Chapter 776: World's Strongest Life

A rural wilderness, several miles in radius, was fortified with multiple powerful exorcism formations. An earthen city, also spanning several miles, had been constructed there. Exorcist disciples from major sects across the land were permanently stationed within, assisted by soldiers whose main role was to prevent ordinary people from approaching.

The one-armed man, dressed in plain clothes and cloth shoes, arrived at the gate of this earthen city, which housed one of the Nine Great Source Demons: the 'Tongue Hell Demon'.

At the city gate, a large number of soldiers had already raised their guns, pointing them at Meng Chuan. "Get out!" they shouted. "Don't come any closer!" The soldiers guarding the Nine Great Source Demon sites often inherited their duty, with some traditions spanning over a thousand years. They were fiercely dedicated, willing to sacrifice their lives to protect the sealed areas.

Meng Chuan set down his box and retrieved a deep purple token from his robe. "An Exorcist Master Token?" the soldiers exclaimed, exchanging surprised glances. One immediately ran into the earthen city. Moments later, a thin man carrying an umbrella emerged. Upon seeing Meng Chuan, he instantly bowed. "Liu Qu of the Qing Tian Sect greets Exorcist Master Fang!" Meng Chuan nodded. Over the years, through exchanging experience with various exorcist factions, Meng Chuan's strength had been widely recognized. The World Exorcist Alliance had consequently issued him an Exorcist Master Token, making him a member of the alliance. The Exorcist Alliance itself was formed to better unite forces against the threat of the Source Demons.

"I wish to enter and attempt to deal with the Tongue Hell Demon," Meng Chuan stated. "Deal with the Tongue Hell Demon?" Liu Qu gasped, utterly astonished. "Exorcist Master Fang, you absolutely must not! Source Demons are immortal and unkillable; they can only be sealed, never slain." "I want to try," Meng Chuan replied. "Don't worry, I won't touch the sealing formation in the slightest. I'll enter the formation's interior alone." Liu Qu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The sealing formation had been continuously reinforced by generations of powerful exorcists; no one, regardless of their status, was permitted to damage it. As long as Meng Chuan didn't harm the formation, everything was acceptable. "Exorcist Master Fang, once you enter the sealing formation, you will confront that Source Demon directly. We won't be able to assist you from outside," Liu Qu said, his voice laced with concern. "No need," Meng Chuan shook his head. "This is truly too dangerous," Liu Qu insisted. He greatly admired Exorcist Master Fang, who, at just twenty-nine years old, was an absolute legend in the entire exorcist world. "I hold the Exorcist Master Token; I can enter, right?" Meng Chuan asked, looking at him. An Exorcist Master was already at the highest echelon of the Exorcist Alliance. Liu Qu respectfully conceded, "If Exorcist Master Fang insists on entering, we naturally cannot stop you. We only ask that you exercise extreme caution." Meng Chuan nodded, put away the token, and walked further inside, carrying the box.

The earthen city quickly erupted into a commotion. "What? Exorcist Master Fang is going to enter the sealing formation alone, intending to confront a Source Demon?" "This is far too dangerous." "Even the world's foremost Exorcist Master could perish in there." "Given the Exorcist Master's power, if he dares to enter, he must at least have a way to escape, right?" The soldiers, exorcists, and exorcist masters stationed at the site, whose daily lives were usually monotonous, now buzzed with fervent discussion. Not a single one of them believed the Source Demon could die. Indeed, for thousands of years, none of the Nine Great Source Demons had ever been slain. Even in eras with more than ten Exorcist Masters and large groups of exorcist masters cooperating to set up formations and combine forces, they had never succeeded in killing one. Through the long centuries, generations guarding this place had subconsciously come to believe that Source Demons were immortal.

Meng Chuan, carrying his box, walked alone into the heart of the sealing formation, where he saw a wild forest before him. At a glance, it was evident that a once-sizable mansion had stood in the center of the forest. However, after countless years, only traces of its foundation remained; even intact roof tiles were rare. The wild trees, meanwhile, thrived exceptionally well, undisturbed by any living beings for a very long time.

