Recruit demons to become heroes, hunt demons to become gods

Chapter 295 Surrounded by Enemies, the Holy Body Heals

On the edge of the battlefield between good and evil, there is a quiet valley that has been temporarily cleared out.

This place has been heavily fortified by the Sea Demon Cult, exuding a sinister aura yet carrying an eerie tranquility.

Inside a black jade palace at the heart of the valley, Dou Eqing sat cross-legged in the center of a spirit-gathering magic array. His face was still pale, and his aura fluctuated, sometimes as vast as the sea, sometimes as faint as a thread.

The wounds left by the Nine Yang Tribulation were far from ordinary; they were the backlash of the laws of the Great Dao, like a malignant tumor clinging to the bone, constantly eroding the origin of his sacred body and preventing the wounds from healing.

The leader of the Yangyang Sect, dressed in a black palace gown, stood in front of him. Her slender, jade-like fingers gently touched his brow. The pure and vast demonic energy at the peak of the Tribulation Transcending Realm flowed like a gentle stream, carefully guiding the violent and chaotic Six Yang Power within his body. A hint of weariness and heartache was visible between her brows.

"Cough cough."

Dou Eqing coughed up a few mouthfuls of blood mixed with golden light, slowly opened his eyes, and said in a hoarse voice, "Thank you for your help, Master."

Yang Yang withdrew her hand, sighed softly, and looked at him with complicated emotions in her beautiful eyes:
"You are undoubtedly practicing the Devouring Heaven Demon Art. This art was unique to my late husband, Kuanhai, and was never passed on to outsiders. Where did you obtain it from?"

There was no questioning in her voice, only deep reminiscence and a hint of expectation.

Dou Eqing's mind raced. He knew he absolutely could not reveal the secret of the Immeasurable Merit Pearl at this moment, nor could he lie and say that he had obtained it by chance. He could only fabricate a story that was seven parts true and three parts false.

His face showed just the right amount of bewilderment and weakness, and he smiled bitterly:
"Reporting to the Master, this junior is also unaware. This cultivation technique was obtained by chance in an ancient ruin after being guided by a strange bead in my early years. It is only an incomplete technique, and this junior has been practicing it by trial and error until now."

He deliberately pointed out the bead, which resembled the Boundless Merit Bead, and its "incompleteness," explaining both the possible connection to Kuan Hai and why its power might differ from the original, while also preventing the other party from asking for specific details.

Yang Yang stared at him for a moment, as if trying to discern the truth from his eyes.

In the end, the sharpness in her eyes softened into a hint of gentleness and regret: "It seems to be some kind of backup plan left by Kuan Hai back then, or perhaps it's fate. Since you were able to obtain this technique, you are destined to be with the Sea Demon Sect and with me."

She seemed to automatically find a reason for Dou Eqing's actions, and her affection for Dou extended to Dou's crows.

Of course, Yang Yang had her own personal reasons.

As far as she knew, the Devouring Demon Heavenly Art was very special. Unless the previous person who practiced this art was completely destroyed, no one else could truly practice the Devouring Demon Heavenly Art, let alone raise their cultivation to the Mahayana realm like Dou Eqing.

Yang Yang was indeed deeply in love with Kuan Hai. On the one hand, the two had accompanied each other for countless years; on the other hand, she had signed a "love contract" with Kuan Hai, which affected her.

Now that it is confirmed that Kuan Hai is dead, the emotional bond she was under has been lifted.

But she forgot that once someone breaks off the bond for her, she would unconsciously develop "love at first sight" for that person.

Unless she deliberately suppresses it and finds a way to remove the aftereffects of the [Affection Contract].

To some extent, this is equivalent to a transfer of emotional bond.

Yang Yang's current feelings for Dou Eqing are influenced by "love at first sight".

Without her own awareness, she subconsciously wanted to take Dou Eqing as her "male concubine".

This is also related to her psychology as the leader of a religion. For tens of thousands of years, she had been lonely and isolated at the top.

Of course, the "male concubine's" purpose was to possess Dou Eqing's Nine Yang Sacred Body, hoping to improve his own cultivation through dual cultivation with him, thereby breaking through the final bottleneck of the Tribulation Transcending Realm.

