Tang Xiaoqi's earth‑shattering sword strike did more than clear out a large number of demonic creatures — it completely severed the reckless, death‑defying momentum of the demonic tide. The remaining demonic creatures still lingered around, emitting threatening growls, but cowed by the lingering might of that crimson‑gold sword light and the god‑like figure standing tall, they dared not launch another suicidal charge. The pressure on the Demon‑Subduing Squad eased dramatically, allowing them to catch their breath and hold their defensive perimeter around the sealed array eye even more firmly.
Ao Zhan, Ling Shuang, and the others seized the opportunity to regulate their breathing and recover their greatly depleted spiritual power, all while keeping a wary eye on the movements of the surrounding demonic creatures. Shi Yi, however, remained utterly focused. His hands moved like butterflies through flowers as he struck the final few spiritual incantations into the base of the array eye. Five top‑grade spirit stones had already been embedded into the key nodes, emitting a soft, steady spiritual radiance that faintly resonated with the ancient runes on the weathered stone pillars. Chains of pure spiritual energy began to coil around the most critical cracks in the seal, and the seepage of demonic energy visibly slowed.
The temporary reinforcement was nearly complete.
Yet, at this moment when victory seemed within reach, Tang Xiaoqi — who had been standing beside the largest crack, using his Green Lotus Domain to suppress the backlash of demonic energy and create a stable environment for Shi Yi — suddenly furrowed his brows.
An extremely eerie sensation, like a cold viper, silently slithered up his spine.
It was not an external attack, nor a physical erosion by demonic energy, but a whisper that acted directly upon the mind, upon the very depths of the soul.
At first, the voice was barely audible, mixed in with the howling wind‑sand and the roars of demonic creatures. But soon, like a bone‑gnawing parasite, it bypassed his formidable spiritual sense defense and the purifying radiance of his Green Lotus Origin, sounding directly inside his sea of consciousness.
It was not any known language — more like a direct transmission of intent, twisted and chaotic, yet carrying an indescribable allure that targeted the weak points of the human heart.
*"… Power… you crave greater power, don't you?"*
A magnetic, seductive voice sounded, as if his innermost desires had been amplified and given form. *"Look at you. You've just formed your Golden Core, yet you already possess such might. But it's not enough… far from enough. Nascent Soul? Spirit Transformation? Or even that elusive Immortal Path? The road is long, the tribulations many… Why endure such hardship? Embrace me, accept one of the most fundamental sources of power in this world, and you will instantly gain the strength to crush everything! Your enemies, your obstacles — they will all be trampled beneath your feet like ants! Qingxu Temple will bow to you alone, and the Three Realms will tremble in your grasp!"*
The voice was highly inflammatory, and simultaneously, Xiaoqi seemed to see illusions before his eyes: he saw himself waving a hand to make stars fall, treading the void while ten thousand immortals paid homage, even that arrogant demonic entity groveling and begging at his feet… That was the thrill of absolute power — the pleasure of controlling everything.
Xiaoqi's mind wavered slightly, and the rotation of his Golden Core seemed to speed up for a moment. But his Dao‑heart was firm. He instantly extinguished that ripple, his eyes clearing, and he snorted coldly: "A cheap trick to bewitch the heart!"
The whisper did not seem surprised. It immediately changed its tone, becoming sorrowful and full of sympathy:
*"… Lonely, aren't you? Bearing such heavy expectations, protecting those fragile beings. Xu Zhan's sacrifice, your master's dissipation, the departure of your companions… Aren't you tired? Don't you resent it? Why must you always be the one to give and to bear the burden? Give up. Set down this pointless responsibility and pursue your own carefree ease. The world is vast — where can you not go? Why clip your own wings for the sake of these insignificant ants who have nothing to do with you?"*
The illusions changed again: he saw the relief yet guilt in his father Xu Zhan's eyes as he dissipated, the tragic grandeur of his master turning into specks of starlight, Zhao Tiezhu's resolute departing back, the hidden worry beneath Mu Xue's cool expression… An indescribable wave of exhaustion and loneliness surged over his heart. Yes, protecting — it was truly so, so tiring…
Xiaoqi took a deep breath. Pain flickered in his eyes, but determination shone even brighter. He remembered the morning bells and evening drums of Qingxu Temple, the caring gazes of his senior fellow disciples, the sincere congratulations of the myriad spirits at the Wu Village in the Southern Frontier, the desperate cries of those innocent beings slaughtered by demonic creatures… Protecting was not a burden — it was the Dao he had chosen! It was the meaning of his existence!
