Succumbing to Demonic Corruption

"The Sect Leader of Supreme Mystery Mountain... the Mortal World Tribulation... the one destined for this tribulation..."

Du Qingquan felt like the sky was falling after hearing this.

All I wanted was to find some resources for my child's spiritual practice; how did I end up getting involved in such a shocking conspiracy?!

"Why can't we get out?!" Du Qingquan wanted to escape, but belatedly realized that the scene in the underground palace had changed drastically, as if it were a self-contained entity, and he couldn't find an exit at all.

"Fellow Daoist Du, there's no need to waste your time." Pang Dafu spoke up to appease and win him over, "This pool of water is the transformed form of a [Clear Water Foundation Establishment] cultivator after death. It's an easy matter to capture a few of us Qi Refining Qi Refining."

"To break this Foundation Establishment level [Clear Pool Reflecting Images] technique, we must reenact the events of the past and join forces to slay the demon!"

Du Qingquan's heart tightened.

I just understood that my ancestor, High Person Songfu, was an undisputed demon who killed 100,000 people in his pursuit of cultivation.

To follow the old ways now, are we to kill ourselves?!

Du Qingquan gripped the blue talisman in his hand, his face full of vigilance, and said, "A demon?! I, Du, have committed some evil deeds and committed some murders in the mortal world, but I am far from deserving to be called a demon!"

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Du, you misunderstand! The demon I was referring to is not you." Pang Dafu laughed loudly after hearing this, and looked at Li Chengxuan, saying, "Fellow Daoist Li is the leader of the Supreme Mystery Demon Sect, isn't he the infamous great demon?!"

He paused, then added, "Does Fellow Daoist Du remember the story of ' Three Followers Kill the Master ' that I mentioned before?!"

"I am the manager of the Azure Cloud Market Chamber of Commerce."

"Fellow Daoist Du is a vassal of the Hua Household."

"And my precious daughter was bought at a high price and bound by a legal contract; her ancestors were from Supreme Mystery Mountain!"

"This situation perfectly embodies the imagery of ' Three Followers Kill the Master '!"

"If the three of us join forces to kill the leader of the Supreme Mystery Demon Sect, we can share the sect's fortune and the demon's Fate, thus gaining the favor of Heavenly Dao and greatly benefiting our cultivation."

"Perhaps Fellow Daoist Du can seize this opportunity to enter the Daoist path and revive the [Clear Water] lineage!"

Du Qingquan's breathing quickened after hearing this, his mind in turmoil.

If one can enter the Dao and cultivate oneself, and personally revive the [Clear Water] lineage, why should one rely on Qingchi, who is still in his infancy?!

"Clear Pool Reflecting Images... Three Followers Kill the Master... Heavenly Dao's favor..." Li Chengxuan, listening from the side, couldn't help but laugh, "Fellow Daoist Pang, your efforts in obstructing the path and facing this calamity are truly admirable."

"However, Li has devoted himself to cultivation and rarely goes down the mountain. He certainly doesn't deserve the title of demon, does he?"

Upon hearing this, Pang Dafu retorted sternly, "Everyone in the Southern Edge Continent knows the famous figures of the Supreme Mystery Demon Sect, how could it be false?"

Li Chengxuan shook his head. "The world is chaotic, and slander is rampant. Even if the whole world criticizes me, it will not move my heart."

"To cultivate and refine Human Pill, poisoning an entire nation—is this not demonic?!"

"The superior's plans were not my doing. Slaying the dragon and eliminating evil is meritorious, not a fault."

"Letting his followers commit murder and slaughter the royal family. Using his immortal cultivation to oppress mortals, isn't he a demon?"

"A swift and decisive action is needed to restore order. Killing those in power is necessary to save countless ordinary people. If this is truly a morally sound way to govern, then it should be a model for the world."

Unable to argue with Li Chengxuan, Pang Dafu sneered and said, "To extract the spiritual energy of an entire prefecture for one's own selfish gain, isn't that demonic?!"

Li Chengxuan was taken aback upon hearing this.

This refers to the time when he first entered the Dao through Qi Ingestion, and his master activated the sect's grand formation, drawing Spiritual Qi from the Desolate Province and causing natural and man-made disasters.

Li Chengxuan didn't offer much explanation, but instead laughed and said, "Fellow Daoist Pang, you've been delaying your attack, only trying to confuse my Daoist mind with your words. It turns out you're trying to force me to emulate the Venerable Du Household High Person Songfu of yesteryear and become a demon."

