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

"Do not!!!"

Deep within the cave, the demon general's demonic thoughts let out a silent yet extremely mournful roar!
His eyes widened in horror, his very demonic soul trembled! "Stop! Stop now! You damned thief! That's the master's power! It's the foundation of the master's resurrection! Stop it!!!"

He attempted to manipulate the restrictions at the core of the cave to interfere, and tried to condense chains of demonic energy to attack Lin Zhu.

However, Lin Zhu's location was precisely on the edge of the area where the restrictive power was relatively weak, and where he could easily use the Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique to escape at any time! Those weak attacks were easily crushed and swallowed up by the huge devouring vortex formed by the God-Slaying Spear and the light of the Auspicious Cloud Golden Lamp before they even got within a hundred feet of Lin Zhu!
Lin Zhu was completely unaware of this.

He was completely focused on controlling the God-Slaying Spear, feeling the satisfying hum and rapidly increasing power emanating from the gun, his heart filled with a sense of accomplishment in "purifying the environment and benefiting humanity".

"Hmm...that's pretty efficient!"

He even hummed a tuneless little tune with amusement.

"The demonic energy here is much purer than elsewhere! It's so refreshing to inhale it!"

While "working," he also found a "spiritual pillar" for his noble behavior, muttering to himself.

"It's impossible for me to work, I'll never work in my life... Oh no, that's right."

Purifying demonic energy is something I can't stop doing, I can never stop doing it in this lifetime! The demonic energy here is so pure and plentiful, I absolutely love being here!

Deep within the cave, the demon general was nearly driven mad by Lin Zhu's off-key humming and "twisted logic"!
He was so anxious that he paced around in circles in the thick demonic energy, wishing he could bang his head against the hard cave wall (if he had a physical body)!

"Ahhh! Stop! Please stop! That's my master's manhood!"

The demon general's demonic thoughts emitted a desperate wail, filled with endless grief, indignation, and helplessness.

He had never felt so frustrated! He watched helplessly as his family's wealth was emptied out, and he couldn't stop it!
However, Lin Zhu was completely unaware of this. The anti-peeping restrictions at the core of the demonic cave were indeed incredibly powerful; even his divine sense could not penetrate the viscous demonic energy barrier to sense the presence inside and the silent roar.

He was immersed in the "righteous" cause of "eliminating harm for the people and purifying the South China Sea," and was carrying out his "special operation" with great enthusiasm: plundering demonic energy to strengthen the God-Slaying Spear!

The God-Slaying Spear greedily devoured everything, its dark light growing ever stronger. The Heavenly Origin Demon Stone at the spear's end slowly solidified and grew larger at a visible speed. The desperate wails from the depths of the cave became the background noise of this "purification operation" that no one knew about.

Holding the God-Slaying Spear, the tiny nascent Heavenly Origin Demon Stone at the spear's end now resembled the ignited core of a black hole, unleashing an unimaginable and terrifying suction force!
Whoosh!

Centered on the God-Slaying Spear, a massive vortex of demonic energy, over a hundred feet in diameter, spun wildly! The viscous, almost solidified demonic energy, like a black torrent bursting its banks, roared deafeningly as it was continuously swallowed up!

This area on the seabed of the South China Sea, which has been tainted by demonic energy caves for countless millennia, spans nearly a thousand miles in circumference. In particular, the core area, where the energy is so intense that even a Great Luo Golden Immortal would hesitate to approach and can almost condense into demonic crystals on its own, is undergoing earth-shattering changes!
Visibly, the all-encompassing, suffocating darkness was rapidly receding! The seawater, which had been pitch black, was gradually revealing a faint glimmer of light; the demonic pressure that had been constantly eroding the primordial spirit and bringing chaos and madness was also weakening at an alarming rate!

Less than half an hour had passed!

The demonic energy domain, which originally covered nearly a thousand miles and was as thick as ink, was forcibly "purified" by nearly half! Especially in the core area, the color of the "ink" that was so thick that it couldn't be dissolved was significantly lighter, as if it had been diluted several times! The entire sea area became much "clearer," and even the light of the Qingyun Golden Lamp could shine much farther!

"Uh... I can't suck anymore?"

Lin Zhu suddenly felt a suffocating, stagnant sensation coming from the God-Slaying Spear in his hand. The speed at which it devoured everything slowed abruptly and eventually stopped. The spear still shimmered with dark light, exuding a fierce and menacing aura, but the momentum of its devouring attack had vanished.

He focused intently on sensing the condition of the gun.

At the end of the spear, the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone, which was originally only the size of a grain of rice, had now swelled to the size of a fist! It was pitch black, incredibly deep, with mysterious demonic patterns flowing across its surface, emanating an extremely pure and soul-stirring aura of primal destruction! Its purity and concentration far exceeded what it had obtained by devouring Bodhisattva Weituo!
However, a hint of regret appeared on Lin Zhu's face.

