Recruit demons to become heroes, hunt demons to become gods

Chapter 303 Trip to the Forbidden Land of Merit Soul Abyss
The original spirit of the Soul Refining Evil Armor was awakened from its slumber by Dou Eqing. Upon hearing Dou Eqing's words, it was initially confused, but then it realized that its Divine Soul Heavenly Demon Body was already at the peak of the late Tribulation Transcending Realm, and it was overjoyed.

However, upon discovering that the Divine Soul Demon was on the verge of death, he quickly suppressed his emotions and responded with an unwavering composure:
"Soul Devouring is fine. Of course, it's best to use the soul of a Tribulation Transcending Realm cultivator, otherwise the required amount will be enormous."

The solution given by the spirit that was the root of Dou Eqing's problem made him murmur to himself:

"Soul Devourer, where can I find a Tribulation Transcending Realm divine soul?"

At this moment, Yang Yang returned in her true form and flew over with her clone.

Yang Yang's clone felt a sense of kinship with the Divine Soul Demon Body, and couldn't help but sigh:

"Such a risky move, I wonder if forcibly pushing you to the peak of the late stage of the Tribulation Transcending Realm is a blessing or a curse."

After Dou Eqing's spirit body underwent a tribulation and transformed itself by refining the Extreme Desire Pill, Yang Yang's clone regarded the transformed spirit body as one of its own.

At that time, he took a great liking to the spirit body and had the idea that his own true self and Dou Eqing's true self could be a pair, and his clones could also be paired with Dou Eqing's spirit body.

Therefore, Yang Yang's clone strongly opposed Dou Eqing's spiritual body merging with Liu Shuhuang's eleven women.

However, Dou Eqing did not reveal his plan beforehand, which prevented her from stopping him in time.

"Do you know of any places where a Tribulation Transcending Realm soul has lost consciousness?"

Dou Eqing subconsciously asked Yang Yang.

His use of "you all" gave Yang Yang a jolt.

This means that Dou Eqing has finally revealed the "status" of Yang Yang's clone—she is no longer a clone.

"Yes, it's time to face it squarely. From now on, she and I are sisters."

Yang Yang's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness, as if announcing the beginning of a new era.

Upon hearing these words from the original body, Yang Yang's clone approached and affectionately took the original body's arm, signifying that she would be with the original body forever.

She spoke softly, then launched into a passionate speech:
"From now on, I will be called Yang Yang, because I am safe and sound because of my older sister. If my sister is in danger, I will share life and death with her."

The main body then gently rested its head against the sideburn of the clone Yang Yang, as a silent yet most powerful response.

Standing quietly to the side, Dou Eqing gazed at the two "sisters" who had just established a relationship.

Although upon closer inspection, the two do have differences in appearance—the original's facial features are more classical and aloof, like distant mountain snow, carrying an air of detachment and majesty that has endured the passage of time.
The features of the clone Yang Yang are even more bright and vivid, with a lively and unrestrained spirit that leaps between her brows, like a blooming peach blossom.

But at this moment, as they nestled together, their synchronized glances, the similar curves of their lips as they lifted slightly, and especially the unspoken understanding and bond in their eyes, miraculously blended and resonated with these two completely different kinds of beauty.

In a trance, they were no longer merely the original and its replica, but twin immortal lotuses growing side by side, two exquisite flowers blooming on the same branch, each with its own unique charm, yet their souls were connected, together forming a breathtaking picture.

This harmonious beauty transcends mere superficial beauty; it strikes directly at the depths of the soul.

"Merit and Soul Restriction".

Yang Yang announced the location, her voice pulling Dou Eqing back to reality.

He looked at them, and understood:
These figures standing side by side are perhaps more worthy of exploration than any unconscious soul.

The clone, Yang Yang, linked arms with the original, turned her gaze to Dou Eqing. A trace of solemnity, reflecting on past glories, flashed across her exquisite face. Her red lips parted slightly, and her voice carried the solemnity of describing an epic:

"Merit Abyss Forbidden..."

She uttered the name slowly, as if every word was stained with ancient blood and resentment.

"That place was the final battlefield, and also the most tragic graveyard, where powerful cultivators from all sides of the demonic path fought for the 'Boundless Merit Pearl' 50,000 years ago."

