Chapter 58: Demonic Energy Invades the Mind

This crimson sphere was the blood demon’s quietly condensed primordial demonic energy. Although its purpose was unknown, one thing was certain: it contained an immense amount of energy, much like the spiritual energy present in the world. The difference was that spiritual energy was pure, naturally born from heaven and earth, while demonic energy carried with it a multitude of evil substances and wicked thoughts, suitable only for those who walked the path of the demon.

A fierce glint flashed briefly in Chen Jiu’s eyes. His cultivation had reached a bottleneck. Just as the Worm Master had said, without an overwhelming influx of spiritual energy to forcefully break through, he would need to invest considerable time to make progress. But this crimson sphere before him presented an excellent opportunity. It was not only rich in the blood demon’s primordial demonic energy, but also extremely concentrated—perhaps with a few more, it would be enough for him to complete the ritual!

Though it was demonic energy, Chen Jiu had a method to deal with it—his lotus platform. By using the lotus platform to purify demonic energy, he could rid it of most evil thoughts and impurities, perhaps seven or eight parts out of ten. It was a risky path, but Chen Jiu had no other choice. Especially after learning he once had a family that was mysteriously annihilated, his sense of urgency had only intensified.

He needed to grow stronger—quickly! Then settle in Qingcheng County, remain still and prepare for the day he could investigate the reason for his family's destruction.

With determined resolve, Chen Jiu’s expression hardened.

At that moment, the blood demon spoke up, “I’ve told you everything. Isn’t it time to lift the ‘Soul Control Technique’?”

The humiliation of being controlled was unbearable. To make matters worse, his captor was a young, inexperienced child—this infuriated the blood demon king even more. Once, he had been formidable: whenever he desired the blood of human cultivators, lesser demons would bring it to him in endless tribute. Who could have foreseen such a downfall? Sealed for centuries, now bullied by a child—it was as if a tiger had fallen from power and was mocked by dogs.

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiu stepped back a few paces.

Sensing something amiss, the blood demon cried, “What do you intend to do?!”

With grave solemnity, Chen Jiu extended one hand and clenched it fiercely.

In that instant, nearly all the iron chains tightened, binding the blood demon with relentless force.

“You wretch! I’ll kill you!” The blood demon raged as each tightening loop of the chain drew out a crimson sphere from its withered form, sending them floating upward.

“My demonic energy!” The blood demon, long bereft of a physical body, could feel no pain, but Chen Jiu’s ruthless extraction of his primordial energy was worse than death.

Listening to the blood demon’s frenzied, violent curses, Chen Jiu’s gaze was icy. He would not show mercy for a few howls. Now, to reach the First Pavilion of Immortal Ascension, he would use any means necessary. In the world of cultivation, those who are indecisive or soft-hearted rarely rise to greatness. Chen Jiu had never subscribed to either philosophy—he acted swiftly and decisively, never dragging his feet.

With the chains drawn tight, the sound of bones breaking echoed from the withered body.

“My demonic energy! You bastard, I’ll never forgive you!” The blood demon was consumed by fury, but with the Soul Control Technique binding him, he could do nothing but curse.

Chen Jiu looked at the dozen or so crimson spheres floating in the air, thinking they should suffice. He pressed his fingers together and pointed at the spheres.

“Disperse!”

As he infused them with his power, the blood-red seals shattered, releasing the demonic energy within.

A dozen spheres burst open at once, unleashing a surge of demonic energy that stirred a chilling wind.

Ignoring the blood demon’s curses, Chen Jiu pointed to his lotus platform. With a flash of azure light, the lotus platform shrank to the size of a meditation cushion. Chen Jiu moved swiftly, leaping atop it.

Seated upon the lotus platform, he immediately sensed the surrounding crimson energy converging toward him. Without delay, he activated the lotus platform, purifying the demonic energy and channeling it continuously into himself.

The blood demon could sense what was happening, and his hatred for Chen Jiu reached its peak.

“After all the hardship of cultivating demonic energy in this sunless abyss, is it easy for me?” he lamented. “Yet in the end, I’ve become a mere stepping stone for this brat’s rise!”

“Infuriating!”

Chen Jiu paid him no mind, focusing solely on absorbing the purified demonic energy from the lotus platform, accumulating it and preparing for the right moment to break through his bottleneck.

...

Meanwhile, atop a hillside on the surface of Red Jade Mountain.

Su Jiu, radiant with light, appeared. He looked about—no sign of the person he sought.

With a sigh, he murmured, “Ah, it’s not my fault. Yours was simply an unlucky fate…”

“But this little escapade was truly a waste—there really are no more Red Jade Fruits…” Su Jiu muttered in disappointment.

Moments later, he sensed something, curling his lip in annoyance. “How did you find me here? Didn’t I say not to follow me?”

No sooner had he spoken than two mysterious figures in black robes and bamboo hats appeared ten paces away. Both bowed deeply, keeping their faces hidden.

“Reporting to… Young Master, Madam is gravely ill. We have come to inform you and request your urgent return.”

Su Jiu’s handsome face turned anxious as he shouted, “Useless fools! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!”

Without waiting for a reply, Su Jiu produced a spatial relocation talisman. In a flash of silver light, he vanished from sight.

Only then did the two black-robed figures dare to straighten. After exchanging a look, they both shook their heads and smiled wryly.

...

More than ten days had passed since Su Jiu left Red Jade Mountain.

Within the mountain’s heart, in the blood-red grand hall, Chen Jiu sat cross-legged upon his lotus platform, eyes tightly shut, endlessly absorbing the energy it provided.

Astonishingly, after ten days of purification, the once azure lotus platform had turned entirely crimson—like a sinister, blooming blood lotus. Clearly, the demonic energy had deeply penetrated the platform.

As its master, Chen Jiu was inevitably affected by absorbing so much demonic energy. Even purified, some vestiges of evil remained.

He opened his eyes slightly—bloodshot and deathly pale, his face devoid of color.

Within the chamber of his core, a large crimson sphere floated, rising and falling. This was the sum of all the purified demonic energy.

Using this energy to break through his cultivation bottleneck was a dangerous gamble. If he succeeded, he would step into the First Pavilion of Immortal Ascension, forge his life-bound artifact, and become a true disciple of the mysterious sect. If he failed, his core would be corrupted by demonic energy, not only failing to break through, but possibly falling to the path of the demon and becoming an evil cultivator.

At this point, he had no more time to slowly refine his bottleneck. Either he would break through in one decisive effort, or retreat to the remote mountains and meditate for decades, awaiting a chance.

But for Chen Jiu, the latter was never an option.