Recruit demons to become heroes, hunt demons to become gods

Chapter 296 Inner Demon Refinement
Deep within the Demon Abyss, the Chaotic Demon Essence Pool has nearly dried up.

The terrifying energy transformed from the source of the demonic energy at the Tribulation Transcending Realm had been mostly devoured and refined by Dou Eqing.

At this moment, he was suspended at the bottom of the pool, his body enveloped by a huge dark golden cocoon of light.

On the surface of the cocoon of light, six substantial yang wheels slowly revolve, radiating a terrifyingly powerful yang aura. At its core, the phantom of the seventh yang wheel has solidified more than 90%, and it is only one last opportunity away from complete perfection!
However, this final refining process is also the most dangerous.

That drop of inner demon essence not only contained incomparably pure demonic energy of the Tribulation Transcending Realm, but also carried countless fragments of inner demons and residual will that the Master of the Vast Ocean had severed during his tribulation.

These fragments transformed into the most terrifying illusions, constantly assaulting Dou Eqing's Dao heart.

Within his sea of ​​consciousness, countless tragedies were unfolding:

Sometimes he would see Si Qianquan crying out for help in the Myriad Transformations Return to Origin Blood Pool, but he was powerless to help her.

At times, the Han and Tang dynasties collapsed, and millions of lives were lost. Liu Shuhuang's phoenix robe was stained with blood, and she cast a resentful look at him.
Sometimes he saw his own holy body collapse and be devoured by countless enemies;

At times, one could even see the remnants of the fighting spirit of the leader of the Kuanhai Sect, wielding the White Tiger Demon-Slaying Blade, ready to cut him down as the "thief of power."
Each illusion was incredibly real, pointing directly to his deepest fears and vulnerabilities.

"Illusion! All of it is illusion!"

Dou Eqing's Dao heart roared, and the Six Yang Sacred Souls shone with unprecedented brilliance. The Devouring Heaven Demon Art was running wildly, not only devouring demonic energy, but also domineeringly devouring and refining those fragments of inner demons!

Each time he devoured something, his soul experienced a tearing pain, but it also became more refined and resilient.

This is an extremely painful tempering process.

His aura fluctuated violently within the cocoon of light, sometimes as violent as a demon, sometimes as radiant as a god, seeking transformation and balance amidst this extreme conflict.

The sect leader, Yang Yang, who was guarding outside, held her breath and focused her mind. She could feel the increasingly powerful aura within the cocoon of light, as well as the gradually suppressed inner demon fluctuations.

Her beautiful eyes sparkled with anticipation and nervousness.

She knew that if she could successfully refine the source of this inner demon, the benefits Dou Eqing would receive would be immeasurable.

at last!

After an unknown amount of time, the aura within the cocoon of light suddenly subsided, and then exploded with a roar!

Click!

The light cocoon shattered, transforming into pure energy that was completely absorbed.

Dou Eqing's figure appeared, his black hair dancing wildly. As his eyes opened and closed, his left eye burned with golden flames like the sun, while his right eye was deep and dark like a demonic abyss. A strange aura, a mixture of holiness and domineering, permeated the air.

The seventh Yang Wheel has finally been fully formed! Officially entering the late stage of Mahayana!
It has been less than five thousand years since he broke through to the Mahayana realm, and the outside world simply cannot imagine the speed at which his cultivation has improved.

Even the fastest cultivator in the history of cultivation in the Kunlun Realm cannot compare to him; this speed of cultivation advancement is simply unheard of.

If Dou Eqing's enemies found out, they would surely be restless and unable to eat or sleep.

In the cultivation world, whether righteous or demonic, Dou Eqing is regarded as an unparalleled demon, and no force is not worried about him truly growing stronger.

Deep within this demonic abyss, the secret realm where Dou Eqing cultivates is also a treasure trove of cultivation with the ability to accelerate time.

Less than a thousand years have passed in the outside world, but he has been cultivating here for more than four thousand years.

After such a long period of cultivation, not only has his cultivation level improved, but his Sacred Body Origin has also become incredibly powerful due to the refinement of the fragments of the Heart Demon and Demonic Essence of the Tribulation Transcending Realm. It is far stronger than that of ordinary late-stage Mahayana cultivators, and it seems that he is no longer far from the peak of Mahayana cultivation.

Seventy or eighty percent of those stubborn Dao injuries have been worn away, and what remains no longer poses much of a threat.

