Chapter 682: Great Demon 45

Strangely enough, whenever Jin Huan said things like this, the Heavenly Dao could only fume in frustration. It truly couldn’t strike her, giving off an air of helpless rage. So, Jin Huan was indeed extraordinary.

And just as the last three bolts of tribulation lightning were about to fall, Jing Yue, who had been facing his tribulation with his eyes closed, suddenly raised his hand and threw out a golden alms bowl-like magic artifact. The tribulation lightning struck the golden bowl with stable, vicious precision. The bowl wobbled, and suddenly, the phantom of a Qing Ming Snake appeared in mid-air.

The Qing Ming Snake’s soul body was wrapped in all sorts of Buddhist sect talismans, but even so, Tan You could see the sky-high resentment radiating from it.

All the discerning spectators could tell that this was the soul body of a Qing Ming Snake. It seemed the snake’s physical body was long gone, with only its soul remaining in the mortal world.

A Body Integration Realm Buddhist Cultivator from the Buddhist sect placed his palms together. "This Qing Ming Snake is stubborn and beyond redemption. For years, our sect has attempted to convert it with the Buddhist Law, but to no avail. We can only use the Buddha’s Son’s tribulation to purify it."

"That’s only right, that’s only right."

"The Demon Clan is bloodthirsty and murderous by nature. So many years of indoctrination in the Buddhist Law couldn’t even change it. ’Stubborn and beyond redemption’ is no exaggeration!"

"To be kept by the Buddha’s Son’s side and be steeped in the Buddhist Law for so many years... this Qing Ming Snake is simply too ungrateful!"

Listening to the cultivators’ words, Qing Ming suddenly clenched his fists. ’Is this the advantage of being strong and powerful? Because the Buddhist sect is influential, these cultivators can tell such barefaced lies, even when they know that Qing Ming Snake is suffering immense torment.’

Tan You said faintly, "When you are powerful, it seems everyone around you is a good person, and every word you say is correct. But is that really the case?"

Qing Ming’s heart trembled. "It’s not like that. Only self-interest is eternal. They’re just a bunch of scheming opportunists."

The Peacock started fanning himself again. "That’s why there are so few people in this world like Jin Huan, who dare to speak the truth."

Just as they were speaking, the first bolt of lightning viciously struck the Qing Ming Snake’s soul body. The snake’s soul immediately became more ethereal, and the expressions of the Buddhist cultivators from the Buddhist sect visibly relaxed.

Even Jing Yue’s brow couldn’t help but lift slightly. But just as the second bolt of tribulation lightning was about to descend and the Qing Ming Snake’s soul let out an unwilling howl at the sky, a female cultivator in gold robes suddenly appeared beside the golden alms bowl.

The female cultivator was tall and wore a pale gold dress. Moving as if through an empty realm, she simply plucked the golden alms bowl out from under the tribulation lightning.

The Qing Ming Snake’s soul, which had been unwillingly awaiting its death, was stunned. It stared blankly at Tan You, and the next second, its massive soul body coiled around her, resting its head on her shoulder in an expression of pure grievance.

It was only because this was a soul body, and one that had been struck into such a pitiful state, that Tan You didn’t rip it off her. She cleared her throat. "Get down."

The soul body stiffened and could only unwillingly uncoil from Tan You. But its movements were still full of pitiful reluctance.

Tan You was not one to be soft-hearted. The moment she saw it, she had seen through this Qing Ming Snake’s true nature—it was an absolute master of disguise. Thus, Tan You just said coolly, "I’ve seen Great Demons who have fallen on hard times, but I’ve never seen one as pathetic as you. It’s certainly an eye-opener."

Despite her words, Tan You moved with extreme speed to undo the seals around the Qing Ming Snake’s soul body. Having been bound for several hundred years, the Qing Ming Snake moved its head, unaccustomed to the freedom, and tentatively spoke, "Lord Golden Ring Snake?"

"Lord Golden Ring Snake?"

"It’s that Golden Ring Snake!"

"Why is she out?"

