Recruit demons to become heroes, hunt demons to become gods

Chapter 275 Trip Inside the Cave of Ten Thousand Demons

The safest way to travel is by burrowing underground, but the Minotaur, despite having the cultivation level of the late stage of Void Refinement, is not skilled in the art of burrowing underground.

Dou Eqing searched through all his storage rings but couldn't find a single high-level earth escape talisman.

He had no choice but to grit his teeth, practice the hand seals, and cram at the last minute, studying the magic techniques recorded in the "Mastering Slaves Manual" on the spot.

If one masters this magic, the demon servant will be able to control it as easily as an extension of its own arm, as if it were a natal magic weapon, perfectly in sync with its master's will.

At that time, Dou Eqing only needs to cast a spell to escape into the ground, and the black light around his body will envelop the Minotaur.

The two were inseparable, like mandarin ducks entering the water, as they traveled underground.

It took Dou Eqing two whole months to finally grasp the basics of the magic technique.

Every step forward thereafter was like rowing against the current, and it took half a year before he could be considered to have initially mastered this extraordinary art.

The minotaur was restless and agitated underground, often pounding his chest and shouting, "It's better to fight our way back to the Demon Cave than to be stuck in this dark and gloomy place!"

Its sound was like muffled thunder, causing rubble to fall from the cave walls.

He felt that Dou Eqing's actions were too cowardly and not the behavior of a real man.

"You're not afraid of death, are you? Just a bull monster, its death is nothing to regret! Dou Lang has a bright future ahead of him, how could he possibly die with you!"

Zhou Yutong wasn't going to tolerate the Minotaur and directly made sarcastic remarks about him.

Just as the Minotaur was about to argue, Dou Eqing suddenly struck, pointing a finger like lightning at his brow.

It was Dou Eqing who used magic to control the Minotaur, causing it to reveal its true bloodline form.

In an instant, demonic energy surged, and the burly body collapsed inch by inch like snow meeting the scorching sun, transforming in the blink of an eye into a completely black demonic bull.

With its four hooves treading on fire, horns like knives, and sulfurous white smoke spewing from its nostrils, this was the true form of the Kun Gu Demon Bull clan.

It turns out that the ancestors of this demon race obtained the "Bone-Melting Secret Technique," and the deeper their cultivation became, the more their appearance resembled that of humans.

The Minotaur's bloodline is pure, and he usually takes great pride in his half-human form, so much so that he only retains a pair of bull horns, while the rest of his body is no different from a human's.

"Moo—!"

The demon bull's eyes widened in fury, and its thunderous roar was barely out of its throat before Dou Eqing suppressed it with a flick of his sleeve.

Dou Eqing gently stroked the barbs on the bull's neck and said with a smile, "Old bull, don't be angry. After we obtain the ancient magic crystal, I'll take you to the Bone Abyss again. Who knows, we might find the lost 'True Understanding of Transformation' from your ancestors."

Having said that, he gracefully leaped onto the ox's back and beckoned to Zhou and Fu, saying, "Come here, you two fairies! I need to use his minor earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a type of magical ability) to help me travel!"

As the demonic bull struggled, its iron hooves plowed a three-zhang-long fiery trench in the cave floor, but Dou Eqing lightly touched its spine with his toe, causing it to kneel as if carrying a mountain.

At this point, Dou Eqing had almost complete control over the Demon Bull.

As Fu Renying leaped up, her skirt billowed out a phantom of a blue lotus, while Zhou Yutong transformed into a wisp of crimson smoke and drifted down onto the cow's back.

Then, he quickly used his earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a type of magical ability) to travel rapidly underground, carrying Zhou Yutong and the other two women a thousand meters below the surface.

This is equivalent to a Minotaur in the late stage of the Void Refinement realm using a minor supernatural power-level earth-遁术 (earth-遁术 is a type of magic that allows a person to escape quickly and for a longer period of time).

However, Dou Eqing was unaware that his actions alerted the demon leader to the unusual behavior of his people.

The demon leader of the Ten Thousand Demon Cave is outwardly known as the multi-armed, ghost-handed demon You, but in reality, the true leader is Kun Sou of the Kun Bone Demon Bull clan.

The demon You was merely Kun Sou's stand-in when facing human cultivators.

