Chapter 788: Progression (II)

Time slowly passed. After conquering Redcloud Island, the Evilheart Sect attracted a great deal of trouble. Some came from nearby factions, some from the Hidden Moon Sect, and there were even experts from demon god cults. However, they were all minor issues, and most had come merely to probe the sect.

By joining forces, Lin Zheyu and Cao Hongchang had slain the renowned lord of Redcloud Island in a short time. This greatly intimidated those factions. Lin Zheyu only learned the general details of what followed. He had no interest in such matters, so he washed his hands of them and left everything to Cao Hongchang. As a veteran Nascent Soul realm expert, Cao Hongchang was not only powerful but also quite capable at managing a sect and handling its diplomatic affairs.

Sensing the aura outside the secret chamber, Lin Zheyu slowly opened his eyes and said calmly, "Come in!"

At the same time, the door to the secret chamber slowly opened.

Lin Zheyu raised his eyes toward Cao Hongchang. "What is it?"

"Everything has been dealt with. I came to report the latest developments to you," Cao Hongchang said with a smile.

"It did not cause too much trouble, did it?" Lin Zheyu asked.

"No. However, Redcloud Island was originally required to hand over 70% of its profits to maintain good relations with the envoys from Great Wei and the Eastern Sea sea clans. We cannot avoid those expenses. In addition, the Evilheart Sect's expansion plans must be terminated ahead of schedule. An envoy from Great Wei issued us a warning..." Cao Hongchang gave a detailed report.

Lin Zheyu waved his hand dismissively. "Very well. Then terminate them."

The sect's rules had already been established. Once the sect stopped expanding, those demonic cultivators would have to find their own ways to earn enough points to exchange for an opportunity to purge the yao will from their bodies. Lin Zheyu only cared about the results. He did not concern himself with the process.

"Also, another eight Golden Core realm demonic cultivators arrived over the past three days. They brought enough spirit stones and wish to ask you to resolve the problem of the yao will corroding their bodies," Cao Hongchang continued.

"Good. But what about those Nascent Soul realm demonic cultivators you contacted? Has no one come yet?" Lin Zheyu asked.

Although Golden Core realm demonic cultivators could also bring him a considerable number of spirit stones, he was now far more interested in Nascent Soul realm demonic cultivators. His hopes of mastering teleportation rested on these experts.

"Several fellows should have arrived, but they are probably hiding in the shadows and investigating whether our claims are true," Cao Hongchang said helplessly.

Demonic cultivators were particularly wary of their own kind,

"Very well. Let them hesitate a while longer. Everyone has their own fortune, and if they miss this opportunity because of that, so be it. Once I have resolved the problems afflicting those Golden Core realm youngsters, I will help you deal with the yao will in your body," Lin Zheyu said calmly.

With the sect's affairs settled for the time being, Cao Hongchang had no other important matters to handle. He was therefore the perfect subject for Lin Zheyu's research.

Cao Hongchang cupped his hands in gratitude. "Many thanks, Sect Master!"

Thanks to Lin Zheyu, he could escape the confines of the imitation Yao Demon Nest, move about freely, and fight without restraint. It felt wonderful! Thus, Cao Hongchang was quite grateful to Lin Zheyu. In the past, he had repeatedly considered taking control of Lin Zheyu and forcing him to deal exclusively with the yao will corroding his body.

However, as Lin Zheyu revealed more of his strength, that idea gradually faded from Cao Hongchang's mind. This monster had endured the self-detonation of a mid-stage Nascent Soul realm expert and emerged completely unscathed. Cao Hongchang suspected that even his strongest attack might not be able to break through Lin Zheyu's defenses.

After leaving the secret chamber and entering the main hall outside, they found the eight Golden Core realm demonic cultivators already waiting there. Upon seeing Lin Zheyu and Cao Hongchang arrive, the eight demonic cultivators instinctively held their breath and bowed respectfully.

Lin Zheyu walked to the front of the hall with an indifferent expression and sat in the sect master's seat. He calmly swept his gaze across the group, leaving the demonic cultivators feeling as if he had seen through every secret they possessed. A chill involuntarily ran through their hearts.

Lin Zheyu narrowed his eyes and transmitted to Cao Hongchang. "Are all these people followers of demon god cults?"

He sensed powerful demon god auras from the demonic cultivators. Some belonged to the Nine Nether Sect, others to the Painful Holy Sect, while several came from other cults he had never encountered before.

"Yes. Demonic cultivation is a path of no return. Very few can withstand the corrosion of yao will through their own strength and successfully advance to the Golden Core realm or even the Nascent Soul realm. Most eventually reach their limit and join a demon god cult, then rely on demon god power to break through to the Golden Core realm or Nascent Soul realm," Cao Hongchang transmitted.

