Chapter 353: Ancient Demon Array, Falling into the Demonic Path

Chapter 353: Ancient Demon Array, Falling into the Demonic Path

September 26, 2024

"Lu Qing, did you say that the talisman you gave to Wei Xinghe has been activated?" Wei Shanhai was startled.

According to the itinerary, Wei Xinghe should have just arrived at the state capital not long ago.

For him to use the talisman given by Lu Qing so soon meant that he had encountered trouble immediately after entering the city.

"Elder, there's no need to worry too much. Wei Xinghe used the Concealment Talisman himself, perhaps he was just hurrying on the road and may not have fought anyone yet," Lu Qing reassured him.

However, his heart felt heavy.

The talisman Lu Qing gave to Wei Xinghe was personally refined by him.

It contained a trace of his spiritual aura.

But due to the distance, this spiritual aura would only be triggered when the talisman was destroyed.

In other words, not only had Wei Xinghe used the Concealment Talisman in the state capital, but it had also been broken by someone.

The opponent who could break through the talisman's power was definitely not an ordinary Primordial Realm cultivator.

Could it be that Wei Xinghe had already clashed with the mysterious force?

As Lu Qing's thoughts raced, his spiritual sense stirred again suddenly.

He realized that the spiritual aura he had imbued in the Sword Token given to Wei Xinghe had also been triggered.

This time, Lu Qing was genuinely surprised.

Among the three talismans he had given to Wei Xinghe, the Sword Token was the most special.

It was refined from the remaining materials used during the creation of the Spirit Condensing Stele.

Lu Qing had refined the jade once, making it purer than other jade talismans and capable of holding greater power.

Therefore, among the three talismans, the Sword Token contained the most formidable power.

Lu Qing estimated that even a Primordial Realm Mastery cultivator might struggle to defend against the Sword Token if caught off guard.

But now, Wei Xinghe had even used the Sword Token, indicating that he had encountered an unimaginable enemy.

Otherwise, it was unlikely that he would use two talismans in such a short time.

"Master, Elder Wei, something doesn't seem right. I'm afraid I need to make a trip to the state capital."

Lu Qing turned around and looked towards the direction of the state capital.

Through the spiritual stirrings, he vaguely sensed a warning.

"Lu Qing, do you need me to come with you?" Elder Chen noticed Lu Qing's expression and asked.

He could tell that Lu Qing's demeanor seemed a bit off.

Moreover, he also felt a sense of foreboding, and the source seemed to be coming from the direction of the state capital.

"No need, Master. You should stay here and watch over the village. I'll take Little Li with me."

After Lu Qing finished speaking, he flashed out of the yard.

With another flash, he disappeared from sight.

"Lu Xiaolangjun..."

Wei Shanhai hadn't expected Lu Qing to leave so quickly. Just as he was about to call out to stop him, he realized that Lu Qing was nowhere to be seen.

"Elder Wei, there's no need to worry. With Lu Qing's help, Wei Family Head should be safe," Elder Chen reassured, not knowing the specifics of the situation.

Wei Shanhai remained silent, but his heart couldn't help but feel anxious.

He knew that Lu Qing must have sensed something, or else he wouldn't have left in such a hurry.

Unfortunately, even with his worries, he could only wait for Lu Qing's return to find out what had happened.

After leaving Nine Li Village, Lu Qing held Little Li close to his chest.

A yellow light appeared on his body, eliminating most of the earth's magnetic force, making his body incredibly light.

Then, a light shone from his forehead, and a gentle breeze appeared out of thin air, swirling around him.

In the next moment, he exerted slight force with his feet, and with the breeze wrapping around him, his entire body transformed into a streak of light, swiftly heading towards the state capital.

"Lu Xiaolangjun, did you discover something?"

The voice of "Flame" echoed in Lu Qing's mind.

"Flame" had witnessed Lu Qing's expression and noticed his unusual seriousness.

"Elder, do you have any knowledge about Demon Cultivators?" Lu Qing asked instead of answering directly.

"Demon Cultivators?" "Flame" was taken aback, not expecting Lu Qing to suddenly inquire about this.

But it quickly replied, "Demon Cultivators are not easy to deal with. Those guys are cunning and treacherous, resorting to all means. Even in the ancient cultivation era, they were extremely troublesome.

When it comes to evil and sinister cultivation methods, even the Plague Ghost pales in comparison.

Lu Xiaolangjun, why did you suddenly ask about this?"

