Zhong Yuan asked, "Sir, what brings you here?"
Yuan Shou Cheng sighed softly, "Did you see any unclaimed wandering souls on your way?"
"Their spiritual essence lingers, floating in the air."
"It's a pity your gourd is useless, and mine is already claimed by its master."
"I have a method that can help you transcend these wandering souls, returning them to wholeness and their true nature. It will definitely benefit you."
Yuan Shou Cheng reached out and grabbed the gourd hanging from Zhong Yuan's waist. He had brought this gourd with him from Huaguoshan, and it was only filled with plain water.
Zhong Yuan didn't expect Yuan Shou Cheng to take an interest in it.
Yuan Shou Cheng picked up his brush and drew a talisman directly on the gourd. Spiritual light flickered as he did so.
Then he nodded in satisfaction, "Now this is more like it. It cannot contain the heavens, but it can guide people. It will cleanse their delusions and send them to reincarnation."
He tossed the gourd back to Zhong Yuan.
Then Yuan Shou Cheng turned around, facing the papers on his desk and began writing, as if he didn't intend to speak again.
Zhong Yuan didn't press further but carefully sensed the changes in the gourd.
He then unexpectedly felt a wisp of spiritual light enter his mind, instantly bringing him a sense of enlightenment.
【You have been enlightened by a master and have grasped the "Absorption Technique," allowing you to use this gourd to absorb the remaining spiritual essence of perished beings and the residual spirits of slain powerful demons.】
Zhong Yuan was even more surprised.
So this was how humans cultivated.
Demons eat people, and people eat demons. It just doesn't appear so straightforward. And if you slay demons burdened with evil, it's likely to earn you merit.
This, it seemed, was a matter that the celestial gods chose to stand outside of.
Zhong Yuan now understood that the spiritual energy he had absorbed from the demons he had killed earlier was actually spiritual essence.
He had previously lacked a method, so the spiritual essence he obtained was of a lower grade, resulting in a lot of waste.
With the Absorption Technique, any spiritual essence he couldn't immediately refine could be stored in the gourd and cultivated slowly.
This technique could only absorb spiritual essence and spirits, and it had little room for improvement.
Zhong Yuan glanced at the large gourd on Yuan Shou Cheng's back and bowed, "Thank you for your guidance, sir."
Yuan Shou Cheng waved his hand without replying.
Ma Batian stood next to Yuan Shou Cheng, wanting to speak but hesitating.
He wanted to ask Yuan Shou Cheng if he could foretell the fate of his King and the Fire Mountain, but he was afraid of hearing a bad outcome.
In the end, Ma Batian suppressed his thoughts.
Even if he knew it was futile, would he really stop? Since that was the case, it was better not to ask.
Of course, if he could find a better solution, that would be great.
But he had already promised to help the "Chosen One" resurrect the Great Sage, so how could he give up halfway?
Besides, Yuan Shou Cheng was human, and he was a demon. It was unlikely he would be willing to help him.
It was best not to ask.
Zhong Yuan looked at Ma Batian beside him, thought for a moment, and then asked, "I wonder why you're helping me, sir. I'm a demon after all."
Yuan Shou Cheng finally spoke again, laughing softly, "Demons, ghosts, and monsters are all me. Gods and bodhisattvas are all the same. You should hurry along."
Zhong Yuan nodded in agreement and didn't ask any more questions.
He understood. It seemed that Yuan Shou Cheng was indeed aware of the destiny of this world.
It seemed that human cultivators aspiring for immortality were not much better off than demons.
He was right about what he knew.
Ma Batian, however, didn't understand Yuan Shou Cheng's words and looked confused.
Zhong Yuan didn't explain but called out to Ma Batian and continued forward.
Ma Batian regained his senses and didn't think further. He took the lead and quickly jumped down from a ravine behind them, heading straight for the hiding place of the demon leader.
This was indeed much more convenient than searching for it himself.
Soon, Ma Batian led Zhong Yuan to a bamboo forest.
The bamboo forest was filled with rising smoke, and a powerful demon presence quickly emerged.
"My monastic name is Guangmou. If I die at your hands today, please convey a message to my master."
"Mortal eyes, unable to attain the bones of a god. "
"Half-glory, half-decay, who knows the path of eternal life!"
Guangmou, with a green face and fangs, carried a folding fan in his hand and a white snake wrapped around his waist as a belt. He spoke as he walked, appearing quite debonair.
As his last word fell, he waved his folding fan, and more than ten rays of spiritual light shot out like venomous snakes, attacking Zhong Yuan from all directions.
His own figure flashed, transforming into a stream of light and disappearing as well.
In the blink of an eye, he was already behind Zhong Yuan.
Zhong Yuan was prepared, easily dodged the attack, and didn't even use his immobilizing spell. He simply swung his Red Fire Copper Staff to meet the attack.
"It seems you know today is your death day."
"Brother Ma, you can watch from the side and help me defend. I will send him to reunite with his master and senior brother."
Guangzhi was a demon, and Guangmou had also become a demon. He was no longer surprised.
"Mortal eyes, unable to attain the bones of a god. Half-glory, half-decay, who knows the path of eternal life."
Was Guangmou referring to Jinchi, who lived for over two hundred years, or himself?
Although Guangmou was even more powerful than Guangzhi, he was still inferior to Lingxuzi.
At this point, Zhong Yuan had consumed the Golden Core and his strength had greatly increased. After a brief exchange, he realized he no longer felt any pressure at all.
He completely abandoned the idea of using the immobilizing spell, taking the opportunity to practice his close-combat skills.
"You killed my senior brother. Good, very good!" Guangmou's movements didn't stop, and he didn't show any anger at Zhong Yuan's words, but rather seemed delighted.
His movements were also quite special, and as he moved, he would transform into white light, shifting positions, making him seem rather elusive.
Zhong Yuan was not afraid at all. After dodging the vital points, he intentionally allowed Guangmou's folding fan to hit him, then immediately retaliated with a desperate counterattack.
Both sides were struck at the same time. Zhong Yuan felt a little pain, but the earth veins spiritual energy circulated, and he quickly recovered.
After consuming the Jade Lotus Golden Core, his physical body was indeed much stronger.
Guangmou's body was also not bad, but he was not as strong as Lingxuzi. Zhong Yuan's staff hit him on the shoulder, leaving a charred, torn area.
Guangmou was even more furious.
However, Guangmou's main skills were still based on spells, and the spells he cast were always intercepted by Zhong Yuan's fiery staff.
Soon.
Zhong Yuan had a few minor wounds, but Guangmou had completely lost his ability to resist.
"You are so obsessed with external things, what is the difference between you and my master...?" In the end, Guangmou fell slowly with a hint of unwillingness.
"Do you think my weapon is unfair?"
Zhong Yuan shook his head. He was quite satisfied with the outcome.
His attack, defense, and pain tolerance had all improved significantly.
PS: The first day's data for a new book is very important. Subsequent data is also the motivation for updates! All you handsome men, please feel free to feed me some love!