Chapter 1677: Appearing

Inside the mountain's depths, amidst dazzling golden light, a golden-armored giant stood tall. Its form was somewhat ethereal, yet it possessed unparalleled might in every movement.

Zhu Wudao's golden armor was a treasured piece meticulously refined over many years by the Quyong Mountain lineage. The armor was covered in intricate rune formations, integrating various defensive spells. The Demon Lord was sealed deep within the Hall of Heavenly Unity, and Zhu Wudao needed to bypass the surrounding immortal restrictions to reach him. Both the treasured armor and the Spirit-Suppressing Incense were prepared for this purpose, proving their considerable power.

At this moment, Zhu Wudao recklessly activated all the rune formations on the golden armor, willing to overdraw its power or even destroy it. His sole aim was to eliminate external interference and buy himself time. The Demon Scion had just been unsealed and was in his weakest state. If this opportunity was missed, another would not present itself. Once the Demon Scion recovered his strength, Zhu Wudao would be forced to submit, a fate he clearly wished to avoid.

The golden-armored giant detached from Zhu Wudao and took a step upward. Instantly, boundless golden light transformed into a golden wheel, rotating around the giant. Within the golden wheel, densely packed runes formed incredibly complex protective enchantments, manifesting countless smaller golden wheels that layered endlessly, creating an immense and formidable shield. Zhu Wudao concealed himself beneath the golden wheel.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The clang of metal against metal resounded continuously. Streaks of golden light erupted from the golden wheel, and the golden-armored giant was enveloped in dazzling golden radiance, as if burning with golden flames. Old Demon Fan and Daoist Master Hegao noticed the commotion below. Though unsure of the exact cause, they instinctively sensed an opportunity, unleashing their magic treasures to assault the golden-armored giant.

Just then, a figure descended from above. It was the Poison King. The Gu King in Qin Sang's possession was of immense significance to the Poison King, but he was unfortunately entangled by Qin Sang's avatar. The avatar wielded a spirit treasure, and its Glacial Soul Divine Light also made the Poison King wary, preventing him from shaking it off for a time.

The Poison King knew it would be difficult to gain any advantage over Qin Sang here. After learning about the mountain's upheaval from Daoist Master Hegao, he didn't hesitate long before prioritizing the most troublesome issue. Myriad Poison Mountain had a closer relationship with the Sweet Dew Zen Monastery. Although there were minor disputes with the Daoist sect, there was no deep-seated animosity. Even with Daoist Master Zilei achieving Nascent Soul cultivation, the Daoist sect would only maintain its strong position. The overall structure of the cultivation world wouldn't undergo significant changes. As Myriad Poison Mountain was far away in Manzhou, it would be even less affected. The Poison King was pleased to see the current trouble resolved. He was aware of the severity of the demonic tribulation. Myriad Poison Mountain, located in Manzhou and adjacent to Nanzhou, would be among the first top sects to suffer if the demonic tribulation re-emerged, along with Taiyue Sect.

Old Demon Fan glanced around and let out a soft scoff. Tianhao Tower was constantly embroiled in overt and covert struggles with both Daoist and Buddhist factions. He had no particular friendship with Daoist Master Hegao or the Poison King; in fact, there was some enmity between them. Yet, he never expected a day they would have to unite against a common foe. Upon learning the current situation from Daoist Master Hegao, the Poison King immediately took action. The three Grand Cultivators joined forces.

The dense golden light almost burst out of Dishou Mountain. Under successive heavy blows, even with its formidable defense, the golden-armored giant could no longer withstand the assault. Its knees buckled, and its form gradually shrank.

And at this moment, Zhu Wudao had already peeled off the Demon Scion's essence and swallowed it! The instant the essence entered his body, Zhu Wudao was suddenly startled. Within the essence was a demonic shadow, the residual will of the Demon Scion. The moment he swallowed it, Zhu Wudao met the shadow's gaze, which, as expected, burned with furious rage. The demonic shadow's mouth was wide open, as if roaring, but with Daoist Master Zilei's tribulation nearing completion and danger imminent, Zhu Wudao would not give the Demon Scion a chance to beguile him.

