Chapter 545 So-Called Immortals and Demons, Merely a Thought

"I've gained some insights, though..."

Eldrin (Person Name) heaved a sigh, yet still retrieved the legacy treasure from his storage bracelet.

The crowd’s initial delight at the sight of the treasures was instantly replaced by a sinking feeling in their hearts.

Within Celestial Vault Isle (Location), the 5 legacy treasures were all priceless beyond measure. 2 of the 5 Veins Spirit Jades were the Gold Vein Spirit Jade and the Earth Vein Spirit Jade, while the remaining 3 consisted of 2 strands of Earth Path Qi and 1 strand of Heavenly Dao Qi (Spiritual Root).

Unfortunately, these treasures were all tainted by Resentment and Malevolence, causing their value to plummet drastically.

The 5 Veins Spirit Jade was still manageable, as it wasn’t a demonic treasure infused with demonic energy by a demonic cultivator, and the baleful energy it carried was not particularly excessive.

As long as Eldrin refined it with Solar True Flame, the resentment and baleful aura could be dissolved in approximately 1 or 2 years. However, the Earth Mother Qi and Heavenly Dao Qi were far more precious.

"The Earth Mother Qi (Spiritual Root) cannot be refined with true flame. It seems I must acquire some Purifying Heart Elixir."

The old clan leader gazed at the Earth Mother Qi (Spiritual Root), his expression clouded with bitterness as he sighed, "To cleanse the baleful aura and lingering resentment from the Earth Mother Qi (Spiritual Root) with Pure Heart Spirit Liquid would require at least 10 full drops."

2 portions would require 20 drops, amounting to a total of 100,000,000 spirit stones—a sum sufficient to acquire a top-tier Demon-Subduing Treasure. No wonder Chen Changxuan was utterly heartbroken.

The old clan leader paused, his gaze shifting to the Heavenly Dao Qi (Spiritual Root). He shook his head and sighed, "After being tainted by turbid energy, this Heavenly Dao Qi (Spiritual Root) has undergone an aberrant transformation. Using it to attempt a Nascent Soul breakthrough would likely invite demonic possession."

"This object, alas..."

Everyone wore expressions of regret, for the Heavenly Dao Qi (Spiritual Root) was worth countless treasures.

A single strand of Heavenly Dao Qi (Spiritual Root) could be exchanged for a superior-grade spiritual treasure, and countless would clamor for such an exchange.

For such a treasure was far too precious—not only could it be used to break through to the Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul, but it also served as the primary ingredient for refining the Heavenly Dao Pill (Spiritual Object). And that Heavenly Dao Pill (Spiritual Object) was a priceless elixir crucial for advancing to the late Nascent Soul stage!

Observing the expressions of the crowd, Eldrin stored away the treasures and remarked, "Lingxu Xianzi of the Ling Kingdom has mastered the formula for concocting the Mind-Cleansing Elixir. Without a doubt, she possesses it in her hands."

"How many spirit stones are left in the clan treasury? I shall make a trip to Lingxu Lake in a few days to purchase some Serene Heart Elixir."

The Old Patriarch shook his head, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "Ever since you broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, your consumption of the 5 Elements' essence has been immense. Coupled with the recent construction of the teleportation array, over half of the clan vault's spirit stones have already been depleted."

"What remains now is probably only 30,000,000 spirit stones. We'll have to allocate shares among our clan members."

"Broke again."

Eldrin could not help but take a deep breath. The higher he advanced in his cultivation, the more he realized the resources in his hands were never enough.

Helpless, he could only shake his head and say, "The Chen Clan has just become a Nascent Soul Immortal Clan, so they are indeed in dire need of resources. As for the spiritual liquid from Immortal Lingxu, I will exchange other spiritual treasures with her instead."

With that, there was nothing left to discuss at the meeting.

The meeting concluded, and as the crowd dispersed, he noticed Kael (Person Name) had remained behind.

"Alas!" Eldrin gazed at him and sighed. "I knew you would seek me out."

"The value of the Heavenly Dao Qi (Spiritual Root) is beyond measure." Kael nodded slowly and said, "If we miss this chance, I may never encounter such an opportunity again."

"Are you truly certain of your decision?"

