Chapter 676: Great Demon 39

Cang Long, the Nine-tailed Fox, and others made a rare appearance. "Congratulations. Watching Jin Huan’s Heavenly Tribulation was so perilous... I’m suddenly terrified of ascension."

Tan You raised an eyebrow. "Is Old Cang finally preparing to ascend? Congratulations."

She remembered that when she was only Seventh Rank, Cang Long had already reached the twelfth rank. Yet after all these years, he was still stuck there, just a single step away from ascension.

She had thought he would ascend immediately after his bloodline reversion, but she never expected him to wait for so long.

Cang Long gave a bitter smile. "After my bloodline reverted, my cultivation dropped by a whole major realm. I’ve spent all these years painstakingly cultivating my way back up. But for us pure-blooded demon beasts, ascension is just so damn hard."

"And seeing how immense the display was for your Heavenly Tribulation, Jin Huan, just made me even more terrified."

Cang Long spread his hands. "The bloodline reversion was a good thing, yes, but the Heavenly Tribulation that comes after is much more powerful. When I cultivated back to the twelfth rank, the tribulation lightning wasn’t weaker at all. In fact, it was stronger."

"That’s why I don’t even dare to think about ascending now."

Tan You understood how he felt. Who wouldn’t be scared, watching the tribulation lightning fall from the heavens? She had been terrified too.

"I understand. There’s a great terror that lies on the threshold of life and death. It’s only natural to be afraid. After all, it’s your own life. No one would lightly decide to gamble it on an unknown outcome."

Cang Long breathed a sigh of relief. "I knew you’d understand, Jin Huan. I just keep thinking that if I don’t ascend, I can live freely in this lower realm forever. But if I choose to face the ascension tribulation, I could be blasted into dust in the very next second."

"If that happens, I’d die filled with resentment. I’d rather just live comfortably here in the lower realm. Besides, I have this faint premonition... that if I choose to ascend, there’s a ninety percent chance I won’t make it."

The moment Cang Long mentioned a premonition, all the Great Demons grew serious. How could the premonition of a Great Demon on the verge of ascension be wrong? It had to be taken seriously.

Tan You had no intention of lecturing him with grand principles. "As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters. No one ever decreed that you must ascend just because your cultivation is high enough. Not even the Heavenly Dao, right?"

A few faint claps of thunder echoed from the horizon, as if the heavens were displeased that Tan You kept using them as an example.

Tan You smiled, her expression unchanged. "Old Cang, if you’re here to vent, I’m all ears. But if you’re asking for my advice, I do have a few rough ideas."

Cang Long toyed with his teacup. "What advice? You’re tens of thousands of years younger than me. You’re still just a kid."

But Tan You didn’t smile. She simply gazed past the canopy of the great tree above them toward the distant horizon. "For years, I’ve been wondering why Cultivators travel around to sever their worldly ties before ascending. After much thought, I believe it all comes down to one concept: karma."

"I’ve even looked into it. Those Cultivators who are entangled in heavy karma, even if they reach the Ascension Stage, ultimately end up with their souls scattered to the winds. On the other hand, the Cultivators who succeed in ascending are, for the most part, beyond reproach."

"This shows that even though the Heavenly Dao favors the Human Clan, its bias isn’t absolute. It’s still selective."

"In contrast, look at the Demon Clan. Over tens of thousands of years, very few have successfully ascended. One of the main reasons is that before a member of the Demon Clan begins to cultivate, they act almost entirely on instinct. It’s not so bad if they have a peaceful disposition."

"But for those with bloodthirsty and volatile natures, the amount of karma they accumulate is surely immense."

Tan You didn’t elaborate, but she didn’t need to. All the Great Demons present understood her meaning. And they couldn’t deny it; over their tens of thousands of years of cultivation, they had all stained their hands with plenty of blood.

The Nine-tailed Fox muttered, "So... is that why ascension is so difficult for the Demon Clan?"

Tan You fiddled with her teacup. "After all my deliberation, it’s the only reason I can come up with. You know far better than I whether you’re burdened by karma or not."

Cang Long downed his tea as if it were a bowl of strong wine, then wiped his mouth. "Then tell me, what should I do?"

Tan You shrugged. "Didn’t I just tell you? Settle what needs to be settled. To be honest, looking at all of you right now... you each look like a tangled mess of yarn."

The Red Flame Tiger sounded unconvinced. "Don’t just talk about us. What about the Great Demons in your Demon Market? Some of them have reached the Ascension Stage, haven’t they? Aren’t you worried about them?"

Tan You chuckled. "I’m not worried. Our Demon Market’s Great Demons are very careful. And yes, they did commit many killings in the past, but that was due to the restrictions of master-servant contracts."

"Being forced to commit slaughter and choosing to do so willingly are two entirely different things. Besides, in recent years, they’ve all been cultivating their characters and working hard to accumulate merit. Their karmic burdens are really not that heavy."

A Fire Phoenix, one of the Demon Market’s Great Demons at the Ascension Stage, laughed. "Jin Huan isn’t wrong. I’ve estimated it myself. If I were to ascend, I believe my chances of success would be around seventy percent."

"Seventy percent, that high?" Cang Long clicked his tongue with envy. "Accumulate merit? How?"

Tan You raised an eyebrow. "Instead of getting hung up on accumulating merit, you should focus on that massive karmic burden of yours. It’s like a tangled ball of yarn; it’s an eyesore."

As Tan You spoke, she made a grasping motion in the empty air with her right hand. In that instant, Cang Long felt a thin thread suddenly connect him to her, and it was as if his entire past was laid bare for her to see.

The Great Demons of the Demon Market were, after all, worldly and knowledgeable. Seeing Tan You’s display, the Fire Phoenix immediately laughed. "Incredible, Jin Huan! You can even see karma now. Is that part of the Golden Ring Snake clan’s inherited memories? Or is it one of your Talent Skills?"

Tan You didn’t hide anything. "I just find this sort of thing interesting. After my bloodline reverted at the Ninth Rank, I chose to focus more on karma in my cultivation. I’ve spent these past years constantly meditating on it, which is how I’ve made this small bit of progress."

Cang Long latched on to this as if it were a lifeline. "Jin Huan, you have this ability, you have to help me! This Old Long hasn’t treated you badly over the years, has he? For your great cause, I was the first to charge to the front lines!"

Cang Long said what the Nine-tailed Fox had been about to say, and the fox couldn’t help but grumble inwardly. ’Who says those with high Combat Power are all brainless? Cang Long’s mind is sharp as a tack!’

Tan You thought for a moment, then suddenly turned to Bai Ze. "Why don’t we all take a trip together? We’ve stayed in the Demon Market all these years and haven’t traveled at all. The young ones have grown up now, so we’re completely free to do our own thing."

The Peacock fanned themself. "Then count me in! How could we miss such an eye-opening opportunity? Besides, just think—traveling alongside Jin Huan... wouldn’t that be fantastic?"

"Yes!" Old Niu was the first to agree. "Jin Huan is the heart and soul of the Demon Market. If she’s not here, there’s no point in us hanging around. We might as well just find a place to go to sleep."

Bai Ze’s eyes crinkled in a smile. "Alright, let’s go together."

Cang Long had originally hoped Tan You would accompany him alone. But with so many other Great Demons joining, wouldn’t his entire past be laid bare for all to see?

Even for a demon beast who supposedly lacked any sense of shame or morals, Cang Long felt his face flush hot with embarrassment.

He knew full well what kind of outrageous things he had done in his past.