Chapter 864 : A Demonic Tide in the Sacred Land

The two of them gathered the treasures within the Ancient Immortal Cave Abode, then prepared to depart.

Although the Ancient Immortal Cave Abode was excellent, it was established upon the Spirit Vein beneath the Beneath the Heavenly Mountain. Unless an ultra-long-distance Teleportation Formation connecting the two locations was established, this place could not be permanently occupied...

Before parting, Eldrin Chen gazed at the Ancient Immortal Cave Abode and said, "This Cultivation Cave possesses a Sixth Rank High Grade Spirit Vein. Abandoning it completely would be a true pity."

"I happen to have three Sixth Rank Void Gemstone. After the Spirit Vein at Spirit Isle Lake ascends in rank, I plan to deploy a cross-continental Teleportation Formation here."

"Agreed."

Lila also nodded. This Heavenly Mountain Immortal Manor was a cultivation treasure trove for her. If a Teleportation Formation could be established, she could cultivate here frequently in the future.

With that, the two set off for the Eastern Wastelands.

Passing by the Drifting Snow Palace, they utilized its Teleportation Formation to arrive at the Long River Sacred Land.

Yet, the moment they reached the Long River Sacred Land, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, his expression turning grave and solemn.

Within this sacred land, he actually sensed a torrential surge of Demonic Qi [a malevolent, corrupting energy cultivated by demonic practitioners]. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio_novel.com.

"The situation seems amiss," Eldrin Chen remarked with a frown.

After exchanging a glance with Lila, he added, "Let us investigate first."

The two ascended into the heavens. With steps as leisurely as a stroll through a garden, they traversed the void for ten thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], arriving at the source of the surging Demonic Qi [a malevolent, corrupting form of spiritual energy].

There, amidst the vast expanse of the Eastern Wilderness Ancestral River, a figure clad in black robes sat in meditation. He endured the endless washing over of the Riverlord's Waters, yet could not suppress the heaven-shaking, earth-quaking demonic nature that radiated from him—a nature belonging to a Heaven-Demon [a powerful, celestial-tier demon].

Lila's expression shifted through several shades of alarm. Finally, she drew a deep breath and said, "Had not Clan Elder Brother Kael's demonic nature long since been ground away, his demonic heart nearly cleansed to nothing?"

"How can such a cataclysmic demonic aura remain?"

Beside Kael Chen, Haoyuan the Dao Lord continuously channeled his Mana [the refined spiritual power of a high-level cultivator], desperately trying to suppress the demonic force raging within his body.

Seeing Eldrin Chen and Lila arrive, Haoyuan cried out urgently, "Brother Eldrin, he has succumbed to the demonic path! Aid me, lend me your strength!"

"Agreed!"

With that single word, Eldrin Chen took a step forward. He summoned a torrent of Primordial Chaos Mana [the primordial, formless energy from which all things are born], its power vast and ancient.

His Mana [the spiritual energy cultivated by a practitioner] far surpassed that of Haoyuan the Dao Lord, allowing him to effortlessly suppress the demonic nature within Kael Chen's body.

Haoyuan the Dao Lord let out a sigh of relief, then shook his head with a bitter smile. "The demonic nature within Brother Kael has resurfaced. The demonic heart within him is likely already deeply entrenched."

"For hundreds of years, the waters of the Eastern Wilderness Ancestral River have washed over him day and night. Far from cleansing his inner demonic nature, they have instead tempered and forged within him an Indestructible Demonic Heart [a heart of pure, unyielding demonic will, nearly impossible to destroy]."

As he spoke to this point, an expression of utter astonishment appeared on Haoyuan the Dao Lord's face.

Since ancient times, those who have managed to temper an Indestructible Demonic Heart have all been true seeds of a Demon God [a being of ultimate demonic power and malevolence].

Such beings, upon achieving great enlightenment, could ascend to immortality in a single thought. Conversely, if they succumbed to their nature, they could directly attain the realm of an immortal Demon God.

This filled Haoyuan the Dao Lord's heart with both awe and dread. He was awed by Kael Chen's unwavering Dao-heart [the core of a cultivator's will and conviction], yet dreaded the possibility of him becoming the next Extraterrestrial Demon God [a demonic deity from beyond this realm], bringing cataclysmic disaster upon the Purple Realm.

With this thought, a flicker of killing intent passed through Haoyuan the Dao Lord's heart.

Eldrin Chen, who had observed everything, immediately placed a hand on Haoyuan the Dao Lord's shoulder and gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.

"Be at ease. Should that day ever come, I will bear the responsibility."

Eldrin Chen spoke with serene composure, then turned his gaze toward Kael Chen and retrieved a gourd of golden, purified water from his robes.

This was the supreme Buddhist treasure, 'Buddha's Radiance Purification Water' [a sacred water imbued with the purifying light of the Buddha], obtained by Eldrin Chen during his visit to the Western Pole Tranquil Spirit Temple.

He had originally believed this Buddha's Radiance Purification Water was destined for use during the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a prophesied great calamity involving the demonic abyss]. He never imagined it would instead be used upon Kael Chen.

"Upon reflection, perhaps this very moment was already foreseen within the calculations of that Tribulation Transcending Divine Monk," he mused.

