Chapter 7: You Two Decide
Shi Hao subconsciously repeated, “Simple and direct, yet extremely dangerous?”
Su Mei said, “The Daoist sects always say the demonic sects are the evil path. Although I’m a member of the demonic sects, I have to say…hee hee, they’re not wrong.” She pouted, looking rather smug.
She continued, “The Daoist sects emphasize mental state and comprehension. Demonic cultivation is much simpler, exchanging power from the Demonic Realm through specific rituals. The Demonic Realm has various heavens, and the demons in different demonic realms have different needs, but all are evil and cruel.
“Take the Mysterious Charm Technique, for example. You’ve saved yourself a lot of trouble because I directly imparted part of the foundation to you. But normally, after establishing the foundation for the Mysterious Charm Technique, one needs to perform a specific ritual using the corpses of nine men and six women to exchange for demonic essence from the Night Enchanting Heaven in the Demonic Realm. Only after absorbing the exchanged demonic essence can one truly enter the ninth rank.”
Shi Hao said, “So, the Daoist sects mainly rely on self-cultivation, while the demonic sects obtain power from the Demonic Realm?”
Su Mei said, “Wrong! To be precise, the Daoist sects rely on self-cultivation… and a vast amount of heavenly and earthly treasures. The higher the cultivation level, the more resources are consumed. In other words, the Daoist sects use a large number of resources from the world to exchange for their cultivation, while the demonic sects obtain resources from the Demonic Realm, which is outside the world, through ‘rituals.’
“In fact, with sufficient resources, you can even exchange for anything from the Demonic Realm, including history, knowledge, and all sorts of special knowledge or demonic objects not found in the mortal world.
“For example, the demonic essence I used to refine the Pleasure-Inducing Powder this time was obtained from the Fifth Heaven of the Demonic Realm by sacrificing many lives through an extremely complex ritual. You saw it yourself, even someone with Ye Zi Yin’s mental fortitude couldn’t resist the demonic drug.”
The corners of her mouth curled up slightly in a smug smile.
Then, she looked a little dejected… She hadn’t been able to resist it either!
Shi Hao said, “Since you’re dealing with Yin Demons from the Demonic Realm, what if they go back on their word after the sacrifice is made?”
“Good question!” Su Mei said, “That’s why demonic cultivation is both direct and dangerous. These Yin Demons cannot enter the mortal world themselves. They wander in the Grey Realm outside the three realms, suffering from extreme cold and torment. Given the chance, they wouldn’t hesitate to use your ritual to invade your body.
“So, the ritual must be performed flawlessly, and there can be no interruptions during the process. If there’s a mistake, the Yin Demons will seize the opportunity to gradually erode and replace your three souls and seven spirits. In the demonic sects, this is called ‘succumbing to demonic influence.’
“You have to understand, although we are demonic cultivators, our goal is to use the Demonic Realm to enhance our own strength, not to become demons. As the saying goes, ‘When the Dao rises one foot, the Demon rises ten feet.’ If a Daoist cultivator lacks comprehension or resources, they can’t progress.
“But it’s different for demonic cultivators. Even if the ritual goes wrong, there’s still a high chance of obtaining the required demonic essence and greatly increasing their strength. However, during that process, the cultivator’s three souls and seven spirits might be devoured and replaced by the demons of the Demonic Realm, leading them to succumb to demonic influence and become violent.”
“When all the souls and spirits are completely replaced, the cultivator’s body remains, but they are essentially dead. Occupying their body is a complete demon from the Demonic Realm. For example, Emperor Zhou, fifteen hundred years ago, in his pursuit of power, dabbled in demonic arts and ultimately became a ‘flesh vessel’ for a descending Demon King.”
Shi Hao’s expression changed… Why would anyone choose such a cultivation path?
Su Mei tilted her head, resting her left elbow on the armrest and her chin on her hand.
She smiled, “But don’t worry, our Evil Lotus Sect has specific partners in the Demonic Realm, Yin Demons from the Third Heaven – the Night Enchanting Heaven. Every ritual for advancement is clearly defined and flawless.”
“As long as you follow my instructions and advance step by step, you don’t have to worry about succumbing to demonic influence.”
“We even possess many unknown demonic scriptures that can be used through specific rituals to obtain resources from other heavens that are impossible to find in the mortal world. Wealth, immortality, secret drugs that can turn celestial beings into lustful women, demonic pills that can transform children into frenzied monsters… As long as you’re willing to pay the price, anything is possible.”
“More importantly…”
She giggled, “The price isn’t your own.”
Shi Hao pondered her words, “Not my own?”