He slowly clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him, as if he could shatter the void with a single punch.

"How does it feel?"

Yang Yang's voice came through, carrying a hint of relief.

Dou Eqing concealed his aura, the strange phenomena in his eyes dissipated, and he respectfully bowed:
"Thank you for your kindness, Master's wife! I am now fine and my cultivation has improved."

Yang Yang nodded in satisfaction, about to speak, when suddenly her brows furrowed and she took out a constantly vibrating, jet-black token.

"So much time has passed, and the female cultivators at the Mahayana realm that I, your true self, prepared for you have arrived. Although it was under my orders and I made many promises to them, since they were able to cultivate to the Mahayana realm, they are all extraordinary individuals. Furthermore, some of the female demon cultivators have rather eccentric personalities..."

Dou Eqing interrupted Yang Yang's explanation.

"I know that I am best at dealing with female cultivators, and I will make them cooperate willingly."

Since Dou Eqing himself had said so, he must have been mentally prepared, so Yang Yang didn't say anything more.

She activated the token in her hand, and with a wave of her jade hand, the space in the center of the teleportation array rippled like water, and seven figures with different styles but all exuding powerful demonic energy slowly emerged.

Their auras, whether cold, fiery, eerie, or majestic, intertwined, causing the air inside the teleportation array hall to stagnate slightly.

Yang Yang's clone remained calm and began to introduce them one by one, her voice clear and authoritative:
"The one on the far left is 'Netherworld Ghost Mother' Yu Lianxin."

As she finished speaking, Dou Eqing looked at a woman dressed in a pale white palace gown, her face as white as paper, yet possessing a stunningly beautiful and tragic appearance.

Yu Lianxin's life force was extremely faint; she hardly seemed like a living person.

The woman bowed slightly to Yang Yang's clone and glanced at Dou Eqing.

The woman was surrounded by a faint, mournful mist, and in her hand she held a dark blue glass lamp, within which countless faces seemed to be struggling and wailing.

"Lianxin is a mid-stage Mahayana cultivator, possessing the Nine Netherworld Body, wielding the top-grade spiritual treasure 'Ten Thousand Souls Netherworld Lamp,' and practicing the 'Mysterious Yin Soul-Capturing Technique.' She is most skilled at manipulating the soul and controlling ghosts. Her Mysterious Yin Qi has a miraculous effect on harmonizing the ultimate Yang."

"Next to Lianxin is 'Blood Demon' Tu Qianqian."

Tu Qianqian, a tall and voluptuous red-haired woman wearing close-fitting blood-red armor that revealed a glimpse of her slender waist, grinned. Her smile was wild and bloodthirsty.

She carried a menacing, serrated demonic blade the size of a door on her back, its malevolent aura almost tangible.

It is evident that countless cultivators died at her hands.

"Qianqian is at the peak of the early Mahayana stage, possessing the Ancient Battle Demon Body. She wields the ninth-tier demonic weapon 'Blood Prison Berserker Blade' and cultivates the 'Blood Battle Eight Desolations Demon Art,' specializing in body refinement and the path of slaughter. Her vitality is comparable to that of a primordial beast, capable of replenishing the depletion of her sacred body's vitality."

"Next to Qianqian is Su Miao, the 'Thousand-Faced Poisonous Consort'."

Su Miao, dressed in a colorful gauze dress, with a graceful figure and incomparably charming appearance, smiled sweetly, her eyes captivating and mesmerizing.

She toyed with a strange embroidered ball that kept changing colors between her fingertips, and her whole body exuded a sweet but dizzying fragrance.

"Su Miao is in the mid-stage of the Mahayana realm, possessing the Heavenly Fragrance Poison Body. Her natal magic weapon is the 'Seven Emotions and Six Desires Bewitching Embroidered Ball,' and she is proficient in the 'Ten Thousand Poisons True Scripture' and illusion techniques. Her original poison is most likely to arouse desire and catalyze the effects of dual cultivation, but one must be careful of its backlash."

After introducing Su Miao, Yang Yang pointed to the person next to her and then introduced Xu Wei:

"She is Bai Qingyu, the 'Ice Bone Demon Queen'."

The woman, dressed in white, with a cool and aloof demeanor and an exquisitely beautiful face that seemed to have been sculpted from millennia-old ice, glanced at us indifferently, and the air seemed to freeze into ice crystals wherever her gaze fell.