Her words seemed to tear a rift in time and space before Dou Eqing's eyes.

"For the chance to attain enlightenment and transcendence brought by the Immeasurable Merit Pearl, almost all the giants of the demonic path came out. That battle... lasted for nearly a thousand years."

Her voice lowered, as if she too was shaken by the protracted killing.

"The world lost its color, the laws collapsed, and demonic blood soaked into that void. In the end... nearly two hundred Transcending Tribulation Realm experts perished and their cultivation dissipated."

The remnant souls of these demonic cultivators, along with the energy left over from the great battle, formed the current Forbidden Land of Merit Soul Abyss. Even for peak Tribulation Realm experts, it is considered a forbidden area.

Nearly two hundred Tribulation Transcending Realm cultivators!

Even Dou Eqing, who had killed countless people, was deeply shaken upon hearing this number.

Every Transcending Tribulation Realm cultivator stands at the pinnacle of the cultivation world, yet nearly two hundred giants perished on the same battlefield.

Their obsessions, lingering souls, and resentful demonic laws intertwined and entangled, remaining unbroken despite the passage of time, forming the terrifying "Merit Soul Abyss Forbidden Zone."

But he knew that in order to obtain the Divine Soul Demon Body, which was also the next step in the operation, he had to go there.

After Dou Eqing calmed down, he told Yang Yang's main body and clone about his purpose and plan to go to the "Merit Soul Abyss Forbidden Zone".

It was stated that going there was necessary in order to restore the divine soul and the demonic body.

Before she finished speaking, a chilling aura emanated from Yang Yang's body.

"No!"

The main body resolutely rejected the idea, a thin layer of frost covering its cold face. "You know better than I how dangerous the Merit Soul Abyss Forbidden Zone is. Your main body is seriously injured, and your Heavenly Demon Body is on the verge of collapse. Going there now would be no different from sending yourself to your death."

Her gaze was sharp, piercing Dou Eqing, and contained undeniable concern and opposition.

She subconsciously took half a step forward, subtly protecting her clone behind her, as if the aura of that ominous place had already invaded.

Dou Eqing's face was pale, but his eyes were unusually firm, like tempered iron:

"It is precisely because the Heavenly Demon Body is on the verge of collapse that we must go! That is the only place where we can quickly absorb a large amount of Tribulation Transcending Realm soul essence. Waiting for a slow recovery? Heaven and our enemies will not give us that time."

His voice, though slightly hoarse from his injuries, carried a resolute determination: "Seeking survival in danger is the norm for us demonic cultivators."

"But that's too dangerous!" The clone Yang Yang couldn't help but speak up, taking the main body's arm, her eyes also filled with worry, "Your condition..."

Dou Eqing's gaze swept over the two women, finally settling on the clone. His tone softened slightly, but remained unwavering:
“I must go. This is not only to regain my strength, but also to deal with the situation ahead. If the Heavenly Demon Body cannot be restored, all our previous efforts will have been in vain.”

The atmosphere inside the cave immediately became tense and uneasy.

Yang Yang frowned deeply. She knew that what Dou Eqing said was true, but she could not bear to let him go deep into the dangerous place alone in such a bad state.

If they were to go together, she would still need to oversee the overall situation of the Sea Demon Sect, especially given its current state. Without her as the sect leader, chaos would ensue, and the sect would be secretly divided up by other forces.

Although the clone Yang Yang possesses independent consciousness, its strength has ultimately not reached its peak.

Just as the stalemate was at its peak, the clone Yang Yang looked at the solemn-faced main body, and then at the resolute Dou Eqing. She took a deep breath, and her eyes gradually became firm.

“Sister,” she turned to her true form, her voice gentle yet carrying a sense of responsibility that comes with maturity, “since his mind is made up, it is futile to stop him. The environment of the Merit Soul Abyss is unique, and my sensitivity to the resentment and remnant souls within it may be more acute than that of ordinary cultivators.”

She then looked at Dou Eqing, "I'll go with you. With my guidance, we can at least avoid some unnecessary risks and detect anything unusual in time. But you must promise that if things become unbearable, you must leave immediately and never act recklessly!"