Kun Sou originally intended to return to the Ten Thousand Demon Cave, but due to the strange changes in the Minotaur, he suddenly received a message from the ancestor of the Kun Bone Demon Bull Clan, asking if anything had happened to his clansmen outside. This caused him to change his mind and decide to investigate the strange sensations brought by the Minotaur.

Just half an hour after Kun Sou left the entrance of the Ten Thousand Demon Cave, Dou Eqing and her group arrived.

When the four arrived at this point, their earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a type of magic that allows them to escape into the depths of the Ten Thousand Demon Cave) was no longer effective.

It turns out that the Ten Thousand Demon Cave is a world of its own, separated from the outside world. The only path leading to it is through the cave entrance.

Zhou Yutong and Fu Renying discussed with Dou Eqing how to get across the area. Dou Eqing said:
"You all just pretend to be human cultivators he captured. I'll hide myself."

Dou Eqing's plan is to conceal the truth, as long as Zhou Yutong and the other woman understand.

Zhou Yutong and Fu Renying exchanged a glance and immediately used their disguise skills to dress up in a very seductive and glamorous way, transforming themselves into two submissive female slaves as the bull-headed demon emerged from the ground.

Dou Eqing then vanished into the Ziwei Immortal Mansion in a flash, leaving no trace.

The minotaur strode confidently, leading the two men toward the cave entrance, shouting gruffly:
"These two human female cultivators are my newly acquired human female slaves. Take them inside to lay low for a while!"

Seeing his fierce appearance and the two women's meek demeanor, the demon guards dared not ask any further questions and immediately let him pass.

They had heard that the Minotaur was furious about being chased by powerful humans, and now they dared not provoke him.

The Minotaur snorted coldly and led the two into the Cave of Ten Thousand Demons.

The minotaur hated Dou Eqing for transforming him into a demonic bull. He made numerous advances towards Zhou Yutong and the other two women along the way, his lustful eyes glaring wide the entire time.

On one hand, he wanted to take revenge on Dou Eqing, but on the other hand, he was aroused by the beauty of Zhou Yutong and the other woman.

After all, this Minotaur was a born lecher, especially lustful human female cultivators.

Zhou Yutong had a fiery temper. She was repeatedly harassed by that demon and almost couldn't hold back her temper, but Fu Renying secretly pulled her sleeve to stop her each time.

After they had ventured a thousand miles into the Demon Cave, Dou Eqing emerged from the Purple Star Immortal Abode and appeared.

Zhou Yutong could no longer tolerate it and immediately lost her temper.

Seeing her raised eyebrows and cold glint in her eyes, and knowing that Dou Eqing had reappeared, the minotaur sheepishly stopped his shameless behavior.

Although they outwardly restrained themselves, how could they possibly stop their previous frivolous behavior?

Zhou Yutong turned to Dou Eqing, her slender finger pointing directly at the Minotaur:
"Dou Lang, quickly bring this fool back to his original form! Now that he has a human face, he's even more despicable than an uncivilized beast. Everyone says that pig demons are lustful after transforming, but who would have thought this blockhead would be even more audacious!"

She recounted in detail how the Minotaur had spoken frivolously and acted recklessly, her teeth chattering as she spoke with resentment.

Upon hearing this, Dou Eqing's expression suddenly darkened.

It's okay for subordinates to have some flaws, and most of their bad habits can be forgiven, but I can't tolerate them flirting with my women!

It must be known that a ruler must be extremely wary of subordinates committing this grave offense—if someone dares to flirt with the mistress today, they might very well plot against the ruler tomorrow. If this fellow is not severely punished today, he will surely become a scourge in the future.

Without answering, he made hand seals rapidly from his sleeves, his body surging with black energy, preparing to unleash his demon-suppressing secret technique.

Unfortunately, he had only just begun to master magic control, and due to emotional factors, he was unable to successfully perform magic control on his first attempt.

But the minotaur was terrified, and a chill ran down his spine.

He transformed into the form of a demonic bull, feeling not only ashamed but also experiencing a series of alarming signs deep within his blood, like needles piercing his bones, making him uneasy.

Upon careful consideration, he realized with alarm that if he maintained this state for a long time, his bloodline would gradually decline and even regress.