As the thought flashed through his mind, Eldrin Chen sprinkled the radiant, golden 'Buddha's Radiance Purification Water' over Kael Chen.

As the golden Buddhist water fell, a hissing sound erupted from Kael Chen's body. A plume of black Qi [the vital energy that flows through all living things] dissipated into the air, and the heaven-shaking, earth-rending demonic nature within him was finally suppressed. For the best reading experience, visit audi0-n0vel.c0m.

At that very moment, Kael Chen finally regained clarity from his state of Qi deviation [a dangerous loss of control during cultivation].

He opened his eyes, looked at Eldrin Chen, and gave a slight nod. "You have saved me once again," he said.

"A demonic nature is easy to extinguish, but a demonic heart is difficult to eradicate…"

"Originally, the cleansing of the Riverlord's Waters [a legendary spiritual water with purifying properties] was the best method to grind away such a heart. Yet, not only did it fail to eradicate your demonic heart, it instead aided you in cultivating the Indestructible Demonic Heart [a formidable demonic art that renders the practitioner's demonic will unbreakable]."

Eldrin Chen spoke with measured words, his gaze profound as an abyss. He studied Kael Chen for a long moment before finally posing the question to Kael Chen myself.

"Have you decided on the path you will walk next?"

"The Demonic Heart…"

Kael Chen's brow furrowed, then relaxed after a moment's contemplation.

Clad in a simple black robe, he sat cross-legged in serene stillness. His dark hair cascaded over his shoulders, and his handsome features held a sacred yet sinister aura.

He extended a finger, observing a single drop of Buddha's Radiance Purification Water [a sacred water imbued with purifying Buddhist light] upon its tip. Wisps of dark energy hissed and evaporated as they touched the holy liquid.

Feeling the heart-piercing pain in his fingertip and the visceral aversion and rejection rising from within his own soul, a faint, enigmatic smile touched his lips.

His smile was like a banished immortal lifting his gaze to the heavens, like a peerless Demon Monarch curling the corner of his mouth in amusement, or like the bloom of an Other Shore Flower [a mythical flower said to grow in the underworld] deep within the Netherworld.

He spoke softly, "I wish to journey to the Western Pole Tranquil Spirit Temple. I desire to witness the solemn majesty of Buddhist Dharma for myself."

"Very well."

Eldrin Chen did not ask further questions. He simply rose and said, "I will take you there."

The two of them traveled via a Teleportation Formation to the Central Ancestral Domain. Then, Eldrin Chen tore through the void without regard for his Mana [the spiritual energy used to power spells and techniques] expenditure, arriving at the Western Pole Eternal Sands Domain not long after.

Before the gates of the Tranquil Spirit Temple, Eldrin Chen stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Kael Chen. Gazing upon the majestic Buddhist Sacred Land, he finally spoke.

"Within the annals of the Purple Realm, there are records of those who achieved the Dao through Immortal-Demon Dual Cultivation [a perilous path that cultivates both immortal and demonic energies]. There are those who attained the Dao as a Demi-Immortal Demi-Buddha [a being who has partially transcended mortality through Buddhist enlightenment], and even Demonic Buddha [a Buddha who has integrated demonic power into their enlightenment] who ascended to immortality. Yet, never has there been one who succeeded in cultivating all three paths simultaneously."

"You wish to walk the path of Buddha-Dao-Demon Triple Path Cultivation [the simultaneous cultivation of Buddhist, Daoist, and Demonic arts]. Know that this road may very well be a dead end."

"'The demonic heart remains unextinguished...' Immortal-Demon Dual Cultivation..."

Kael Chen murmured to himself. After a long silence, he shook his head. "The path of cultivation has always been as difficult as scaling the heavens. If one abandons it merely because it seems impossible, then why cultivate at all?"

"Good. Over these years, you have finally discerned your own true path."

Eldrin Chen offered a rare smile, a glint of genuine warmth in his eyes. "It is said that those who master Immortal-Demon Dual Cultivation and attain the Dao often have the potential to reach the realm of a Heaven Immortal [a true immortal who has ascended to the heavenly realms]."

"If you can forge an immortal foundation that unites the three pillars of Buddha, Dao, and Demon, your future potential may truly be boundless."

Kael Chen nodded, knowing that Eldrin Chen spoke the truth.

As the saying goes, the three thousand Great Dao [the fundamental paths of cultivation and existence], each and every one can lead one to enlightenment.

Nothing in this world is absolute; even the path of the Nine Heavens Immortal Demons [a powerful race of demonic cultivators] offers different choices to tread.

Between heaven and earth, apart from the three orthodox immortal paths—'Fleshly Body Sanctification' [the path of refining one's physical body to perfection], 'Comprehending Laws' [the path of understanding and mastering the fundamental laws of reality], and 'Cultivating Dao Fruit' [the path of nurturing one's core Dao essence]—there exist some rarer, less-traveled roads.

For instance, those who cultivate both immortality and demonic arts can comprehend an 'Immortal-Demon Dao Fruit' [a supreme core essence born from the fusion of immortal and demonic principles], a fruit of unparalleled might, ranking among the rarest of pinnacle-grade Dao Fruit [the condensed essence of a cultivator's enlightenment and power]. Original publication: audio‑novel.com - The source of this chapter.