If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1406 God’s will plays tricks on people
"It's the eyes. As soon as I saw the eyes, I knew it was my brother Liu Jiao!" Liu Ji explained.

Lu Wan and the others stared at the monster's eyes again.

Their pupils were not human at all; they were golden, as if cast from gold, with a black ring in the center, bright and full of pressure.

The bandit, whose internal strength was shallow, began to have difficulty breathing after making eye contact with him.

“Judging from their eyes, there was no hostility, they were very friendly and familiar!” Seeing the doubt on their faces, Liu Ji emphasized again.

At this moment, Lü Zhi also used her lightness skill to run up from the foot of the mountain. After staring at the monster for a while, she nodded and said, "It is indeed my uncle Liu Jiao. Uncle, what happened to you? How did you turn into an eagle demon?"

"Sister-in-law, I only ate a few fruits." Eagle Demon Liu Jiao said, feeling wronged and confused. "Tonight, I meditated and practiced my Qi in the training room behind the house, cultivating the 'Seventy-Two Divine Powers of Earthly Fiends' that my third brother taught me."

My talent is too poor; of the seventy-two supernatural powers, I can only cultivate the 'Yin Shen Chapter'.

At that time, I was cultivating to a critical moment. For the first time, I had my mind leave my body and saw a divine light flashing in the corner of the west wall, and a figure practicing a very skillful sword technique.

Curious, I immediately floated over to investigate. Sure enough, I found the treasure behind the rock: a vine growing in a crevice behind the stone wall, bearing a cluster of dark green fruit.

The aroma was so enticing that I couldn't resist picking one and swallowing it.

As he said this, a look of reminiscence and rapture appeared on his golden eagle-like face, and he even smacked his lips a few times involuntarily.

"It's my fault for being greedy, and also because the fairy fruit tasted too good. After eating one, I couldn't help but pick a second one. In the end, after finishing the whole bunch of fruit, I felt dizzy, and my spirit 'whooshed' back into my body."

A surge of heat erupted from his sea of ​​consciousness, first flowing into his heart and then spreading to his limbs and bones.

Feathers sprouted from his back, his arms turned into wings, and he became a monster.

The ecstasy on his face vanished, replaced by confusion and regret.

Peng Yue's eyes showed envy as he laughed, "Congratulations, Brother Liu Jiao! You've encountered a divine opportunity! Although your appearance has changed, you are an extraordinary person with extraordinary phenomena. Compared to supernatural powers and immortal techniques, appearance is not important at all."

Lu Wan suddenly realized what was going on and went over to pat Liu Jiao's wings. "Fourth brother, you are truly blessed! We didn't even notice the fairy fruit growing in the cracks of the rocks, but you found it as soon as you arrived."

Isn't this a twist of fate?

“But I’ve become a monster,” Liu Jiao said.

Liu Ji suddenly remembered something and quickly asked, "Did you destroy the training room inside?"

Liu Jiao shook his head.

Liu Ji immediately led his men into the cave and back to the innermost training room.

The training room is not for practicing external martial arts.

Absolute quiet and safety are required when practicing Qi cultivation and meditation. Moreover, as a "star deity" that corresponds to the celestial stars above and unites with the earth's spirit below, the speed of Qi cultivation is faster when it is inside the mountain and interacts with the earth's veins.

During his time in Mangdang Mountain, Liu Ji did not master the divine arts, but his internal strength increased extremely rapidly.

"Brother Ji, should we chisel through the rock wall and take a look?"

Lu Wan stared at the corner of the wall that Liu Jiao had mentioned, but saw nothing unusual.

Liu Ji looked around and asked, "Have you sensed anything?"

Everyone, including Peng Yue, shook their heads.

"Go ahead and chisel, but be careful not to spoil the immortal fruit inside," Liu Ji said.

Everyone worked enthusiastically, carving a pit two or three zhang deep into the cave wall, but still no cracks or immortal fruit appeared.

“It’s a bit deep, at least five zhang deep,” Liu Jiao shouted from behind.

"You were able to discover something unusual even at such a deep depth; you are truly blessed with good fortune, brother," Peng Yue exclaimed.

After chiseling another three or four zhang (approximately 10-12 meters), the group indeed found a crevice in the rock.

