Chapter 725 - 104: It Seems Like the Devil’s Mansion Reveals its Tracks
The Dao of Demons and Xuanmen Sect both cultivate pathways of Qi Dao, but their approaches to cultivation differ greatly.
Xuanmen emphasizes gathering vitality and refining essence energy, while the Demon Sect prioritizes slaughter and plunder, solidifying the spirit and focusing the divine soul.
Take a Xuanmen cultivator for example—if they die, much of their painstakingly cultivated abilities will immediately dissipate, leaving only a trace of essence energy closely tied to their divine soul, which sustains the soul from scattering. This remnant is what is called the Primordial Spirit.
If the Primordial Spirit remains intact, it allows for potential reincarnation. However, if it is wiped out, their soul will scatter and disappear completely from the world.
Thus, to a Xuanmen practitioner, their physical body is of paramount importance, as it anchors their foundation, and even the slightest damage could be catastrophic.
The disciples of the Demon Sect, however, value the refinement of the divine soul and the fortification of the Primordial Spirit. Even if their physical body is destroyed, they can carry out the majority of the essence energy they’ve cultivated. If they manage to acquire another body, they need only spend some time to recover their cultivation.
However, lacking a physical body to rely on, Demon Sect disciples must resort to external methods in combat, utilizing techniques such as Yin Sha Jue Qi, summoning devils or ghouls, absorbing essence blood, among countless other bizarre and unconventional methods.
The God and Demon Contract Technique Zhang Yan mastered is an ancient transmission, which, while it could strengthen the Primordial Spirit slightly, felt rather useless to him.
His physique was as durable as steel and iron, impervious to divine weapons. If it ever came to the point of his body being shattered, what use would a powerful Primordial Spirit be?
As this thought crossed his mind, he suddenly remembered that the sixth realm of the God Contract Technique was still hidden within the Demon Storage, untouched. There might be unforeseen wonders to be found there, so once he returned to his cave mansion, he intended to examine it carefully.
Standing within the cave mansion, he surveyed his surroundings. Gu She was now dead, and the matter here was resolved; he needed to return to the sect to give an account.
Thinking thus, his thoughts shifted slightly; he was not in a rush to leave. Shaking his shoulder, Zhang Yan released the Water Element True Light and threw Qian Yi out, lightly casting a method to awaken him. Then he asked, "Let me ask you, the secret you mentioned earlier—what is it?"
After awakening, Qian Yi caught sight of Zhang Yan and immediately kowtowed repeatedly. Lowering his voice, he recounted the purpose behind Guo Nanxing’s visit and added, "Zhang Daoist, I had to exert considerable effort to glean from Master Guo’s disciples that the origin of those devils is remarkably suspicious—perhaps the Demon Cave has re-emerged in the world."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan chuckled indifferently, showing little concern.
Thousands of years ago, although the Four Great Demon Caves were destroyed by those great power experts, they knew that one day, as fate shifted and heaven and earth transformed, these caves were sure to break free of their seals and re-emerge. Thus, they intentionally left various wondrous items within these caves for later disciples to retrieve.
However, whoever claimed these great treasures would also have to bear the consequences—pledging their full effort to reseal the Demon Cave.
Furthermore, Zhang Yan, currently focused on his cultivation, was preparing to condense the True Imprint of Dharma Power, and had no intention to concern himself with such matters.
He kept Qian Yi only because the latter was Gu She’s senior disciple. After clearing out Jueji Cave, he needed to detain Qian Yi as evidence. As for the so-called "secret," it was merely a casual inquiry.
Without further word, Zhang Yan flicked his sleeve, sending out a human bag that enveloped Qian Yi entirely and stored him in his sleeve bag. Then, with a stomp, he transformed into a wisp of smoke, flew out of Jueji Cave, circled the mountaintop twice, and with a sudden flash, returned to Mingcang Sect.
After several days of flight, he re-entered the small Demon Cave, his path following the same route back.
By now, two months had passed since his departure. Mo Ying and others were deep in meditation, when a disciple keeping watch over the flags spied from afar a wisp of smoke approaching. Overjoyed, he shouted, "Look quickly, Master Zhang has returned!"
At these words, all the disciples showed unmistakable delight, hurriedly opening their eyes and rising to respectfully welcome him.
During these days spent in the depths of the Demon Cave, although their cultivation advanced swiftly, Zhang Yan’s prolonged departure left them uneasy and paranoid, uncertain whether they should retreat prematurely. Now that they saw their skilled master return, they felt as though a backbone had once again been placed in their ranks, instantly steadying their spirits.
Zhang Yan stepped onto the flying boat and took a firm stand. His gaze swept across the disciples—sixty days had passed, and each disciple had made significant progress in their cultivation.
Of particular note were Mo Ying and three others, who had taken a major leap forward, stepping into the Xuan Guang Realm.
He nodded slightly and smiled, saying, "In two days, the Sea Eye will fully open. I shall lead you back then."