Donghuang Ziji

Chapter 961 The Demon King, the Buddha, and the Demon's Calculation

“A quarter of an hour ago, a battle involving millions of people broke out between the Central Plains and the Southern Frontier. Now that place has become a place for refining magical treasures and poisons in the Southern Frontier.”

Chu Tai sat atop Mount Tai in the East, speaking to the Taoist Shou beside him, while simultaneously projecting the scene of the battle.

The sky was stained with blood, malevolent energy, and death energy, and thick, turbid clouds hung low, obscuring the last ray of sunlight.

On the vast plains, the fallen weapons lay endless, as were the mangled corpses; a terrifying aura permeated the surroundings.

Occasionally, there were piercing screams. A few soldiers who had survived by sheer luck tore at their own flesh, their fingernails cracking and their armor breaking apart. They scratched their bodies until their flesh was a bloody mess, revealing the bone, looking like vengeful ghosts. In the end, they committed suicide deep in the chaos.

Countless tiny poisonous insects roamed everywhere, corroding the earth and polluting the veins of the earth, causing pillars of flesh forged from the blood and flesh of countless corpses to stand on the earth, and countless insect eggs to appear in those twisted and broken corpses.

Nourished by flesh and blood, these insect eggs mature rapidly, hatch, and spread outwards.

Occasionally, it will clash with the remaining forces in other parts of the battlefield, causing countless bloodstains to erupt, and then giving birth to new Gu worms or new curses.

"Could a battle involving millions of people really create such a scene? Fellow Daoists, what are your thoughts?"

As he said this, Master Shou looked at the three people beside him.

All three have reached the third rank: Wude Daoist, a disciple sent by Hunyuan Zhenjun; the sword-bearing boy beside Yuli Zhenjun; and Madam Xiling, the representative of some immortal forces led by Da Guangming Palace.

Among them, the Five Virtues Taoist was surrounded by swirling radiance, with the energies of merit, virtue, morality, hidden virtue, and saintly virtue intertwined and forming a precious wheel hanging behind his head, indicating that his cultivation method was the "Wonderful Scripture of the Five Virtues of Heaven and Man Spoken by the Primordial True Lord" by the former Yuanming Taoist.

Unlike Yuanming Daoist, who achieved the status of a Celestial Being through the auspicious purple qi of blessings and warding off disasters, this Wude Daoist is one of the few who achieved the status of a Celestial Being through the Five Virtues Reincarnation Dao and steadily entered the third rank. In terms of the special nature of his supernatural powers, he is no less than many second-rank cultivators.

However, due to limitations imposed by his cultivation method and personality, he generally dislikes taking the lead and is unwilling to be the first to speak.

Secondly, the sword-bearing attendant beside True Lord Yu Li, though called an attendant, is actually equivalent to a personal disciple. His cultivation method is clearly derived from the changes of the Five Tribulations of Taiyuan. Combined with the sword sheath he holds, his killing power is in no way inferior to that of a second-grade cultivator.

However, his personality was clearly influenced by Jade Emperor. He would keep quiet as long as possible, always appearing ready to chop someone up, but never engaging in any in-depth discussions. What he did most was ask who he was supposed to chop up after everything was over.

As for the last one, Madam Xiling of Xu Chu, as one of the earliest Celestials from other continents to join Chu Tai's forces, she was also given considerable importance.

After Chu Tai achieved the first rank, the Great Bright Palace immediately increased its investment to help her stabilize her Dao fruition.

However, this Daoist Xiling was also a decisive person. She did not choose to rely entirely on the sect's help to achieve the third rank. Instead, she went to visit Chu Tai and asked him to take action. He used the Dao of Taiyi to further enhance her natal treasure, the Nine Yang Pearl, transforming it into the Ten Yang Extinction, from which the One Yang transformation was derived.

Finally, relying on the divine system of the Eastern Peak Dharma Realm, he completely crossed the threshold of the third rank.

In terms of cultivation level, Xi Ling has achieved the third rank twice, with the Nine Yang Pearl and the Divine Rank. Therefore, although she has just entered the third rank, her cultivation level is no less than that of those cultivators who have been in the third rank for thousands of years, making her one of the representatives of the immortal forces of many continents.

Because she had some influence in Chu Tai, many of the representatives chose to have Xi Ling participate in the exchanges.

Upon hearing the Daoist Shou's question, she was the first to speak: "The creation of the Gu Poison Hell by the deaths of millions of lives is probably the result of a secret technique from the Southern Frontier."

"Not necessarily. I also saw traces of the mystical demons of the heavens and the blood curse of witchcraft in it."

Before the Five Virtues Daoist finished speaking, the Sword-Bearing Boy said, "There are also traces of the Demon Lord's Great Dao. This place seems suitable for witchcraft, but in reality, it is entirely the result of interference from the Demon Lord's power."

Upon hearing this, Daoist Wude remained silent for a moment, then looked at Chu Tai and asked, "What do you think, senior?"

