Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

However, Gu Yang's next move instantly dispelled all of Lin Zhu's doubts.

A glint flashed in Gu Yang's scarlet demonic eyes, and with a condescending expression that seemed to say "I understand you," he spoke first.

"Young man, I can see that you are quite talented. It is truly remarkable that you have been chased to this point by the Buddhist sect."

"Alright, I'll make a deal with you."

He flipped his hand, and a fist-sized, dark blue inner core appeared in his palm, radiating immense demonic power and a chilling aura. The strength of that aura was at the level of a Great Luo Golden Immortal!

"This is the demon core of the Northern Dark Ice Dragon, containing its life's cultivation and icy essence, which is a rare tonic even for a Great Luo Golden Immortal."

Gu Yang waved the demon core in his hand, his tone seductive.

"Tell me exactly where Jin Chanzi, who possesses the merits of ten lifetimes, is right now, and this demon core will be yours!"

Lin Zhu.

"!!!"

He almost burst out laughing! This old devil not only believed it, but actually offered tribute?!
Lin Zhu suppressed his inner rage and a sense of absurdity, but tried his best to maintain an expression of being "overwhelmed by a huge temptation" and "struggling internally."

His eyes "greedily" swept over the priceless Great Luo Demon Core, his Adam's apple "struggled" to move, and his lips trembled as if he were having a fierce internal struggle.

After a long pause, as if he had finally made up his mind, but with great reluctance and a sense of risk, he extended a finger and said in a low, dry voice.

"...We need to...we need to pay more."

Gu Yang didn't even frown, as if he had expected this. With a flick of his other hand, another Great Luo Demon Core, radiating a blazing fiery aura and as red as blood, appeared in his palm! "Add another Demon Core from the Blazing Golden-Eyed Beast! Is that enough? Kid, don't be greedy!"

Lin Zhu's eyes lit up instantly. With lightning speed, he grabbed the two demon cores that were emitting terrifying energy fluctuations and stuffed them into his pocket. His movements were so fast that even Gu Yang was stunned for a moment.

Immediately, Lin Zhu's face quickly changed to an expression of "pain" and "huge loss," and he lowered his voice and spoke very quickly.

"Jinshan Temple! Jinshan Temple is located within the territory of the Great Tang Dynasty in the Southern Continent!"
He's a little monk now, named Jiang Liuer! Remember, Jinshan Temple! Go there quickly!

After he finished speaking, he looked around warily, as if he had revealed a huge secret.

“Jinshan Temple… Jiang Liuer…” Gu Yang murmured, repeating the two names, his scarlet demonic eyes bursting with uncontrollable ecstasy and shock!
He never expected that this seemingly terrified kid would actually know such a specific and crucial secret! It was like an unexpected windfall, a huge pie falling into his lap!
Good! Very good!
Lin Zhu, you really know how to read the room!

Gu Yang suppressed his excitement and looked at Lin Zhu with eyes full of "appreciation" and "you have a bright future".

"I have noted your contribution! When my lord breaks the seal, I will certainly recommend you for credit! You will certainly receive your due reward!"

Lin Zhu immediately bowed, seemingly flattered, with a grateful smile on her face.

"Thank you so much, senior! Thank you for your guidance!"

Then, as if he remembered something, he quickly and "kindly" reminded him.

"However, senior, Jinshan Temple may seem ordinary, but it may actually be secretly protected by powerful Buddhist figures. You... you must be careful when you act!"

"Hmph! A mere guard, how dare you stop me?!"

Gu Yang was bursting with confidence and brimming with pride, as if Jin Chanzi was already his for the taking.

"You may wait here, or find a safe place to hide! I will be right back!"

Before he finished speaking, his demonic energy erupted, transforming into a jet-black demonic rainbow that tore through space and hurtled towards the Southern Continent at an astonishing speed, instantly disappearing into the horizon.

Only when Gu Yang's aura completely disappeared from his perception range did Lin Zhu finally breathe a long, genuine sigh of relief and straighten his back.

"Phew...this old devil...is too naive (easy to fool)!"

Lin Zhu couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle. He himself thought his performance just now was incredibly fake, but he never expected Gu Yang to believe it so readily and even offer him two generous gifts! This was more outrageous than a pie falling from the sky!
He weighed the two heavy, terrifyingly powerful demon cores in his arms, feeling as if he were dreaming.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for completing the hidden mission, "Shifting the Blame!" You have successfully guided the demonic master Gu Yang to target Jinshan Temple (Jin Chanzi).]

[Task Rating: SSS! (Achieve the objective at extremely low cost and obtain abundant additional resources)]

[Task rewards are being distributed...]

[Reward 1: One hundred million years of pure cultivation!]

[Reward Two: The Path to Restoring the God-Slaying Spear's Origin (Demon Energy Tempering Chapter)!]