The crevice was about the thickness of a foot, winding and twisting, and very irregular, but no fairy fruit was found inside.

"Not even a fairy vine?" Liu Jiao asked in surprise. "That's impossible. I only picked a bunch of fruit and a dark green fairy vine with leaves that looked like eagle claws and vines as thick as my little finger."

“There’s nothing there.” Lu Wan brought her nose close and took a few breaths. “There’s only an earthy smell, not even a hint of fruit.”

"I'm not lying to you, really," Liu Jiao said anxiously.

Peng Yue patted his wings and comforted him, "You've become like this, so we definitely believe what you say."

There must have been a magical vine here originally.

But the divine fruit possesses a spirit, and only those with the right destiny can see it. We are not fortunate enough to witness this divine object.

"This location." Liu Ji stared at the newly dug stone pit, estimating its distance from the "preaching stone platform" outside, and vaguely made a guess.

"We've been working on this all night, everyone's exhausted. Let's go back and rest. Tomorrow at dawn, we'll take Liu Jiao to Baiyun Water Marsh. There are many extraordinary people there; perhaps we can find something out," he said.

Although everyone was very interested in Liu Jiao's mutation and the immortal fruit, they were indeed quite tired after working until two or three in the morning.

Everyone then returned to their respective caves, and Liu Ji and Lü Zhi also returned to the small cave inside.

"Honey, have you discovered something?"

After everyone else had left, Lü Zhi lay on her pillow and asked quietly.

Liu Ji hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "The secret chamber where the old Taoist Wuyazi meditated and cultivated back then seems to be in that location. I remember there were indeed vines growing in the corner back then."

Later, the old Taoist priest left, using his great supernatural powers to reseal the secret chamber, transforming it into a solid mountain.

"Did you ask the abbot at the time what the Immortal Vine was?" Lü Zhi asked.

“Back then, I just thought it was an ordinary spiritual herb,” Liu Ji said.

Lu Zhi frowned and pondered, "We still need to ask the Taoist priest about this. If Fourth Brother returns to the village looking like this, he will definitely terrify the neighbors and be beaten to death by the county magistrate and his men."

Liu Ji said, "Haven't you heard the story of Lei Zhenzi? Swallowing immortal fruits and having one's body mutate is all too common in the Qi Refining circle."

People like my brother are considered handsome and dashing.

Look at his golden wings, golden face, and golden eyes—how majestic he is!

With such a fierce general on the battlefield, I guarantee... Hmm, I'll give his abilities a good test tomorrow morning.

Judging by the terrifyingly thick demonic aura emanating from him, he might just be another 'Lei Zhenzi' (a legendary figure known for his demonic possession).

At this point, his eyes brightened, and his face was full of anticipation.

Lü Zhi said calmly, "If you had the identity of King Wen, the people of Pei County would surely praise the Liu family for producing a 'Golden Eagle.'"

But you're just a bandit; people will only say the Liu family has produced a prodigy.

Liu Ji became irritated again and turned his back to her, ignoring her.

Lü Zhi pinched him a few more times, but he still pretended to be dead. She could only blow out the oil lamp and lie down sullenly.

After dozing off for a while, Liu Ji suddenly woke up with a start. He looked around and saw that it was still dark and nighttime.

His expression changed several times, but he still slipped on his shoes and quietly slipped out of the cave, using his lightness skill to leap towards the mountaintop.

Upon reaching the mountaintop, at the very spot where the old Taoist Wuyazi had burned the tortoise shell that day, he indeed saw a familiar figure from behind.

"Teacher Wuyazi, you, you're really here? Am I dreaming?" Liu Ji rubbed his eyes hard, his voice choked with emotion.

When he lowered his hand, his eyes were indeed red.

Uh, it got rubbed red.

Although he was somewhat surprised, it wasn't entirely unexpected. This mountain peak corresponded to his natal star, and as long as he stayed on the mountain, he could quickly enter a state of "communication with heaven and man," which would not only increase his Qi cultivation efficiency and enlightenment effect tenfold, but also make his perception exceptionally sharp, and he would easily be inspired by sudden moods.

Even when I was lying in bed asleep, I could still feel something.