"It has only recovered about 30% or 40% of its power? It is still far from the peak state when the Demon Ancestor was in charge." He stroked the gun barrel and could feel that the vast and abyss-like power inside the God-Slaying Gun was still mostly dormant and far from being fully restored.

Meanwhile, at the deepest part of the cave.

Those giant black and red eyes stared intently outside. When they saw that the God-Slaying Spear had finally stopped devouring and the vortex of demonic energy had dissipated, the Demon General's heart, which had almost jumped out of his chest (if he had one), finally settled back down a little.

"Stopped...stopped? He finally couldn't suck anymore?!"

The demon general's demonic thoughts were filled with the ecstasy of surviving a calamity and lingering fear.

"I knew it! Master's endless demonic energy is not so easily devoured! This ant was able to absorb half of it, which is already defying the heavens!"
He could never again…

However, before his ecstasy could fully blossom, it was abruptly extinguished by Lin Zhu's next action outside, turning into boundless despair and collapse!
Lin Zhu looked at the God-Slaying Spear in his hand, its light subdued and seemingly "full," and then at the surrounding demonic energy, which, although much thinner, was still immense. A flash of inspiration appeared in his eyes!
"Hey! The gun's full, but this stone... seems like it can still hold more?"

He grinned, having come up with a brilliant idea!

Under the utterly terrified gaze of the Demon General, Lin Zhu stretched out his finger and actually... actually carefully... pried off the newly formed, fist-sized, and incredibly precious "Heavenly Origin Demon Stone" from the tail of the God-Slaying Spear?!

"Do not!!!!"

Deep within the cave, the demon general's demonic thoughts emitted a silent yet piercing shriek powerful enough to tear the soul apart!
He felt like he was going crazy! This was even more unacceptable to him than absorbing demonic energy earlier!
Then, something even more devastating happened!

Lin Zhu held the Heavenly Origin Demon Stone, which had detached from the gun and was purely condensed from the essence of pure demonic energy, in his palm, and then... channeled his magic power into it once more!

hum!
Freed from the constraints of the God-Slaying Spear, this pure Heavenly Origin Demon Stone seemed to have broken free of some kind of restriction! The devouring power it unleashed, although not as enormous as the vortex it created when it was fused with the spear, seemed to be even more pure and greedy in its "craving" and "refining" of demonic energy!
call.!

The remaining demonic energy around them was once again drawn in, transforming into streams of black water that merrily (in the eyes of the demon general, this was extremely cruel) flowed toward the demonic stone that floated in Lin Zhu's palm, resembling a miniature black hole!
"Ah ah ah ah ah!!!"

The demon general has completely collapsed!
He tumbled and crashed wildly within the viscous core of demonic energy, his invisible demonic thoughts emitting heart-wrenching howls.

"Stop! Stop right now! You robber! Thief! Devil! Those belong to the master! They all belong to the master! How dare you?! How could you?!"

He even felt a strong urge to detonate the core demonic energy and perish together with this shameless thief! But when he thought of his master still sleeping and needing this last foundation, he forcibly suppressed this destructive impulse.

An immense sense of frustration and despair gnawed at his demonic soul like a venomous snake.

"Who...who can stop this bastard?! Gu Yang! Where the hell are you, you piece of trash?!"

The demon general's wails echoed deep within the empty demon cave, unanswered. Meanwhile, in the mortal realm, in Jiangzhou, Southern Jambudvipa, during the Tang Dynasty.

In the bustling market, people come and go, and the cries of vendors fill the air.

A tall, handsome man with a somewhat sinister look, dressed in an inconspicuous gray cloth, was strolling leisurely.

Gu Yang was tricked by Lin Zhu into coming to "work".

He held a string of bright red candied hawthorns coated with a glistening sugar shell in his hand, and was putting them into his mouth one by one.

The sweet, sour, and icy taste melted on his tongue, causing his scarlet demonic eyes to narrow slightly, and a nearly innocent, satisfied, and happy smile appeared on his handsome face.

"Hmm... the simple pleasures of everyday life, candied hawthorns... they do have some appeal."

He licked the sugar stains from the corner of his mouth with a contented smile, enjoying this rare moment of leisure.

Just then, a faint tremor, originating from the core of the distant South China Sea Demon Cave, seemed to want to penetrate endless space and reach his heart.

Gu Yang's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and a hint of doubt flashed deep within his scarlet demonic eyes.

"Hmm? The Demon Cave... seems a bit strange?"

The thought had barely formed when it was easily suppressed by his strong confidence and the sight of the candied hawthorns in front of him.

