Chapter 282 : Slaying the Yang Spirit
Chapter 282: Slaying the Yang Spirit
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Chen Ming strongly suspected that this Demon Venerable was messing with their state of mind. As expected, anyone who could be called a Demon Venerable wasn’t a benevolent type. That seemingly friendly attitude from earlier was just a façade.
The Nine Nether Demon Venerable stared at him with a cold, eerie gaze, a hint of mockery in his tone. “If you want to live, you’ll have to beg this Celestial Master to show mercy.”
Chen Ming looked at the middle-aged Daoist. After hearing the devastating news, golden electric currents flickered wildly in his eyes, gradually taking on a purplish hue. He seemed on the verge of losing control.
That was…?
The familiar purple gleam in the Daoist’s eyes startled him.
“Youngster, you’d best think carefully. If this man self-destructs his Yang Spirit, it will destroy part of the restrictions of the Nine Nether Tower. Those inside the tower will never be able to leave. It would take decades to repair. By then, you’ll be spending those decades in here with me.”
Chen Ming sucked in a breath. “Senior, this Celestial Master seems a bit… off. He doesn’t look like someone who can be reasoned with. More like he’s been invaded by an external demon and lost his mind.”
The Nine Nether Demon Venerable appeared slightly surprised. “Your cultivation is low, yet you do have some insight. This is one of the drawbacks of the cultivation path—one must remain clear of desires and cultivate in seclusion. That’s the righteous path. Those like the Celestial Master Residence who engage with the world, enjoy high positions and are revered by the masses. If their Dao heart is not firm, they’re easily taken by external demons. This man, due to an obsession over his sister, unknowingly allowed a heart demon to take hold.”
Chen Ming saw that he showed no signs of worry and asked, “Doesn’t Senior have a way to deal with it?”
“This man is like a heart demon to me. He invaded the core of the Nine Nether Tower using the authority I granted him and fused with it. Naturally, I could destroy him—but the Yang Spirit is troublesome. Destroying him would also destroy the exit. The result is the same.”
The Nine Nether Demon Venerable smirked, “So, little one, for the next few decades, you’ll have no choice but to stay here with me in the Nine Nether Tower.”
Chen Ming was not the type to give up so easily. He addressed the middle-aged Daoist, “Real Master, stay clear-headed! Don’t be controlled by the heart demon!”
“Heart demon?”
A trace of confusion appeared on the Daoist’s face. “What heart demon?”
The purple hue in his eyes grew more intense. Suddenly, both of his eyes turned completely purple. The lightning around his body transformed into purple lightning, radiating a sinister demonic aura.
Chen Ming took just one glance and felt his spirit had been contaminated.
It was indeed him!
The Undying Demon Venerable!
And this strand of soul was clearly far stronger than the one he had encountered before.
The Undying Demon Venerable fixed his eerie eyes on the Nine Nether Demon Venerable and said coldly, “Nine Nether, long time no see.”
That voice seemed to carry a soul-piercing magical power.
Chen Ming exerted all his willpower to steady his mind and prevent his soul from being affected.
The Nine Nether Demon Venerable seemed to have expected this. A trace of disgust flashed across his face. “You’re still alive? The heavens truly are blind.”
“We’re both members of the Eternal Life Cult. Hearing you speak this way saddens me.”
“Cut the crap. You went to all this trouble to invade this man’s Yang Spirit—surely it’s not just to catch up with me?”
“I do admire your straightforwardness. It was a regret of mine back then not to refine you into an avatar when I had the chance.”
A flash of hostility crossed the Nine Nether Demon Venerable’s face. “So, you’ve come here to die?”
“Hahaha…” The Undying Demon Venerable laughed a few times before finally getting to the point. “I’ve come to make a deal. Back then, the strand of my soul that attached to you was cut off and must be sealed somewhere in the Nine Nether Tower. Release it.”
The Nine Nether Demon Venerable sneered, “You must be dreaming if you think I’d agree.”
“Nine Nether, I truly pity you. A grand Demon Venerable, now reduced to this. You made a deal for a hundred young boys and girls. Remember how many people you took when Great Wei collapsed? The Nine Nether Tower only evolved to its current form because of that war.
“Only in chaotic times can you act as you please. That strand of my soul is the key to starting a new era of chaos. Once the world falls into disorder, won’t there be more people to harvest?”
The Nine Nether Demon Venerable sneered, “And you think one strand of your soul can plunge the world into chaos?”
The Undying Demon Venerable replied, “Whether it works or not, it doesn’t cost you anything, does it?”
Just then, his expression showed signs of struggle. One of his eyes glowed golden. “Demon, don’t even think about it! Even if I shatter my soul, I won’t let you bring chaos to the world!”
The Celestial Master had regained some control.