Reaching the foundation of the ruined mansion, Meng Chuan set down the box at his feet. "An exorcist dares to enter," a deep, resonant voice emanated from underground. "I heard the Nine Great Source Demons are very powerful," Meng Chuan said. "I'm curious, is there anything stronger than you in this world?" "I've lived for seven thousand years and broken out of seals several times, yet I've never heard of anything stronger than a Source Demon. Do you, a mere exorcist, know of something more powerful?" the resonant voice inquired with interest. It had been lonely for too long, and it was rare for someone unafraid of death to enter, so it was naturally inclined to converse. "Seven thousand years, and you've never heard of anything stronger?" Meng Chuan nodded slightly. "I believe I should be stronger than you." As he spoke, Meng Chuan waved his left hand, and a talisman flew out, suspending itself in the air. "Hahahaha, how arrogant," the voice boomed. From the remnants of the mansion's foundation, a bloody mist surged, from which emerged countless long, dense tongues. Each tongue rapidly expanded dozens of yards, sweeping towards Meng Chuan. "Thunder Art, Annihilate!" Meng Chuan formed a hand seal, activating the Thunder Art talisman hovering high above. This Thunder Art talisman was an artifact Meng Chuan had personally refined from top-grade thunder-struck wood. "Boom, boom, boom!!!" The Thunder Art talisman hung high, unleashing streaks of azure lightning. The immense power of the lightning caused the sky to darken and the ground to tremble, while the explosive sounds made the exorcist masters, exorcists, and soldiers watching from afar turn pale. Several consecutive lightning bolts struck amidst the numerous tongues. Some tongues broke and shattered, but new ones rapidly regrew from the swirling bloody mist. "Such powerful Thunder Art," the voice from the myriad tongues calmly declared. "You are among the top three Thunder Art Exorcist Masters I've encountered in seven thousand years, but you cannot threaten me."

"Go," Meng Chuan commanded, waving his hand again as five more talismans flew from his sleeve. These five talismans encircled the Thunder Art talisman, instantly forming a powerful talisman array. Over the years, Meng Chuan had seamlessly integrated Five Elements magic with Thunder Art. The Five Elements, being the foundation of heaven and earth, allowed the converging power of heaven and earth to summon lightning far exceeding the potency of mere Thunder Art by more than tenfold. "Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!!!!!!" The six talismans—the Five Elements talismans and the Thunder Art talisman—hung high, forming a formidable array. With Meng Chuan assisting by forming a single hand seal and driving it with his vast spiritual power, a torrent of lightning instantly crashed down. In the blink of an eye, hundreds of lightning bolts struck furiously, and Meng Chuan continued to maintain the onslaught. The Five Elements cycled endlessly, ensuring a prolonged assault. "Rumble..." Hundreds of lightning bolts became thousands, then several thousands, then tens of thousands in mere moments. A colossal quantity of lightning hammered down relentlessly! "Somewhat interesting—" the Tongue Hell Demon initially responded, at its most resilient. But in just two breaths of time, its cries turned desperate: "Stop!" "Exorcist Master, spare me!" "Spa—" "Spa—" It managed to utter "spare" one last time before its voice was extinguished. The immense lightning completely engulfed an area of one to two miles, pulverizing trees and soil. The vast network of tongues hidden underground was blasted into dust, and even the blood mist was utterly annihilated.

The exorcist masters, exorcists, and soldiers watching from beyond the sealing formation were utterly dumbfounded. They gazed in awe at the terrifying spectacle of tens of thousands of lightning bolts striking continuously. From a distance, the one-armed man in plain clothes, standing before the storm of lightning, appeared minuscule. Yet, this scene would be etched in their memories forever, and that seemingly tiny figure amidst the horrifying ocean of lightning became the most admired and revered presence in their hearts. Meng Chuan maintained the endless lightning for twenty breaths. Even with the aid of the six talisman artifacts, his spiritual power was depleted by thirty percent, leaving him feeling a touch of weakness. Stopping the lightning, he reached out to retrieve the six talismans. Meng Chuan surveyed the scorched crater, one to two miles in diameter, before him and nodded slightly. "It's dead." His senses were incredibly keen; he could confirm the Tongue Hell Demon was no more. "It required the cooperation of the six talisman artifacts to slay it," Meng Chuan mused, glancing at the box at his feet. "But it didn't force me to use the grand array." The box at his feet contained his most powerful means. "I've killed one Source Demon, but I still haven't sensed the end of the tribulation," Meng Chuan thought to himself. "If it hasn't ended, it means I'm not yet the strongest being in this world." "Under the rules of boundless space-time, what exactly constitutes 'the strongest being'? Is it judged solely on my inherent strength, or are formations and artifacts included?" Meng Chuan was somewhat uncertain. The formations and artifacts were all personally researched and refined by him; they should logically be considered part of his strength. If they were included, then he should already be stronger than a Source Demon. After all, to kill a Source Demon like the Tongue Hell Demon, he had only utilized a fraction of his abilities. However, if external objects were not counted, then relying solely on hand seals, void drawing, and similar techniques, he would still not be a match for a Source Demon. "If external tools don't count, and I'm not stronger than a Source Demon, then I'll kill all nine Source Demons," Meng Chuan resolved. "By then, I should be the strongest in this world, and the tribulation should finally be complete."

