Chapter 2186: Battle of the Demon World Forgetting Emotion Technique

Han Li's expression subtly shifted when he heard Ancestor Ao Xiao's question. His eyes instinctively narrowed as he met the other's gaze directly.

"Does Senior believe this junior succeeded?" Han Li finally asked in return, his composure restored after a moment.

"While the Spirit Cleansing Pond and the Pure Spirit Lotus are indeed renowned, and many powerful individuals across various realms have sought them, I've rarely heard of anyone truly achieving their goal. Logically, even if you managed to return safely from the Demonic Realm, the chances of you obtaining such an opportunity shouldn't be high. However, for some reason, the moment I saw you, I suddenly felt that your opportunity might not be as slim as I had initially imagined. You must have succeeded, right?" Ancestor Ao Xiao said with a hint of solemnity after a moment of hesitation.

"Since Senior believes this junior must have succeeded, then let's assume I have indeed entered the Spirit Cleansing Pond," Han Li replied with a smile after his thoughts raced for a few moments.

In the past, he naturally wouldn't have easily revealed such information in front of a powerful being.

But now, he had cultivated the Nirvana Saint Body to the second stage, allowing him to wield the Profound Spirit Sword. With Daoist Crab also by his side, he possessed the power to contend even with ordinary Mahayana cultivators, thus he had fewer reservations.

Furthermore, Han Li was even more curious to see how this demon race Mahayana cultivator would react after hearing his answer.

"Good, very good. Since you have entered the Spirit Cleansing Pond and consumed the Pure Spirit Lotus, you naturally have a greater chance of advancing to the Mahayana stage in the future. However, if that's the case, everything I previously planned for Silvermoon was superfluous and greatly mistaken. Had I known this, I shouldn't have prevented her from seeing you sooner and from cultivating that particular technique," Ancestor Ao Xiao replied, his expression turning strange, a hint of regret in his voice, upon hearing Han Li's words.

"Superfluous? That technique?"

Han Li frowned slightly upon hearing this, his gaze sweeping over Silvermoon's serene face. He vaguely guessed something, and his heart sank.

"Cultivating the Emotion Severing Art was my own choice; how can I blame grandfather for it? Besides, if it weren't for this technique, how would I have mended the flaws in my mindset and advanced to the Integration stage? After cultivating this technique, Ling'er realized that all love and hatred in the world are merely superfluous things, and only the Great Dao is what we cultivators ultimately seek. As long as I diligently cultivate in the future, this current bottleneck will surely be broken," Silvermoon said with unusual calm.

"Emotion Severing Art! Bottleneck? Senior, what exactly happened? Could there be an issue with the cultivation technique Silvermoon is practicing?" Han Li finally couldn't hold back and asked.

"Even if you didn't ask, I would have explained it to you in detail. However, this is not a place to linger. My mission in the demonic territory is almost complete. You and Daoist Crab should return to the Allied Forces' main camp with me for now. I will explain the relevant matters in more detail on the way," Ancestor Ao Xiao said slowly.

"Since it is Senior's invitation, this junior will naturally obey," Han Li replied, suppressing the doubts in his heart. After a brief consideration, he immediately agreed.

Silvermoon's eyes flickered a few times, but she said nothing further.

"Excellent! Bring tea, and immediately set course back to 'Kapok City.' Both of you, please be seated, and we can discuss further," Ancestor Ao Xiao said with satisfaction, nodding before giving an immediate command to someone outside the hall.

"Yes, Master!"

Several stiff voices immediately responded from outside the hall. The silver flying ark trembled slightly, then emitted a buzzing sound as it shot through the air.

Seeing this, Han Li and Daoist Crab also sat down in the nearby seats as instructed.

Almost at the same time, light footsteps sounded outside the hall door. Several silver-haired maidens, clad in silver gauze robes, entered, each carrying a tea tray, and respectfully presented a cup of emerald green spirit tea to each of them.

Han Li's mind was preoccupied with Silvermoon, so he naturally had no inclination to savor the seemingly extraordinary spirit tea.

Out of politeness, he merely touched his lips to the tea before placing the cup on a nearby table, then quietly waited for Ancestor Ao Xiao to speak again.

Daoist Crab, however, was somewhat unexpected. After briefly examining the teacup in his hand, he drained its contents in one gulp, then tilted his head and said blankly:

"Not bad. The special spiritual energy in this tea seems to be of slight benefit to me. Daoist Ao, do you have more?"

"Haha, Brother Crab is truly forthright. Don't worry, although this Azure Dragon Tea is rare, I have several catties here. If Brother Crab likes it, I'll give it to you later," Ancestor Ao Xiao replied, his eyes brightening, without hesitation.

It seemed he was very keen on winning over the Golden Giant Crab.

"Then I thank you," Daoist Crab merely nodded and fell silent.