“The Dao injury on your body is extremely troublesome,” Yang Yang’s tone became solemn. “It cannot be healed by medicine or stone, but is an injury of the Great Dao. Ordinary pills or even immortal pills can only suppress it temporarily, but cannot eradicate it. Forcibly healing the injury may instead arouse the backlash of the residual power of the Dao Tribulation.”

Dou Eqing's heart sank: "Is there really no other way?"

"Have."

Yang Yang affirmed, looking intently at him, "The one who tied the knot must untie it. This injury was caused by your forced activation of the Nine Yang Tribulation, which you had not yet completed, damaging the essence of your Supreme Yang Sacred Body."

Only by making the Holy Body itself stronger, until it reaches perfection, can it devour and refine these remnants of Dao injuries on its own, and even turn misfortune into blessing, making its foundation even stronger than before!

She paused, then uttered the key point:

"You need to improve your cultivation, at least push your Sacred Body to the peak of the Mahayana stage, or even touch the threshold of the Tribulation Transcending stage! At that time, the Sacred Body will form its own cycle and be impervious to all laws, so this little Dao injury will naturally be nothing to worry about."

The pinnacle of Mahayana Buddhism!

A bitter smile appeared on Dou Eqing's lips.

His cultivation progressed from the Qi Refining stage to the Mahayana stage, and almost every small step he took involved cleverly borrowing external forces, making further advancement in his cultivation even more difficult, almost impossible, requiring massive accumulation and opportunities.

For example, during the Qi Refining stage, the Foundation Establishment stage, and the Purple Mansion stage, the time he spent cultivating was very short.

His subsequent improvements in cultivation and breakthroughs in realms were not achieved through the right path, which has greatly hampered his current cultivation.

Moreover, he is currently seriously injured, which will definitely slow down his cultivation speed.

"Master, in my current state, how easy is it to quickly improve my cultivation?"

"From now on, call me Master's Wife. Your master is unable to teach you, so let me take his place..."

"Thank you, Master's wife! But my question is difficult to answer..."

"Master's wife has her own way."

A resolute glint flashed in Yang Yang's eyes. "The Sea Demon Sect's resources far exceed your imagination. I will prepare the best resources for you, unlock the sect's secret treasures, and help you heal and cultivate. However..."

Her tone shifted, a cold glint flashing in her phoenix eyes, "Right now, we need to deal with the troubles outside."
-
Meanwhile, undercurrents were already surging in the outside world.

Dou Eqing's instigation of the Nine Yang Tribulation caused chaos on the battlefield between the righteous and demonic factions, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. In particular, the fall of many late-stage Mahayana cultivators severely weakened many sects and forces, and even caused some first-rate sects to decline.

On the righteous path:

Beidou Pavilion: All seven late-stage Mahayana elders were wiped out, and even the sect's main formation, the "Beidou Immortal Slaughtering Formation," was destroyed. The sect's top combat power was disrupted, and they hated Dou Eqing to the bone.

As a long-established eighth-tier force of the righteous path, Beidou Pavilion has a strong foundation.

Although those in the Mahayana Realm are the mainstay of the sect, the sect also has many ancestors and enshrined figures in the Tribulation Transcending Realm.

Dou Eqing would have difficulty dealing with just any Tribulation Transcending Realm expert.

Now, the Beidou Pavilion has joined forces with several severely damaged righteous sects to issue a "Demon Extermination Order," vowing to kill Dou Eqing.

Five eighth-tier forces, including the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Jade Void Palace, also had important elders or direct disciples who died in the aftermath of the Dao Tribulation or in the ensuing chaos. They blamed Dou Eqing for this and secretly fueled the flames.

In addition, regarding the demonic path:

As one of the top eight forces in the demonic path, the Eight Desolations Palace lost all eight of its late-stage Mahayana Demon Lords who were in charge of the demonic array, resulting in a significant loss of strength. The Palace Master was furious and vowed to extract Dou Eqing's soul and refine his spirit.

The Seven Emotions Demon Sect and the Myriad Desires Demon Palace, among others, also suffered considerable losses due to Dou Eqing and both hated and feared him. However, their leaders were more rational and mindful of the Sea Demon Sect's attitude.