Even more terrifying is that if the clan finds out about this, the Kun Gu Demon Bull clan will definitely regard him as a traitor. At best, he will be expelled from the clan; at worst, the entire clan will hunt him down and kill him!
When he first took human form, he was unaware of the danger involved, but afterwards, the ancient will within his bloodline quietly emerged, like a whisper from his ancestors, warning him that this was a great taboo and must never be repeated.

The minotaur trembled, and two pools of turbid tears welled up in his copper bell-like eyes. He knelt down with a thud, his rough voice trembling with sobs:

"No, Master! Old Ox knows his mistake! From now on, he will surely refrain from lust and never dare to be disrespectful to the ladies again!"

He wasn't frightened by Dou Eqing, but rather by the warning given by the presence within his bloodline that filled him with fear.

Dou Eqing stood with his hands behind his back, his sword-like eyebrows slightly raised, and a meaningful, cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth:

"Considering this is your first offense..." Before the words were even finished, the minotaur was already trembling with anxiety, veins bulging on his forehead: "Master, please understand! This old bull was just a bit loose-lipped; I truly didn't dare to harbor any evil intentions!"

“Since that’s the case,” Dou Eqing’s eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he waved his right hand, “go and beg for their forgiveness. If there’s a next time—” His voice suddenly turned icy, like a chilling icicle, “all the old and new scores will be settled.”

The minotaur pounded his chest loudly, his horns trembling with excitement.

"Old Ox swears here and now! I will obey the mistresses' orders, even if it means tearing out my tendons and skinning me alive!"

As he spoke, he began to kowtow repeatedly, the sound of which made the ground tremble slightly.

The minotaur was hesitating when he suddenly heard Fu Renying giggle. Her eyes darted around as she approached.

"I've heard that many human cultivators seek to trade with you, so you must possess many treasures that we cultivators could use. Why don't you take them out and let us broaden our horizons?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yutong's eyes lit up, and the Purple Lightning Divine Hammer in her hand slammed into the ground with a "clang," sparking a three-foot-long burst of lightning.

Her eyebrows were raised sharply, making her look like a female bandit queen blocking the road:

"These stolen goods should be confiscated! Quickly hand over all the treasures to Dou Lang!"

As he spoke, the hammer crackled with electricity, giving the impression that he was about to start a fight at the slightest provocation.

Seeing this, Dou Eqing coughed lightly and stood with his hands behind his back:

"Wait a minute. I have always been fair in my rewards and punishments; how can I indiscriminately impose punishments?"

His gaze swept across the three of them like lightning.
"In my opinion, each of you should choose three items as compensation for his offense."

Dou Eqing stepped forward to mediate with an air of righteous indignation, lest Zhou Yutong actually fight the Minotaur.

After all, this place is already inside the Ten Thousand Demon Cave, and Zhou Yutong is no match for the Minotaur. She won't come out on top if they fight.

However, the Minotaur realized his own value in this situation. His copper-bell-like eyes darted around, and suddenly a realization dawned on him.

“Master, perhaps it would be better for me to keep some of these treasures for myself. These are tokens used in transactions between me and human cultivators, and I can use them to blackmail them into working for us in the future!”

The Minotaur spoke arrogantly to Dou Eqing.

As he spoke, he pulled out one gleaming treasure after another from his robes, his rough hands carefully stroking each object as if they were his most treasured possessions:

"This Demon-Locking Circle was given to me in exchange by a cultivator in the early stage of the Void Refinement realm who claimed to be surnamed Luo."

He exhaled two puffs of white breath from his nostrils and said smugly, "Look, this even has the Judgment Hall's seal engraved on it. It's a sixth-tier magic weapon specifically crafted to counter my demon race. That cultivator secretly passed this item around; if word gets out..."

The Minotaur gave a sinister smile, his large, copper-bell-shaped eyes gleaming with cunning.

He was absolutely right.

The Demon-Locking Circle is a sixth-tier magic weapon specifically designed to deal with demons. It was created by several sixth-tier weapon refiners under the special order of the Judgment Hall.

The Luo surname cultivator mentioned by the Minotaur is Luo Kui of the Demon Hunter Sect.

By handing over such a treasure to the demon race, Luo Kui's actions could be considered, to some extent, an act of betrayal against humanity.

If the decision to dismiss him is made, Luo Kui's fate will not be good.

Dou Eqing was very curious about what Luo Kui had traded to the Minotaur, given the huge risks involved in the transaction.