As the system notification faded, a vast, pure, and boundless magical power, as immeasurable as a galaxy, surged into Lin Zhu's limbs and bones without warning! This power was so immense yet gentle, rapidly merging into his own torrent of magical power, propelling his cultivation level upwards at a visible speed! The foundation of his late-stage Great Luo Golden Immortal realm was rapidly solidified, even faintly touching the threshold of Great Perfection! This infusion of 100 million years of cultivation saved him countless millennia of arduous training!
At the same time, the profound method of using demonic energy to temper and repair the God-Slaying Spear's origin and gradually restore its peak power was also clearly imprinted deep in his mind!
Lin Zhu was utterly shocked, instantly overwhelmed by this immense joy!
He immediately immersed his divine sense into his sea of ​​consciousness, carefully comprehending the "Demon Qi Tempering Chapter." A moment later, his eyes erupted with an uncontrollable light of wild joy!
"So that's how it is! So that's how it is! The essence of the God-Slaying Spear is forged from endless demonic energy! The most direct way to restore its original power is to devour a massive amount of pure demonic energy! This demonic energy cave in the South China Sea Eye... is simply a sacred place for the God-Slaying Spear to recover!"

Lin Zhu was so excited she almost jumped up.

He could almost see the God-Slaying Spear devouring everything in the Demon Cave, its demonic runes reviving, and its ferocious power shaking the three realms!
He suppressed the urge to rush into the demon's lair and, with a flash, returned to the area where Fairy Ni Chang was undergoing her tribulation. At this moment, the tribulation clouds had dissipated, and a rich aura of immortal energy remained in the world.

The fairy in the rainbow robes was enveloped in a powerful aura that was several times stronger than before. Her fairy-like figure was ethereal, and her temperament was even more otherworldly. She had successfully advanced to the Great Luo Golden Immortal!
Xiao Qiong was excitedly circling around Fairy Ni Chang. Seeing Lin Zhu return, the two of them came to greet her.

"Master!"

The Fairy of Rainbow Robes' beautiful eyes were filled with joy and affection, but then she sensed the lingering aura of intense battle on Lin Zhu's body, as well as the still-lingering ferocity of the God-Slaying Spear. Her pretty face changed slightly, and she asked with concern.

"Just now... just now that overwhelming demonic energy and terrifying fluctuations... and that Buddhist expert... are you alright?" Lin Zhu smiled easily, his tone as casual as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"It's nothing. There was just some fool who came along. His name was Weituo Bodhisattva, but I've already taken care of him."

"Wei...Weituo Bodhisattva?!"

The Fairy of Rainbow Robes paled instantly, her beautiful eyes widening in disbelief and shock! She knew all too well the status and power of Bodhisattva Weituo in Buddhism! He was a ruthless figure who had achieved physical sainthood during the Investiture of the Gods era, a top-tier existence at the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm! And yet… he had been… defeated by her own husband?!
Seeing the utterly shocked expression on Fairy Ni Chang's face, Lin Zhu smiled confidently, patted her shoulder, and said calmly.

"Don't worry, there aren't many things in the Great Luo Golden Immortal Realm that can pose a threat to me now."

The powerful confidence in those words captivated Fairy Ni Chang, and her gaze toward Lin Zhu was filled with admiration and pride.

"Xiao Qiong, Ni Chang, wait here for a moment. I'm going to 'catch some fish' in that demonic cave and then I'll be right back."

Lin Zhu pointed to the direction of the sea eye below, where demonic energy was still surging, and said in a relaxed tone.

"Fishing?"

Both Fairy Ni Chang and Xiao Qiong were stunned for a moment, not understanding why.

"Hmm, get some rations for our 'new buddy'."

Lin Zhu smiled mysteriously, shaking the ancient God-Slaying Spear in his hand. The newly formed black Heavenly Origin Demon Stone at the end of the spear flickered slightly.

Without another word, Lin Zhu's eyes narrowed, and his magical power surged, transforming into a stream of light. Without hesitation, he plunged headfirst into the deep, dark, ominous, and terrifying South China Sea Demonic Cave!
Although he knew that the terrifying old demon Gu Yang, who had been awakened once, or other unknown guardians might still be sleeping near that cave, he had to take the risk in order to repair the God-Slaying Spear as soon as possible and increase his strength to deal with the increasingly unbridled threat from the Western Heaven!
He's determined to steal the demonic energy!
Deep within the South China Sea eye, Lin Zhu's figure slid silently into the familiar, enormous cave entrance like a ghost.

Unlike the last time when he was chased and fled in a sorry state by Gu Yang, he now possesses the formidable cultivation of a late-stage, near-perfect Great Luo Golden Immortal. He holds the God-Slaying Spear, which has fused with the nascent form of the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone and is beginning to display its ferocious power. Furthermore, he is accompanied by treasures such as the Thirteen-Grade Merit Golden Lotus and the Auspicious Cloud Golden Lamp. His strength is now incomparable to what it was before.