However, all factions face the same problem—the protection of the Sea Demon Cult.

The Sea Demon Sect is not only a super force in the demonic path, but also controls a key resource—the core refining material channel for the ninth-grade supreme-quality Demon Transformation Immortal Pill, and even the right to distribute the finished pills.

This pill can greatly help demonic cultivators in the Tribulation Transcending Realm resist the most terrifying inner demon tribulations, and can be regarded as a "stepping stone" for demonic cultivators to break through to a higher realm.

Offending the Sea Demon Cult is almost tantamount to cutting oneself off from the path to the pinnacle of the demonic path.

Therefore, openly, no one dares to directly attack the key figures of the Sea Demon Cult for the time being.

But in secret, assassinations, instigations, and conspiracies were already brewing.

"Sever their foundation before targeting them!"

Some forces that harbored the deepest hatred for Dou Eqing and had little need for the Demon Transformation Elixir (such as certain righteous sects or sects in the demonic path that already had Tribulation Transcending Ancestors in charge and did not need this elixir) began to secretly conspire and plot an even more insidious plan:

Try to break away from the Sea Demon Cult's control over the refining or distribution channels of the 'Demon Transformation Elixir'!

They either searched for ancient alchemical formulas and relics, secretly supported alchemical forces capable of rivaling the Sea Demon Cult, or sowed discord between the Sea Demon Cult and sects that relied on it for elixirs…

All these methods have only one purpose: to undermine the Sea Demon Sect's transcendent position in the demonic path and deprive it of its greatest protection.

At that time, we will have fewer concerns about joining forces to deal with Dou Eqing and even dividing up the Sea Demon Sect.

A storm is silently brewing against the Sea Demon Cult and Dou Eqing.

Meanwhile, Dou Eqing in the valley had no time to worry about anything else. He was fully cooperating with the leader of the Yangyang Sect, using the resources of the Sea Demon Sect to painstakingly repair his injuries, striving to break through to a higher realm and completely heal his Dao wounds.

His enemies were no longer satisfied with simple revenge; they wanted to undermine his cause.

And his "protective charm," the Sea Demon Cult, is about to face an unprecedented challenge.

The headquarters of the Sea Demon Cult is not built on a mountain range on the surface, but is hidden deep at the bottom of a deep trench called "Guixu Demon Abyss". The only way to enter and exit is through an ancient and secret teleportation array.

Surrounded by naturally formed spatial turbulence and chaotic demonic energy, the Demon Abyss is one of the most dangerous and perilous places in the world, and also a natural barrier for the Sea Demon Cult.

At this moment, in the deepest part of the Demon Abyss, at the center of a palace complex built of ten-thousand-year-old Netherworld Black Jade, Dou Eqing is in a huge pool of blood.

The pool water was not blood, but a dark gold color, viscous like mercury, radiating a vast life essence and pure demonic energy, with wisps of chaotic aura permeating the air. This was the "Chaotic Demonic Essence Pool" created by the Sea Demon Cult at the cost of countless resources, and usually only the cult leader or core elders who had made great contributions were qualified to use it for a moment.

Dou Eqing was immersed in it, his eyes tightly closed.

The vast energy in the pool was surging into his body through his pores, nourishing his riddled sacred body and barely suppressing the fragments of Dao Laws that were constantly tearing his meridians and burning his soul.

The leader of the Yangyang Sect floated above the blood pool, his hands forming a mudra, chanting ancient and obscure demonic incantations.

She flicked out one after another Heavenly Demonic Seals that shimmered with strange runes from her fingertips. These seals disappeared into the pool water, causing even more violent energy to surge into Dou Eqing's body, forcibly washing away and neutralizing those Dao injuries.

The process was extremely painful.

Dou Eqing's body trembled violently, and fine wounds broke open on his body surface, oozing dark golden blood, which then healed rapidly under the miraculous effect of the pool water.

His brows were furrowed, his jaw clenched, and he endured excruciating pain, as if undergoing a bone-scraping procedure.

"Hold it!"

Yang Yang's voice carried an undeniable authority, but also a hint of barely perceptible heartache, "The Dao injury in your body is already entangled with the origin of your sacred body, and ordinary methods simply cannot separate it."