Ancestor Ao Xiao, well aware of the other's identity as a pseudo-immortal automaton, naturally didn't take offense. Instead, he turned to Silvermoon, a trace of tenderness flashing in his eyes as he said:

"Ling'er, you haven't been cultivating the Emotion Severing Art for long, and your mindset isn't yet fully stable. It's better to return to your private chamber to meditate. Don't let anything else happen. I can accompany these two Daoists by myself for now."

"Since it is grandfather's command, Ling'er will naturally obey," Silvermoon replied after a moment's thought, immediately agreeing.

After bowing slightly to Han Li and Daoist Crab, she calmly exited the main hall, her expression remaining serene, as if Han Li were still merely an ordinary acquaintance in her eyes.

Han Li stared at her receding back, his lips moving slightly, but he remained silent, not uttering a word.

Ancestor Ao Xiao observed both their expressions, a bitter smile involuntarily appearing on his face. Only after Silvermoon had completely disappeared from the hall did he speak again:

"Daoist Han, I presume you've already learned something about Linglong's origins and what happened before she met you, through others."

"I have indeed heard a few things, but it seems she has been kept by Senior's side ever since she returned to the Spirit Realm," Han Li replied.

"That is correct. The day she returned from the Human Realm, she didn't go back to her clan but came directly to my secluded cultivation retreat. She knelt outside my cultivation array for seven days and seven nights. I still vividly remember her emaciated appearance when I finally couldn't bear it anymore and opened the barrier to let her in..." Ancestor Ao Xiao sighed, then began to recount in an unusually low voice.

Han Li listened quietly, a faint light flickering in his eyes.

Time passed slowly, and Ancestor Ao Xiao's narration was very deliberate.

Sometimes, seemingly ordinary matters related to Silvermoon were recounted with exceptional detail, yet Han Li subtly gleaned insights from them. Strange emotions surged within him, but his face betrayed nothing.

"By the time I realized something was wrong, it was too late. Ling'er had already cultivated the Emotion Severing Art to a minor completion. Although she was far from severing all emotions, I dared not let her leave my side easily. That's why, even for dangerous missions like infiltrating the demon race, I had to bring this girl with me to feel at ease. I never expected, however, that Daoist Han would return alive from the Demonic Realm and that I would coincidentally encounter you. It seems there truly is a hint of heavenly will at play," Ancestor Ao Xiao finally concluded his narration after a full short hour. He sighed, then fell silent.

Han Li's expression was grim. After pondering for a long while, he slowly asked:

"So, Daoist Linglong's coldness towards me is entirely due to the Emotion Severing Art. And after she entered the Integration stage by relying on this technique, Senior discovered that Linglong's physique is actually not suited for it. If she were to truly cultivate the Emotion Severing Art to its extreme, her magic power would backfire, and she would lose all her cultivation. Furthermore, this Emotion Severing Art is a technique where, if cultivation stops, one will regress rather than progress. Even if Silvermoon abandons further cultivation of this art, there will still be endless repercussions, and her magic power will stagnate from then on."

"Not only that, but because her physique clashes with this cultivation method, the Emotion Severing Art's initial few layers haven't been as effective on Linglong as I expected. Currently, for one-third of the day, Linglong can barely maintain her true self, while for the remaining time, she will be completely influenced by the Emotion Severing Art, becoming like what you just saw. As this technique's cultivation deepens, the time Linglong can remain herself will only grow shorter, eventually disappearing entirely," Ancestor Ao Xiao said after a moment of silence, revealing something that made Han Li pause.

"What? According to Senior, Silvermoon still has time each day when she can return to her original self? I recall that when Silvermoon first appeared during my confrontation with Yuansha, her expression was vastly different from later, almost as if she were two different people," Han Li said, a hint of joy in his voice.

"Daoist Han, do you think it's a good thing for a person's mindset and emotions to undergo such drastic changes every day? For someone with a slightly weaker will, they wouldn't even be able to cultivate or meditate normally; they would probably suffer spiritual fragmentation and go mad within a short time. Every few days now, I must perform a spirit-镇压ing technique to forcefully mend the damage to Linglong's spiritual consciousness. This is also the main reason why I cannot easily let her leave my side," Ancestor Ao Xiao said, shaking his head.

"Since this Emotion Severing Art was prepared for Linglong by Senior, is there no way to counteract it? And Senior is a Mahayana cultivator, your divine abilities are vast, so surely this matter shouldn't be too difficult for you," Han Li asked urgently, his expression changing.

"Linglong is my direct bloodline; if I had a way, I would naturally have already used it. But then again, if Ling'er hadn't awakened her innate Seven-Star Moon Body physique, even with the Emotion Severing Art, I truly would have a way to resolve it. However, now the Emotion Severing Art and this physique, being both mutually restraining and mutually reinforcing, have long become intertwined. Even with my profound abilities, I can only stand by helplessly," Ancestor Ao Xiao said, his eye twitching twice. After a moment of hesitation, he revealed a secret that he originally intended to keep from everyone.