"A few days ago, I gave Wei Family Head a few talismans containing a trace of my soul power.

Just now, I sensed that the talismans were destroyed.

Before that trace of soul power faded away, I seemed to sense a hint of a Demon Cultivator's aura."

"A Demon Cultivator's aura, are you sure, Young Master?"

"Flame" was startled.

What surprised it even more was that Lu Qing could sense movements from a thousand miles away.

Logically, this shouldn't be a capability that a Qi Condensation Realm cultivator should possess.

Lu Qing's Soul Power was actually this formidable.

It seemed that there were still many secrets about him that it was unaware of.

"No mistake, I can't be wrong about a Demon Cultivator's aura, I've encountered one before."

Lu Qing then spoke of the Demon Cultivator he met in the Holy City.

"A Demon Cultivator capable of using the Demonic Disintegration Technique." "Flame" was even more shocked. "Those who understand this demonic cultivation art are not ordinary Demon Cultivators.

In the ancient cultivation era, only the most orthodox Demon Cultivators could practice this demonic art.

Could it be that some old fellow managed to survive the Five Decays of Heaven and Man and is still alive today?"

"This junior doesn't know, but the aura I sensed just now is identical to the Demon Cultivator I encountered in the Holy City.

Even if it's not the same person, there must be an extraordinary connection between the two."

Lu Qing recalled the circumstances he sensed before the strand of Soul Power in the talisman dissipated.

It seemed that Wei Xinghe was trapped somewhere, surrounded by demonic energy. Faintly, there appeared to be many people wailing.

Unfortunately, his Soul Power was still not strong enough.

The power of the separated Soul Power was limited.

Moreover, the distance was too far, and what he could sense was very vague.

Otherwise, there wouldn't be a need for such speculation.

Currently, he could only rush to the State Capital City to uncover the truth.

The only uncertainty was whether Wei Xinghe could hold on until he arrived.

At this thought, Lu Qing's heart stirred, and the gentle breeze around him became denser.

Simultaneously, his speed skyrocketed.

From above, he appeared as a streak of greenish-yellow light, swiftly moving along the ground towards the State Capital City.

The State Capital City was a thousand miles away from Nine Li Village. Back when Lu Qing was at the Post-Heaven Realm, he had once traveled at night to kill Zheng's old lady, a Primordial Realm cultivator.

Now, his cultivation was at least ten times stronger than it was then.

His speed was far beyond what it used to be.

Therefore, even though he set off in the afternoon, the State Capital City was already in sight before nightfall.

"Hmm?"

However, when Lu Qing saw the State Capital City, he suddenly felt something amiss.

He noticed that the city, like a giant beast lying on the ground, was enveloped in a layer of black light.

The black light emitted an air of evil, looking extremely eerie.

"This is a Demonic Array, who has the audacity to set up such a large-scale array?"

"Flame's" figure appeared beside Lu Qing, gazing at the State Capital City in surprise.

"It's not just an array, but also a Magical Treasure."

Lu Qing stared at the black light screen, and soon, several strips of information floated into his vision.

【Ten Directions Blood Soul Refining Array: An ancient Demonic Array inherited from the Heavenly Origin World's Black Heaven Demon Sovereign, extremely evil and sinister.】

【Blood Soul Refining: A mysterious Demon Cultivator intends to use this array to refine the city's inhabitants into blood food and condense a demonic body.】

【This array is just a simplified version, arranged with a Demonic Artifact as the array's eye, and its power is only one-millionth of the original array.】

...

"He wants to refine the city's inhabitants into blood food and condense a demonic body?"

When Lu Qing saw the information on the strips, his face turned ashen.

He temporarily overlooked the information about the Black Heaven Demon Sovereign.

No wonder his Soul Power had sensed the wailing around Wei Shanhai.

He had also felt a premonition in the depths of his soul.

It turned out that a Demon Cultivator had set up a grand array to turn all the city's inhabitants into blood food and condense a demonic body.

It should be known that the State Capital City had tens of thousands of residents.

"What did you say, Young Master?" "Flame" was startled upon hearing this. "How dare that Demon Cultivator refine all the people in the city? Isn't that too bold?"

"Why, didn't the senior say that Demon Cultivators are ruthless and cruel, treating lives like grass, and fear nothing?"

"It's different this time." "Flame" said, "Although Demon Cultivators are cruel and bloodthirsty, there's still a limit.

Such an act of refining an entire city's inhabitants is bound to incur immense heavenly retribution.