He chuckled, shook his head, and muttered to himself.

"Ha, worrying unnecessarily. The Demon Cave is located at the eye of the South China Sea, rarely visited by humans, protected by an endless natural barrier of demonic energy and ferocious beasts accumulated over millennia. Even quasi-saints dare not venture there lightly. Who would be so foolish as to go there? And who could possibly shake that primordial demonic energy? That kid named Lin Zhu, at most he's just stealing some peripheral demonic beast materials, nothing serious. As for the demonic energy... humph, let him absorb it, how much can he absorb? Not even a drop in the ocean!"

The more Gu Yang thought about it, the more he felt that his judgment was impeccable.

He took a bite of the last hawthorn, casually tossed the bamboo skewer aside, and his eyes gleamed with an excited yet dangerous light.

"Instead of worrying about that impregnable stronghold, we should think about the important matter at hand! We must intercept and kill Jin Chanzi, seize the merits of ten lifetimes, and deliver a fatal blow to the Western Paradise! That would be a truly monumental achievement!"

Thinking of the great achievement that was about to be achieved, Gu Yang's heart was burning with excitement.

"Unless a Quasi-Saint personally intervenes, how can a mere Great Luo Immortal stop me? Jin Chanzi... is doomed to die today!"

He could almost see himself carrying the head of the Golden Cicada (or the source of merit), returning to the demon's lair in glory, and receiving the highest reward from his master! This was far more exciting than the tedious task of "guarding the house"!

Filled with boundless confidence and the excitement of about to achieve unparalleled feats, Gu Yang's figure blurred, transforming into an inconspicuous streak of light, and flew towards Jinshan Temple, a mountain temple outside Jiangzhou City with flourishing incense and faint Buddhist light.

A moment later, Gu Yang's figure appeared in front of the ancient mountain gate of Jinshan Temple.

He concealed all his demonic energy, appearing like an ordinary pilgrim, but deep within his scarlet eyes surged a chilling killing intent.

He took a step, about to enter the temple gate.

"Amitabha."

An old and peaceful voice rang out.

Beside the mountain gate, an old monk with a simple robe, kind face, and white beard, holding a broom, appeared there at some point and was looking at him gently.

“Esteemed benefactor, the temple is currently closed to visitors due to unforeseen circumstances. Please come back another day to offer incense.”

Gu Yang paused, a playful smile curving his lips, his scarlet demonic eyes scanning the seemingly ordinary old monk up and down, his tone tinged with mockery.

"Oh? Old monk, cultivation is not easy. Your aura is harmonious and you have a hidden Buddha-light... I wonder how many years you have been cultivating here?"

The old monk clasped his hands together, lowered his eyes, and spoke in a calm voice.

"This old monk is dull-witted and has been living here with the ancient Buddha and the dim lamp for over two hundred years."

"More than two hundred years?"

Gu Yang seemed to have heard something extremely ridiculous, and suddenly burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha! More than two hundred years?! When I roamed the Three Realms, you probably hadn't even entered the cycle of reincarnation!"

The laughter abruptly stopped, and Gu Yang's eyes suddenly turned cold and sharp, like a venomous snake eyeing its prey. An invisible demonic aura quietly spread out, locking onto the old monk.

"Old monk, stop pretending! In front of me, do you think your meager skills can be hidden? Two hundred years of cultivation and you still have this kind of aura? What a joke!"

Gu Yang's voice carried an undeniable chilling authority.

"Reveal your true form! Let me see which Arhat or Bodhisattva the Western Paradise has sent to guard the Golden Cicada, who has accumulated ten lifetimes of merit!"

At the gate of Jinshan Temple, Elder Faming looked at the strange man who had suddenly launched an attack and whose demonic aura was overwhelming, and his kind face showed deep confusion.

“Why do you say that, benefactor? I have been a monk at Jinshan Temple since childhood, and have practiced for over two hundred years. I am a real person of flesh and blood, how could I not be human? You must have misunderstood.”

However, Gu Yang simply didn't bother to explain.

The wicked smile on his face was instantly replaced by a chilling killing intent, and his scarlet demonic eyes were like two blood-stained lanterns!
"Hmph! Misunderstanding? If I say so, then you are! Enough nonsense, today at Jinshan Temple, not a single chicken or dog will be spared! Prepare... to kill the Buddha!"

Gu Yang's voice was like a chilling wind from the depths of hell, carrying a cruelty that could freeze one's soul! As the last word "Buddha" fell, his demonic energy erupted, a tangible black tide that instantly engulfed the entire Jinshan Temple! A terrifying killing intent, like an invisible giant net, enveloped every inch of space. Every living being within the temple felt a shiver run down their spine, as if a great calamity was about to befall them! (End of Chapter)