"I think the most terrifying thing about the Monarch Demon's system is its ability to assimilate the local population. Look at these three arrows."

Chu Tai raised his hand, and the illusory image of the River of Time appeared. He probed into it with his finger, and ripples appeared, reflecting the scene of the war three quarters of an hour ago. Then, three arrows were projected out: the Myriad Gu and Thousand Plague Arrow, the Thousand Demon Blood Curse Arrow, and the Secret Demon Bewitching Heart Arrow.

Among them, the Myriad Gu and Thousand Plague Arrows are the most typical demonic arrows derived from the Gu Dao. On the surface, it is just a bone arrow, but in reality, this arrow is a Gu nest. Inside the arrowhead, tens of thousands of tiny Gu eggs are imprisoned by a secret technique of void. They are of various kinds and hybrids, and all are nourished by a highly poisonous environment.

Once the arrow is released, it will explode regardless of whether it hits a living being or not. Immediately, countless venomous insects will spread outwards like smoke. When they encounter living beings, they will burrow into their flesh and skin. When they encounter magical restrictions, they will be transformed into vital energy. Even the strongest metal walls can be corroded and damaged. In a short time, dozens of miles of land will be turned into a plague-ridden wasteland.

Finally, it invades the earth's veins, follows their flow, and erodes everything around it.

The Thousand Demon Blood Curse Arrow is a cursed arrow that combines witchcraft and sorcery. In terms of appearance, it resembles a large amount of scabbed blood pieced together, and the twisted arrow body is covered with fine and strange patterns, which are formed by the convergence of a thousand kinds of magic spells.

As soon as the arrow leaves the bowstring, the power of the Thousand Demon Curse within it immediately disperses, transforming into countless fine needles of filthy blood that cover the land within a radius of dozens of miles, cursing and killing all living beings within it. Once successful, the corpses will transform into curse tools, scattering curses in all directions, ultimately turning the earth's veins into a convergence of curses.

The final Mystic Demon Bewitching Arrow is a Mystic Demon Arrow that combines the techniques of Gu refining. It refines thousands of Mystic Demons onto a single arrow. As soon as the arrow is shot, the Mystic Demons within will sense and lock onto the life force and soul of the creatures within the target area.

Whether or not the arrow hits its target, it will manifest demonic thoughts that corrupt living beings. These demonic thoughts can steal information, spy on memories, or be used as spellcasting tools by the Demon King's subordinates to control opponents or carry out curse killings.

After carefully observing the three, the Five Virtues Taoist's expression turned very ugly, especially the Thousand Demon Blood Curse Arrow, which gave him a dangerous feeling.

"This thing seems capable of breaking through my Five Virtues Law..."

Daoist Xiling stared at the Myriad Gu and Thousand Plague Arrows with a grim expression. On one hand, she disliked the things constructed by these insects, and on the other hand, the principles behind these arrows had a certain mutually restraining relationship with her Dao Fruit. If they were allowed to develop, they might be able to target her.

The last sword-wielding boy stared at the final Secret Demon Bewitching Arrow. This thing didn't have a restraining effect on him, but some of its aura reminded him of some unpleasant things.

Clearly, the three arrows Chu Tai brought were targeted, enough to draw the attention of the three men.

Of course, the one most targeted was Daoist Shou, as all three arrows could restrain his Dao Fruit to some extent.

After examining the arrows, the Taoist priest's face turned extremely ugly, and he cursed, "Which wicked creature came up with such a vicious method?"

“This is not even their most vicious method.”

The River of Time before Chu Tai rippled slightly again. Chu Tai pointed to one of the arrows and said, "The Path of the Demon King has given rise to countless demonic artifacts, but in this battle, this one is the most vicious. There are no superfluous variations in it; it is simply pure power."

Before the words were even finished, the arrow from the River of Time pierced the head of the Central Plains commander, then split open the light and shadow, heading straight for Chu Tai's brow. "Senior!"

The four people beside him raised their hands, and the longevity energy surged, with the rosy light rotating like a necklace of pearls; the five virtues changed and rotated, and the divine light transformed into layers of palaces; the sword's cry resounded through the void, driving the changes of the four symbols of yin and yang; one yang gave birth to all things, and the nine-layered sun wheel rolled up ten thousand golden flowers.

The four individuals combined their supernatural abilities and worked together perfectly to create layer upon layer of protective systems.

But before those arrows, all methods were meaningless; they were all pierced through as soon as they took shape.

“Fellow Daoist, if you are angry that I have spied on your methods, it is fine to attack me. But to use the technique of secretly transmitting calamity to them is going too far.”

Chu Tai flicked his finger, shattering the void. Layers upon layers of laws were constructed, and an invisible order transformed into chains that bound the arrows to the void.

At the same time, he stretched out one hand, his five fingers grasping, and drew out wisps of evil energy from the four people's bodies.

With a flick of his finger, flames danced at his fingertips, burning away the malevolent energy and then incinerating the arrow as well.

