Zhao Gongming Develops a Heart Demon

No matter what, Linglong had saved both him and Yun Xiao. He could not simply stand by and watch her die.

Yun Xiao fell silent for a moment before asking softly, "When do you plan to leave?"

"Now."

Lei Xiao paused, then continued, "Linglong's breakthrough seclusion may last as little as a hundred years, or as long as several thousand, even ten thousand years. I intend to go out and seek opportunities."

He planned to head for Thunder Marsh in the Eastern Extremity of the Eight Extremities. He was not going merely to seek innate spirit treasures, but also for the many thunder sources within Thunder Marsh.

If he wished to accelerate the fusion of the Purple Firmament Origin Divine Thunder, the best method was to refine thunder sources.

To Lei Xiao, Thunder Marsh was a sacred ground for cultivation.

"Go without worry. I'll stay here," Yun Xiao said.

"Elder Sister, you plan to remain behind?" Lei Xiao was somewhat surprised.

"Yes."

Yun Xiao nodded. "Didn't you give me the Wind-Repelling Seal? I plan to stay here and enter seclusion to refine it. I can also keep Linglong company. Otherwise, when she emerges from seclusion and finds that we have all left, she will surely be saddened."

"That works too."

A smile appeared on Lei Xiao's face. "Once you refine the Wind-Repelling Seal, Elder Sister, your cultivation will surely advance by leaps and bounds. Perhaps the next time we meet, you will already be a Great Luo Golden Immortal."

"A Great Luo Golden Immortal is not so easily attained."

Yun Xiao shook her head slightly. "Besides, I am only at the middle stage of the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm. I am still far from becoming a Great Luo Golden Immortal."

"Enough. Since you wish to leave, then go. But the Primordial World is dangerous. Even with the life-saving means bestowed by your master, you must remain cautious at all times."

"I understand."

Lei Xiao solemnly cupped his hands, then glanced once more in the direction where Linglong was in seclusion before turning toward the edge of the Fortune Dragon Cauldron.

The black light curtain rippled like water. With one step, his figure vanished into the boundless gangwinds of Wind Abyss.

Beyond Wind Abyss, the sky was a flawless blue.

Lei Xiao stood atop the clouds and looked back at the bottomless rift behind him. After a moment of silence, he determined his direction, transformed into a streak of lightning, and sped toward the Primordial Continent.

Thunder Marsh.

He had arrived.

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

After parting ways with Lei Xiao and the others, Zhao Gongming had searched the vast East Sea for heavenly treasures and earthly materials. Yet a thousand years had passed, and he still had nothing to show for it.

"Why is it that after taking a master, not only has my luck failed to improve, but it seems to have gotten even worse?"

Zhao Gongming sat cross-legged on a reef protruding from the sea. Spiritual energy circulated around him, but it could not conceal the gloom between his brows.

A thousand years.

A full thousand years.

He had searched throughout the East Sea, setting foot on no fewer than ten thousand islands, yet he had found only some low-grade heavenly treasures and earthly materials.

Zhao Gongming failed to notice that a faint wisp of black qi was slowly rising from the sea behind him.

That black qi was as thin as a strand of hair, barely there amid the mist evaporating from the sea. It was almost impossible to discern with the naked eye, and it silently entered his body along with the innate spiritual energy he absorbed.

"Why? We all took the same master. Among the five of us, my cultivation is the highest, yet I am only a nominal disciple. Lei Xiao is merely a Golden Immortal, yet he became a personal disciple."

Zhao Gongming clenched his fists, his eyes filled with unwillingness.

He did not know why, but from the first moment he saw Lei Xiao, he had felt an instinctive disgust toward him, as though Lei Xiao had stolen something that belonged to him.

"If not for him, the Three Xiao might not hate me so much. And the East Sea Dragon King gave him so many heavenly treasures and earthly materials—why did he not share even a little with me? He is only a mere Golden Immortal... Right, he is only a Golden Immortal. I could kill him with a wave of my hand. As long as I kill him, the Three Xiao... and those heavenly treasures and earthly materials will all be mine..."

Once that thought arose, it clung to him like gangrene, instantly spreading madly through his mind.

"Yes... As long as he dies, everything will get better."

Zhao Gongming's breathing grew heavy, and his eyes gradually turned scarlet. The clear Dao aura around him was replaced by a dense haze.

"He is only a Golden Immortal. Killing him would be as easy as turning over my hand..."

He muttered to himself, his voice growing lower and colder.

As the killing intent in his heart intensified, the wisp of black qi that had entered his body finally erupted completely.

Boom!

The sea behind Zhao Gongming exploded, and countless streams of black vapor shot into the sky. They swiftly gathered behind him, forming a black shadow with the exact same face as his own, except its features were sinister and a strange smile hung from its lips.

The black shadow hovered behind Zhao Gongming, a faintly mocking curve at its lips. Its eyes were black as ink, without a trace of white, filled only with endless darkness churning in their depths.

"Heh heh heh... I have finally come out."

The shadow spoke with Zhao Gongming's exact voice, yet it carried an indescribable chill and stickiness, like an echo drifting up from the depths of the netherworld.

Zhao Gongming abruptly turned his head. When he saw the figure identical to himself, his pupils contracted sharply.

"You... what are you?"

"Me?"

The black shadow chuckled and slowly drifted before Zhao Gongming, looking down at him from above. "Am I not you?"

"No, you are not me."

Zhao Gongming took a step back, a trace of clarity returning to his eyes. "You are a heart demon. Begone—"

He formed a hand seal, and golden light blazed around him. His natal true fire shone like a blazing sun, warping the black shadow's form.

His late-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal cultivation erupted completely at that moment. The aura pressed down upon the sea for a thousand li in every direction, forcing it into a massive bowl-shaped depression.

The black shadow let out a piercing shriek. Its face twisted violently beneath the golden light, yet it never dispersed.

"Are you sure you want to kill me? I am your opportunity for a breakthrough. As long as you completely merge with me, you will immediately break through to the Taiyi Golden Immortal perfection stage. I can even help you break through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm in an extremely short time."

Zhao Gongming's movements abruptly halted.

Natal true fire surged in his palm, and golden light shone brilliantly, yet it did not fall.

"Break through... to Great Luo Golden Immortal?"

His voice trembled slightly, and an extremely complicated emotion flashed through his eyes.

Great Luo Golden Immortal.

That was the realm every cultivator dreamed of, an insurmountable chasm that countless Taiyi Golden Immortals could never cross in their entire lives. Zhao Gongming had cultivated for many years; his talent was unquestionably high, and his opportunities were unquestionably plentiful, yet the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm still seemed infinitely distant.

And now, his heart demon was telling him—merge with it, and he could break through.

The black shadow keenly caught that instant of hesitation. The curve of its lips deepened further.

"What do you think I am? An evil demon? A calamity?"

The black shadow's voice became coaxing, as sweet and cloying as honey:

"No. I am your other side—the self you have always suppressed and dared not face. Only when you accept me will you be whole. And only the complete you is qualified to strive for the Great Luo realm."

"Shut up..."

Zhao Gongming's voice no longer carried its former resolve.