Chapter 427 - 353: Transforming into a Demon Body (2)
The Seven Kills Demon Monarch felt the warmth in his palm, quickly held up the jade box with both hands, and bowed deeply to the ground, his voice trembling with excitement:
"Thank you for the grace of the Demon Venerable! Your humble servant is willing to brave any danger for the Demon Venerable!"
Chen Sheng looked at the Seven Kills Demon Monarch holding the jade box with both hands and bowing respectfully, couldn’t help but smile gently.
He and this great figure of the Demon Dao had been "old acquaintances" for hundreds of years.
He still remembered the time when he was in the Nascent Soul Realm, blocking the way in front of the Seven Kills Palace, slaughtering countless Demon Monarchs, eager for a magical combat with this person.
Yet unexpectedly, the other party knew the art of survival and left early, even inviting Chen Xihua to mediate.
Hundreds of years passed by, the Demon Dao True Monarch who fled embarrassed before his sword now unified the Eastern Domain Demon Path, becoming the formidable Seven Kills Demon Monarch.
Chen Sheng looked at that face etched with the marks of time yet full of awe, and found himself somewhat liking it.
"Rise."
Chen Sheng raised his hand to offer support, a gentle yet irresistible force lifted the Seven Kills Demon Monarch:
"You have great merit in unveiling the depths of these three foreign cultivators, and bringing me here for their capture."
Turning his words, a flash of curiosity appeared in his black and white eyes:
"Speak, what is your true desire? If it is merely for this Longevity Pill, there is no need for such elaborate machinations."
Two days prior, he was in the Demon Venerable Palace studying the fluctuations in the realm-descending passage, when a Communication Jade Talisman from the Chen Clan Yunlan suddenly lit up.
It was the Seven Kills Demon Monarch reaching him through the Chen Clan’s channels, contacting this Great Wilderness Demon Venerable.
It must be said, the Seven Kills Demon Monarch knew well how to conduct himself; even after Chen Xihua’s ascension, he maintained good relations with the Chen Clan.
Within the jade talisman, the Seven Kills Demon Monarch not only detailed the backgrounds and cultivation of the three claiming to be "Primitive Saint Sect" cultivators.
He also recounted their mention of key terms such as "Celestial Sacrifice Platform" and "harvesting origin," only vaguely hinting afterward at "a small request if successful."
At that time, Chen Sheng was troubled by his inability to probe the realities of the passage’s other side, and was delighted upon hearing the news.
Though aware of the Demon Dao’s deceitfulness, he had no fear of any so-called trap—now in the Celestial Abyss Realm, he prided himself on being invincible, and if there truly was a trap, it meant he found the enemy’s core location, playing perfectly into his desires.
Thus he subtly concealed his aura, and following the envoy sent by the Seven Kills Demon Monarch, he first captured True Monarch Wang and True Monarch Zhao deep in the Demon Palace, then ambushed True Monarch Li outside, effortlessly seizing him.
"Demon Venerable sees through all."
The Seven Kills Demon Monarch stood straight, cautiously holding the jade box with both hands, a shrewd flicker in his crimson eyes, yet he dared not conceal anything:
"Your humble servant does have a request, but this pertains to your servant’s cultivation path, requiring first a candid expression of intentions to the Demon Venerable."
Chen Sheng nodded, walking beside the White Bone Throne in the center of Wandering Heaven Hall, casually whisking away the demonic qi from the chair before sitting down, Yin Yang Qi circulating around him, cleansing the sinister aura of the throne:
"There is no hurry to speak then, let me ask you another thing: why, when the Primitive Saint Sect boasts over a dozen Celestial Venerables of Divinity Transformation, surpassing our Celestial Abyss Realm in power, did you choose not to side with them, but instead informed me?"
Upon hearing this, the Seven Kills Demon Monarch straightened his back, projecting an air of righteousness, raising his voice a few notches:
"The Demon Venerable is mistaken! Though your humble servant walks the Demon Dao and has killed countless, I understand the principle of ’without skin, hair cannot attach!’"
"If the Primitive Saint Sect were to harvest the origin of this realm, it would mean devastation for all beings in the Celestial Abyss Realm, and the Seven Kills lineage would not escape the calamity; your servant could not, for a personal desire, betray my homeland. This is the true righteousness..."
"I want the truth."
Chen Sheng’s eyebrows furrowed lightly, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority.
Yin Yang Qi subtly undulated around him, creating an invisible pressure enveloping the Seven Kills Demon Monarch, causing the words "righteousness" to choke in his throat, unable to be uttered further.
The Seven Killings Demon Monarch’s expression shifted, hastily collecting his feigned righteous demeanor, revealing a respectful countenance, with a bitter smile:
"I dare not deceive the Demon Venerable, as your humble servant is not so noble."