"That’s not all, a lot of other Great Demons came too!"

Because of Tan You’s intervention, Jing Yue’s tribulation was forced to a halt. The two remaining bolts of tribulation lightning continued to brew, but for some reason, they wouldn’t fall. Jing Yue stared grimly at Tan You, his gaze sweeping over the Qing Ming Snake’s soul body from time to time.

An Ascension Stage Buddhist Cultivator from the Buddhist sect placed his palms together. "Amitabha. Today is the day of our sect’s Buddha’s Son’s ascension. May I ask what business Lord Jin Huan and our fellow cultivators have in coming to our sect?"

His face was a mask of pleasantries, but inwardly he was seething. ’Isn’t it said that when a cultivator undergoes a tribulation, anyone who interferes gets struck by lightning? Why is this Golden Ring Snake completely unharmed?’

’Heavenly Dao, you’re playing favorites!’

’But now so many Great Demons have arrived, and from their cultivation, none of them are weak. And as for the soul of the demon beast that Jing Yue brought out... honestly, outsiders might not know, but how could those of us within the Buddhist sect not know the truth?’

’For all these years, we’ve tried countless methods to dispel this Qing Ming Snake’s resentment and allow it to reincarnate. And the result? The snake was like a stone in a cesspit—its resentment was sky-high, and no one could do anything about it.’

’That’s why an elder suggested that Jing Yue should just bring the Qing Ming Snake with him during his tribulation and use the lightning to kill it for good. But no one expected the Demon Clan to actually show up here.’

’If it were just any members of the Demon Clan, that would be one thing, but it had to be the Golden Ring Snake, famous throughout the Cultivation World. She might not be a regular presence in the Cultivation World, but her legend was everywhere.’

’Back then, their Buddhist sect was one of the few that didn’t raise demon beasts. They had originally thought they would never have any dealings with the Demon Clan in this lifetime. But who would have thought she would appear on the very day of Jing Yue’s ascension.’

After undoing the seals around the Qing Ming Snake, Tan You finally spoke in an unhurried tone. "Fellow Cultivator, you’re too polite. I didn’t come here to cause trouble intentionally. It’s just that a few hundred years ago, a young half-demon came to our Demon Market. Qing Ming, come here."

Qing Ming quickly trotted over to stand by Tan You’s side. It was then that everyone got a clear look at Qing Ming’s face. He bore a striking resemblance to Jing Yue, and a wave of discussion immediately broke out below.

"If you saw them for the first time, who wouldn’t say they were father and son?"

"But aren’t Buddhist Cultivators forbidden from marrying and having children?"

"Tch, I heard that Jing Yue was undergoing an Emotional Tribulation back then..."

"An Emotional Tribulation? Who was it with?"

Listening to the discussions, Tan You simply smiled. "Back then, Qing Ming drifted from place to place before ending up at an auction. Fortunately, our Demon Market’s Great Demon, the Peacock, couldn’t bear his plight and brought Qing Ming back to the Demon Market. Half-demons, because their cultivator and demon beast bloodlines are incompatible, suffer from a violent bloodline backlash every full moon. Their lives often end by the age of twenty-five, and at that time, Qing Ming had already reached the end of his life."

"While our Demon Market can’t claim to love all living things, we do know that every life is worthy of respect. As it happened, the Demon Market has a Secret Technique that can purge the cultivator bloodline from a half-demon, allowing them to become a full member of the Demon Clan and escape the dual torment of body and soul that half-demons endure. And as it also happened, Qing Ming survived this battle for his life."

Qing Ming bowed his head at the opportune moment. "It was the Lady’s compassion and care that gave me a chance, allowing me to be fortunate enough to live to this day."

Tan You reached out and ruffled his hair. "I had no intention of stirring up trouble, but I have no choice. Qing Ming is a child of our Demon Market. The Demon Market has poured a great deal of effort into him, and now he is tainted by a karmic bond, even if it’s one he never wished for. To ensure it doesn’t affect his future path of cultivation, I can’t just sit by and do nothing."