However, Lin Zhu's face showed no sign of relief; instead, he appeared even more solemn and cautious than before.

He knew this place was dangerous, a notorious forbidden zone in the Three Realms! Even ordinary Quasi-Saints dared not easily set foot here, simply because in the deepest part of the cave slumbered (or perhaps sealed?) a being whose aura was unimaginably terrifying! The invisible pressure emanating from that being, even through layers of space and restrictions, still made Lin Zhu feel a tremor deep in his soul. It was a feeling of insignificance far beyond the Quasi-Saint realm, like facing a prehistoric behemoth!

"Better safe than sorry..." Lin Zhu silently recited in his heart, his magical power restrained to the extreme, like a reef merging into the darkness.

With a thought, a golden lamp with an ancient design, radiating a soft yet firm light, appeared above his head—the Auspicious Cloud Golden Lamp! The warm light, like the dawn breaking, struggled to dispel the viscous darkness within a hundred feet around him, and also slightly resisted the pervasive, chilling demonic energy that was trying to erode his primordial spirit.

"Hiss... such dense demonic energy!"

Lin Zhu frowned deeply. Compared to last time, the concentration of demonic energy here had increased more than tenfold! The dense dark energy, carrying the will of decay and chaos, surged like a tangible tide. Even his late-stage Grand Luo Golden Immortal primordial spirit, under the protection of the Auspicious Cloud Golden Lamp, still felt waves of stinging and pollution.

"It seems that the being deep within has changed its condition? Has more of it awakened, or has the leakage of demonic energy intensified?"

This suspicion heightened his alarm bells; he needed to find a suitable location to absorb demonic energy as soon as possible and ensure he could escape at any time!

Using the light of the auspicious golden lamp, he carefully traversed the rugged and grotesque cave walls, his divine sense scanning the surrounding environment like the most sophisticated radar, searching for a place where the demonic energy was most concentrated and pure, yet relatively open, and where he could easily use his escape techniques.

Just as he was passing by an underwater canyon filled with jagged rocks, a violent energy fluctuation and a ferocious roar caught his attention.

A sweep of divine sense revealed that at the bottom of the canyon, a dozen enormous, carp-like fish with ferocious dragon teeth and dark blue scales were engaged in a brutal battle of cannibalism!

They tore at each other, their sharp teeth easily ripping apart the scales of their own kind, their dark golden blood staining a small patch of sea red.

Each collision unleashed energy fluctuations comparable to those of a Taiyi Golden Immortal, making them exceptionally fierce!
"Dragon-toothed carp?"

Lin Zhu's eyes lit up, and he instantly recognized this extremely rare species that was already rare in the prehistoric era.

Legend has it that they are the product of failed dragon transformations, containing a complex yet powerful true dragon bloodline within them. Their flesh, bones, and tendons are all excellent materials for refining elixirs! They are especially effective in strengthening the physical body and enhancing qi and blood!

"It's like a pillow being delivered just when you're about to fall asleep!"

Lin Zhu was secretly delighted; this was truly an unexpected windfall!
He was worried about collecting rare and precious materials.

Without the slightest hesitation, he flashed and appeared above the group of bloodthirsty dragon-toothed carp as if by teleportation.

"Gentlemen, the sins of killing are too great, they are against the harmony of Heaven!"

Lin Zhu's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through the ripples and roars, carrying a hint of mockery.

He gave these ferocious beasts no time to react, and with a flick of his God-Slaying Spear!
hum!
A dark red spear light, condensed to its extreme, swept across silently like the scythe of death!

puff puff puff
More than a dozen dragon-toothed carp, whose strength was comparable to that of a Taiyi Golden Immortal and who were extremely ferocious, did not even have time to scream before their bodies stiffened in the same instant. Then, as if all their life force had been drained, their eyes dimmed, and their massive bodies slowly sank. Their souls and spirits were completely destroyed!

With a wave of his hand, Lin Zhu's magic power transformed into an invisible hand, scooping up all the corpses of the dozen or so dragon-tooth carp.

He nodded with satisfaction.

"The materials are good."

Immediately, the mind communication system space.

"Buzz!"

A massive bronze cauldron, with its ancient and imposing design, three legs, two handles, and its entire body engraved with ancient sacrificial patterns of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, plants, flowers, birds, fish, and insects, suddenly appeared, floating in the water and exuding a vast and boundless aura. This was the [Shennong Cauldron], which had been modified by the super-enhanced version of the system!
"go with!"

Lin Zhu threw the carcass of the dragon-toothed carp, along with some auxiliary spiritual herbs and mineral materials he had collected earlier, into the cauldron. (End of this chapter)