Eldrin’s gaze grew solemn as he rose to his feet, speaking with gravity, “Refining the Heavenly Dao Qi is fraught with peril. Once 1 treads the path of demonic possession, there is no turning back.”

Kael (Person Name) sat cross-legged in silence, draped in a black robe.

There was no denying that ever since Kael had drawn the demonic energy into his body that year, his demeanor had grown increasingly transcendent.

Over the years, Kael's Dao Heart grew ever more resolute, his will and courage increasingly formidable—all thanks to a trace of demonic nature within his soul.

This was not a case of the soul being tainted by demonic energy, but rather harnessing the Demonic Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) through boundless courage and an indomitable Dao heart, using the demonic nature within this Demonic Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) to temper 1's own will.

For many years, this trace of demonic nature continuously tempered Kael's soul. Every moment, his Dao Heart felt as if bound by shackles weighing hundreds of millions of jun, yet through this refining process, it grew increasingly indestructible.

Kael sat in meditation, his features strikingly handsome. His profound eyes held a trace of demonic allure, like a true devil seated in solemn stillness, yet they also carried a hint of sacred purity—resembling an immortal undergoing metamorphosis within a demonic husk.

He gazed at the Heavenly Dao Qi (Spiritual Root), his eyes exceptionally calm like profound abysses, yet a faint smile surfaced within them.

Resentment, Bloodlust.

"With this, I shall forge my Heavenly Path Nascent Soul. If I can subdue the demonic thoughts, I will lay the foundation to ascend as an immortal."

"If I cannot subdue it." He paused briefly, grasping the Heavenly Dao Qi (Spiritual Root) as his gaze settled calmly on Eldrin (Person Name). "Then you must kill me."

Eldrin remained silent, passing over a strand of Earth Mother Qi as well.

His snow-white robes billowed as he gazed down at Kael, like a banished immortal overlooking a true demon. After a long silence, he finally spoke, "In ancient times, there was a Daoist who transformed into a demon overnight. Likewise, there existed a demon sovereign who attained enlightenment in a single evening and ascended to immortality."

"In my view, though immortals and demons walk divergent paths, all methods ultimately converge upon the same origin."

"Immortals and demons are but a single thought apart, not defined by the difference between spiritual power and baleful energy."

"As long as you refrain from blood sacrifices of mortals, even if you cultivate the demonic path and refine the sinister energies of heaven and earth, in my eyes you are no different from an immortal."

"Yet should you fail to subdue your desires, committing blood sacrifices or utterly heinous acts, I shall personally cut you down."

"The paths of immortal and demon may diverge, yet all arts return to the same source. What we call immortal and demon are but separated by a single thought."

"1 thought to ascend as an immortal, 1 thought to descend as a demon—this, it turns out, is the true essence of immortality and demonhood."

Kael murmured under his breath, a faint smile unconsciously gracing his lips.

Today he finally understood that neither the Blood God Patriarch, who cultivated the Blood God Dao Art, nor the Netherworld Patriarch, who pioneered the Path of the Netherworld, could ever attain the status of Immortal or Demon.

Only by fortifying 1's Dao Heart and refusing to drown in the boundless sea of desire can 1 truly conquer the inner demon.

Many demonic cultivators, as they delved deeper into their practice, gradually forgot their original aspirations, until their minds were ultimately devoured by desire, transforming them into puppets shrouded in baleful aura.

Only by seeing through the demonic illusions can 1 become a true devil who stands equal to the immortals.

Kael murmured, like the Buddha holding up a flower with a subtle smile:

"I once guided the Fire Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) into my body, letting it scorch my meridians and flesh, using this physical torment to temper my will."

"I once channeled Demonic Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) into my body, igniting the desires within my heart, using the torment of the soul to temper and fortify my spirit."

"Now I channel the resentment into my nascent soul, letting it agitate my divine soul and will, thereby further tempering my Dao Heart."

"Be it Fire Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) or Demonic Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root), and even resentment itself—they are but tribulations to temper my Dao heart."

His figure was tall and slender, like an immortal undergoing metamorphosis within a demonic womb.

He rose to his feet, his tall frame draped in a black robe, a trace of serene smile gracing his handsome features. "Do not worry," he said calmly. "These tribulations will not defeat me—they shall only forge me into something greater."

"I shall be reborn through tribulation, transcending myself time and again, to question how the path to immortality shall unfold."