“As the Celestial Master of this generation, you committed this act for your own selfish desires. You’ve destroyed the centuries-old reputation of the Celestial Master Residence. All of this—you caused it all. You’ll be remembered forever in disgrace…”
“Shut up! I was momentarily careless and fell for your tricks. You think I didn’t notice? I had long prepared a backup. Let’s be destroyed together!”
From within his body came the sound of something exploding. His aura grew unstable.
“No! What kind of technique is this? You’re trying to self-destruct your soul—stop!”
“It’s useless. This is the Jade and Stone Perish Together Method, a secret technique passed down in the Celestial Master Residence. When a successor senses they are possessed by a heart demon, they will use this technique. Once activated, even I cannot reverse it.”
“Nine Nether, why are you still standing there? Hurry and help me!”
The Nine Nether Demon Venerable watched coldly, suddenly sneering. “Seems like your power has waned too much after being sealed all these years. You can’t even control a single Yang Spirit. And you still want to plunge the world into chaos?”
“You fool! Still holding onto a grudge from over a thousand years ago, ignoring the bigger picture. Childish!”
The Nine Nether Demon Venerable enjoyed seeing his fury. He laughed gleefully, “My Dao has never relied on others. What can you do to me?”
At that moment, the purple light in the other eye of the Undying Demon Venerable also faded, turning back to gold. This meant the Celestial Master had fully regained control.
He wore a calm expression. “Nine Nether Demon Venerable, you caused my sister’s death. Today, I will destroy your demonic artifact and settle the score.”
Before the Nine Nether Demon Venerable could respond, Chen Ming suddenly asked, “Real Master, how much time do you have left?”
“?”
The Celestial Master looked at the young man and replied, “In about a hundred breaths, my Yang Spirit will self-destruct. You should keep your distance to avoid the impact.”
Unexpectedly, the young man said, “Since you’re already set on dying, let this junior help you achieve release.”
“??”
Even the Nine Nether Demon Venerable glanced at him, amused. This brat, only at Second Grade, dared claim he could help a Yang Spirit disintegrate?
With his spiritual perception, he shouldn’t even be able to shake the Yang Spirit, much less harm it.
Even more amusing—this kid wasn’t lying. He really believed he could do it.
With a serious face, Chen Ming asked, “Does Real Master have any unfinished business? I can help take care of it.”
The Celestial Master was silent for a few seconds before saying, “If you truly can help me achieve release, I will leave behind the Purple Mansion Secret Volume. Deliver it to my third disciple.”
“Alright.”
Chen Ming nodded, then asked, “Anything else?”
The Celestial Master studied him and asked, “What’s your name?”
“Gu Xianyu.”
The Celestial Master’s eyes flickered with realization. “So you’re that senior Wang Chenzi’s—hahaha… Indeed, there is fate in everything. Young Gu, do it.”
Chen Ming gathered his mind and unleashed the fourth level of the God-Smiting Thorn.
Last time in the Celestial Prison, this very technique had taken down a half-step Yang Spirit.
Now, facing a true Yang Spirit, he wasn’t confident—but luckily, this Celestial Master had no intent to resist.
So—
“Kill!”
In an instant, it was like heavenly judgment descended. Even the Nine Nether Demon Venerable felt a twinge of fear from its power.
At the Celestial Master’s brow, a tiny hole appeared.
It was minuscule.
But that tiny wound caused his Yang Spirit to begin crumbling.
A look of relief surfaced on the Celestial Master’s face, followed by a shrill scream. “What is this…”
His voice was filled with terror until it faded entirely.
【You killed an enemy of LV129 and gained 20 million experience points.】
Chen Ming clicked his tongue at the level.
This Celestial Master was dozens of levels above him. If not for his death wish, Chen Ming would’ve stood no chance.
Last time, killing a half-step Yang Spirit netted him 10 million points.
Now he had 20 million more—he was rich.
After the Celestial Master’s Yang Spirit collapsed, a purple booklet appeared.
“Impressive technique.”
The Nine Nether Demon Venerable spoke up, eyeing him with an odd expression.
Chen Ming felt a chill from that stare. “Senior flatters me.”
The Nine Nether Demon Venerable placed a hand on his shoulder and laughed. “Relax. This time, you’ve helped me immensely. I should be thanking you.”
“Hehe.”
Chen Ming forced a laugh and looked at the purple booklet.
The Nine Nether Demon Venerable said, “Take it. It’s your spoils.”
“Thank you for your generosity, Demon Venerable.”
Only then did Chen Ming retrieve the booklet and tuck it away. He asked, “So? Were the restrictions damaged?”
“Not at all. That’s why I said—you’ve got skill. You just killed a Yang Spirit, just like that. Hehe.”
“In that case, I won’t stay here to impose. Please send me off, Senior.”
“Very well. Hmm, since you’ve done me a favor, it’s only right I return one. Enjoy your trial.”
With a wave of his sleeve, Chen Ming vanished on the spot.