"My Dao — how could you shake it!" he growled. The Green Lotus Origin blazed brightly in his sea of consciousness, dispelling the negative emotions trying to seep in.
The whisper shifted again, this time filled with cold mockery and a probing question that struck at the very essence:
*"… Dao? What is Dao? Purification? Protection? Ridiculous! Behind light lies shadow; the end of creation is destruction! You use the Green Lotus to purify demonic energy, yet you do not realize that the ultimate purification itself is a form of rejection, a form of destruction! You protect living beings — have you ever asked whether those you protect are worthy? The evil in the human heart is worse than demonic fiends! Look at this world — greed, jealousy, betrayal, war… Which of these does not originate from you self‑righteous beings? Demons are merely the amplification of the desires within their hearts! What, exactly, are you protecting? A bunch of pathetic creatures doomed to wallow in desire and tear each other apart?"*
This interrogation was like the sharpest knife, stabbing directly into the core of Xiaoqi's Dao‑heart! Yes, along his journey, he had witnessed too many dark sides of humanity: the infighting within the Alliance, deadly struggles over resources, betrayal and deception… Was what he protected truly pure? Did the Path of Purification, by rejecting what was different, itself tend toward an extreme?
For an instant, a fine crack appeared in Xiaoqi's Dao‑heart, and the light of the Green Lotus in his sea of consciousness dimmed slightly. A barely perceptible disturbance rippled through his aura.
"True Lord?!" Shi Yi, who was closest to him, was the first to notice the anomaly and looked at him in alarm.
Xiaoqi bit the tip of his tongue. The sharp pain and the taste of blood snapped him back to clarity. Golden light burst from his eyes, and the Green Lotus in his sea of consciousness spun wildly, forcibly suppressing the cold interrogation and self‑doubt.
"Yin and yang give rise to each other; light and darkness coexist — this is the Heavenly Dao! Though the human heart has evil thoughts, it also has goodness and radiance! My Dao is to protect that goodness, to guide that radiance, to cleanse the filth — not to annihilate everything! My purification is to dispel darkness and bring forth life, not destruction! You — do not think you can shake my Dao‑heart!"
His voice rang out like a great bell, not only responding to the demonic whisper but also reaffirming his own conviction.
Seeming to sense that its seductive words and probing questions could no longer move this "stubborn stone," the existence deep underground lost patience. The whisper suddenly turned shrill, filled with the most primal malice and madness:
*"Obstinate fool! Then sink together with everything you protect! Once this king completely breaks free of this accursed seal, I will annihilate your souls and turn this world into a demonic domain!"*
After this venomous curse, the whisper abruptly ceased, as if it had never existed.
But Xiaoqi knew it was no illusion. That was a projection of intent from the sealed demonic entity itself! Although it had been re‑sealed by the power of the Green Lotus, its influence had actually managed to penetrate through the damaged array eye, across an infinite distance, directly into his mind!
This proved that the demonic entity's power was still growing, and its ability to bewitch the mind was even more insidious and unavoidable! It also meant that the current demonic plague was not an isolated incident, but the prelude and foundation for that ultimate confrontation!
Xiaoqi suppressed the palpitations in his heart. His eyes grew colder and more determined. He glanced at Shi Yi, who was about to complete the reinforcement, then looked toward the depths of the crack — seemingly bottomless, still seeping wisps of demonic energy.
"Just wait. No matter where you are hiding, one day, I will completely purify you!"