Meng Chuan picked up his box and walked out. "The Tongue Hell Demon is dead?" "The Tongue Hell Demon has vanished?" "The sealing formation no longer senses the Tongue Hell Demon at all; could it truly be dead?" The exorcist masters and exorcists responsible for guarding were utterly shocked. They managed the grand array and could always sense the colossal creature through it, but after the recent deluge of lightning, the massive entity had completely disappeared, and the array could no longer detect it. The sealing formation unable to sense a Source Demon? This was unprecedented. Liu Qu, along with the other exorcist masters, exorcists, and all the soldiers, gazed at Meng Chuan, who was emerging with his box, as if he were a deity. "Exorcist Master Fang, the Tongue Hell Demon?" Liu Qu couldn't help but ask. "I finally succeeded in killing it," Meng Chuan confirmed. "Really killed it?" "This..." Everyone present was somewhat dazed. Some of the soldiers among them had guarded this site for generations, for over a thousand years. Was a Source Demon truly dead? Was humanity's greatest nightmare finally over? Observing their reactions, Meng Chuan simply left, walking out of the earthen city.

Not far from the earthen city, Liu Qu came running. "Exorcist Master Fang!" Liu Qu called out repeatedly. "Hm?" Meng Chuan looked at him. "Aren't you guarding there anymore?" "I've handed over the duty to other exorcists," Liu Qu explained. Exorcists occasionally left their posts, simply having companions cover for them. Liu Qu smiled. "We've already dispatched someone to deliver the news to the Exorcist Alliance. I believe the major sects will soon be informed, and other Exorcist Masters will arrive to confirm it." The death of a Source Demon would likely require simultaneous confirmation from several factions. "I wanted to ask, does Exorcist Master Fang intend to continue dealing with other Source Demons?" Liu Qu inquired. "You guessed?" Meng Chuan smiled. "Any Exorcist Master capable of slaying one Source Demon would naturally strive to slay the others," Liu Qu said with utmost solemnity. "If the nine Source Demons are completely eliminated, that would be an act of immeasurable merit." "I do plan to proceed to deal with the other Source Demons," Meng Chuan nodded. "Please allow me to follow you, Exorcist Master, and serve you in any way I can." Liu Qu was now boiling with excitement. To completely eliminate the nine Source Demons? This had been the wish of countless generations of humanity! Was it truly going to come true? He had to be a part of it; even just serving tea or running errands for Exorcist Master Fang would be an immense honor. Meng Chuan smiled at him, then nodded. "Let's go."

Thus, the Exorcist Master 'Fang Qi' traversed the land, journeying to each Source Demon sealing site to slay the demons. When the first 'Tongue Hell Demon' was publicly acknowledged by three Exorcist Masters and many veteran exorcists as having been completely slain and vanished, the entire exorcist world erupted in fervent excitement. Beyond Liu Qu, an increasing number of exorcists began to follow Exorcist Master Fang, eager to participate in this momentous undertaking. The Tongue Hell Demon, Thousand-Eyed Demon, Mountain Demon, Three-Headed Demon, Crimson Corpse Demon, Thunder Roar Demon, Ba Snake Demon, Earth Dragon Demon, and Island Dragon Demon—the nine Source Demons each possessed unique and eerie abilities. Yet, Exorcist Master Fang wielded a myriad of methods: sometimes it was thousands of lightning bolts raining down from the heavens, or rolling seas of fire, or ice freezing for dozens of miles, or raging rivers of Yellow Springs water. The box he casually carried was opened three times, each time revealing a different array that left the exorcists, and even the other Exorcist Masters, who followed Meng Chuan utterly captivated. Within six months, Meng Chuan traveled to all nine sealed locations, slaying every Source Demon. The number of exorcists following him to witness the battles grew exponentially. This achievement completely elevated Meng Chuan to legendary status, publicly recognized by the entire exorcist world as the strongest exorcist in history. Even other contemporary Exorcist Masters acknowledged that Exorcist Master Fang Qi operated on a level far beyond their own. The three major military factions, still embroiled in conflict across the land, also publicly congratulated this feat in newspapers, all expressing gratitude to Exorcist Master Fang for his immense contributions to the world's populace. Among the common folk, legends of 'Exorcist Master Fang' spread rapidly, with everyone now knowing that the nine most terrifying Source Demons had all been slain by him. Exorcist Master Fang's prestige became immeasurable.