This is a manifestation of her Daoist body and strength, and also a way to convey a hidden message to Dou Eqing.

The title "Ice Bone Demon Queen" is truly fitting.

There was a small, icy blue mark between her eyebrows, like the coldest star in the night sky, radiating a mysterious and chilling light.

He held a white jade-like zither in his arms. The zither was smooth as a mirror and had a faint glow. It was as if one could hear the melodious sound of the zither echoing in the air.

"Qingyu is in the late stage of Mahayana cultivation and possesses the Xuanpin Supreme Cold Demon Body. Her magic weapon, the 'Nine Nether Cold Soul Qin,' has melodies that can freeze the soul. She cultivates the 'Ice Heart Ruthless Demon Scripture,' and its Supreme Cold Demon Essence is an excellent aid in suppressing inner demons and purifying Yang energy. However, her temperament is cold, and you need to guide her yourself."

Clearly, Yang Yang put a lot of thought into choosing female cultivators for Dou Eqing, and these choices were made after careful consideration.

She looked at the fifth Mahayana female cultivator, paused briefly, and then introduced her.

"The one known as 'Dream Fairy' Meng Liuli".

Meng Liuli's beauty caught Dou Eqing's eye.

The female cultivator, clad in a hazy, star-studded veil, her figure shimmering in the shadows, her beauty otherworldly, nodded slightly. Her eyes were as deep as the starry sky, as if a single glance would plunge one into an endless dream. On her wrist wore a string of crystal-clear bells, each one seemingly inlaid with countless tiny star stones, shimmering brilliantly in the light.

A gentle breeze blows, and the bells sway softly, making a melodious tinkling sound, like heavenly music, which makes people unable to help but be captivated.

It is clearly a mysterious magical artifact.

"At the mid-stage of the Great Vehicle of Glazed Glass, he possesses the Illusory Dream Demon Body and the accompanying demonic treasure 'Illusory World Bewitching Bell'."

The *Great Dream of Eternal Demon Scripture*, which you cultivate, is exceptionally profound. It can draw people into dreams, allowing them to cultivate, experience trials, and even… engage in dual cultivation within those dreams. It may help you avoid some of the dangers of tribulations and gain insights into higher realms.

Yang Yang turned to look at the female cultivator who was two steps away from Meng Liuli, and after thinking for a moment, said, "'Bone Fairy' Gu Youli."

Gu Youli, a girl dressed in a black, openwork demon dress, with skin so pale it was almost transparent and pupils that were strangely vertical, tilted her head and curiously looked at Dou Eqing.

She held a strange, heart-shaped magical artifact in her hand, from which black blood beads dripped continuously, and countless tiny skeleton phantoms floated around her.

"Youli, in the early stage of Mahayana, possesses a rare body with ten thousand bones connected to spirits, and her natal demonic treasure is the 'Devouring Life Demon Heart'. Practitioners of the 'White Bone Visualization Method' can communicate with the Netherworld and control the dead. Her spiritual demonic essence contains the mysteries of life and death, which may be helpful in comprehending the vitality of the sacred body."

“I am Yan Meier, the ‘Burning Heaven Demoness’.”

The last female cultivator introduced herself to Dou Eqing.

The woman, dressed in a fiery red, revealing leather armor, with an extremely voluptuous figure, fiery red lips, and eyes brimming with seductive charm, giggled and unabashedly gave Dou Eqing a flirtatious wink.

She stood barefoot on the flames, a long, fiery whip wrapped around her waist.

"Mei'er has cultivated to the peak of the late Mahayana stage, possessing the Heaven-Burning Alluring Flame Body and the demonic treasure 'Wildfire Heart Whip.' I cultivate the 'Blazing Lust Demon Art,' specializing in using alluring fire to ignite desire, burning the body and refining the soul, and improving cultivation through extreme pleasure. This method is direct and fierce, but it is also the easiest to get burned. Junior brother, are you ready?"

After Yan Meier finished introducing herself, Yang Yang's avatar glanced at the seven female demon cultivators, each with a different demeanor but all possessing unparalleled beauty and formidable strength, before finally looking at Dou Eqing and saying calmly:

"These seven are the helpers I have found for you. Their cultivation methods and physiques are different, and they can complement your Nine Yang Sacred Body on different levels. But how to get them to 'willingly' help you with all their might is up to your own ability."

