The Illusionary Nether King's True Form (Part Two)

"Hehehe, I never expected to find such a treasure today..." Illusionary Nether King grabbed Zhuge Xiang and flew at full speed. In an instant, they had flown countless miles. After stopping, Illusionary Nether King looked Zhuge Xiang up and down with his black pearl-like eyes. He couldn't hide his joy. He looked like a person who had been starving for several days who had suddenly seen a delicacy.

"What exactly do you want to do with this person?" Zhuge Xiang asked, his face ashen as he stared at the Illusionary Nether King.

Why did the Illusionary Nether King capture her here? Zhuge Xiang didn't know, and found it even harder to believe. Under the siege of so many Void Realm powerhouse, she hadn't been injured by a full-force attack. How could she have dodged an attack comparable to that of Gods and Buddhas of all Heavens?

"You don't need to look at me like that. Didn't you say you had a friend who needed my help? I've now sincerely agreed. Even if it's Chang'an City, I'll accompany you. Also, I deeply apologize for what happened in the Illusionary Realm," Illusionary Nether King said sincerely, bowing his head as he apologized to Zhuge Xiang.

"What trick are you trying to pull now?" Zhuge Xiang frowned, not looking at Illusionary Nether King, his tone extremely unfriendly.

If Zhuge Xiang hadn't believed that he wasn't strong enough to kill it, Zhuge Xiang would have already taken action. Why would he be idly chatting with it here, being dragged into the Illusionary Realm and toyed with for over a decade? No matter who it is, this hatred would be impossible to let go of.

"I didn't intend to play any tricks, but I need your help," the Illusionary Nether King said directly to Zhuge Xiang, seemingly oblivious to the unfriendly tone in Zhuge Xiang's words.

This Illusionary Nether King, even under the siege of dozens of Void Returning Stage experts, still managed to capture Zhuge Xiang —was he actually asking for his help?

"You? You need something from me?" Hearing the words of the Illusionary Nether King, Zhuge Xiang stared at it in surprise. Dozens of Void Returning Stage experts had failed to kill it; the Illusionary Nether King's strength had already reached the very top of this Cultivation World? What could it possibly need his help with?

"During the previous battle, your Zen Sound was very helpful to me. I would like to ask you to chant for me," Illusionary Nether King said to Zhuge Xiang, his eyes, like black pearls, filled with sincere request. His expression was genuine, showing no sign of pretense.

"Let me chant the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound for you?" Zhuge Xiang's eyes widened as he stared at the Illusionary Nether King in astonishment.

Whatever request it made, Zhuge Xiang probably wouldn't be surprised. But, as a Demon Monster, it actually asked him to chant the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound for it? How could that be? Wasn't it, as Demon Monster, afraid of being restrained by the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound?

"You must find it strange, right? Why would I, Demonic Creatures, want to hear your Zen Sound?" Even without the ability to read minds, Illusionary Nether King could see Zhuge Xiang's surprise and astonishment. Seemingly to gain Zhuge Xiang's trust, Illusionary Nether King actually spoke up and told Zhuge Xiang about himself.

"Generally speaking, the requirements are nothing more than birds, insects, beasts, and even fine rocks and jade, which, under certain coincidences of favorable Heavenly Timing and Favorable Terrain, and human circumstances, gain sentience and thus understand the Cultivation Method, transforming into demons. Humans, on the other hand, are naturally intelligent, and have witnessed more of humans cutting down trees and slaughtering cattle and sheep. Coupled with the inherent flaws of human nature, such as lust, greed, and jealousy, Demonic Creatures harbor hostility and hatred towards humans on their long path of cultivation..."

"As for me, although I am also considered Demonic Creatures, I am very different from other Demonic Creatures because I have no physical form, or rather, my physical form is an illusory existence..."

"No physical body? How is that possible? Did you appear out of thin air?" Zhuge Xiang exclaimed in surprise upon hearing Illusionary Nether King's words.

Like Niu Dali, whose true form is an ox, Hu Xian'er, whose true form is Nine-tailed Demon Fox. Since they are Demonic Creatures, they should naturally have a true form. But this Illusionary Nether King claims that he has no true form? How is that possible? Can he create something out of nothing? Wait a minute, create something out of nothing?

The thought of creating something from nothing flashed through Zhuge Xiang's mind, as if he had thought of something, but he couldn't quite grasp it at the moment.

"Indeed, I truly appeared out of thin air," Illusionary Nether King, unaware of Zhuge Xiang's true thoughts. His tone was somewhat ethereal as he said, "The thoughts of all beings arise from nothing. Everyone in the world has various thoughts. The Buddha said that in the blink of an eye, there are twenty moments, and in one moment, twenty thoughts arise. That is to say, in the blink of an eye, a person's thoughts may have four hundred arising and ceasing."

"And I was born from these chaotic thoughts. Moreover, the more and stronger other people's thoughts about me, the stronger my abilities become. Therefore, I have always wanted to amplify other people's feelings for me, whether it's hatred or gratitude..."

The Illusionary Nether King was an extremely mysterious figure in the Great Tang Dynasty. No one knew anything about his gender, true form, cultivation level, or other aspects.