The Demon Scion's essence had entered his body. Zhu Wudao was momentarily stunned. Amidst the rage, was there also a hint of mockery? He couldn't dwell on it, for the impact of the Demon Scion's essence surged like a tsunami, threatening to shatter his nascent soul almost instantly. He was currently using an ancient demonic art, employing the most brutal method to fuse with and strengthen himself using the opponent's essence, essentially devouring it. This act was, in fact, a gamble, but Zhu Wudao believed his chances of success were high. Given the circumstances, he couldn't afford to make thorough preparations; the opportunity was fleeting, so he seized it.

At this point, the Spirit-Suppressing Incense's effect became evident. The spiritual incense burned. There was no fragrance, only a wisp of green smoke that drifted towards Zhu Wudao's nostrils, entering his body and permeating his nascent soul. It was this wisp of spiritual incense that allowed Zhu Wudao to maintain a degree of clarity, protect his core, and sustain the secret art, even when facing the Demon Scion's stubborn resistance during the absorption of his essence.

Soon, the essence became compatible with Zhu Wudao. He could feel the will within the Demon Scion's essence gradually turn chaotic, though his own consciousness was also somewhat hazy, and his body swayed unsteadily. Nevertheless, the absorption progressed smoothly and irresistibly. The Demon Scion's resistance was considerably weaker than Zhu Wudao had anticipated, indicating he had been severely worn down by the seal. His earlier urgency to escape was likely a desperate struggle. It proved that his strategy of luring the Purple Thunder to wear down the Demon Scion was correct.

The golden-armored giant sustained successive heavy blows, and the golden wheel began to scatter, on the verge of collapsing. Just as Daoist Master Zilei encountered his inner demon tribulation, the three individuals attacking the golden-armored giant sensed the change above and their expressions all shifted. A crane shadow soared into the sky, its cry piercing and mournful! Old Demon Fan and the Poison King exchanged a glance, utterly shocked that Daoist Master Zilei would encounter trouble during his inner demon tribulation.

Beneath the golden-armored giant, a similar tragedy was unfolding. As the secret art neared completion, and Zhu Wudao fused with the Demon Scion's essence, his cultivation began to surge. At that very moment, the Demonic Sound of the Heavenly Dao poured into his mind palace through the Demon Scion's essence, shattering his hope of achieving enlightenment!

"Argh!" A shrill, frenzied howl ripped through the air. Zhu Wudao was abruptly jolted awake, blood streaming from his seven orifices. His eyes were wide open, bloodshot, and his face contorted in intense agony. Although the Spirit-Suppressing Incense had a calming effect, its power was ultimately limited. It had reached its peak in helping him resist the Demon Scion; how could it possibly block the Demonic Sound of the Heavenly Dao? He finally understood why there had been mockery in the Demon Scion's eyes. The Heavenly Dao... had changed!

In truth, the Demon Scion had constantly suffered from the torment of the Demonic Sound of the Heavenly Dao. With the change in the Heavenly Dao, the demonic sound affected everyone equally. Back then, the Demon Scion's attempt to corrupt the Five Elements Crown was interrupted by the sudden appearance of the Demonic Sound of the Heavenly Dao. By the time he stabilized his Dao heart and tried to resume, it was too late; the Demon Spirit had already manifested. He faced direct suppression from the seal, with the Demon Spirit watching him like a tiger eyeing its prey. His situation was even worse than that of Saint Huiguang and Azure Fox Saint King, who were trapped in the Hall of Unfathomable Desire back then, and the Demonic Sound of the Heavenly Dao inflicted even greater damage upon him. Just moments ago, to break free, the Demon Scion had desperately attacked, furiously assaulting the seal while simultaneously enduring the horrific impact of the Demonic Sound of the Heavenly Dao. Surrounded by foes, he couldn't afford to expose his true weakness, or even Zhu Wudao, his ancient demonic adherent, might harbor ill intentions. Unexpectedly, despite showing no weaknesses, Zhu Wudao audaciously dared to strike him. Simultaneously suffering fourfold assaults—from the seal, the Demonic Sound of the Heavenly Dao, external enemies, and Zhu Wudao—he was ultimately taken advantage of by Zhu Wudao when he was most vulnerable.