Pang Dafu wasn't surprised that Li Chengxuan had seen through his intentions. Instead, he laughed and said, "Sect Leader Li entered the Dao through the [Mortal World Turbid Qi], so he was born into this world. Becoming a demon is only natural. Why should I force him?!"

"I see." Li Chengxuan nodded thoughtfully, "No wonder my disciple Liu Zhijian was offered the [Turbid Current Calamity] Cultivation Method just for traveling down the mountain, luring him into the turbid flow."

"Could this also be Fellow Daoist Pang's doing?!"

"What's the use of arguing about right or wrong now?" Pang Dafu didn't answer directly, but looked at Li Chengxuan and said bluntly, "Doesn't Sect Leader Li understand now that from the moment you took the [Mortal World Turbid Qi] to enter the Dao, you were destined for this calamity?"

"Supreme Mystery Mountain has a profound foundation; how could it lack even a trace of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi?!"

"But Fellow Daoist Li's master, the former sect leader Old Daoist Wu, went through countless hardships to find only a wisp of [Mortal World Turbid Qi]."

"Fellow Daoist Li's senior brothers and sisters are all extremely intelligent people. They refused to take on this huge karmic burden, yet they watched helplessly as Fellow Daoist Li jumped into the fire pit."

In the end, everyone on Supreme Mystery Mountain was freed.

"Only Fellow Daoist Li is left to suffer."

The smile on Li Chengxuan's face gradually faded, and he narrowed his eyes slightly, saying softly, "Fellow Daoist Pang seems to know everything about the affairs of my Supreme Mystery Mountain."

"That's natural." Pang Dafu appeared confident and composed, but inwardly he was somewhat anxious.

Logically, upon hearing such inside information, this Sect Leader Li should have long since succumbed to demonic influence, stirring up the remaining demonic energy and evil aura of Du Household High Person Songfu in [Clear Pool Reflecting Images], causing the strange phenomena of flesh and blood being consumed and bones becoming a disaster.

But to this day, there has been absolutely no movement.

Hateful!

Is this Sect Leader Li truly so steadfast and unshakeable in his resolve?!

Pang Dafu's mind raced, and he said with a smile, "The world is full of vices; wine, women, and wealth are unavoidable."

"When Fellow Daoist Li entered the Dao, I, Pang, also contributed greatly to the [Mortal World Turbid Qi] he used."

Pang Dafu glanced at Li Chengxuan's reaction and decided to escalate the challenge. "To reach Central Continent from Southern Reach, one must pass through the perilous Chaotic Star Sea."

"Back then, when Fellow Daoist Li's master, senior brothers, and senior sisters left, they also traveled on my master's natal flying boat."

Li Chengxuan showed little surprise upon hearing this.

When he inherited the position of sect leader of Supreme Mystery Mountain, he went to the storeroom and saw a complete [Gen Earth Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi] in the yellow gourd left by his master, Old Daoist Wu. He understood many things at that time.

Hearing Pang Dafu point it out now only confirms what he had suspected.

To say that one's heart is as calm as a still lake, without any ripples, is naturally a lie.

However, it is certainly not the case that they panicked, became resentful, or even considered turning into demons.

After all, he now wields the [Two Worlds Pearl], his cultivation is progressing smoothly, and his path to immortality is boundless.

To dwell on these old stories is truly pathetic, tragic, and laughable.

"Thank you for informing me, fellow Daoist. I am relieved to see that my master, senior brothers, and senior sisters are all safe and sound." Li Chengxuan chuckled and looked at Pang Dafu, saying, "To plot against the three generations of my Supreme Mystery Mountain sect leaders, causing them to fall into the turbid realm and become demons—what a grand scheme, what deep-seated hatred!"

"Through all my thoughts, the only ones who could possibly have such a grudge against my Supreme Mystery Mountain are the sea dragons."

"Fellow Daoist Pang, did you come here on the orders of those sea worms?!"

Pang Dafu had been talking until his throat was dry, but Li Chengxuan showed no signs of falling into demonic possession. Instead, he still had the mind to mock the dragon subordinates for trying to find out his background. He took a deep breath, reached out and touched his hand, and a small sword appeared in his hand. "Enough! There's no point in saying more!"

"Since Fellow Daoist Li is so reluctant to succumb to demonic possession, I, Pang, have no choice but to force him!"

Li Chengxuan glanced at the small sword and immediately felt an overwhelming sense of suppression.

Five antique copper coins were strung on the small sword.

It is the Five Emperors Copper Coin Sword that is most effective against cultivators of the [Mortal World Dao].