"how?"

Chu Tai looked at the four people. At this moment, their supernatural powers and spells had been broken by Jun Mo's Great Dao, and they also deeply felt Jun Mo's methods.

"If such a method of attacking across time and space can still have such power, then the power of the Demon King is indeed well-deserved."

The Taoist of Longevity recovered the fastest. Wisps of wondrous energy surged forth, completely repairing all the damage. He even helped the Taoist of Five Virtues recover from his injuries.

The Sword-Bearing Boy refused the help of the Longevity Daoist. The scabbard in his hand trembled as he continuously tempered his aura, suppressing the slight demonic power that clung to him, fighting against it, and using its power to sharpen his sword.

Xi Ling Dao Ren, however, displayed the most intense power. First, the Ten Yangs manifested, annihilating all phenomena. Then, the First Yang was born, allowing her to shed her old body and be reborn. However, her aura was somewhat unstable, indicating that she had not completely eliminated the influence of the residual power of the Demon Lord.

She said with some alarm, "Although I knew the difference between myself and a great power of the same rank, I never imagined the gap would be so great."

After speaking, he bowed to Chu Tai to express his gratitude.

"I was the one who invited you to watch, and it was already my fault that you got hurt. How can I have the face to accept your thanks?"

After Chu Tai avoided the situation, Daoist Xiling did not press the matter further, but continued to express her gratitude.

"Regardless of the reason, without His Majesty's help, we... I realized that I might not have been able to feel the power of a First-Rank True Monarch so clearly. This will be of great benefit to my future cultivation."

Upon hearing this, the Five Virtues Daoist standing nearby chimed in, "What Fellow Daoist Xiling said is quite right."

Then, the Taoist priest changed the subject and inquired about Chu Tai's future plans.

"I will continue to keep an eye on Junmo's plans, but the battles between the Eastern Lands and the Central Plains still require the attention of you and your fellow practitioners. If you encounter any intractable problems, you can summon some of my avatars."

After the four nodded, they left one by one, while Chu Tai stayed in place, the shattered River of Time in front of him reformed, and began to observe the battles in various places.

Interestingly, aside from the fierce conflicts between the Southern Frontier of the Demon King and the Eastern Lands where he resided and the Central Plains, the Western Regions occupied by the Buddha Demon also saw frequent clashes with the Central Plains.

But the battles between the Western Regions and the Central Plains are very interesting. After fighting once or twice, the Western Regions would always clash with the armies of the Southern Frontier.

Most of the time, the troops in southern Xinjiang would back down, but after a while, some conflicts arose.

When the conflict reaches a certain point, the Western Regions will back down, allowing the Southern Frontier to continue occupying the Central Plains.

This cycle repeated itself, resulting in a situation where the southern border and the western regions occasionally fought, but most of the time they worked together to gradually encroach on the border territories of the Central Plains.

"Has the Demon King retreated to this extent? But perhaps this change was also within the Demon King's calculations."

Chu Tai narrowed his eyes slightly, noticing that when the Western Regions retreated, it was always because the Southern Frontier couldn't retreat, or because it was a place very suitable for the Monarch Demon's plans. Even so, the Western Regions still wanted to gain some benefits from it from time to time, and they had to fight once or twice to obtain some benefits before leaving.

Therefore, in this battle of encroachment on the Central Plains by the Southern Frontier and the Western Regions, the Western Regions seized the vast majority of the benefits, at least 70%, or even close to 80%.

Southern Xinjiang only received less than 30% of the benefits, and even suffered some minor losses due to the depletion of its army and the battles with the Western Regions.

Even though the Western Regions had pushed them to this point, the Demon King did not attack the Demon Buddha again.

In order to alleviate this extreme imbalance in the distribution of benefits, the generals dispatched by the Demon King did not treat the soldiers as their subordinates or living people. They used various demonic cultivation methods on their soldiers.

Those armies gradually became the private armies of individual demonic warriors.

But Chu Tai also saw that when these generals distorted the essence of the soldiers and seized their power, the concept of [violence] in the Monarch Demon Dao Fruit had already been revealed. As this possession gradually stabilized, the concept of [conquest] was also introduced.

Ultimately, when they refined the soldiers, they also refined themselves into a part of the Demon Lord.

It can be said that at this point, Junmo has stopped pretending. He intends to gather all his subordinates and all his power under his own Dao Fruit, relying on concepts such as [class], [system], [violence], [conquest], and [distortion], and to gather all his power into one in a humane way.

"If the Demon King chooses to completely seize all power, then what does the Demon Buddha intend to do?"

Chu Tai could subtly sense the Three Buddhas and Paths system within the other's body, as well as the Pure Land and power left behind by the three Bodhisattvas.

He was even able to sense some of the Buddha's seal left to him by the Buddha.

Through these connections, Chu Tai could roughly sense that the Buddha and the Demon seemed to be constantly purifying themselves, trying to completely transform themselves into reality.

(End of this chapter)