Su Mei couldn’t help but laugh, “For example, you’re currently at the eighth rank in the demonic path. According to our Evil Lotus Sect’s practices, to advance to the seventh rank, you need to sacrifice at least one hundred living souls. A living soul is a soul that has been killed within an hour. You wouldn’t be foolish enough to kill your own family and relatives, would you?”
She spread her hands, “Of course, you would just find an unnoticed village and slaughter everyone!”
Looking at her charming, unrestrained smile, Shi Hao shuddered.
He began to understand why the Holy Jade Immortal had said, “Having been intimate with me, if he joins the demonic sects, I would rather kill him myself.”
Sacrificing countless lives to cultivate demonic arts… Wasn’t this the typical villain in every story?
Su Mei laughed, “Now you’re having second thoughts about cultivating demonic arts? Too late.”
Shi Hao said, “Too late?”
Su Mei said, “Indeed. You now possess the foundations of both the Immortal Ice Technique and the Mysterious Charm Technique. Whether you like it or not, you are now a dual cultivator of Daoist and demonic arts. More importantly, Dao and demon are incompatible, but they are currently in balance within your body.
“But if your Daoist foundation continues to improve while your demonic foundation stagnates, the Daoist energy will relentlessly destroy the demonic energy within you, and you will die. The reverse is also true. Didn’t your little wife tell you this?”
Shi Hao said, “So, I have to improve both cultivation methods simultaneously?”
Su Mei said, “That’s right. Once your Daoist foundation reaches the seventh rank, your demonic foundation must also reach the seventh rank within three days. Otherwise, you’ll either die or become crippled. Hee hee!”
Shi Hao forced a smile, “I understand.”
The Enchanting Fire Witch tilted her head, “You don’t mind?”
Shi Hao sighed and said self-deprecatingly, “Would it change anything if I did?”
The Enchanting Fire Witch giggled, “Of course not. By the way, since your little wife taught you the Six Immortal Lightning Strikes, I can’t be stingy either. I have the ‘Severing Meridian Burning Heart Finger’ and the ‘Soul Chasing Locking Steps,’ which perfectly complement the Mysterious Charm Technique.
“Also, there’s a unique secret technique called the ‘Evil Shadow Disguise Technique.’ It uses demonic energy to control and alter your facial muscles, allowing you to change your appearance slightly so others won’t recognize you at a glance.
“Since you’re now a dual cultivator, perhaps you can use the two normally incompatible foundations within you to achieve some unexpected results.”
Shi Hao then began to learn the Severing Meridian Burning Heart Finger, the Soul Chasing Locking Steps, and the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique from the Enchanting Fire Witch.
Unlike the Six Immortal Lightning Strikes, the Severing Meridian Burning Heart Finger didn’t have fixed moves but focused on energy channeling techniques. Although called a finger technique, it could also be applied to saber and sword techniques.
With a saber in hand, it became the Severing Meridian Burning Heart Saber.
With a sword in hand, it became the Severing Meridian Burning Heart Sword.
The Soul Chasing Locking Steps was a unique light-foot technique that locked onto an enemy’s energy, its power amplified when used with the Severing Meridian Burning Heart Finger.
“Not bad, you learn quickly!” After Shi Hao mastered all the techniques, the Enchanting Fire Witch laughed, “It seems you truly have a talent for martial arts. You’re worthy of being our man.”
The Enchanting Fire Witch continued, “Remember, you must cultivate the Mysterious Charm Technique to its peak before advancing to the seventh rank. If the Mysterious Charm Technique hasn’t reached its limit, rashly advancing to the next rank will prevent you from fully absorbing the demonic essence required for the seventh rank.”
“In that case, there’s a high risk of succumbing to demonic influence. Although many people become even more powerful after succumbing, your soul and mind will be eroded by Yin Demons, and you will gradually cease to be yourself.”
“As for the ritual required to advance to the seventh rank, besides one hundred living souls, you also need a place of extreme Yin…”
She began to teach Shi Hao the ritual for advancing to the seventh rank, along with some miscellaneous secret techniques of the demonic sects that might prove useful. These techniques were bizarre and wondrous.
“Main ingredients: one Great Cold Peony Immortal Bud, one Water Moon Exquisite Lotus, three Blazing Sky Leaves. Supplementary ingredients: three liang of borneol, two liang and seven qian of Northern Wild Chrysanthemum, three liang of Ice Stone Vine…” Shi Hao memorized the Immortal Formula written by the Holy Jade Immortal.
The other ingredients were manageable, but he had never even heard of the Great Cold Peony Immortal Bud, Water Moon Exquisite Lotus, or Blazing Sky Leaves.
The paper also contained the method for refining the elixir, but Shi Hao had never tried it before and wasn’t sure if he could actually refine the seventh-rank Immortal Formula even if he found the ingredients.