The main body suddenly looked at the clone, a complex expression flashing in its eyes, including surprise, worry, and a sense of relief and helplessness, like "my daughter has come of age."

She remained silent for a long time; the only sounds inside the cave were the soft breathing of the three people.

Finally, she let out a soft sigh, a sigh that contained a multitude of emotions.

"That's all..."

The main body finally relented. She reached out and gently squeezed the clone's hand, then gave Dou Eqing a deep look. "Be careful. If you encounter an uncontrollable force, survival is the priority."

This was both a reminder to the clerk and an order to Dou Eqing.

Seeing that the two women had finally agreed, especially since his clone was willing to accompany them, Dou Eqing was slightly moved and nodded: "I know what I'm doing."

With the resolution in place, the tense atmosphere eased slightly.

Yang Yang began to tell Dou Eqing more specific information about the inner workings of the Merit Soul Abyss Forbidden Zone, while the main body began to prepare some protective items that the two might need. The cave was filled with a solemn and tacit understanding before departure.

They prepared for half a year in order to go to the Forbidden Soul Abyss of Merit.

Yang Yang, carrying Dou Eqing, concealed their whereabouts and finally managed to reach the Soul-Severing Death Ground where the Merit Soul Abyss was located.

His divine soul and demonic body remained in the Three Lights Divine Spring within the Purple Star Immortal Mansion to heal their injuries.

Yang Yang's fingertips parted a dark rift, and a dense aura of resentment and death instantly rushed out. She and Dou Eqing exchanged a glance, then stepped into it together.

After the dizzying sensation of the time-space shift subsided, an indescribably eerie scene unfolded before Dou Eqing's eyes.

There is no sky, no earth, only a dark void stretching to the horizon.

In the void, countless enormous, dark red reefs, resembling shattered mountain ranges, floated. These were crystals of demonic blood that had dried and solidified over countless millennia, emitting a nauseating stench of mixed sweetness and decay.

Further away, some enormous skeletons can be vaguely seen, some resembling mountains, others like the winding Great Wall.

That was clearly the immortal remains left behind after the fall of an ancient demonic powerhouse, with fragments of laws still entwined around the bones, making one's heart tremble.

The entire space was eerily silent, yet beneath that silence, countless whispers, agonizing wails, and frantic roars seemed to resound directly from the depths of the soul, creating a kind of soul noise powerful enough to drive ordinary cultivators mad.

This is the eternal background music formed by the resentment, hatred, and mad obsession of the nearly two hundred Transcending Tribulation Realm experts who perished.

In the void, swirling, amorphous shapes could be seen drifting slowly everywhere.

Some of them resembled incomplete human figures, while others were completely indescribable monsters, emanating varying degrees of soul fluctuations—these were all the shattered remnants of powerful beings who had fallen in the past.

Most of them have lost their clear consciousness, leaving only instinctive killing and devouring desires, or repeating the most profound memories of their lives in endless pain.

Occasionally, a few powerful remnant souls will sense the presence of living beings and pounce on them like sharks smelling blood.

However, when it approached the divine soul demonic energy swirling around Dou Eqing, it was frightened back by the demonic nature that was of the same origin but even more refined and domineering, and after letting out a terrified scream, it merged into the darkness.

Deeper still, spatial rifts are everywhere, spewing out chaotic spacetime turbulence and destructive energy.

In some places, the "Dao wounds" left behind after the earth-shattering clash of divine powers still remain. The laws there are completely distorted and collapsed, forming absolutely dangerous areas that can even devour light and divine consciousness.

A faint, clear light emanated from Yang Yang, keeping out the most vile resentment. With a solemn expression, she pointed out the direction.

Dou Eqing's sharp gaze swept over this desolate graveyard, yet his heart burned with passion. What was a dead end for others was, to him, a treasure trove overflowing with unclaimed "resources"!

If his dying divine soul demon body can devour enough remnant souls of the Tribulation Transcending Realm here, it can not only recover, but may even reach a higher level!

“Be careful,” Yang Yang whispered a warning, his voice unusually clear in this desolate place. “The closer to the core area, the more completely the consciousness and power of the remnant souls may be preserved, and even… they may give birth to aggregated evil beings.”