The only way is to forcibly infuse it with chaotic demonic energy, cleanse it with the power of the Demon Abyss's origin, and then refine and absorb it with the domineering power of the "Devouring Heaven Demon Art," transforming it into resources for your Holy Body's advancement! This is the fastest, but also the most dangerous method!

Dou Eqing was unable to respond, focusing all his attention on guiding the violent energy to fight against the Dao injury, and using the Devouring Heaven Demon Art to devour and refine it with great difficulty.

He could sense that after each painful cycle, the essence of his sacred body did indeed grow stronger, and those stubborn Dao injuries seemed to have been worn away a little. But the process was so slow it was despairing.

At this rate, it would be an unknown number of years before Yang Yang reaches the peak of Mahayana Buddhism.

Yang Yang naturally noticed this as well.

"It seems we have to take a shortcut. You already possess the Nine Yang Sacred Body, which is most suitable for dual cultivation. If you absorb more of the Great Ascension Female Cauldrons, your cultivation speed will definitely be twice as fast."

Although she could have made the decision on her own at that moment, she still asked Dou Eqing for his opinion.

When he remembered that he still needed to hurry up and rescue Su Muwan, he couldn't care less about any of his concerns.

“Master’s wife, I know the Sea Demon Sect has a strong foundation, but it’s not easy for its disciples to cultivate to the Mahayana realm. It would be too wasteful and not worth the effort if they were only used for my sexual cultivation. I do have a solution that satisfies both…”

He then revealed his idea of ​​refining the Extreme Desire Pill by having multiple people engage in dual cultivation, using his Dao body as a furnace.

"Hmm, your physical body and Dao body are special. This method is indeed a unique approach. Wonderful!"

Therefore, her true self immediately left the main altar to select suitable female cultivators within the sect, while her avatar remained to guard Dou Eqing.

With Dou Eqing's method, female cultivators no longer need to possess the constitution of a furnace vessel.

Now that his Dao body has become the Nine Yang Sacred Body, he no longer needs female cultivators to possess a pure Yin body.

Then, it will be much easier for Yang Yang to find female cultivators, and he can also find more female cultivators with better cultivation levels.

Although a new method for quickly improving cultivation has been found, other methods should not be abandoned.

While Yang Yang herself arranged for a Mahayana female cultivator for him, her clone continued to help Dou Eqing cultivate.

A resolute glint flashed in her beautiful eyes.

"It seems that the regular Chaos Magic Essence is not enough."

She murmured to herself, then flipped her hand, revealing a purplish-black jade bottle in her palm.

The moment the seal on the bottle was broken open, a pure aura of demonic origin that made the entire Demon Essence Pool boil spread out.

"This is the 'Origin of the Inner Demon at the Tribulation Realm' left behind by the previous sect leader, Kuan Hai."

A trace of reminiscence and pain flashed across Yang Yang's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination. "The power contained in this thing far exceeds your imagination, and it is also extremely dangerous, but it may accelerate your refining process! Now is the best opportunity to make it valuable."

She flicked her finger, and a drop of jet-black liquid, yet shimmering with countless distorted face-like points of light, carefully flew out of the bottle and fell into the Demon Essence Pool.

boom!
The entire Demon Pool instantly erupted into chaos!
The terrifying power of inner demons and the primordial demonic energy of the Tribulation Transcending Realm erupted like a tsunami, surging wildly into Dou Eqing's body!

"Ugh—!"

Dou Eqing let out an uncontrollable roar of pain, feeling as countless ferocious inner demons were born in his sea of ​​consciousness, frantically tearing at his soul, and the immense demonic energy almost bursting his sacred body!
In the critical moment, he frantically activated the Devouring Heaven Demon Art and the Six Yang Sacred Body. The six Yang Wheels on his back spun wildly at an unprecedented speed, and even the illusory seventh wheel became clearer. He devoted all his efforts to refining this sudden and terrifying energy.

Yang Yang watched him intently, ready to intervene at any moment.

Seeing that Dou Eqing, though in great pain, had managed to stabilize the situation and begin to gradually erode the source of the inner demon, she breathed a sigh of relief, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes.

