How the senior cultivators would react, the secrets of the [Tribulation], and the intentions of the Dao Lords—these were all things Lu Yang had to worry about. For Chong Guang, however, there wasn't much to fret over.
Those matters were simply too far beyond his reach.
Although he could now peer into the [Sea of Bitterness] and see the monumental path of the [Tribulation], his focus was largely on himself.
Right now, I am no different from an Inner Demon.
Cultivators seek the Golden Core and are called Perfected Ones. Perhaps I can now call myself a [True Demon].
Sensing the changes within himself, Chong Guang felt that the five Inner Demon divine abilities he previously wielded had all been elevated to another level, transforming into methods akin to Dao Fruit concepts.
More importantly, his mind remained clear.
But this wasn't the end.
I no longer have a soul or sea of consciousness. I am entirely an illusory entity, sustained only by my true consciousness controlling this Inner Demon body.
This is my current method of cultivation. Using my true consciousness to control the Inner Demon certainly allows me to unleash its power, but the deeper my control, the easier it is to be influenced by it. I could be eroded without realizing it, and eventually, my true self would dissipate. Instead of gaining autonomy, I would become a puppet of the Inner Demon.
Every movement is cultivation.
If one day I can completely control the Inner Demon with my true consciousness without being influenced by it, perhaps I can step into an entirely new realm.
Chong Guang attained a clear understanding, feeling only joy.
Because this was exactly what he wanted!
The seat of a True Demon is certainly good, but how could I just stop here? I must forge ahead courageously. With the path forward clear, this is truly a joyous occasion.
Just then, the sound of a vast, surging tide suddenly echoed across the dome of heaven. Following a deafening rumble, a boundless heavenly river, over ten thousand feet high, cascaded down, filling the universe. Atop the river stood a stunningly beautiful woman dressed as a noble lady, hands on her hips, walking over with a hearty laugh.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Three "goods," laced with admiration and joy. Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue looked at Chong Guang with satisfaction and smiled. "I didn't expect you to encounter such fortune."
"Chong Guang greets the Perfected Lord," he replied, sweeping his sleeve and bowing with the courtesy of a disciple.
Seeing this, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue wiped the smile from her face. She cupped her hands in return, treating him as an equal, and replied solemnly, "Xue Feihong greets fellow Daoist."
Before her voice had even faded, the screech of a sword rang out from afar.
"Clang!"
The sword arrived with the sound. The next second, a magnificent sword light tore through the void and crashed down on Chong Guang, cleaving him cleanly in half from top to bottom.
Yet, the bisected Chong Guang showed no panic. Instead, he gave his body a shake and simply split into two identical figures. Both smiled lightly at the same time. "This junior admires Senior Gangxing's sword light and sword intent. However, to kill this junior with it... I'm afraid it falls a bit short."
Jiangnan, Extreme Heaven Cliff.
Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao frowned slightly. Because he had forcefully elevated his stature earlier to save Perfected One Subduing-Spirits, his face still bore a sickly pallor.
Therefore, he hadn't elevated his stature for the sword strike he just launched at Chong Guang. Even so, most early-stage Golden Core cultivators would find it very difficult to block.
Yet, Chong Guang had deflected it.
Just what kind of monster is this? He clearly has no Dao Fruit, yet he possesses the stature of a Perfected Lord, and his divine abilities and methods even surpass ordinary Golden Core Perfected Ones...
Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao pondered internally, already starting to find Chong Guang troublesome. However, he couldn't show any weakness on his face. He immediately said coldly, "I wondered who it was, but it's just a disciple of the Demonic Path, a mere phantom. Xue Feihong, are you sure you want to harbor your prized disciple?"
At this point, his voice suddenly amplified.
The vast Immortal Nexus, the Dao Court, the Pure Land, and the overseas regions all heard his voice. "Know this: the souls of those killed by this demon will not remain!"
"Zhengde's soul has already scattered and his spirit dispersed!"
Before his voice faded, the Perfected Lords who had been watching with a spectator's mindset immediately changed their expressions. Chong Guang instantly felt himself become the target of everyone's ire.
As expected...
Chong Guang's expression didn't change at the sight. He wasn't surprised either, because Inner Demons fed on souls, fundamentally placing them in direct opposition to cultivators.
