight.
Hou Bomin lowered his voice, “Something’s wrong with Yuejiao.”
Shi Hao’s heart sank, “What happened?”
Hou Bomin recounted how, after he and Xiang Gu had obtained the immortal ingredients and descended from Changbai Mountain, they had seen Du Yuejiao leaving with the old woman. They had followed and rescued her.
He said, “Her strength had increased significantly. She could project her sword energy. She’s reached the sixth rank. And her demonic aura is much stronger. She’s become colder, more distant.”
Shi Hao asked, surprised, “She advanced? How is that possible?”
Du Yuejiao, like him, was a dual cultivator. Logically, she should advance in both Daoist and demonic cultivation simultaneously.
Daoist advancement required refining an external elixir, while demonic advancement required a ritual.
And they had still been at the foot of Changbai Mountain at the time.
Hou Bomin said, “I don’t know what happened, but she was clearly worried about you. When that Little Demonic Mother tricked her, saying you had been captured by the Poisonous Sunflower Sect, she was frantic.
“Xiang Gu and I don’t know the details. You’ll have to ask her yourself.”
Hou Bomin then left.
Shi Hao stood alone under the moonlight, lost in thought, then called out, “Little Emerald.”
Little Emerald materialized beside him, “Young Master.”
Shi Hao asked, “What do you think happened?”
Little Emerald said, “For Du Yuejiao to suddenly advance from the seventh rank to the sixth, either that old woman possessed her body, or she succumbed to demonic influence.”
Shi Hao’s heart sank, “There’s no other explanation?”
Little Emerald shook her head, “That old woman was trying to use a demonic ritual to sacrifice Du Yuejiao’s Daoist foundation and possess her body.
Shi Hao asked, “Is there such a ritual?”
Little Emerald said, “Not exactly. There’s never been a dual cultivator before. But there’s a soul transference technique that involves sacrificing a Daoist cultivator’s internal elixir to temporarily possess another body. That old woman must have modified the ritual, using Du Yuejiao’s Daoist foundation to transfer her soul into her body.
“Normally, you can’t just alter demonic rituals. But from what I saw, that old woman was desperate. She didn’t have time for a proper ritual, so she risked demonic affliction.”
“I don’t know if that old woman completely devoured her soul or if she was corrupted by Yin Demons due to the flawed ritual. But such a sudden and unexplained advancement always has consequences.”
Shi Hao said, “Is there any way to check?”
Little Emerald said, “You can check her energy flow, see if she’s still a dual cultivator. If her Daoist foundation is gone, it means it was sacrificed. And there should be a chaotic demonic energy within her, a sign of demonic affliction.
“But we can’t know the extent of the corruption.”
Shi Hao said, “She still remembers me. She even tried to save me…”
Little Emerald shook her head, “That doesn’t mean she hasn’t been possessed. The old woman could have absorbed her memories, maintaining the facade.”
Shi Hao’s frown deepened.
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