Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 175 - 125: Plot_1

Chapter 175: Chapter 125: Plot_1

Translator: 549690339

In the mundane worlds of Great Zhou and Great Tang, with his accumulated potentiality and skill traits, expanding his power was relatively simple. He only needed to bide his time for a while, and once he had enough manpower, he could easily begin to expand outward.

When encountering obstructions, he would use a mix of the carrot and the stick, coercion and inducement, to clear the way. If necessary, he could take more extreme measures, like employing a disguise or replacing key individuals within various factions in secret.

He had done all of this in the world of Great Tang, and it had worked quite well, his power growing rapidly.

But in this world, it wouldn’t work.

Because this world had Taoism, unless he personally oversaw and maintained operations day and night, someone skilled in Taoist arts could easily see through his disguises.

Not to mention there were Divine Skills like “Spirit Eyes Mysterious Light,” which could unveil any deceptions. With just a glance of the Spirit Eyes and a flash of the Mysterious Light, one could obtain all the information and know all the secrets.

Therefore, disguises and secret replacements would not work. Not only would they fail, but they would also label him as an evil outsider, subject to be hunted down by everyone. Even the “North City Iron Triangle” he had created would not be able to withstand the pressure.

Furthermore, with the prevalence of magical practices, each faction possessed extraordinary means. Even if they feared his might and dared not act brazenly, they could still cause significant losses through covert actions. This would lead to a gradual erosion of his strength.

If he could split himself into three avatars like the Three Pure Ones, creating “King Shifa” and “Yin Mountain Way,” then he could defend each territory and ensure the management of his power.

But he couldn’t do that. He only had alternate identities, no avatars, and certainly not the time to deal with the nuisance of that bunch.

So, he simply switched to a different strategy for expansion, consolidating his forces, gripping them tightly like a fist, focusing solely on managing North City.

As a result, he achieved surprising effects. North City was fortified like an iron bucket under his leadership, with his eyes and ears in every corner. Patrols roamed day and night tirelessly, creating a defense that was impenetrable like water off a duck’s back or a needle unable to pierce through. With the practice of Spirit Eyes Mysterious Light, not even a Taoist True Monarch hoping to deceive the heavens and cross the sea could succeed in harming others under his watchful eye.

This was the effect of “gripping tightly.”

A hand spread open covers a large area but with weak fingers is easily injured at every turn.

But if the hand forms a fist, with five fingers clenched together, it has formidable strength and can deliver a crushing blow to anyone.

Now, after many years of development, his strength had increased dramatically, and his power had greatly expanded. He finally had the resources to spread his hand and grasp at territories in all directions.

So…

Mount Jilei, Mingxiao Taoist Temple!

A sword light descended from the sky and fell into the main hall of the temple.

Among the hundreds of disciples inside, including Taoists and Four-Realm Mages, all were well aware yet indifferent to this occurrence, obviously accustomed to it and showing no intention of intervening.

In the main hall, a mana altar stood tall with a divine statue at its center. The statue had disheveled hair and a third eye on its forehead, sitting in a posture of wrath. One hand held a wish-fulfilling scepter, the other a golden whip, and below it rode a dark watery ink Kylin.

This was none other than the Taoist Thunder Ancestor—Nine Heavens’ Responsive Thunder Sound Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable!

Immortal Gods each have their unique aspects, manifesting differently.

The current statue represented the Thunder Ancestor in an enraged aspect.

The Nine Heavens’ Responsive Thunder Sound Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable Jade Shu Sutra records:

The supreme Jade Pure King, sovereign over thirty-six heavens.

The Nine Heavens’ Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable, transforming the Ten Directions World.

Disheveled hair riding a Kylin, barefoot treading on layered ice.

With a clinched fist of Nine Heavens’ Qi, his whistle commands thunder and lightning.

Indeed, this was the enraged aspect of the Thunder Ancestor.

The Thunder Ancestor, in his wrathful state, occupied the center, with various gods of the Thunder Department standing to the left and right. There were Six Waves Heaven Sovereign Emperors, Jade Officials as the Five Thunder Envoys, the Green, Red, White, Black, and Yellow gods of the five directions, as well as the Rain and Dew Sovereigns, Wind and Fire Sovereigns, Thunder Sovereigns, Lightning Sovereigns, generals, Thunder Officials, judges, divine clerks, messengers, children, and more…

Large and small, densely packed, some with statues, others with memorial tablets, filling the entire hall. Incense offerings and faith bolstered their presence.

