Chapter 790: Begin (II)

Huff...

Sensing that Lin Zheyu's movements had become much gentler and more delicate, Cao Hongchang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. However, he found it strange. Whenever Xiao Zhe had purged yao wills from others before, he had always begun with their sea of consciousness and soul. Why was he starting with the Nascent Soul this time?

And is it just my imagination? Why do I feel that this fellow isn't purging the yao will fused with my Nascent Soul, but carefully studying the Nascent Soul itself? Cao Hongchang could not help entertaining the thought.

Reason told him that Xiao Zhe was stronger than he was and was likewise a demonic cultivator, so the man had no reason to study his Yao Dao Nascent Soul. Yet everything he felt suggested otherwise.

No, he isn't tampering with my nascent soul. Although some of his actions seem unnecessary, he is indeed purging the yao will within it. But why does this still feel so strange? Cao Hongchang was filled with doubt.

Yet he did not want to ask. Given this fellow's vile personality, asking might invite a little retaliation from him.

Forget it. I'll let him do as he pleases, as long as he doesn't resort to any underhanded tricks, Cao Hongchang muttered.

Of course, even if he wanted to resist, he doubted he could. After witnessing Lin Zheyu easily withstand Fang Mo's self-detonation, Cao Hongchang felt that none of the methods he had to threaten the man posed any threat whatsoever. This was also why he had chosen not to use his own imitation Yao Demon Nest.

Even after making that choice, however, Cao Hongchang could not help feeling somewhat apprehensive, with a lingering sense of insecurity weighing on his mind. That was why he had taken out the oval-shaped dharma treasure as a precaution.

Wisps of black smoke escaped from Cao Hongchang's body as Lin Zheyu methodically purged the yao will within him. At the same time, he occasionally used golden energy to stimulate the mutated demonic patterns within the Nascent Soul, then observed how they changed in response to aid his comprehension.

Most of these demonic patterns come from the Yao Dao that Cao Hongchang himself cultivated. What I need to do is not deeply comprehend the specific Dao resonance and laws contained within these demonic patterns. Instead, I need to understand how demonic patterns are used to condense a Dao Body resembling a Nascent Soul, as well as the commonalities shared by Nascent Soul realm demonic cultivators... Lin Zheyu murmured.

If Lin Zheyu wished to comprehend the Great Dao cultivated by Cao Hongchang, he would have to expend an enormous amount of time and energy. Fortunately, he had no need to do so. He only needed to understand how Nascent Soul realm demonic cultivators used their demonic patterns to condense a Nascent Soul Dao Body. Then, through a similar method, he could use his own divine patterns to condense a 'pseudo-Dao Body.'

Afterward, he could use this pseudo-Dao Body, which would resemble an external incarnation, to grasp the so-called 'authority' of the Nascent Soul realm. This was the method Lin Zheyu intended to try in order to master short-distance teleportation. In theory, it had a chance of succeeding. However, he would only know the outcome after trying it himself.

A brilliant light flickered in Lin Zheyu's eyes.

What a perfect method of integration... All the mutated demonic patterns have fused together extraordinarily flawlessly, bringing the power of the Dao resonance patterns contained within them to its fullest potential...

He became utterly engrossed in the flawless structure formed by the mutated demonic patterns within Cao Hongchang's Nascent Soul. This perfect arrangement embodied the principles of heaven and earth, with every aspect displaying the profundity and wonders of the Great Dao.

Time passed slowly. It had not been long since Lin Zheyu last purged the yao will from Cao Hongchang's body. Although Cao Hongchang had fought several battles of varying scale during that time, the yao will corruption within him was not particularly severe. It could not compare at all to the condition he had been in after suffering centuries of corruption.

Even though Lin Zheyu deliberately slowed his pace, after seven days, he had purged nearly all the yao will from the Nascent Soul that could be removed.

Cao Hongchang finally could not endure it any longer and sent a voice transmission in an exceedingly tactful and cordial tone. "Fellow Xiao... I believe the yao will within my Nascent Soul has been purged sufficiently by now. What do you think?"

After receiving no response for a long while, Cao Hongchang could not help calling out. "Fellow Xiao? Fellow?"

"Oh, it is nearly done. In that case, let us begin purging the yao will from your sea of consciousness and soul," Lin Zheyu said calmly as he returned to his senses.

Although it was somewhat regrettable, he had learned nearly enough. Even if he continued studying it, he would find it difficult to comprehend much more in the short term. Rather than continue wasting time on Cao Hongchang, it would be better to find another subject.

By comprehending and studying the structures of the mutated demonic patterns within the Nascent Souls of different Nascent Soul realm yao, as well as how those patterns fused together, he could identify their commonalities. Only then could Lin Zheyu better apply those principles to his divine patterns and use them to condense a similar pseudo-Dao Body.