Upon reaching the mountaintop, we indeed encountered the old Taoist Wuyazi.

"You've unearthed the 'Pengjing Fruit'?" Wu Yazi turned around and asked calmly.

"What Pengjing Fruit?" Liu Ji paused for a moment before saying thoughtfully, "Teacher, are you talking about the immortal fruit that my brother Liu Jiao found in a crack in a rock?"

Wu Yazi said, "The fruit looks quite like the eyes of a roc, hence it is called the Pengjing Fruit."

You helped me overcome the heavenly tribulation back then, but now that the heavenly tribulation is over, another human tribulation is coming.

An ancient roc that has lived for millions of years, an iron tortoise, and a golden immortal.

Do you still remember?
The Iron Turtle and the Golden Immortal were killed, and you even shaved off the Iron Turtle's flesh and smoked it into preserved meat.

Do you know what became of that ancient roc?

Liu Ji said, "We did cut off the iron turtle meat, and the turtle shell was even burned into a magical artifact by the teacher."

They didn't find the roc, only a few feathers, sharper and stronger than a sword.

Wu Yazi said, "I took the demon core and some of the heart's blood from Dapeng, and I plan to use it to refine the legendary magic weapon of the Investiture of the Gods - the Five Fires and Seven Birds Fan!"

Some of the essence and blood, along with the Great Roc Elixir Qi, were discarded as impurities in a corner.

Unexpectedly, they resonated with the sword intent I left on the stone wall, gained sentience, and grew into an 'acquired spiritual root'.

At that time, she imitated Tianpeng's divine power and created her own "Tianpeng Sword Technique", and even cultivated it to the level of "Sword Intent Transformation into Spirit".

The fact that they already possess the "Heavenly Roc Spirit Body" demonstrates just how powerful and spiritual their sword intent is.

The spiritual sword intent lingered on the stone wall, and drawing upon the essence of the Kunpeng that she had willingly given up, it transformed into a celestial vine.

Given the swordsmanship level of Tianpeng Spirit Body and the quality of her blood essence, it is not an exaggeration to call her an acquired spiritual root.

"However, when I left, I pulled out the entire immortal vine and even sealed up the stone cave."

Completely unexpectedly, just two years later, it sprouted again out of nowhere and even produced a string of Pengjing fruits.

At this point, Wu Yazi couldn't help but sigh with emotion, his expression becoming very complicated and conflicted.

Liu Ji asked, "What are the benefits and drawbacks of consuming the Pengjing Fruit? You've met my fourth brother, Liu Jiao. He was a fine young man, but now he's turned into a monster like the Golden Eagle Demon King."

Moreover, his body is filled with demonic energy, making him an easy target for Taoist priests who might mistake him for a monster and kill him.

Wu Yazi pondered for a moment and said, "You must not reveal a single word of what I told you tonight, otherwise you will be in big trouble, I will be in small trouble, and the Central Plains of China may also face a catastrophe."

Liu Ji was horrified. "It's just a string of Pengjing Fruits, how could it have come to this?"

Wu Yazi said solemnly, "Do you know the origin of Tianpeng, whose inner core I took that day?"

“Having cultivated for millions of years, he must be a top-tier demon king,” Liu Ji said.

"Have you heard of Kunpeng, the demon master of the Northern Sea?" Wu Yazi asked.

Liu Ji shook his head, "I've only read Zhuangzi's 'There is a fish in the Northern Sea'."

Wu Yazi said, "In the beginning of time, the stars in the sky had their own consciousness. They could wink at you, smile at you, and talk to you."

They were the first generation of 'Heavenly Demons'.

They established a Heavenly Court in the sky, and the prime minister of the demon race's Heavenly Court was the demon master Kunpeng.

The roc whose demon core I took is a disciple of the Demon Master.

Liu Ji's face paled, and he forced back his panic as he asked, "If the Demon Master Kunpeng has lived this long, wouldn't he possess unparalleled supernatural powers and boundless magic?"

Wu Yazi said, "With a flap of his wings, he can lift the entire continent of Kyushu into the sky, and fly to the sun."

Even if he does nothing but spread his wings and block out the sunlight, he can plunge the land of China into eternal night.