"Kuanhai, if you were alive today, you would agree with what I've done. This child might truly be able to inherit your mantle."

She whispered.

While Dou Eqing was struggling to heal his wounds and refine the source of his inner demons deep within the Demon Abyss, outside the Demon Abyss and even throughout the entire cultivation world, undercurrents were surging and a storm was brewing.

Sea Demon Cult, Council Hall.

The atmosphere was solemn.

Several elders of the Sea Demon Sect, all powerful figures at the early and middle stages of the Tribulation Transcending Realm, did not look too good at this moment.

"Master!"

A black-robed elder with a sinister face said in a deep voice, "Recently, spies outside the sect have reported that the remnants of the Beidou Pavilion and the Bahuang Palace have joined forces with seven or eight sects, including the Tianjian Sect and the Qiqing Demon Sect, and are secretly plotting something big!"
Although they dare not openly oppose my sect, they are constantly engaging in underhanded tactics and spreading rumors that my sect is protecting and harming others, thus inviting disaster upon themselves and potentially bringing a great calamity upon the demonic path!

Another elder, who appeared to be an old woman, coughed and interjected:
"More importantly, I received a secret report that someone is secretly investigating the source of the 'Demon Transformation Elixir' formula and even attempting to contact those ancient demons who can provide the core ingredients. Their intentions are despicable!"

Yang Yang sat high on the sect leader's throne, her face icy cold:

"A mere clown, not worth mentioning. The channel for the Demon-Transforming Elixir was opened up by my late husband at a great cost. It is the only one of its kind. How could others easily covet and imitate it?"

"Your Excellency is wise."

Another elder said with concern, "That is true, but it is easy to dodge a spear in the open, but difficult to guard against an arrow in the dark."

If they can truly find another way, even if it's just finding an alternative or weakening our sect's control over the distribution channels, the attitudes of those sects that rely on our sect's elixirs will likely change. At that time…

At that time, the Sea Demon Sect's transcendent status will be shaken, and any attempt to protect Dou Eqing will inevitably face unimaginable pressure, and may even backfire.

Yang Yang naturally understood this principle.

Her phoenix eyes flashed with murderous intent as she lightly tapped the armrest with her fingertips: "They want to play? I'll play along. Issue the order: closely monitor all channels related to the Demon Transformation Elixir. Anyone who makes any unusual moves will be killed without mercy!"

At the same time, it was announced that the next 'elixir quota' would be prioritized for sects closely aligned with our religion and harboring no disloyalty.

"Yes!"

The elders accepted the order, but the worry between their brows did not disappear.

While this move may temporarily stabilize some forces, it is ultimately only a temporary solution and not a fundamental cure.

The heart of the storm still lies with the young man who is healing deep within the abyss of demons.

Meanwhile, in an unknown, hidden space.

Several vague yet powerful divine thoughts were exchanging ideas.

"The Sea Demon Sect's attitude is firm; that woman Yang Yang is determined to protect that boy."

"Hmph! He's just a lucky guy who received the legacy of his cultivation technique! If the leader of the Kuanhai Sect were here, would he allow him to act so recklessly and bring trouble upon himself?"

"Further words are pointless. How is the matter of the Demon-Transforming Immortal Pill progressing?"

"We've made some progress. A possible remnant of a relevant elixir formula lies in an ancient secret realm, and we've sent people to investigate. Furthermore, the ancient being deep within the 'Tomb of Ten Thousand Demons' seems interested in breaking the Sea Demon Sect's monopoly."

"Very good! Continue to apply pressure, using a two-pronged approach. Once we are no longer controlled by the Sea Demon Sect in terms of elixirs, it will be Dou Eqing's death day! It will also be time for the Sea Demon Sect to relinquish its position as the number one demonic sect!"

Their thoughts intertwined, filled with cold calculation and murderous intent.

Clearly, the conspiracy against Dou Eqing and the Sea Demon Cult is far more profound and dangerous than Yang Yang currently knows.

A massive storm sweeping across both the righteous and demonic paths is slowly unfolding.

Dou Eqing, at the eye of the storm, must acquire enough power to protect himself and even turn the tide before the storm fully erupts.

His time is really running out.

(End of this chapter)