Furthermore, he was conscious.
If he were a chaotic entity, that would be one thing. But a conscious, intelligent Inner Demon was entirely capable of becoming the nightmare of every Golden Core Perfected Lord.
With my cultivation, as long as my strength is sufficient, even the 'immortal and indestructible' trait of middle-stage Golden Core cultivators would probably become a joke in front of me. After all, their so-called immortality just means they can instantly return to their positions after reincarnation. But those I kill won't even have the chance to reincarnate...
At the same time, booming voices were already echoing:
"Feixue, this person cannot be spared!"
"An Inner Demon becoming real will bring chaos to the Immortal Nexus!"
"He must be killed!"
When it came to major issues of right and wrong that involved their own safety, the Perfected Lords of the Immortal Nexus saw things very clearly. Voices of Perfected Lords even echoed from within the Saint Sect.
Seeing this scene, Chong Guang turned to look at Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue.
"Well?"
She stood there, hands still on her hips, completely ignoring the external criticism. With a half-smile, she said, "If you're afraid, it's not like I can't protect you."
"...No need."
Chong Guang shook his head. Regarding this Perfected Lord who had supported him since his time as a Natural Immortal Spirit, he believed he understood her personality and style quite well.
In a word: Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue had a wicked heart.
If I begged the Perfected Lord to help me now, she would most likely agree, and then figure out a way to sell me for a good price, simply because I don't suit her taste.
Thinking of this, Chong Guang also smiled.
Even setting aside the weighing of interests, he didn't actually want to seek her help. In this regard, he had always shared the same mindset as her.
That was—
"Thank you for your profound affection, Perfected Lord. However, a person must ultimately rely on themselves!"
Before he finished speaking, Chong Guang's figure was already flying towards the outer heavens, while an irrepressible look of admiration surfaced in Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue's eyes again.
"A phantom wants to leave?"
At the same time, seeing Chong Guang's streak of light darting away, about to escape the Immortal Nexus, Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao immediately slashed out a sword light, attempting to intercept him.
However, the next second.
"Get back!"
The boundless heavenly river rolled back, spreading across the firmament. A single wave swallowed and shattered the sword light, buying precious time for Chong Guang to escape the Immortal Nexus.
"Feixue! You..." Perfected Lord Gangxing Budao's face instantly darkened.
"Me what?"
Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue sneered. "So his soul scattered? Its not a big deal. Don't try to use the Sword Pavilion's logic to pressure me. If someone gets killed, they can only blame their own incompetence."
"Besides, the source of the Inner Demon isn't Chong Guang."
"The Mystic Spirit World Realm is right outside. That Immortal Lord Master of Tribulations and Ferryman of Karma is the true instigator of the Inner Demons. If you really want to deal with the Inner Demons, you should go ask him."
With that, she directly withdrew the heavenly river and rode a streak of light back to the Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea. Meanwhile, Hong Yun's soul seemed to have left his body, completely stunned.
Chong Guang became a Perfected Lord?
Wasn't his Dao path completely severed?! How did he become a Perfected Lord? Becoming a Perfected Lord isn't that easy! It's been five thousand years and I still haven't reclaimed my position...
Huh?
He didn't snap out of it until Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue landed. He subconsciously blurted out, "Hong Ju has already retrieved the shard. I will be able to seek the Golden Core again very soon."
"Oh."
Hearing this, Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue's expression remained unchanged. She merely shot him an indifferent glance, then walked into her bedchambers without looking back and sealed the doors shut.
In an instant, Hong Yun's face contorted.
Am I really inferior to a junior? What a joke!
In that single glance from Perfected Lord Qingcheng Feixue, he felt like he saw contempt and disdain. His mental state completely crumbled in an instant, and traces of black mist even began to seep from his eyes.
An Inner Demon was about to be born!
[Arctic Exorcism Court]
Chong Guang arrived at this place once more. Looking at the young Daoist seated at the head, he bowed respectfully. "Thank you for bestowing the Dao, Immortal Lord. This one's gratitude is boundless."
"You're too polite, fellow Daoist."
Lu Yang opened his eyes upon hearing this, looking at Chong Guang with a strange gaze. An irrepressible thought bloomed in his mind: Should I just take my martial uncle in?