The atmosphere inside the main hall was subtle and tense. The gazes of the seven Mahayana female demon cultivators were fixed on Dou Eqing as if they were physical, carrying scrutiny, curiosity, indifference, and even a trace of barely perceptible contempt.

They were all powerful figures in the demonic path, and even with the orders and promises of the leader of the Yangyang Sect, it would be no easy task to get them to willingly become a stranger's "dual cultivation vessel".

Dou Eqing's gaze calmly swept over the seven women, finally settling on the most daring and fiery of them all, the 'Burning Heaven Demoness' Yan Meier.

A smile curved his lips as he said loudly:
"I have long heard of the 'Burning Heavenly Demoness' Fairy Yan's 'Blazing Passionate Demon Art,' which is unparalleled in its domineering power, and her Burning Heavenly Alluring Fire Body is even more rare in the world. I am not talented, but I possess the Nine Yang Sacred Body and have some understanding of the way of ultimate yang and ultimate fire. I wonder if I could ask the fairy to give me some guidance?"

These words, though seemingly polite, are actually full of provocation.

All the women present understood his subtext: If you want to cooperate, first demonstrate the strength and value that convinces me!
Yan Meier was taken aback at first, then let out a string of silvery laughter that carried a burning heat:
"Hehehe...Young master, you're quite direct! Very well, let your elder sister see just what makes your sacred body, which is so highly valued by the sect leader, so extraordinary!"

Before she finished speaking, her fiery figure had already transformed into a streak of crimson light. The "Wildfire Whip" at her waist, as if it were a living creature, emerged from its hole like a venomous snake, carrying a scorching and seductive aura capable of burning away one's soul, and went straight for Dou Eqing's face!

Wherever the whip passed, the space itself was scorched and distorted.

Yang Yang's clone did not stop her, but quietly stepped aside.

The other six women also became emotional and watched the battle intently.

Dou Eqing neither dodged nor avoided, a golden light flashed in his eyes, and his right hand, with fingers pointing like a sword, gathered highly concentrated Six Yang Holy Power at his fingertips, and pointed it precisely at the tip of the whip!
He planned to take out his White Tiger Demon-Slaying Blade to fight Yan Meier, to show that his skills were also enough to defeat her.

"laugh--!"

The fingertips collided with the fire whip, producing a crisp sound like metal clashing!
The blazing white Six Yang Sacred Fire and the crimson Burning Heaven Enchanting Fire frantically eroded and devoured each other, exploding into countless sparks.

A hint of surprise flashed in Yan Meier's beautiful eyes. She felt that her alluring fire was being suppressed by the other party's extremely strong and yang flames, and even... attracted and assimilated by them.
With a sharp cry, she unleashed her full power, activating her Heaven-Burning Enchanting Flame Body. Her entire body seemed to transform into a human-shaped flame, her attacks becoming increasingly ferocious. Layer upon layer of whip shadows formed a net, interspersed with seductive music that stirred the primal desires of the human heart.

Dou Eqing was as steadfast as a rock, and the Six Yang Sacred Body granted him unparalleled power, speed, and absolute control over flames.

He didn't use any fancy techniques, but simply concentrated the power of his sacred body into his fists, palms, and fingers. Each strike was simple yet powerful, domineering and unparalleled, easily neutralizing Yan Meier's attacks. That seductive art that could make ordinary Mahayana cultivators tremble had almost no effect on his powerful Six Yang Sacred Soul.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged more than a hundred blows, yet Yan Meier was unable to gain the upper hand at all. On the contrary, she felt that her own demonic energy was being greatly depleted, and the feeling of being subtly attracted and restrained by the opponent's holy power was becoming stronger and stronger.

"It's time to end the warm-up."

Dou Eqing suddenly spoke calmly.

He took a deep breath, and the seven yang chakras on his chest (the sixth one was real, and the seventh one was nearly real) suddenly shone brightly!
A pure and vast aura, seemingly capable of nourishing all things yet also burning them, was released without reservation!
For Yan Meier, who possessed the Burning Heaven Charming Flame Body, this aura was like seeing the most extreme, most primal, and most fatally attractive "flame" in the world!
"This is…!"

Yan Meier's attack suddenly froze, her beautiful eyes widening instantly as she felt the overwhelming yang energy rushing towards her.

Her fiery body trembled violently and uncontrollably, every cell screaming out in madness!