It truly was a display of divine authority and Taoist magic in the human realm!

Xu Yang descended into the hall, not bothering to change his appearance, and approached the painstakingly constructed Thunder Mana Altar where he had devoted many years of worship.

First, he offered incense, then bowed respectfully, and finally sat down on a meditation cushion. He began to meditate quietly, seeking the Unity of Heaven and Man.

After an unknown span of time, finally reaching a state of no distractions and Unity of Heaven and Man,

Xu Yang opened his eyes, stood up, and performed rituals in front of the altar with his sword in hand.

He recited, “The Heavenly Emperor orders the exhibition of true magic; the Nine Heavens’ five-colored auspicious clouds descend; the golden light of the Qi dragon shines brightly in Qiankun; the myriad deities summoned to attend Dragon Transformation; with absolute confidence relying on ironclad words, no hidden forms nor false speech allowed; with the words of the Heavenly Immortal Emperor, by the Mysterious Gate’s vivid light and earthly script; I appeal to the Primordial Spirit of the High Heavenly Emperor for light to descend, swiftly, swiftly as decreed!”

“Open!”

With a forceful cry, his Divine Skills were revealed.

Suddenly, Spirit Light flickered, concentrating between his eyebrows and manifesting a Spirit Talisman script that stood upright at the center, like a Heavenly Eye. As the Spirit Light shimmered and pulsed ceaselessly, finally…

“Ding!”

The Talisman shimmered, its eyes opened, and a beam of Spirit Light followed, shooting into the void and disappearing from sight.

Upon observing Xu Yang, between his eyebrows stood an unwavering Heavenly Eye, its ancient depths indifferent and detached.

The world is not kind; it regards all beings as straw dogs!

Supremely fair and just, selfless and without attachment, emotionless and indifferent!

This was indeed the Heavenly Eye!

Over the past twenty-plus years, Xu Yang’s main practice was not Thunder Series, nor was it the art of commanding ghosts, nor the newly acquired Xuanyuan Divine Sword Jue. Instead, it was the Spirit Eyes Mysterious Light technique.

He had devoted a great deal of time and energy to this practice, and after over twenty years of arduous effort, he managed to master it to a high level, enabling him to use magic to open the Heavenly Eye and investigate matters across the Three Realms and Six Paths of beings, including humans, ghosts, and gods.

Why focus on mastering the Spirit Eyes Mysterious Light technique? It was a move born of necessity.

In this world, Taoism was rampant, and there were numerous methods to scrutinize one’s background and origins, even constantly monitoring and witnessing every move, all of which could easily be seen through.

Xu Yang, who had traveled through many worlds and dreamt his way into this one, lacked a “legitimate” identity; he was like an illegal immigrant who had sneaked in. If someone were to uncover his trail, he could be accused of being an extraterritorial Heavenly Demon.

Moreover, in recent years, as the influence of the Guo Bei Academy grew and began to touch upon various interests, the number of overt and covert attacks became countless. There were also all sorts of Evil Skills, hexes, and curses being used to kill. Lacking a means to avert disaster, conceal himself, and prevent others from prying into his affairs and uncovering secrets they shouldn’t, would make it impossible for him to have survived thus far.

Therefore, Xu Yang had no choice but to painstakingly practice the Spirit Eyes Mysterious Light technique, to avert disasters, conceal himself, and keep others from spying on him and discovering secrets that could lead them to trouble his doorstep.

In this world, there are still many a sage and mystical treasures that could suppress him.

After twenty-five years of arduous cultivation, he not only mastered the “Spirit Eyes Mysterious Light” to an advanced level but also unlocked a trait called “Spirit Eyes Mysterious Light,” which significantly enhanced the effect of the technique.

Now, it should be difficult for anyone in this world to uncover his true potential; instead, he was able to perceive many secrets, conspiracies targeting him or those around him, and hidden traps.

And so…

Xu Yang activated the Heavenly Eye, emitting a streak of spirit light into the palm of his right hand before grinding it with his left.

After a moment, the mysterious light formed a mirror, and the hazy insides cleared to reveal a scene.

It was a stretch of vast mountains, perilous and majestic, filled with numerous desolate hills, adding an air of ghostly spirits and sinister death.

It was none other than—Mount Mang!

Inside Mount Mang, demons gathered.

Xu Yang focused with the Heavenly Eye, and with a flash of mysterious light, the scene in the mirror shifted. The vast mountains faded away, replaced by a resplendent golden palace.