The Minotaur didn't say that the other party was Luo Kui, but Dou Eqing deduced from the Minotaur's various descriptions that the person who traded the Demon Lock Circle was Luo Kui.

Because Luo Kui was careless during his transaction with the Minotaur, although he did not reveal his name as Luo Kui and that he came from the Demon Hunter Sect, he did reveal his surname.

Dou Eqing immediately thought of Luo Kui based on the surname Luo, and then, based on the other descriptions of the Minotaur, he finally deduced that the person was Luo Kui.

The Minotaur then took out one by one the treasures he had obtained in exchange from human cultivators, and introduced which powerful human originally each treasure belonged to.

Just as Dou Eqing was about to ask a question, the Minotaur was already explaining the third treasure.

Dou Eqing sneered, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, interrupting the minotaur's rambling, and said meaningfully:
"What did Sect Leader Luo exchange for with you?"

The Minotaur was taken aback by these words. His large, bell-like eyes widened, and he said in a deep, gruff voice:

"What Sect Leader Luo? I don't know anyone like that."

Dou Eqing frowned slightly and tapped his knuckles lightly on the sixth-order Demon-Locking Circle, producing a crisp sound.

He flashed the shimmering black magic weapon before the minotaur's eyes and said in a deep voice:
"What kind of deal did you make with the original owner of this treasure?"

The minotaur grinned maliciously, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes, and said in a rough voice:
"I remember this matter clearly. I really got a great deal! That sixth-tier treasure, the Demon-Locking Ring, only cost me a female cultivator."

That female cultivator was just an add-on, and I haven't even had a chance to enjoy her yet, but that guy surnamed Luo seems quite interested in her. Heh, seeing how eager he is, I'll naturally raise the price!

As he spoke, his large, bell-like eyes darted around, and he rubbed his hands together smugly.
"Who would have thought this fellow would actually exchange it for the Demon-Locking Ring! If this were offered to the Demon Emperor..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly lowered his voice and let out a muffled, thunderous laugh: "Heh heh, Old Niu deserves some credit for that!"

As the demon got excited, veins bulged on his forehead, and he recounted in detail the scene of haggling with Luo Kui that day.

Whenever he got to a crucial point, he would deliberately drag out his words, and his two horns would tremble slightly as he spoke, clearly showing his extreme pride.

Dou Eqing then focused his interest on who the female cultivator Luo Kui had rescued in the deal would be, and hurriedly asked:
"How long ago did you make this deal? Do you know the female cultivator's name?"

"That happened a hundred years ago. I've forgotten her name, and I don't know if I asked her name back then. Since I hadn't yet enjoyed her life, I probably didn't have time to ask her name."

After some thought, the Minotaur said uncertainly.

Dou Eqing vaguely sensed the immense value of the Minotaur from the fact that Luo Kui had made a deal with him.

These values ​​are not the Minotaur's energy itself, but rather the value that can be exploited from trading with human cultivators.

If others make a deal with the Minotaur, causing him to expose Luo Kui's betrayal of humanity, it will be a huge blow to the Demon Hunter Sect.

By the same token, Dou Eqing could use the transactions between other cultivators and the Minotaur to threaten them and achieve his own goals.

With that thought, he put the matter of inquiring about the female cultivator that Luo Kui had rescued out of his mind.

Instead, he was thinking about how to use the sixth-order Demon Locking Circle to get Luo Kui to work for him, and how to maximize his benefits.

He pondered for a long time but couldn't find a clear answer, so he turned his gaze back to the Blazing Cave he wanted to plan.

"Are there any cultivators from the Blazing Cave willing to make a deal with you?"

He asked directly.

"I am not familiar with the various sects and factions of you human cultivators. Besides, they all try their best to conceal their identities when they make deals with me."

"I honestly don't remember which treasure came from the Flaming Cave cultivator you mentioned. By the way, I didn't say the Demon-Locking Circle belonged to Sect Master Luo. How did you know it was him?"

"Fine, you continue explaining the origin of the treasure, I'll make the judgment myself."

Dou Eqing did not answer the bull-headed demon's question, but let the other party continue to introduce the treasures he had obtained in the transaction.

Unfortunately, few of the subsequent treasures allowed Dou Eqing to deduce the cultivator's identity.

This makes it difficult to make use of these treasures.

It was already a difficult situation, otherwise, when the Minotaur was being chased, he might have used these treasures to blackmail those people into helping him escape.

