Chapter 443 - 409: Little Friend, Your Chance of Core Formation Is Not Small

Chapter 443: Chapter 409: Little Friend, Your Chance of Core Formation Is Not Small

The shock lasted only for a moment before Chu Mu forcibly suppressed it.

He had been in this city for over a month, facing countless horrors. Every step had been fraught with peril.

But to him, this was clearly good news.

This Demon City, even in its dilapidated state, was definitely not a place where a Tier Four True Demon could act recklessly.

He had to be cautious with every step, and so did this True Demon.

In over a month, the True Demon had traveled a thousand li at most, and it too must have encountered many terrifying crises.

"You all wait here. I will be right back!"

As Chu Mu reeled in shock, the True Demon was clearly impatient. After speaking, it was just about to leave when it suddenly turned to look at the visibly stunned Chu Mu.

Chu Mu froze, an inexplicable sense of foreboding washing over him.

Then, as if to confirm his premonition, the True Demon flicked its hand, and the familiar, restrictive Power of Imprisonment once again wrapped around his body.

"Young friend, you will accompany me into the hall."

The True Demon’s smile remained as it took a step forward.

Before Chu Mu could even react, he was pulled along by this force, uncontrollably dragged by the True Demon into the dilapidated great hall.

The great hall was vast and empty. Coiling Dragon Stone Pillars, each several zhang thick, soared toward the ceiling, supporting the majestic structure. Everywhere he looked was barren, save for the ink-black floor tiles that stretched past the pillars and into the profound, demon-mist-wreathed depths.

The fervor in the True Demon’s eyes intensified. Step by step, with an almost fanatical expression, it headed toward the depths of the hall.

Bound by the True Demon’s imprisonment, Chu Mu was forced to follow, matching it step for step.

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, the scene at the end of the hall finally came into full view.

Like a Heaven-Ascending Tier, a flight of steps, wreathed in draconic patterns, extended upward before disappearing into the churning demonic mist.

The True Demon stepped onto the stairs, and Chu Mu once again followed, step for step.

Gazing at the True Demon, its goal clear and its face fervent, a deeply buried doubt resurfaced in Chu Mu’s mind.

’Ever since entering this Secret Realm, the True Demon’s every word and action have shown that it is extremely familiar with this place, with this Demon Realm!’

’If this Demon Realm hadn’t suffered a great catastrophe that changed everything beyond recognition, I feel that this True Demon could probably navigate it unimpeded, as if... as if it were its own backyard...’

’True Demon... True Demon...’

Subconsciously, Chu Mu couldn’t help but recall the... True Demon from back then in the Chu Capital.

Through its cunning schemes, it had plotted the Golden Core True Master from the Longevity Sect to his death.

But in the end, a Residual Soul had stolen the fruits of its victory, usurping its place and taking the Demon Body for itself.

’But could that True Demon really be usurped so easily?’

Chu Mu pursed his lips, thoughts swirling in his mind. With his body not under his own control, he continued up the stairs, step by step.

After nearly another quarter of an hour, the top of the stairs finally revealed its full form to Chu Mu.

Atop the stairs was another high platform, several zhang tall. The platform was entirely ink-black but gave off a faint, white fluorescent glow. Wisps of True Demon Qi coiled around it, ultimately converging at its peak.

At the top of the platform, a "sphere," also ink-black with a faint white fluorescence, floated in the air. Demonic Qi gathered around it, and countless profound patterns could be faintly seen flowing across its surface.

With just a single glance, Chu Mu found he couldn’t look away. It was as if the sphere contained the countless ultimate truths of Cultivation. An inexplicable desire bloomed in his heart; he wanted nothing more than to merge with the sphere and explore those ultimate truths.

In his Sea of Consciousness, the Sword of Sword Intent issued a frantic warning, wisps of Sword Intent circulating, but Chu Mu showed no reaction. His eyes were filled with infatuation as he mechanically began to walk, wanting to approach the sphere.

But under the effect of the True Demon’s Power of Imprisonment, he could only take mechanical steps, the divine light in his eyes visibly dimming.

"Wake up!"

The True Demon roared, striking Chu Mu on the head with its palm.

The blow jolted Chu Mu as if from a dream. He gasped for breath, unable to hide the lingering fear on his face, and didn’t dare to glance at the sphere again.

Terrifying!

Utterly terrifying!

"This is the Heart of the Secret Realm."

The True Demon spoke slowly. If one listened closely, they could clearly perceive the inexpressible excitement in its voice.

"Back then, the Demon Realm occupied most of this Secret Realm. They used Great Divine Techniques to refine this Heart of the Demon Realm to control this entire Demon Realm."

"The core of the Demon Realm contains the fundamental principles of heaven and earth. It was nurtured for many years by the Great Divine Power Cultivators of the Demon Realm. After this Demon Realm underwent complete Demonization, tens of thousands of years of evolution have all been monitored by this Heart of the Demon Realm..."

"Your Cultivation is only at the Fake Pill level. Even the lingering aura emanating from this Heart of the Demon Realm is far beyond what you can withstand..."

At this point, the True Demon paused, turned to Chu Mu, and added, "I intend to undertake the refinement of this Heart of the Demon Realm, and I require some assistance from you, young friend."

This barrage of secrets left Chu Mu somewhat stunned.

’The Heart of the Demon Realm... controls this entire Demon Realm?’

At this moment, he seemed to finally understand the True Demon’s painstaking intentions.

’Refining this Heart of the Demon Realm, controlling this entire Demon Realm.’

’Then, within this Demon Realm, by gathering the Power of Heaven and Earth into itself, who in the entire Cultivation Immortal Realm could possibly be a match for this True Demon?’

’But... for it to ask for *his* help with the refinement...’

Chu Mu was even more taken aback. ’Doesn’t this True Demon think a little too highly of me?’

’I’m just a mere Fake Pill Cultivator. No matter how you look at it, I shouldn’t have any connection to this Heart of the Demon Realm, right?’

’Forget refinement, I almost lost my life just by looking at it for a moment...’

"The Master of this Heart of the Demon Realm fell long ago. All that remains within it is a faint Divine Soul Seal, no different from the residual Divine Soul Seals left behind in ordinary Magical and Spiritual Artifacts after they’ve been refined."

"However, this Heart of the Demon Realm is connected to the entire Demon Realm, so this Divine Soul Seal spreads throughout the land along with it."

"I abandoned the Immortal Dao and fell into the Demon Dao many years ago. This True Demon’s Demon Body is also of a lesser bloodline of the original Master of the Demon Realm. There is a natural suppression. Using demonic methods... makes it difficult to refine a demonic object!"

"Young friend, your body is filled with a Supreme Yang and Firm Method. You have also refined the Earth Spirit Flame, a bane of all things demonic. Your True Flame has transformed, becoming even more pure in its Supreme Yang and Firmness, which makes you perfectly suited for this task!"

Chu Mu said cautiously, "With this junior’s Cultivation, I’m afraid my strength will be insufficient..."

"With your current Cultivation, young friend, you would naturally be insufficient to help me with the refinement of this Heart of the Demon Realm."

"But if you were to break through to the Golden Core Realm, and use your transformed True Flame to help me with the refinement of this Heart of the Demon Realm, it would naturally be a simple matter."

The True Demon said faintly, "I can see that your Magical Power is pure and your Essence, Qi, and Spirit are full. Your chances of successfully achieving Core Formation should be quite high."

"Besides, your Pill and Artifact Dual Proficiency is renowned throughout the Vast Sea. You must have collected quite a few Spiritual Objects to support your Core Formation, haven’t you?"

...