The Holy Jade Immortal, standing a zhang away, said, “If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can come back in again, and I’ll teach you.”
Shi Hao asked in surprise, “I can come back here again?”
The Holy Jade Immortal glanced at Su Mei. Su Mei laughed, “There’s nothing to hide now. Besides, we’re counting on him to help us escape after he reaches the fourth rank.”
The Holy Jade Immortal turned back to Shi Hao and said, “After you leave, you’ll find a small grey stone, perfectly round. You’ll know it when you see it. It’s placed on a pillar. Wait beside it until it falls on its own, and then take it with you.
“That stone is called the Jade Clarity Stone. Every day, you need to expose it to sunlight for half an hour and moonlight for half an hour. Even on cloudy or rainy days, it’s fine as long as you leave it outdoors. It will naturally absorb the essence of the sun and moon.
“It’s the medium for entering this Primordial Grotto Heaven. On the night of a full moon, focus your consciousness into the stone, and we will sense you and bring you here.”
The Enchanting Fire Witch giggled, “Don’t lose that Jade Clarity Stone. If you do, we won’t spare you when we get out.”
The Holy Jade Immortal added calmly, “Also, the flow of time in the Primordial Grotto Heaven is different from the outside world. It exists outside the three realms and beyond the five elements. You’ll understand after you leave.”
The Enchanting Fire Witch winked at him and laughed, “Your little wife and I will be waiting for you here. Don’t disappoint us.”
The Holy Jade Immortal said coldly, “Even if we are both his wives, you can only be the junior wife.”
The Enchanting Fire Witch giggled, “That’s not for you to decide.”
The Holy Jade Immortal raised an eyebrow and snorted, “Nor is it for you to decide.”
Then, both of them stared at Shi Hao.
Startled, Shi Hao quickly bowed repeatedly to them, “My ladies, you decide, you decide…” He didn’t dare to get involved in their argument.
The Enchanting Fire Witch laughed, “Coward!”
The Holy Jade Immortal glanced at Shi Hao and said softly, “Let’s send him out.”
The two women rose into the air. The Holy Jade Immortal, her white clothes fluttering, was breathtakingly beautiful. The Enchanting Fire Witch was charming and alluring.
A chilling aura emanated from the Holy Jade Immortal, while flames flickered around the Enchanting Fire Witch.
They exchanged glances and then struck each other with full force. Icy energy and flames collided. Although Shi Hao now possessed the foundation of an eighth-rank martial artist, cultivating both Daoist and demonic arts, the earth-shattering power still made his scalp tingle.
A rift opened amidst the exploding energy. The Holy Jade Immortal and the Enchanting Fire Witch shouted simultaneously, “Go!”
Shi Hao channeled his energy and shot towards the spatial rift, just large enough for one person to pass through.
Shi Hao flew out of the black and white rift. The light vanished in a flash, and he landed in darkness.
He took a deep breath and waved his hand, a flame appearing in his palm.
By the light of the flame, he discovered he was in a mysterious underground palace.
Ye Zi Yin and Su Mei were gone. He saw bronze walls carved with mysterious patterns. In front of him was a stone platform with a pillar on it, and on the pillar was a round stone.
The stone was about the size of a pigeon egg, perfectly spherical.
Shi Hao knew this was the Jade Clarity Stone mentioned by the Holy Jade Immortal.
Using the flame in his hand, he stood before the platform and waited. After a short while, a soft click came from within the Jade Clarity Stone.
He didn’t know what the two women in the Primordial Grotto Heaven had done, but he saw the Jade Clarity Stone fall from the pillar.
Shi Hao quickly reached out and caught it. In his hand, the Jade Clarity Stone looked like an ordinary greyish-white pebble, but its perfectly round shape made it seem unique.
It was a strange impression, as if at first glance, one could tell that nothing else in the world could be so perfectly round.
The underground bronze palace began to shake.
Not daring to stay any longer, Shi Hao used the Soul Chasing Locking Steps, his figure flickering like a phantom, a mysterious flame trailing behind him as he sped away.
As soon as he emerged, torrential rain poured down. A bolt of lightning snaked across the sky, illuminating the night.
Shi Hao looked back and saw the mysterious bronze palace collapse, engulfed by cascading earth and stone.
As he ran, he wondered, “Why is it still night outside? Still raining?”
He had clearly spent many days in the Primordial Grotto Heaven, yet upon returning, it was the same familiar downpour, the same familiar night.
Lightning flashed across the sky, the rain poured down, and thunder rumbled.
A bolt of lightning struck from the sky, dazzling and bright, as if bringing unprecedented change to the darkness.
That fleeting brilliance illuminated the world—
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