"True Monarch Wang and True Monarch Zhao stayed in the Demon Palace for three days; during that time, your servant observed them in secret, hearing the disdain they showed toward our Celestial Abyss Realm cultivators in their words."
"They frequently spoke of ’resources,’ ’commodities,’ ’rejects,’ ’making full use of things,’ signaling their malevolent intent."
After pausing, he lowered his voice:
"The ’Origin Pearl’ and ’Divinity Transformation Opportunity’ they promised, your servant does not believe at all. For such treasures able to aid Nascent Souls in breaking through to Divinity Transformation, they don’t even have enough for their own cultivators, how would they easily promise them to outsiders like myself?"
"Your humble servant, having traversed the Demon Dao for a thousand years, understands all too well the principle of ’once the birds are gone, the bow is stored’—after they use my assistance to control the Eastern Domain, this ’pawn’ of mine will undoubtedly be refined into elixir pills."
Chen Sheng nodded lightly upon hearing this, a trace of approval emerging in his eyes.
Though he had yet to perform a soul search on the three Saint Sect cultivators, hearing terms like "resources" and "refined pill" now from the Seven Kills Demon Monarch’s mouth, made him perceive the Primitive Saint Sect’s ruthless and domineering manner even more, equating his curiosity toward this foreign sect.
Even an old schemer like the Seven Kills Demon Monarch grew wary, the Saint Sect’s methods are indeed extraordinary.
Chen Sheng chuckled softly:
"Astute indeed, aren’t you afraid that if the Celestial Abyss Realm loses to the Primitive Saint Sect, your act of informing on them will be exposed, resulting in a far worse fate?"
A confident yet genuine smile emerged on the face of the Seven Kills Demon Monarch, this time devoid of any pretense:
"Your humble servant once followed Celestial Venerable Xihua for several years, learning some secrets of the Celestial Venerable of Divinity Transformation."
"Though powerful, Divinity Transformation cultivators are restricted by heaven and earth, unable to engage in large-scale battles in the Small Thousand World without expending their lifespan."
"Even with a dozen Celestial Venerables, the Primitive Saint Sect cannot wage mortal combat with the Celestial Venerable; even if this realm fails, the Celestial Venerable can protect one side."
After a pause, feeling it was inauspicious, he continued:
"Celestial Venerable Xihua once privately remarked that the Great Wilderness Demon Court hides a foundation even he couldn’t fully understand—far from simple on the surface."
"With the Demon Venerable seated here now, your humble servant is confident this realm will remain unscathed."
Chen Sheng understood, Celestial Venerable Xihua must have sensed the presence of Elder Ping back then, hence his evaluation.
He stopped going in circles, directly asking, "Enough of the groundwork, tell me your request."
The Seven Kills Demon Monarch took a deep breath, stepping forward with the jade box held reverently, offering it to Chen Sheng:
"Your humble servant has merely fifty years left of life; even consuming this Tier Five Longevity Pill only extends life by two hundred more years."
"Your servant requests two things: first, during the realm-descending battle over the next century, to gain the Demon Venerable’s protection and guidance; second, if after two hundred years, your servant still cannot break through to Divinity Transformation, I implore the Demon Venerable to transform me into a demon body to extend my lifespan."
These words made a trace of surprise flicker in Chen Sheng’s eyes; he naturally knew the "transforming demon body" mentioned was not a simple possession.
The other sought a "fundamental transformation" like Chen Yuquan, reshape the flesh, transform a Human Race cultivator’s foundation into a Demon Race Daoist Body.
Only then could the lifespan truly extend without affecting existing cultivation—a method only the Great Wilderness Demon Court could accomplish!
Chen Sheng watched him with a faint smile:
"You are bold in your requests, but I shall remind you, after transforming into a demon body, the Nascent Soul and demon body can be hard to fully integrate, making future breakthroughs into Divinity Transformation nearly impossible."
An expression of relief appeared on the Seven Kills Demon Monarch’s face:
"Your humble servant understands."
"With these two hundred years of lifespan, if I cannot seize the opportunity to breakthrough, it simply means I am not destined for Divinity Transformation, and ought to give up cultivation. To enjoy my twilight years in a demon body would be fortunate."
Chen Sheng seeing his forthright manner, couldn’t help but laugh, this demon indeed sees things clearly, being more awake than many who stubbornly pursue cultivation.
"Your two requests, I shall grant them."
Overjoyed, the Seven Kills Demon Monarch hurriedly cradled the jade box, kneeling and bowing deeply:
"Thank you for the grace of the Demon Venerable! Your humble servant is willing to lead all cultivators of the Seven Kills Nation, at your command, fearless of any hardship!"
Chen Sheng waved his hand, signaling him to rise:
"Rise."