Inside the palace, beings took their seats.

Though they were called beings, they took not the form of humans but of jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards. Their bestial bodies took on human shapes, truly a gathering of demons and ghosts, of all manner of evil spirits. Before them, they did not lay ordinary dishes but rather the bloody, raw flesh of living humans, some still screaming, grabbed forcefully to be devoured raw.

Above them all, a shadow loomed, markedly tall.

Upon closer look, one could see a wolf-headed humanoid. Its once greyish fur had turned silver-white, indicating countless years of life.

Indeed…

It was the Chu Gonghou, one of the Demon Kings of Mount Mang and the ancestral leader of the Chu Family Wolf Clan, who after a millennium of diligent cultivation had finally broken through and stepped into the realm of the Demon Emperor.

With the Heavenly Eye focused and the Spirit Light shining, information naturally appeared, laying bare the entire foundation of the demon.

Of this, however, it knew nothing.

Glancing down, there were two to three hundred demons, most of them Demon Kings, the rest were Demon Generals.

Xu Yang was not surprised by this.

When a country is on the verge of collapse, demons will abound!

As a dynasty approaches its end, when production can no longer meet demand, a situation of “overpopulation” arises.

Moreover, with corrupt governance and irreversible decadence, unequal distribution, uprisings become frequent, and it all can only be resolved with a massive slaughter before a new dynasty is established.

Therefore, at the dawn of a new era, a great order is necessary: first, for the founding emperor’s bold vision and, second, for a fair redistribution of interests that can accommodate all sides.

This world is no different, except that it has the added presence of demons. Once the imperial court is unable to suppress all factions and the great Taoist schools fall into strife over the contention of fortune and destiny, demons naturally emerge to prey on humans and cultivate until a new dynasty is built and can suppress the world again, causing them to retreat back to their lairs and lie dormant once more.

So, what is a couple of hundred Demon Kings in the grand scheme?

A gathering of Demon Kings enjoyed their feast.

As the Demon Emperor and host, Chu Gonghou from his high seat laughed only after the Demon Kings were full with food and drink, “How is it? Does the taste satisfy? These humans are top-quality bloody food, bred specially by me. I even had them cultivate Taoism so they taste much better than ordinary mortals, right?”

“Excellent!”

“Magnificent!”

“King of Chu is generous!”

“Indeed, quite a flavor.”

The satisfied Demon Kings naturally joined in the flattery of their host.

Chu Gonghou chuckled, “We are all of the same kind; no need for me to hide anything. Today, I’ve invited everyone to gather here at Mount Mang for a matter of great importance, a most delightful affair.”

“Oh?”

“What is it?”

At this, the Demon Kings showed their interest.

Chu Gonghou gave a sinister smile, words emerging from his big, bloody mouth: “Guo Bei Academy!”

The lively feast instantly turned cold, and the demons fell silent, a deathly hush pervading the air.

It was so quiet, one could hear a pin drop!

Seeing this, Chu Gonghou seemed unconcerned, “What, afraid?”

“This…”

The Demon Kings also came to their senses, looking up at Chu Gonghou with uncertainty, not knowing what to do.

After a while, a demon braved to ask, “Is King Chu planning to target Guo Bei Academy?”

“Indeed!”

Chu Gonghou nodded, a grim smile on his face, “I’ve already investigated. Right now, the population of Guo Bei County is like a sea, with just one county housing a million people.”

“A million people. If turned into bloody food for our nourishment, quite a few of you seated here could break out of the Demon King form and ascend to become rulers among Demon Emperors, right?”

“Not to mention, within the Guo Bei Academy are tens of thousands of students who are literary and endowed with Cultural Qi, along with numerous Taoist spell cultivators.”

“By feeding on them, how much further could our cultivation progress?”

“Furthermore, those so-called good demons who betrayed their roots are now hiding inside as well, each a supreme grade nourishment, top-quality bloody food. Are you not tempted?”

“If we can conquer Guo Bei Academy, we’ll have endless bloody food at our disposal, even more preferable than the officials and even the Emperor of the capital. Using them as nourishment to break out of the King form and achieve the Demon Emperor realm is not far-fetched at all. There’s even a chance to transform into Demon Gods, breaking the realm, ascending, and seeking eternal life!”

Chu Gonghou raised his wine cup and drained the crimson blood within, then slammed the cup forcefully onto the table. His fierce wolfish eyes turned to the gathered demons, “Would you all be willing to join me in this great endeavor, to partake in this grand scheme?”