But today, this Illusionary Nether King actually spoke up and told Zhuge Xiang everything about its true form and its situation. Its purpose was simply to be honest with Zhuge Xiang and hope that Zhuge Xiang could help it with the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound.

"Myriad Buddha Temple?" Zhuge Xiang murmured to himself upon hearing the words of the Illusionary Nether King.

The Lost Myriad Buddha Temple I encountered back then, and the Cultivation Method of the Golden Winged Corpse King, seemed to lead to the same goal as this Illusionary Nether King. The cultivation principle of Myriad Buddha Temple was to create something out of nothing, fulfilling the wishes of all beings. There were no gods, gods and Buddhas, or Bodhisattva in the world; they only appeared because many people believed in them. As long as I could gain the faith of all living beings, I could also become gods and Buddhas.

The appearance of this Illusionary Nether King seems to be similar to the cultivation principles of the Myriad Buddha Temple. Its appearance arises from a myriad of chaotic thoughts, creating something from nothing.

At this moment, Zhuge Xiang finally understood why this Illusionary Nether King could be so incredibly kind at times, like an absolute saint, and so incredibly ruthless at others, making people want to tear him apart.

It turns out that all of this was merely for its own survival and power. In the cultivation philosophy of Myriad Buddha Temple, all living beings believed that Bodhisattva gods and Buddhas be born from nothing.

If no one believes in a god gods and Buddhas, or Bodhisattva, that god gods and Buddhas, or Bodhisattva will perish. Similarly, the Illusionary Nether King, born from the thoughts of the people, will slowly disappear if the people forget his existence.

When Zhuge Xiang first arrived in the Scorching Desert, he heard rumors about the Illusionary Nether King, which were two extremes. He even thought that the Illusionary Nether King might be a little mentally unstable. But now, he realized that whether she was good or evil, everything revolved around one point: to make the people remember her.

"Then why do you need my Heavenly Demon Zen Sound to help you?" Although he understood the true form of the Illusionary Nether King and knew the purpose of its words and actions in the Scorching Desert, Zhuge Xiang still couldn't understand. After all, it was also Demonic Creatures, so why would it need his Heavenly Demon Zen Sound? It even went so far as to capture him despite being surrounded by dozens of Void Returning Stage experts.

"I was born from countless thoughts, which are inherently neither good nor evil. However, in the last few hundred years, I have felt that the more time I spend with humans, the more my mind has been influenced by their inherent flaws, to the point that my very existence is no longer pure. Your Zen Sound made me feel more comfortable than ever before, and those evil parts within me were slowly being purged. This feeling was incredibly comforting..."

"Illusionary Nether King," he said, a hint of longing in his eyes. "Tell me, what in the world is more comforting than slowly cleansing the evil parts within oneself and eliminating them?" For Illusionary Nether King, Zhuge Xiang's Zen Sound was a thousand times more comfortable than soaking in a hot spring.

"With your Zen Sound assistance, I believe that within a few years, I will be able to completely eliminate the evil parts from my body, making my existence purer and clearer. Even my cultivation will rise to a higher level," Illusionary Nether King with unwavering determination in his eyes. He firmly believed that Zhuge Xiang's Heavenly Demon Zen Sound possessed this ability.

"You captured me and brought me here, even going so far as to tell me this secret that no one else knows. Aren't you afraid I'll leak it? Do you really think I'll agree to your demands?" Although the Illusionary Nether King was frank and showed Zhuge Xiang its sincerity, how could he easily let go after being manipulated in the Illusionary Realm for over ten years?

To Zhuge Xiang's words, Illusionary Nether King simply smiled and said, "You've been in my Illusionary Realm for over ten years, and I've observed you for over ten years as well. I believe I understand your character to some extent. So, I'm just telling you this: you would never agree to help my enemy."

After a slight pause, Illusionary Nether King continued, "But don't you also need my help? Between us, it's just mutual assistance. Besides, having me by your side is like having a personal bodyguard. Isn't that a good thing?"

On one hand, there was hatred. Zhuge Xiang did indeed harbor deep hatred for the Illusionary Nether King, but after hearing what it said, Zhuge Xiang also felt that it made sense. This matter would be mutually beneficial if they cooperated.

Although it was impossible for him to let go of the hatred that had been toyed with for more than ten years for the sake of Die Wu, the Heavenly Demon Zen Sound had made him famous. However, his current cultivation level was only at the Gathering Origin Stage. Having a powerful figure like the Illusionary Nether King to protect him was indeed a worthwhile thing.

This Illusionary Nether King needs my help, and I believe that even if I wanted to drive it away, it would be impossible. Demon Cultivator formed from the collective power of all living beings, like the Undying Great Roc carrying the Hundred Emperors Tomb through the Void, is Undying and Imperishable being. With the Illusionary Nether King as my bodyguard, like Bai Qi's mission, things would indeed be much more convenient for me in many ways. (To be continued...)

P. S.: Hurry up, I'll update two more chapters tonight. Tomorrow I have to pack up and go to Xiamen for a few days. I'll try my best to keep updating regularly during that time.