Dou Eqing nodded slightly, and the [Divine Soul Heavenly Demon Technique] within his body had already quietly begun to operate. Like a thirsty hunter, he officially stepped into this hunting ground belonging to the dead.

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Deep within the forbidden depths of the Merit Soul Abyss, time and laws are distorted and chaotic.

Dou Eqing lingered here for several years, devouring countless chaotic and remnant souls. Although his Divine Soul Demon Body recovered some of its vitality, he was never able to touch the core power that could transform him.

Until that day, he followed a faint fluctuation of soul power far beyond the ordinary and broke into a silent void shrouded by an invisible barrier.

In the center of the void, a complete skeleton, resembling crystal, floats. Within the skeleton, a solid halo, like a star in the dark night, rises and falls silently, radiating a terrifying and overwhelming pressure.

This is the purest source of cultivation left behind by a peak Tribulation Realm expert after his passing!
It even retains the profound understanding of the laws of heaven and earth that this person had during his lifetime.

An incredible opportunity! But the crisis has also reached its peak!

The instant Dou Eqing's soul touched that ball of cultivation essence, a cold, ancient remnant soul filled with greedy consciousness suddenly awakened from it, like a venomous snake that had been lurking for a long time, and launched a possession attack by following the connection between Dou Eqing's soul and his body!

"Young man, I gladly accept your body and demonic powers!"

A terrifying torrent of soul power instantly rushed into Dou Eqing's sea of ​​consciousness, and the soul pressure of the peak Tribulation Transcending Realm almost crushed his self-awareness.

This is a battle of souls, far more dangerous than physical combat; the loser will be doomed and utterly vanish into the world.

Dou Eqing's spirit body and main soul fought desperately, but the quality and experience of the opponent's soul power far surpassed his. His soul defenses crumbled step by step, and his consciousness was like a candle flame in a storm, flickering and about to go out.

Just as he was about to be devoured and merged by that ancient remnant soul, Dou Eqing made an extremely crazy decision on the verge of life and death!
Instead of defending with all his might, he deliberately loosened the defenses of part of his soul core and, with all his remaining will, activated a hidden mark that had long been engraved deep within the origin of his soul—the [Demon Slave Mark]!
However, the target of this Demon Slave Seal is not someone else, but himself!
"Want to merge with me? Then come on! Let's see who will be the ultimate slave master!"

Unsuspecting of any deception, the ancient remnant soul, seeing Dou Eqing's defenses crumble, joyfully charged in and began the deepest fusion with Dou Eqing's soul.

It intended to erase Dou Eqing's consciousness and take control.

However, just as the fusion was about to be completed, the power of the contract of the [Demon Slave Seal] was completely triggered because its "master" (Dou Eqing's self-designation) was eroded by an external consciousness!
The reversal has begun!

Originally, Dou Eqing's consciousness was about to be erased, but the power of the Demon Slave Seal's rules forcibly intervened, determining that the new consciousness after fusion should be dominated by Dou Eqing's "mark".

Under the rules, the consciousness of that ancient remnant soul became a "subsidiary" that needed to be suppressed and enslaved!
"No! What kind of evil magic is this?! Ah—!"

The ancient remnant soul let out a terrified and unwilling roar, but the power of the rules continued to operate mercilessly.

Its memories, experiences, and even its understanding of the laws flooded into Dou Eqing's consciousness like a burst dam, while its independent consciousness was quickly smoothed out and enslaved under the contract of the Demon Slave Seal, turning into a pure treasure trove of energy and knowledge.

He narrowly escaped death!

For the next ten years, Dou Eqing's true form sat cross-legged in this silent void, fully absorbing and refining this source of cultivation at the peak of the Tribulation Transcending Realm.

A boundless, ocean-like power washed over his meridians, nourishing his divine soul and demonic body, propelling him to unprecedented heights.

When he opened his eyes again, the pressure emanating from his body was earth-shattering, reaching the late stage of the Tribulation Transcending Realm!

Ten years of preparation have led to success in one fell swoop.

With ruthless cunning and the courage to face death, he ultimately turned this extraordinary opportunity into the foundation for his ascent to the pinnacle of the cultivation world.