It was an instinctive throbbing originating from the deepest part of one's cultivation method and physique!
She cultivates the "Blazing Lust Demon Art," which requires her to constantly absorb the world's scorching yang energy and the fire of lust to temper herself. Although her progress is rapid, there are many hidden dangers, as she is easily devoured by the fire of her heart.

As for Dou Eqing's Nine Yang Sacred Body's essence, it was simply a tailor-made, supreme tonic with no side effects for her! No, it even far exceeded her imagination!
Dou Eqing keenly noticed the shock and longing in her eyes and understood.

He deliberately controlled a wisp of pure Nine Yang essence and slowly pushed it toward Yan Meier.

Almost instinctively, Yan Meier greedily absorbed this wisp of primordial power.

boom!
With just a wisp of her original essence entering her body, she felt that the bottleneck of the early stage of Mahayana cultivation, which had been stagnant for a long time, had loosened slightly!
The Heaven-Burning Flame within his body became more refined and pure, even carrying a hint of glorious holiness, and its circulation speed suddenly increased!

She roughly estimated that if she had enough of this source energy to assist her, her cultivation speed would...

It can increase the performance by at least two times! Or even more!

This discovery made her body tremble violently, and her gaze toward Dou Eqing instantly became incredibly ardent. It was no longer the desire to fight, but a kind of almost insane possessiveness and longing!
"I...I lost!"

Yan Meier suddenly withdrew her whip, her voice trembling with barely suppressed excitement.

Far from feeling defeated, she blushed with excitement and stared at Dou Eqing with burning eyes, as if she were looking at a rare treasure.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the other six women, Yan Meier actually took a few steps forward, almost pressing herself against Dou Eqing, her breath sweet as orchids, her voice so alluring it could drip water:
"Young master... no, Young Master Dou! I was being presumptuous just now. Your sacred body... is far too important to my cultivation! I don't need any guidance. As long as you are willing to share some of your essence to help me cultivate, I will obey your every command!"

Her sudden change of attitude, and even her direct declaration of submission, stunned the other six women.

Yan Meier suddenly turned her head to look at the other six sisters, her tone urgent and sincere:
"Sisters! What are you waiting for? Young Master Dou's Nine Yang Sacred Body is infinitely mysterious and is by no means an ordinary furnace! Just now, that wisp of origin actually loosened my bottleneck and made my cultivation technique run more than twice as fast!"
Moreover, his power is upright and boundless, without any evil or impurity. For us demonic cultivators, this is simply a godsend! If we can obtain his assistance, our path to the Great Dao is within reach! This is far more tangible than any elixirs or promises!

She shared her personal experience, and the excitement and benefits in her words were genuine.

The soul mist surrounding Yu Lianxin, the Netherworld Ghost Mother, fluctuated slightly. With her keen senses, she indeed discovered that Yan Meier's demonic essence had become slightly purer in a short period of time.

A thoughtful glint flashed in Bai Qingyu's icy eyes. Perhaps her Xuanpin Extreme Cold Demon Body needed this kind of extreme yang energy to seek a breakthrough in the balance of yin and yang.

The Dream Fairy's eyes, sparkling like glass, seemed to be contemplating some possibility.

Su Miao, the Thousand-Faced Poisonous Consort, licked her red lips, her eyes showing increasing interest.

Xue Shaluo Tu Qianqian carried the giant sword, grinned, and seemed to think that this was the only way to show her respect.

The skeletal fairy, Gu Youli, tilted her head, her vertical pupils filled with curiosity.

Dou Eqing stood with his hands behind his back, watching Yan Meier take the initiative to "persuade" him, and seeing the obvious wavering expressions on the faces of the other six women, he smiled calmly to himself.

Demonstrating strength and proving value, then having "insiders" break down defenses—this approach is far more effective than forceful suppression.

He knew that these seven Mahayana female demon cultivators, each with their own distinct style, had already begun to fall into his trap.

The upcoming dual cultivation journey will surely be incredibly exciting.

However, Dou Eqing believed that seven female cultivators were somewhat insufficient for the dual cultivation method of refining the Extreme Desire Pill.

The Extreme Desire Pill, refined by a group of people at the Mahayana Realm, is close to the Dao Pill and cannot be refined by Mahayana Alchemists. It can only be made by sharing the effort and pooling the strength of many people.

If Yang Yang were to find more Mahayana female cultivators, it would probably take quite a while longer.

Besides, in addition to needing a Mahayana female cultivator, he also needs eighth-grade spiritual herbs. He can't have them all, but he still needs them.

(End of this chapter)