This was the critical moment of fusion. Zhu Wudao's Dao heart instantly shattered, and he let out a non-human shriek. His features twisted grotesquely, black demonic energy surged from his seven orifices, staining his blood black, his skin began to tear, and his entire body was enveloped in demonic energy. In a short time, Zhu Wudao almost lost his human form, resembling more a demonic body thoroughly corrupted by demonic energy. His roars distorted, gradually sounding somewhat similar to the Demon Scion's.

Just then, another anomaly occurred. The seal suddenly caved inward, and a five-colored crown floated up from the depression. The five-colored crown shimmered with brilliant light, its luster showing no trace of impurity.

"Boom!"

The golden wheel shattered, and the golden-armored giant's body broke into several pieces, reverting to its armor form. Its luster dulled, its power completely lost, and it was sent flying. Old Demon Fan and the Poison King descended, just in time to see the demonic body sinking into the caved-in seal. The five-colored crown flew to hover above the demonic body's head, pressing it down with immense force until it was swallowed by the seal!

Indeed, one learns from experience. After two failed schemes, the Demon Spirit finally understood the wisdom of inaction over action. She had pretended her true form was severely tainted, focusing on purifying the Foul Yin Phosphorus Sand. She had observed the battle until now, finally awaiting this opportunity. She had coveted the Demon Scion, her creator, for a long time!

"Clang!"

The Five Elements Crown settled squarely on the demonic body's head. The crown vibrated slightly, and five-colored streams of light, like tassels, poured down, instantly suppressing the demonic energy. Then, a faint, almost imperceptible glow flashed forth and merged into the demonic body's brow.

At this point, within Zhu Wudao's Violet Palace, his nascent soul had almost completely merged with the demonic shadow, becoming a demonic soul. Zhu Wudao's consciousness was now almost entirely lost, with the demonic soul dominated by the Demon Scion. However, the Demon Scion had been ambushed by Zhu Wudao first, having his essence stripped away, leaving him virtually defenseless. In this weakest state, he was hit by the Demonic Sound of the Heavenly Dao and infected by its madness, so he first needed to stabilize his Dao heart. If the Demon Scion could resist the Demonic Sound of the Heavenly Dao and overcome this trial, he could be reborn through Zhu Wudao's body.

It was precisely at this moment that the Demon Spirit arrived.

"Boom!"

The demonic soul was struck by an unseen force, its source being the drifting speck of light. The demonic soul became even more pained and distorted, letting out silent howls. Its consciousness flickered between confusion and momentary clarity, seeming to utter something disjointed. This was probably something about Zhu Wudao's fate. But the Demon Spirit was unmoved. For her, this was also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The strongest external adversary had failed his tribulation. As long as she seized the Demon Scion's true nature, she would be unrivaled here and could freely devour cultivators.

Inside Zhu Wudao's Violet Palace, the glowing speck materialized into a small, ethereal figure. Its face closely resembled a female Daoist of the Jade Platform Sect, though its body was countless times smaller. It gazed at the demonic soul with cold eyes. Its tiny hands waved repeatedly, sending invisible impacts crashing into the demonic soul again and again. With the Demon Spirit's actions, the demonic soul grew increasingly ethereal, its moments of clarity becoming shorter. Its expression was almost entirely one of madness and confusion, a sign that it was rapidly being assimilated by the Demonic Sound of the Heavenly Dao. Until the Demon Scion's consciousness became thoroughly chaotic.

"Whoosh!"

The Demon Spirit plunged directly into the demonic soul. A piercing shriek suddenly echoed throughout the mountain's depths. Anomalies erupted both above and below. Old Demon Fan and the Poison King, still unaware of the exact cause, watched the seal as they witnessed the submerged demonic body suddenly surge back out. It was the same demonic body, yet the feeling it exuded was entirely different from before. The Five Elements Crown rested atop its head, seemingly integrated with the spirit treasure. The power of the seal was also drawn forth by the demonic body, surrounding it in five-colored streaks of light, like a cloak of vibrant hues.