"Thank you for the trouble," Cao Hongchang said weakly.

At the same time, he had now confirmed one thing. What Fellow Xiao had been doing was definitely not as simple as helping him purge the yao will from his Nascent Soul. This fellow seemed to have been studying his nascent soul as well. But why?

My nascent soul hasn't been tampered with... Cao Hongchang thought after secretly examining its condition.

Only a peak Deity Transformation realm powerhouse would likely be capable of tampering with his nascent soul without his knowledge.

Since he didn't tamper with it, what exactly was he trying to do? Does he need it to cultivate some special technique?

Numerous speculations flashed through Cao Hongchang's mind.

However, he could never have guessed Lin Zheyu's true objective. After all, Cao Hongchang could never have imagined that the demonic cultivator with combat strength comparable to a mid-stage Nascent Soul realm cultivator was merely a Shackles realm martial artist in disguise.

***

While Lin Zheyu was purging the yao will from Cao Hongchang's body, within an ordinary town somewhere in the Chaotic Star Sea...

A sharp gleam flashed through the green-robed man's eyes, his face filled with astonishment. "Not bad, not bad. Not only has most of the yao will within your sea of consciousness and soul been purged, but even the yao will within your Golden Core has been cleansed. Remarkable, truly remarkable! To think Cao Hongchang actually possesses such a miraculous method! However, this only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. As long as you continue cultivating demon arts, the yao will will continue to corrupt you."

A demonic cultivator stood respectfully before the man. He was one of the Golden Core realm demonic cultivators who had just left the Evilheart Sect.

"Yes, my lord. That senior from the Evilheart Sect truly possesses some impressive methods. Unfortunately, I swore a Blood-Soul Oath, so I cannot tell you exactly how it was done," the demonic cultivator said respectfully. He could not even tell the senior before him who had performed the treatment and could only refer to him as that senior from the Evilheart Sect.

"No matter. You may leave," the green-robed man said calmly with a wave of his hand. A trace of madness and brutality flashed through his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.

"Huff, I can barely hold on any longer. I never expected everything Cao Hongchang said to be true. Should I capture him and interrogate him to find out how he did it?" the green-robed man murmured.

However, he soon shook his head. They were both Nascent Soul realm cultivators, and if Cao Hongchang were determined to flee, he was not confident he could stop him. Moreover, he was not much stronger than Cao Hongchang.

The green-robed man shook his head slightly. "I should focus on surviving this crisis first. If I don't find a way to resolve the yao will within me soon, my only choices will be to enter death seclusion or become a puppet of those gods and demons."

The yao will within him had already reached an extremely dangerous level. If he truly entered battle, it would likely erupt completely within just a few exchanges.

"I would like to see what kind of method, apart from the power of gods and demons, could possibly resolve the yao will corruption within a Nascent Soul realm cultivator. I can hardly wait..." The green-robed man rose with a smile. His figure flickered slightly before transforming into a streak of light and vanishing.

There were quite a few Nascent Soul realm demonic cultivators like the green-robed man. Or rather, all the Nascent Soul realm demonic cultivators Cao Hongchang had invited this time were exceedingly cautious. Some sent Golden Core realm cultivators to the Evilheart Sect first to undergo the treatment and see how effective it was.

Others casually captured demonic cultivators from the Evilheart Sect and crudely examined the conditions within their bodies. Regardless of the method they used, however, they all confirmed one thing. The Evilheart Sect truly possessed a means of helping demonic cultivators resolve the yao will within their bodies!

***

Inside the Evilheart Sect's main hall, Lin Zheyu slowly withdrew his hand. He smiled and said calmly, "The purging is nearly complete. It is time to go out and meet the fellow friends who have come from afar."

"Many thanks, fellow friend!" Cao Hongchang said, cupping his hands in gratitude.

After the yao will within his body had been purged, he felt incomparably relieved. Although the entire process had left him with countless complaints he wanted to voice, he forcibly held them back.

Seeing that Cao Hongchang intended to head out immediately, Lin Zheyu waved his hand and said calmly, "There is no rush. Meditate and recover first. Let them wait a little longer."

He also needed to recover. The golden energy within him had nearly depleted, so he needed to replenish it with Origin Force.

Cao Hongchang nodded. "All right."

"You can deal with them yourself later. Remember, only those who sign the contract and swear a Blood-Soul Oath may remain. Tell everyone else to get lost. Once they have signed the contract and sworn the Blood-Soul Oath, have them enter the secret chamber one at a time," Lin Zheyu said calmly with a wave of his hand. After speaking, his figure flickered, and he entered the secret chamber beneath the main hall.