The ten years of confinement in the Soul Abyss of Merit not only caused Dou Eqing's cultivation to surge to the late stage of the Tribulation Transcending Realm, but also allowed him to taste the sweetness of the great opportunity of "devouring remnant souls and inheriting cultivation."

The enormous gains, like the most tempting poison, fueled an uncontrollable greed in his heart.

Although his divine soul and demonic body had already recovered to their original state after absorbing the essence of the first remnant soul at the peak of the Tribulation Transcending stage, and were even better than before, Dou Eqing was reluctant to leave this graveyard where despair and opportunity coexisted.

Like a gambler who has lost everything, he always thinks he can win more in the next round, completely forgetting the ancient dangers that have always plagued this place.

In the years that followed, he dragged Yang Yang along, wandering like ghosts deeper into the forbidden area, relentlessly searching for similar beings.

During this time, they encountered powerful, aggregated vengeful spirits several times, or triggered deadly restrictions left over from ancient times. If it weren't for Yang Yang's extraordinary sensitivity to the aura of resentment, and the fact that Dou Eqing's cultivation had greatly improved and his strength was now far beyond what it used to be, the two of them would have already been destroyed, becoming just another wisp of soul in this graveyard.

Even so, the repeated brushes with death only deepened the worry etched on Yang Yang's face.

"It's time to leave."

Yang Yang advised again, her voice filled with an undeniable weariness and determination, "You have already absorbed the fortune of this place once; you cannot force it a second time. If you linger any longer, unforeseen disaster may befall you."

Dou Eqing gazed at the still deep and unpredictable void before him, struggling internally for a long time before finally managing to suppress his greed and letting out a long sigh:
"Alright, let's go back first."

However, just as they were about to leave the core area of ​​the forbidden zone by following the path they had come from, an unusually subtle yet incredibly pure and vast fluctuation of soul power, like a lighthouse suddenly lit in the darkness, once again attracted Dou Eqing's attention!
Its quality even seems to surpass that of the previous peak remnant soul!
In an instant, the suppressed greed erupted like wildfire!
"Dharma protector!"

A hint of almost insane determination flashed in Dou Eqing's eyes. He gave a low shout to Yang Yang and the Divine Soul Demon Body standing solemnly to the side. Without hesitation, he sat down cross-legged and released his own divine soul aura without reservation, like the sweetest bait, towards the direction from which the fluctuation came!

"you!"

Upon seeing this, Yang Yang turned pale, but it was too late to stop it.

She never expected that Dou Eqing would be so crazy as to take such a risky step on his way out!

Sure enough, the hidden entity was completely aroused by this vibrant aura of divine soul.

A remnant soul consciousness, far more ancient, sinister, and cunning than the previous one, carrying the terrifying pressure of a peak Tribulation Transcending Realm cultivator, roared and charged into Dou Eqing's sea of ​​consciousness like a vicious dragon that had discovered a peerless treasure!
"Another excellent 'cauldron' has arrived! Heaven is helping me, Old Demon Dou!"

The familiar battle of possession is playing out once again.

Despite enduring the excruciating pain of his soul being torn apart, Dou Eqing felt a twisted excitement in his heart.

He used his old tricks again with practiced ease—actively guiding the fusion and secretly activating the [Demon Slave Mark] engraved on his body!
"Following the same pattern, this time, I will aim straight for the peak!"

In the void, Dou Eqing's aura fluctuated violently, and his divine soul and demonic body rose in demonic flames in a state of alert. Yang Yang frowned, fully deploying his divine sense to guard the surroundings, his heart filled with unease.

Will this "opportunity" go as smoothly as he wishes?
Is this final gamble within the Forbidden Soul of Merit a shortcut to the pinnacle, or a trap leading to utter ruin?
Everything remains to be seen.

Dou Eqing sat cross-legged in the void, his entire mind immersed in the perilous battle with that ancient remnant soul. Relying on the unpredictable nature of the [Demon Slave Seal], he was gradually eroding and devouring the opponent's massive cultivation and memories.

He thought he had everything under control, unaware that a great danger was quietly approaching.

Just as he reached the most crucial moment in his refining process, a sudden change occurred!

"Hehehe... Old friend, it seems you've run into some trouble, being driven to this point by a junior!"