Dou Eqing could only keep this matter to himself for the time being, waiting to find a better way to use it later.

He knew that if these things were fully utilized, they could play a huge role and even bring unexpected benefits.

If there are important cultivators from the Demon Hunter Sect and the Blazing Flame Cave among them, it could have an unexpected effect on his plans to target these two forces.

After all the treasures were introduced, Zhou Yutong and her companion selected their favorites from the Minotaur's various treasure collections.

So the four of them set off again, heading towards the location of the Ancient Demon Tower.

The ancient magic crystal that the Minotaur wants to obtain is inside the Ancient Demon Suppression Tower.

Legend has it that the Demon Suppression Tower is not only comparable to a celestial artifact, but also contains countless restrictions and mechanisms.

Only those who truly grasp the essence of demonic cultivation can enter smoothly. Human cultivators are unlikely to trigger the traps, while demons face a near-certain death if they enter.

The Demon Suppression Tower has nine floors, each covered with ancient runes and mysterious formations. These formations not only defend against external interference but also activate the sealed magic power within the tower, making the magic crystals inside even more difficult to obtain.

Furthermore, it is said that an ancient demon god is sealed at the top of the Demon Suppression Tower. The Demon Suppression Tower not only suppresses the demon god, but also extracts the demonic energy from the demon god's body.

Although the demon god has been suppressed for countless years, it remains vigorous and powerful. Only under certain celestial phenomena will the demon god's power weaken, and that is the best time to obtain the ancient magic crystal.

Ancient magic crystals are extremely precious to demon cultivators because the magic power they contain originates from this ancient demon god, giving the magic essence within the crystals the divinity of the demon god.

These magic crystals can not only greatly enhance the strength of demon cultivators, but also provide unexpected assistance at crucial moments when demons break through to higher levels.

Due to the divinity of the demon god, the demon crystal also has the ability to purify the demonic energy cultivated by demons, which is equivalent to a cultivator purifying the spiritual power within their body.

In addition, ancient magic crystals are an indispensable core material in the forging of high-level magic weapons. Their rarity and powerful effects make them expensive in the market, and have even triggered many fierce battles for them.

Dou Eqing and his group traveled in fits and starts, hiding and dodging, often only able to travel at night and rest during the day.

Moreover, the day and night cycle inside the Demon Cave is the opposite of the outside world; it is daytime outside the Demon Cave, but nighttime inside.

This is because there is no sun inside, only a demonic moon.

The light emitted by the Demon Moon was purple, and this purple light carried a mysterious and eerie aura, as if it could penetrate one's soul.

Unlike ordinary moonlight, it contained powerful magical energy, enveloping the entire environment in an unreal atmosphere.

Legend has it that this demonic moon was a projection of the demonic moon summoned from outside the Kunlun Realm by a demonic priest using a forbidden ritual. Its existence changed everything in the Ten Thousand Demon Cave, even distorting the passage of time.

The Demon Moon only appears in the sky above the Ten Thousand Demon Cave at night in the Kunlun Realm; it does not appear during the day.

The light of the Demon Moon is not only used for illumination, but is also as essential as air is to humans.

It contains magic and is the source of the demon's power.

Without the Demon Moon, demons are like people who lose their energy when they are tired; they struggle to cast spells and cannot even maintain basic cultivation.

Therefore, even if demons achieve great success in their cultivation, their activities will still follow the rhythm of the Demon Moon. Only when the Demon Moon rises can they unleash their strongest power and perform important rituals or cultivation.

Just as Dou Eqing and his party were about to arrive at the Demon Suppression Tower, the peace was shattered, and they were unknowingly surrounded by the demons.

The moment the Minotaur stepped into the territory of the Ten Thousand Demon Cave, he was probably already being watched by the demons.

This was a setup from beginning to end.

Although the Minotaur had the cultivation of the late stage of Void Refinement, it was still too strange that he could make Zhou Yutong and Fu Renying, two female cultivators at the Void Refinement stage, submit to him as slaves.

How could those old foxes of the demon race not be suspicious?
Not to mention that the fact that the Minotaur was secretly trading with human cultivators had long been noticed by the demon race's higher-ups.

It turns out that within the demon race, just like among humans, various factions are engaged in open and covert struggles, constantly undermining each other.

(End of this chapter)