Chapter 1670: Dharma Appearance and Reversal Sea

“The path of cultivation has infinite variables and endless subtleties.” These were Madam Zhu’s insights from many years. “A little too much might be a mistake, a little too little might lead to failure. The difficulty of cultivation lies in delicate balance and wise choices.”

Everyone understood. That’s why powerful demons like Madam Zhu, with their strong innate talents, chose a specialized path from the very beginning, focusing on quality over quantity.

What suits oneself best is truly the best.

However, finding what “suits” you requires immense effort and a great deal of luck. “So many cultivators and demons in this world spend their entire lives unable to pinpoint their direction, hesitating, taking detours, and ultimately wasting their lives away.”

These concepts were still too profound for everyone. Wanqiu Feng scratched his head and brought the conversation back to the main point: “Does every external Dharma Body need to be cultivated? Wouldn’t their skill levels vary then?”

“Of course. Different Dharma Bodies of the same immortal can have varying levels of cultivation, depending on which one received more effort and resources. As the saying goes, no pain, no gain. A Dharma Body, just like the main body, cannot become powerful without diligent cultivation.”

Madam Zhu said earnestly, “Even in ancient times, immortals typically refined only one or two Dharma Bodies, just enough to compensate for their weaknesses, daring not to be greedy. Any exceptions involved those with vast resources, either possessing immense treasure or being the head of a major sect.”

“High status?”

“Yes, high position and great power make everything easier,” Madam Zhu said wistfully. “The same was true in ancient times.”

The more power one wields and the more resources one controls—this has never changed from ancient times to the present.

Solitary demons like Madam Zhu were at a disadvantage in this regard, which deepened her understanding.

He Lingchuan pondered, “So, what are external Dharma Bodies made from?”

No matter what you refine, there must be raw materials, right? He needed a large pile of materials to upgrade his Golden-Armored Bronze General. It couldn’t be that external Dharma Bodies are conjured out of thin air, could it?

“You’ve hit the nail on the head,” Madam Zhu said, giving him an approving look. “Dharma Bodies can be both illusory and corporeal. If it’s merely an emanation of the main body, it can materialize from nothing for a short time. But for long-term physical manifestation, it’s called an external avatar. There are many refining methods. The simplest is to modify the physical body of another demon, the stronger the better, and then infuse one’s own inner core or spirit as the central control.”

He Lingchuan raised an eyebrow. “The body of another demon? Like an Yin Kui?”

“Yes, that’s a lazy method. But because the refining process requires infusing the main body’s own flesh, blood, or inner core, the resulting avatar might change its characteristics, which is uncontrollable,” Madam Zhu mused. “This giant Kui, which consumes cold energy instead of malevolent energy and has been sealed beneath Jade Spring Palace for years, might be exhibiting the characteristics of its true master.”

He Lingchuan was curious: “How is this kind of avatar different from a demon puppet?”

“They’re completely different, of course!” Madam Zhu glared at him. “Whether it’s a Dharma Body or an avatar, it’s a part of you. It won’t betray you or turn against you. You control it just as you control your own body, without any hindrance. Furthermore, once an avatar is refined and formed, it cannot be altered. If you absolutely must change it, you’d have to reabsorb it and refine a new one. It’s not like Dong Rui, who’s constantly tinkering with his demon puppets.”

“I see,” He Lingchuan rubbed his chin. “The Yin Kui King of our Yangshan Archipelago once said that their kind originally lived for generations in the Upside-Down Sea, but a drastic change occurred there, and malevolent energy disappeared. Ling Shan told me that True Immortal Qianhuan is in secluded cultivation in the Upside-Down Sea and hasn’t emerged. Do you think this thing might be connected to True Immortal Qianhuan?”

“You think True Immortal Qianhuan captured this giant Kui in the Upside-Down Sea and refined it into his external Dharma Body?” Madam Zhu mused. “It’s not impossible. But why would this Dharma Body be at the bottom of the Jade Spring Palace in Yao Kingdom? Is it because the cold energy here is suitable for it? What’s its relationship with King Yao?”

King Yao used it as his trump card against Qingyang, Baitai, and even the Heavenly Gods, so he must have known its origins.

He Lingchuan sighed regretfully, “Unfortunately, King Yao can’t tell us anymore.”

“You’re so pessimistic about him?”

“He has no chance of winning.” As soon as the battle in Yao Palace began, He Lingchuan saw the outcome clearly. “His opponents are Qingyang and the Heavenly Gods, and his application of the giant Kui Dharma Body is very crude. The fact that Goddess Fenghu descended in person already shows considerable regard for him.”

Though he always felt that Goddess Fenghu’s descent was reluctant. If she hadn’t come down then, Baitai would have certainly died.

“Indeed,” Madam Zhu agreed. “That giant Kui must possess many more divine abilities and combat techniques than just horizontal and vertical slashes. That old human simply couldn’t utilize its full potential.”

Could an immortal’s external avatar truly be controlled by a mere mortal?

“But King Yao ultimately returned the inner core to the giant Kui, thereby relinquishing control—that was a clever move,” Madam Zhu commented. “If the giant Kui could fight autonomously, it would be far stronger than his clumsy command, and it would cause more trouble for Fenghu and Qingyang. Didn’t that play right into your hands?”

“It’s just a pity about the Fourth Prince,” He Lingchuan mused with some emotion. “If Yao Kingdom had any remaining fortune, it should have manifested in him. If Prince Rui could have grown up and successfully ascended to the throne, Yao Kingdom would still have hope for a revival.”

“You have a high opinion of him.”

“The fact that both Qingyang and Baitai wanted to eliminate him quickly shows they also saw Prince Rui as significant. The Yao royal bloodline must perish with Yao Kingdom; such a potential threat cannot be left alive.” He Lingchuan shook his head. “How many talented individuals in this world are ruthlessly destroyed before they even have a chance to grow?”

What good is talent and virtue? One cannot defy fate.

Even someone as noble, intelligent, and ambitious as the Fourth Prince of Yao Kingdom could not escape death in this great turmoil.

While they talked casually on the ground, a life-and-death battle was raging inside Yao Palace.

“Hey, look there!” Madam Zhu suddenly raised a paw and pointed towards the horizon.

In the dark sky, a silver light suddenly descended again, heading straight for Yao Palace.

The timing, the trajectory, the situation...

Soul Mirror gasped, “Another divine descent! Oh dear, it seems True Immortal Qianhuan’s external Dharma Body is proving very difficult to fight. Goddess Fenghu has called for backup!”

It was He Lingchuan’s first time witnessing a double divine descent, which was quite an eye-opener.

Don’t forget there was also Qingyang from Frost Immortal Palace, a powerful expert with profound cultivation.

Qingyang, two divine avatars—a three-on-one battle against True Immortal Qianhuan’s giant Kui Dharma Body.

This battle must be very exciting, but unfortunately, Madam Zhu’s spy eyeballs had been knocked down, so they couldn’t receive a live broadcast.

Everyone sighed in disappointment.

About fifteen minutes later, a strikingly bright white light suddenly shot up from Yao Palace.

“Huh?” Madam Zhu was puzzled. “That thing can fly?”

In this world, at this time, only avian demons and magical artifacts could fly.

But the white light circled once in the sky, then headed northwest.

The circling radius was very large, and Madam Zhu clearly saw that within the white light was actually a colossal white bird!