"Whoosh!"

The demonic body opened its eyes. Its pupils were half blood-red, half black, and its gaze, filled with uncontrollable chaos and madness, fixed on the two figures above. Then, a bloodthirsty hunger burst forth from the demonic body's eyes! As an existence akin to a spirit artifact, she too was affected by the Demonic Sound of the Heavenly Dao. Fortunately, the Demon Scion's true nature was now undefended against her. She craved the essence of cultivators, eager to devour them to replenish herself and accelerate the absorption of the true nature, thus making it easier to resist the Demonic Sound of the Heavenly Dao! Unlike before, she had now returned to her true form, and her strength was incomparable.

Upon meeting the demonic body's malevolent gaze, Old Demon Fan inwardly cursed. Without hesitation, he shot upwards. Simultaneously, the petals of the Myriad Illusion Nether Lotus beneath him swiftly closed. Lotus shadows, along with their phantom demons, swiftly returned, instantly forming layers of lotus illusions and demonic shadows around him. At the same time, the demonic body raised an arm and pointed upwards. The Five Elements Crown flared with brilliant spiritual light, and five pillars of light, each a different color, shot skyward. Not only did they possess the power of a spirit treasure, but they also harnessed the seal's energy, tearing through the layers of demonic shadows with devastating force and striking Old Demon Fan's true body directly. The five-colored pillars of light seemed to possess a power of containment, instantly forming a cage that trapped Old Demon Fan in place.

The next moment, an unexpected scene unfolded: the figure within the cage suddenly transformed, revealing itself to be one of the phantom demons that had previously guarded Old Demon Fan. There was only one such phantom demon, always staying by Old Demon Fan's side. At this critical moment, the phantom demon shielded its master from disaster. Old Demon Fan's true body materialized outside the cage, his face ashen. The Myriad Illusion Nether Lotus also seemed to have grown somewhat ethereal. Without daring to pause, he fled towards the outside of the mountain.

When Old Demon Fan was attacked, the Poison King also suffered. The Demon Spirit fought two at once, as another five-colored divine light shot towards the Poison King. The Poison King did not possess Old Demon Fan's ability to shift between real and illusory forms. Although he already held his sacred artifact, the demonic body's attack was too fierce, giving his sacred artifact no chance to unleash its divine power. Before the sacred artifact could poison the demonic body, he was already trapped by the five-colored pillars of light!

In this critical moment, the Poison King acted decisively, piercing his palm to force out vital blood and feed it to the sacred artifact. Immediately, the sacred artifact emitted a shrill screech and furiously spewed poisonous smoke. It was similar to the Soul-Extinguishing Smoke he had used before, but different; the smoke was denser and, instead of drifting towards his opponent, enveloped the Poison King. In an instant, the dense poisonous smoke completely enveloped the Poison King, forming a colossal gray cocoon. The five-colored pillars of light arrived in a flash, predictably trapping the Poison King. However, the colossal cocoon stood between them, and as the light tried to penetrate, it was unexpectedly repelled.

This wasn't the Poison King giving up resistance and resigning himself to his fate. As the anomaly occurred, he sensed a familiar, powerful aura approaching the mountain peak. Saint Huiguang!

Outside the mountain, Saint Huiguang watched Daoist Master Zilei perish in his inner demon tribulation, remaining silent. The situation was worse than they had anticipated. Daoist Master Zilei's demise vividly demonstrated the combined power of the Demonic Sound of the Heavenly Dao and the inner demon tribulation, confirming their earlier assessment. Even a revered Buddhist monk, the abbot of Sweet Dew Zen Monastery, would not have a more stable Dao heart than Daoist Master Zilei. It could be concluded that no more Nascent Soul cultivators would emerge in this realm hereafter. They could find no other helpers.

As he pondered these thoughts, Saint Huiguang suddenly lowered his head, gazing intently at Dishou Mountain. Inside the mountain's depths, an extremely potent demonic presence was brewing. Azure Fox Saint King, who had arrived later, also detected it. He immediately left the other demons behind and rushed over.