Zhong Yuan heard the Earth God’s words, but he simply stood still.
He slowly exhaled, carefully sensing his surroundings. He also paid close attention to everything around him, hoping to see if Ling Xuzi had left anything else behind.
However, he found nothing.
“This Ling Xuzi, it seems he isn’t the original Ling Xuzi, he has nothing to do with the original one.”
“And the things I could see before, Guang Zhi, that big-headed ghost, even Ku the gatekeeper, it seems they are all truly connected to Sun Wukong’s power.”
Zhong Yuan felt a bit of regret. Finally, he took a deep breath and began to follow the Earth God’s directions, entering the buildings in the back of the temple.
The Golden Core the Earth God mentioned was unexpectedly not difficult to find.
It was right there, placed beneath the golden statue of Guanyin in the temple. It’s unclear why Ling Xuzi didn’t eat it.
“Or maybe, this is actually something the people from the Heavenly Court deliberately intended to give me? Maybe they just placed it here?”
Even with his extraordinary comprehension and progress, he still felt uneasy facing Ling Xuzi.
This kind of strength, no matter how you look at it, couldn’t possibly directly defeat the Black Bear Spirit.
“Whatever, it doesn’t matter.”
Zhong Yuan carefully sensed the Golden Core he had obtained. A piece of information naturally arose in his mind.
【Azure Lotus Golden Core.】
【From the South Pole, an elixir of longevity from the Longevity Star. Consuming it can greatly enhance one’s physical strength.】
“A thing from the South Pole Longevity Star? ”
It was fine, at least it wasn’t a Golden Core refined from humans.
It seems this world, while dark, isn’t as twisted as he thought.
The celestial treasures consumed by immortals during their cultivation, the "Lingyun" the Jade Emperor spoke of, should still be celestial energy.
It’s not like the Battle God's “Lingyun”, which could only be refined from human lives.
But then again, it makes sense if consuming humans can provide “Lingyun” that allows the demon race to cultivate. Even humans themselves could follow the path of a Demon Cultivator.
However, it doesn’t make sense if only eating humans provides “Lingyun”. If a person is born with “Lingyun” but Heaven itself has none, that’s a bit illogical.
The current state of the mortal world is ultimately because most of Heaven’s celestial energy has been drained away.
Demons eating humans, it’s likely that the “Lingyun” within human bodies has become the easiest “Lingyun” for cultivators in the mortal world to obtain.
Even if this "Lingyun" is not pure and using it to cultivate will lead to demonic tendencies and sins.
But if you don't eat people, you can only become the most ordinary beast, and your lifespan will likely be shorter than that of most humans. Many demon races simply can't resist.
If they can't resist, they become demons.
If they resist, they will soon die of old age, their offspring may not even develop intelligence and will pose no threat.
This plan of the Jade Emperor is truly poisonous.
Demons who want to cultivate without eating humans can only rely on celestial elixirs falling from the sky or finding rare spiritual herbs and lands in the mortal realm.
It’s difficult.
Zhong Yuan didn't hesitate. He confirmed that the Azure Lotus Golden Core could be consumed directly and simply threw it into his mouth.
The Golden Core melted in his mouth, instantly turning into warm currents flowing through his body. Zhong Yuan clearly felt his physical strength rapidly increasing with the power of the elixir.
In a short while, the elixir’s power depleted. His body felt completely reborn compared to before.
His strength had increased by at least three or four times.
His magical power had also increased by about twice.
He estimated that he now had roughly the same cultivation as Ling Xuzi.
Zhong Yuan also felt that his meridians had become wider. His connection with the Earth Veins remained at the previous level, but the speed at which he could recover his magical power and stamina had become much faster.
It's truly a good thing.
It’s a pity he only got one.
It's also a pity that Earth Vein energy doesn't seem to be able to directly strengthen his body or increase his magical power.
Zhong Yuan simply found a cushion in the Guanyin Temple and sat down, resting for a night to replenish his energy.
He was not disturbed at all throughout the night. Only on the second day did he set off again, continuing toward the depths of the back mountain.
“What should I do, what should I do.”
Following the mountain path, Zhong Yuan came to a stone cave. Unexpectedly, he heard someone speaking inside the cave, and he could vaguely sense a powerful presence.
He simply went inside and saw a strong horse demon sitting in the cave.
The horse demon didn't show any hostility towards him, but instead took the initiative to say: "You don’t look like one of our demons, could you be another one who has come to pay respects to the Black Wind King?"
Zhong Yuan replied: "No, I came to fight my way up Black Wind Mountain and find trouble with the Black Wind Monster."
“Take my advice, this Black Bear Spirit is all bark and no bite, unreliable... wait, what did you say?" The horse demon was continuing to persuade Zhong Yuan, but then suddenly stopped.
Zhong Yuan continued: "I came from Flower Fruit Mountain, I'm here to cause trouble for the Black Wind Monster. Who are you? You're not a demon from Black Wind Mountain, why are you here?"
The horse demon's expression turned serious, he formally introduced himself: "I am Ma Ba Tian from the Flaming Mountain."
"Since you are not here to join that Black Bear Spirit, I won’t say anymore. Be careful."
"That Black Bear Spirit is unreliable. I don’t dare entrust my request to him. I should leave immediately and seek help elsewhere. Farewell."
Seeing Ma Ba Tian stand up and prepare to leave, Zhong Yuan quickly stopped him: "Ma Ge, wait. Why did you come to Black Wind Mountain? What is your business here?"
Zhong Yuan paused, then continued: "I came to retrieve the Great Sage’s six roots and take them back to Flower Fruit Mountain. You're a demon from the Flaming Mountain, how come you're here? "
"Do you know where the Great Sage’s six roots are?"
He’d been wanting to ask someone about the situation of the demon race and where the Great Sage's six roots were.
But the Black Wind Mountain Earth God didn't give him a chance to speak, he wasn't very helpful, and Zhong Yuan didn't know if he could trust the immortal side, he didn't know the Earth God's stance, so he hadn't dared to ask.
But this Ma Ba Tian seemed to have something important to do, and he was quite a good person, so he couldn’t resist asking.
Ma Ba Tian was stunned, he said: "Are you the legendary Heaven's Chosen?"
Zhong Yuan nodded: "We wouldn’t call it a legend. Every one of us from Flower Fruit Mountain is Heaven's Chosen. As long as we have the ability, we must find a way to retrieve the Great Sage’s six roots."
"Whether we can truly succeed, it depends on ourselves."
Ma Ba Tian raised his hand in admiration: "Monkey brother, you are loyal and righteous! But that Black Bear Spirit is not easy to deal with. It’s a pity that I have something to do and can't help you."
"You have your own business, and I have my own. I won’t bother you with my own matters. It’s nothing much."
"If you and I succeed, when you come to Flower Fruit Mountain, I will definitely treat you to a few drinks."
"..." Zhong Yuan simply said: "Ma Ge, no need. Based on what you said before, you wanted to seek the Black Bear Spirit’s help, right?"
"Why don’t you join forces with me instead of running around."
"Just help me get up the mountain and defeat the Black Bear Spirit, and I’ll help you with your business afterwards."
"If you don't trust me, or if you think my strength is too low, you can wait a while. After I fight my way up the mountain, you can decide after seeing my strength."