Liu Ji's legs trembled. "Daoist Wuyazi, how could you have offended such a powerful demon?"

Wu Yazi noticed that he had unconsciously changed how he addressed others.

"I am a powerful figure in the Xuanmen sect, and it is only natural that I am irreconcilably opposed to demons and monsters."

—Aren't you a nobody who doesn't belong in the mainstream?
Liu Ji muttered to himself, but his mind calmed down a bit, and he asked again, "Can my fourth brother, Liu Jiao, transform back into human form?"

Wu Yazi pondered for a moment and said, "The best way to deal with him is to kill him immediately and let him reincarnate."

Liu Ji was horrified and cried out, "Teacher, are you going to kill my brother? He was one of the 108 heroes of Pei County, helping you set up the immortal formation and fight against powerful enemies. He was your disciple!"

Wu Yazi sighed, "You heard him say that he took the Pengjing Fruit in a mental state. From his soul to his bloodline, he was corrupted by demonic energy."

Liu Ji immediately said, "But he remained rational and calm throughout, and his mind was not corrupted by the demonic energy."

Wu Yazi said, "He didn't use evil methods to directly fuse with the essence blood of the Great Roc. He consumed immortal fruits, which are true acquired spiritual roots!"
It's not much different from Lei Zhenzi who swallowed Lei Xing.

The great god Lei Zhenzi was the reincarnation of the innate thunder spirit, and Lei Xing helped him complete his transformation and return to his true nature.

Liu Jiao took the Pengjing Fruit, which changed his essence, but his true nature remained unchanged.

If there is no threat from the Northern Sea, taking the Pengjing Fruit will only bring benefits and no harm.

Who knows, some powerful deity might even recognize his extraordinary talent and take him in as a demon-suppressing general or something similar.

Liu Ji asked, "What threat is there in the Northern Sea? It wasn't Liu Jiao who took the demon core, it was you, Daoist! If Demon Master Kunpeng wants revenge, shouldn't he be looking for you?"

Wu Yazi said, "I don't mind or worry that Kunpeng is seeking revenge on me. Your brother becoming an 'eagle demon' is no problem for me at all."

But if the demon god of the Beiming Kunpeng clan discovers your brother, he will definitely kidnap him.

They might bring him back to the Northern Sea and nurture him carefully, treating him as one of their own; more likely, they would skin him alive and refine his essence for their own use.

If he were to be reincarnated immediately, he would appear to be dead, but in reality, he would have escaped a calamity.

That's utter nonsense.

According to her original plan, she did not intend to see Liu Ji again for at least six months. Firstly, they had just met last year after the New Year, and a new "fate" had not yet arrived; secondly, she found that Liu Ji had been in a state of dormancy for the past two years, and it would be difficult for him to rise to prominence.

Without achieving fame and fortune, his "Old Man's Joy" is unlikely to achieve significant breakthroughs.

Why not wait two years, until Liu Ji becomes successful, and then she can help him with a major upgrade?

The reason she suddenly came tonight is that after Liu Jiao discovered and consumed the "Pengjing Fruit," she, who was far away in Handan County reconstructing the earth's veins, immediately felt a strong sense of crisis.

Using her connection to Pengjing Fruit, she managed to pinpoint the source of the crisis with some effort.

Upon arriving at Mangdang Mountain, she immediately understood why she felt a sense of crisis: the Kunpeng Digital Party had been searching for people with Kunpeng bloodlines in the Central Plains, and once Liu Ji rose to power, Liu Jiao would definitely come into the Kunpeng Digital Party's sights.

If the demon master Kunpeng knew about Liu Jiao, he would surely be able to deduce the true nature of the "Peng Eye Fruit": someone deliberately cut off Kunpeng's essence blood!

However, the identity of "Wu Yazi" could not be hidden from the demon master.

—Yu Fengxian cut off the essence blood of Kunpeng!

This single message alone can resolve many of the Demon Master's doubts.

Wouldn't that put her in danger?
—Alas, man proposes, God disposes. I had clearly uprooted the Immortal Vine, yet Liu Jiao still managed to find the Peng Eye Fruit. Is this fate?

Is Heaven determined to force me to clash head-on with the demon master Kunpeng?
(End of this chapter)