The demonic cultivators of the Evilheart Sect could all be considered outstanding among their peers, while Cao Hongchang possessed monstrous aptitude in the path of demonic cultivation. Those like Cao Hongchang who could advance to the Nascent Soul realm through their own efforts, without joining a demon god cult or relying on the power of faith to suppress the yao will, were exceedingly rare.

"Are the Nascent Soul realm demonic cultivators you mentioned earlier also followers of those demon god cults?" Lin Zheyu asked.

"Yes," Cao Hongchang replied.

Hearing this, Lin Zheyu did not pursue the matter further. He understood something of the difficulties involved in the Yao Dao. It was a path even more arduous than martial cultivation.

"Sign this contract and swear a Blood-Soul Oath, then we can begin. If you are willing to join the Evilheart Sect, you need only surrender your soul blood," Lin Zheyu said calmly.

Upon hearing this, the Golden Core realm demonic cultivators accepted the contracts and signed them without hesitation. They then swore Blood-Soul Oaths. The Blood-Soul Oath was an oath even more vicious than a Heavenly Dao Oath, specifically created for demonic cultivators who followed the Yao Dao. Most demonic cultivators who practiced the Yao Dao did not have long to live anyway.

Their minds and souls might even have been affected, leaving them with tendencies toward madness and self-destruction. An ordinary Heavenly Dao Oath held little power over demonic cultivators. Only the more binding and vicious Blood-Soul Oath would suffice.

"Very good. We will begin with you," Lin Zheyu said calmly.

"Yes, Senior!" The cultivator standing at the far left answered respectfully and quickly stepped forward.

She was a powerfully built cultivator whose physique rivaled that of many martial artists. Lin Zheyu glanced at her calmly. "Open your sea of consciousness, relax your mind, and do not resist in any way."

"Yes, Senior!" the demonic cultivator replied respectfully.

Cao Hongchang had already explained this step to them beforehand, so they were all prepared to accept it. Lin Zheyu extended his right hand and pressed it against her forehead. His Heavenly Eye abruptly opened, and surging golden energy poured into it, activating it to its limit. This demonic cultivator was a member of a demon god cult and possessed demon god power within her body.

This was not Lin Zheyu's first encounter with such a high-level power, and he remained deeply wary of it. He did not immediately deal with the yao will inside the demonic cultivator. Instead, he used his spiritual Heavenly Eye to carefully examine the condition of her body.

I see... The demon god power has formed an energy barrier around her entire sea of consciousness, creating a filter that blocks most of the yao will, Lin Zheyu murmured inwardly.

This energy barrier condensed from demon god power was constantly being depleted. To maintain it, these demonic cultivators likely had to pay a considerable price and serve as tools of those demon god cults. Moreover, the barrier condensed from demon god power was not particularly effective at filtering out the yao will.

Yao will and demonic qi were almost completely fused. If the yao will were entirely excluded, it would also mean being unable to absorb even the slightest trace of demonic qi. There would then be no point in demonic cultivators cultivating at all. The barrier condensed from demon god power merely filtered out around 40% of the yao will, specifically the portion that was easier to remove.

Interesting. I wonder whether my golden energy can also be condensed into a similar energy barrier to protect the seas of consciousness of other demonic cultivators, Lin Zheyu thought. He briefly experimented with the idea but quickly gave up.

Once its connection to him was severed, the golden energy quickly dissipated into the world. It could not persist for long, unlike demon god power. If it couldn't even be maintained, there was no point in considering anything further.

"Remove the demon god power surrounding your sea of consciousness and protecting your Golden Core," Lin Zheyu said calmly.

"Yes, Senior," the woman replied somewhat nervously.

She reached into her robes with her right hand, took out a black energy crystal, and placed it inside her storage ring. It was most likely a Divine Power Crystal condensed from demon god power. Without the energy crystal, Lin Zheyu observed that the barrier of demon god power surrounding the woman was quickly depleted and vanished.

Seeing this, Lin Zheyu no longer had any reservations. Under his control, strands of golden energy flowed from his palm into the woman's sea of consciousness.

After performing this procedure many times, Lin Zheyu had grown increasingly proficient at resolving the corrosion of yao will within demonic cultivators. The greatest problem demonic cultivators faced was the corrosion of their souls by yao will.

The corroded portions of the soul had not completely disappeared. Instead, they had been devoured and assimilated by the yao will, causing that portion of the yao will to become part of the soul. The most difficult part of resolving the corrosion was perfectly separating the yao will from the soul without severely damaging the cultivator's soul. Lin Zheyu's spiritual Heavenly Eye happened to possess the powerful insight needed to accomplish this.