A sinister and eerie mental fluctuation, like a cold, venomous snake, suddenly emanated from another distorted void.

Immediately afterwards, another huge, filthy soul shadow condensed and appeared, its aura originating from the same source as the remnant soul being refined by Dou Eqing, and even more cunning and violent!
This was actually a "companion" that remnant soul had made in this place over the long years—a strange being who had also reached the peak of the Tribulation Transcending Realm!
Without the slightest hesitation, this newly appeared remnant soul creature transformed into a torrent of shadow that devoured everything, rushing towards Dou Eqing, who was unable to move an inch at the critical moment!
Its goal is clear—to interrupt the refining process, rescue its companions, and perhaps... even get a share of the spoils!

"Don't think about it!"

Yang Yang and the Divine Soul Heavenly Demon Body shouted simultaneously.

They knew that if Dou Eqing was disturbed at this moment, not only would all their previous efforts be in vain, but they might also suffer a counterattack from the two remnant souls, and be instantly annihilated!

With no room for retreat, a fierce battle to defend the city erupted instantly.

With a wave of her jade hand, Yang Yang unleashed rays of clear light, which transformed into layers of barriers in an attempt to block them.

The demonic roar of the Divine Soul Heavenly Demon Body shook the heavens, and its enormous demonic body erupted with monstrous demonic flames as it clashed head-on with the attack.

However, the disadvantages are too great!
They not only had to face a remnant soul at the peak of its tribulation, but also had to protect Dou Eqing, who was unable to move behind them. They were constrained at every turn and had to be careful not to harm the enemy.

In contrast, the remnant soul creature thrived in this forbidden realm of merit and souls that it had cultivated for countless years.

It stirred up endless resentment and death energy from all around, transforming into countless twisted tentacles and vicious curses that attacked from all directions.

It also stirred up the remaining fragments of laws in the void, forming deadly traps.

“Boom! Swish—!”

The demonic flames and the clear light flickered constantly under the impact of the murky shadows.

To protect Dou Eqing's true form, the Divine Soul Demon Body repeatedly withstood fatal attacks with its massive body, resulting in terrifying wounds torn open on its demonic body and its soul light dimming rapidly.

Yang Yang was trying to defend against a sinister curse that was aimed at Dou Eqing's spirit, but a shadowy tentacle took advantage of the situation and entered her.

Although it was barely shaken off, the wisp of pink mist containing the tentacle, exuding a strange sweet fragrance, invaded the core of her soul like a bone-deep infection!
"Ugh..."

Yang Yang's delicate body trembled violently, letting out a suppressed groan of pain, and her cheeks instantly flushed an abnormal red.

That was no ordinary poison, but a "Soul-Burning Passion Poison" made by an ancient demon from the most lewd and lustful energy in the world. It specifically corrodes the soul and can ignite the most primal fire of desire, until it completely burns the soul of the poisoned person to ashes!

A burning desire spread like wildfire through her soul, rapidly devouring her reason and composure in the scorching torrent.

Her gaze toward Dou Eqing began to uncontrollably become tinged with a painful yet hazy longing, and her body trembled slightly, making it almost impossible for her to maintain her airborne posture.

The Heavenly Demon Body, with its divine soul alone, could not withstand the onslaught of the remnant soul creatures and was forced to retreat step by step, its injuries becoming increasingly severe.

The situation took a sharp turn for the worse!

Dou Eqing was still at the critical moment of refining, while his two protectors were on the verge of losing control due to a strange poison and burning lust, and were seriously injured and on the verge of collapse.

The shadow of death had never loomed so heavily over them.

This time, Dou Eqing's greed dragged everyone to the brink of utter ruin...

Fortunately, unlike Yang Yang and Yang Yang, his soul and the Heavenly Demon Body were completely separated, allowing him to remain fully aware of the outside world while dealing with the possession.

Seeing this, he had no choice but to take a risk.

He ordered the heavily injured Divine Soul Demon Body to take Yang Yang and escape from here first, without worrying about him.

If Yang Yang were to give such an order to Yang Yang, Yang Yang would definitely not agree.

However, the Divine Soul Demon Body completely obeyed the original body's commands.

(End of this chapter)