Even a Primordial Spirit Realm Demon Cultivator wouldn't dare to do this.

Otherwise, the punishment from the Heavenly Dao would be unbearable for anyone."

"Then how do you explain the current situation, senior?" Lu Qing continued forward.

"This..." "Flame" was momentarily speechless.

After some thought, he said, "Perhaps, this array only confines the city, and it doesn't necessarily mean that it will refine everyone in the city."

"Whether it does or not, we'll find out soon enough."

Lu Qing didn't rush into the city. With the current unclear situation, the State Capital City was trapped, and if he rashly entered, it might cause more trouble.

"Xiao Li, protect me."

Lu Qing instructed, sitting cross-legged, focusing his mind and energy, and entering a meditative state.

At this distance, he should be able to sense the soul energy he had left on the talisman.

Indeed, very soon, Lu Qing sensed a familiar energy within the city, one that shared the same origin as his, faintly appearing and disappearing.

However, due to the array's obstruction, he needed to put in some effort to connect with it.

Lu Qing immediately employed his heart method, attempting to link with that strand of soul energy.

Just as Lu Qing was trying to connect with the talisman, in the State Capital City, within a narrow alley, Wei Shanhai held a broken jade sword token, staring at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure ahead, feeling utterly hopeless.

He never imagined that his son would end up in such a state, neither human nor ghost.

"Father, I've told you, your struggles are futile.

It's better to follow me and serve the Demon Lord, helping him establish a great legacy."

In front of Wei Xinghe, Wei Zihao, with black gas emanating from his body, a black mark between his eyebrows, and an air of evil, smiled lightly.

"Zihao, tell me, who turned you into this state?"

Wei Xinghe looked at his completely unrecognizable son, his heart wrenching in agony.

"What? Father, do you think I'm not good like this?" Wei Zihao extended an arm covered in bizarre runes, "But I think I'm great like this.

Father just saw that my cultivation has far surpassed yours.

Even that sword aura talisman you summoned, which I don't know where you got it from, couldn't harm me in the slightest."

Wei Xinghe's heart ached even more upon seeing this.

"Zihao, wake up. You can still fall into the demonic path. Do you really think the power you have now is yours?"

"Father, you're joking. If this power isn't mine, whose could it be? But if Father listens to my advice and submits to the Demon Lord, with your Primordial Realm cultivation, obtaining such power won't be difficult.

So now, please follow me and meet the Demon Lord."

"The Demon Lord just said that he's very interested in the sword aura talisman you used earlier."

After speaking, Wei Zihao slowly extended his hand towards Wei Xinghe.

This seemingly casual move caused Wei Xinghe's face to change drastically.

Without a moment's hesitation, he took a step back, quickly retreating.

"Father, it's useless. You can't escape."

Wei Zihao smiled slightly, and the black gas on his hand transformed into two venomous snakes, coiling towards Wei Xinghe's retreating body.

The venomous snakes moved at an incredible speed, catching up to Wei Xinghe in an instant.

Wei Xinghe knew the power of this black gas, and he dared not let it touch his body.

But his speed was no match for this bizarre entity.

Reluctantly, he gritted his teeth and activated the last talisman on his body.

In the next moment, a ray of green light appeared on Wei Xinghe's body, increasing his speed severalfold.

Not only did he instantly create distance between himself and the black gas, but he also disappeared from Wei Zihao's sight with quick, agile movements.

Wei Zihao, who had been confident and smiling, suddenly paled.

He never expected that at this moment, his father still had a trump card.

However, he soon smiled again.

"It's useless, Father. Under the array's cover, you can't escape the State Capital City."

As he finished speaking, his figure turned into a black shadow, chasing after Wei Xinghe's disappearing direction.

After escaping the alley, Wei Xinghe dared not stop for a moment.

According to what Lu Qing had told him when he gave him the talisman, the Swift Talisman's effect would only last for a quarter of an hour.

He had to escape the city within this time.

Otherwise, not only would he perish in the city, but the entire State Capital City might turn into an inferno.

Recalling the terrifying figure he had seen earlier, Wei Xinghe knew that at this moment, in the entire Cangzhou, only Lu Qing might be able to save the city's residents.

Of course, the prerequisite was that he could escape.

Just as Wei Xinghe was fleeing for his life, a faint soul fluctuation suddenly emanated from his body.

"Wei Family Head, can you sense me?"

"Lu Xiaolangjun?!"

Upon hearing this voice, Wei Xinghe abruptly stopped, his face filled with joy.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end