At a teahouse in Binhai City, an old man played the erhu, and a young woman sang a tune. Meng Chuan sat in a corner, sipping tea and watching the bustling street below, his mood complex. "All nine Source Demons are slain, so why hasn't the tribulation ended successfully? Am I still not the strongest in this world?" Meng Chuan pondered. "Brother." A voice drifted up from downstairs; it was his younger sister, Fang Qian, accompanied by a young man. Fang Qian quickly led the young man upstairs to the teahouse's second floor. Though the other patrons had heard of Exorcist Master Fang, none recognized him. "Little sister," Meng Chuan greeted her. Owing to her brother's unique status, Fang Qian held a distinct position in Binhai City. Many young men from the upper class eagerly pursued her, which naturally raised her standards. She was already twenty-seven this year and still unmarried—a privilege only the sister of an Exorcist Master Fang could afford. "Brother, this is Li Liangshan," Fang Qian introduced enthusiastically. "Since he's my little sister's friend, just call me Elder Brother Fang," Meng Chuan smiled. He had heard that among the many noble young men who pursued Fang Qian, she had chosen Li Liangshan. Li Liangshan possessed inherited boxing techniques. Having come to Binhai in these troubled times to make his fortune, he was considered a boxing master, perhaps even more skilled than Meng Chuan's father, Fang Dalong. However, relying solely on boxing skills and personal character, it would have been incredibly difficult to establish himself in turbulent Binhai. It was precisely because he had a girlfriend like Fang Qian that various factions actively helped him, making Li Liangshan's path remarkably smooth. "Elder Brother Fang," Li Liangshan said with immense respect, well aware of the one-armed man's profound status. "Treat my little sister well. If I ever discover you've wronged her, you know the consequences," Meng Chuan said calmly. "Brother—" Fang Qian blushed slightly; she wasn't even married yet. "I will protect Qian'er with my life and never betray her," Li Liangshan vowed. His innate boxing senses told him that if he dared to betray Fang Qian, the entire world might not tolerate him. Conversely, having a wife like Fang Qian would make his path a hundred or a thousand times smoother. Meng Chuan nodded and smiled. "You two go have fun. Little sister, you're twenty-seven now, not a child anymore. Don't keep delaying marriage; Father's hair has turned white with worry." "I know!" Fang Qian quickly pulled Li Liangshan away. The surrounding teahouse patrons had not heard Meng Chuan's, Li Liangshan's, and Fang Qian's conversation at all. For Meng Chuan, making dozens of people fall into an illusion with a single thought, let alone merely blurring their perception, was a trivial matter.

Years passed. Meng Chuan, through various factions, offered a bounty of ten million taels of silver for information on new Source Demons or beings stronger than them. All factions increasingly admired Exorcist Master Fang, believing he wished to eliminate all potentially powerful 'demons' during his lifetime. However, neither the intelligence records of various sects nor the nationwide investigations could uncover any new Source Demons or stronger entities. His sister, Fang Qian, finally married Li Liangshan at the age of twenty-nine and later had a pair of children. The entire Fang family became deeply rooted in Binhai City; although Meng Chuan rarely saw his other younger siblings, the Fang family's status in Binhai City was now deeply entrenched. Eight years after the slaying of the nine Source Demons, the world was completely unified. Meng Chuan's bounty persisted, attracting many adventurers. In a blink of an eye, thirty years had passed since the slaying of the nine Source Demons. On the vast ocean, a large ship sailed forward. A one-armed, weathered man stood on the deck, gazing at the endless, deep blue sea. "I'm sixty now," Meng Chuan mused, "and for more than half of each year, I travel all over the world, yet I still can't find a stronger life form." Even with Meng Chuan's unwavering resolve, he felt a growing sense of worry. At sixty, despite meticulous physical cultivation, his body had aged considerably. The soul it housed was significantly weaker than when he was thirty, though fortunately, the quality of his spiritual power still retained eighty percent of its thirty-year-old peak. "When I first descended into this world, it took me ten years to cultivate various exorcism methods, fusing them into a single coherent system, and then slaying the nine Source Demons," he reflected. "Now, forty years have passed. My exorcism methods, including artifact refining and formations, have reached new heights. Even without external aid, relying solely on hand seals and void drawing, I'm confident I could kill a Source Demon now." Meng Chuan thought, "But I still haven't sensed the tribulation's successful completion." "What kind of life form could possibly be stronger than me?" Meng Chuan pondered. "After sixty, my body will age further, and my soul will weaken even more. And making significant further improvements to my exorcism techniques will become increasingly difficult," he murmured.

In the world Meng Chuan inhabited, deep beneath the earth's surface, resided a colossal creature. It possessed countless tentacles, each several miles long, thousands of them slowly undulating across its body. Wisps of its aura naturally seeped through these tentacles, spreading into the earth's ley lines and, from there, extending to every corner of the world's surface. These auras had thoroughly integrated into the fabric of heaven and earth, naturally evolving into various forms of demons—sinister demons, great demons, and Source Demons—due to a myriad of circumstances. This colossal creature was, in fact, the very origin of all demons in the entire world, the most terrifying life form imaginable. From the moment Meng Chuan descended into this world, the invisible power of the boundless space-time rules had suppressed this colossal creature, effectively isolating the entire region. The colossal creature would not awaken for over ten thousand years, and Meng Chuan would forever be unable to locate it.