Chapter 361: Mind Restoration, Tian Di Bian Hua, Lu Qing's Plan

When Lu Qing emerged from his meditative state and retrieved the Lihuo Ding, Wei Xinghe hurried forward. "Lu Xiao Langjun, how did it go?"

Earlier, upon seeing Lu Qing summon the Lihuo Ding, Wei Xinghe had already suspected the Demon Cultivator hadn’t been completely destroyed. After all, he’d clearly witnessed a black flash escape the Demon’s body the moment Lu Qing had sealed it—before it was drawn into the furnace.

Now, he finally understood what Lu Qing had meant by his plan.

"To fully undo the seals on Zihao and the others will take a few more days. But I’ve already found a way to restore their minds," Lu Qing said calmly.

"Really?" Wei Xinghe’s eyes lit up with joy.

The memory of Zihao’s cold, emotionless transformation had been the deepest wound in Wei Xinghe’s heart. That cruel, detached demeanor—unrecognizable as his own son—still sent chills down his spine. Now, hearing that their minds could be restored? The joy was overwhelming.

"I’ll test it now," Lu Qing said, raising his hand and forming a complex seal. With a subtle pulse of his mind, waves of strange energy seeped into Zihao and the other Qingyun Jian Ge disciples’ brains.

Zihao and the others were still Hou Tian Jing cultivators—brow qi cavities unopened, spirits weak. And since they were still unconscious, they couldn’t resist Lu Qing’s mental intrusion.

Within moments, Lu Qing located the Demon Qi Mark implanted by the Demon Cultivator—the invisible thread controlling their minds.

Following the exact method the Demon had taught, Lu Qing channeled his Spirit Soul Power. In just a few breaths, the mark dissolved.

Then, he gently prodded their consciousnesses, awakening them.

"Ah—cough, cough!" Wei Xinghe had been watching anxiously. Now, he saw Zihao and the others shudder violently, slowly blinking their eyes open.

"What happened? Where are we?" Zihao and the others looked around, dazed and confused. They were in a cave, lit only by a flickering fire. No landmarks, no sense of place.

"Zihao!" Wei Xinghe immediately recognized the clarity in his son’s gaze—no longer the eerie, soulless stare from before. He was truly back.

"Father… what are you doing here?" Zihao, startled, tried to rise—only to collapse back, his body numb and aching.

"My body…?"

"Stay still for now," Wei Xinghe said, gently restraining him. "You were controlled by the Demon Cultivator. Your mind was twisted, your spirit lost. He planted seals inside you—seals that drain your life force continuously. That’s why Lu Xiao Langjun sealed your blood and qi temporarily…"

He slowly recounted what he knew.

"Controlled mind… lost spirit… seals…?" Zihao and the others listened, and slowly, fragmented memories began to resurface—horrible, vivid images of their time under the Demon’s influence.

Their faces twisted with pain.

This was the true horror of the Demon Cultivator’s seals. The victims’ consciousnesses remained intact—only their wills were warped. Even if the mark was removed, the memories of what they’d done—what they’d become—would remain. And those memories, steeped in darkness, could easily corrupt the soul, dragging one back into the abyss of the demonic path.

But Zihao and the others had only been under the Demon’s control for a short time. And the Demon, eager to hide his trail, had only ordered them to secretly place the Zhen Fa Jie Dian—no further atrocities. That was why, despite the guilt, their minds had not yet collapsed.

"Now that the memories are returning," Wei Xinghe said softly, "you must bear it. But remember—none of this was your fault. You were not in control."

After a long silence, Zihao finally spoke, voice trembling. "Father… the Demon Cultivator… he wasn’t just some stranger. He was our sect’s Shi Shu Zu. He destroyed Qingyun Jian Ge himself. Even the Sect Master… he was tortured to death by his own hands…"

One by one, the disciples recounted what had happened—how they’d been betrayed from within, how the Demon had hunted them down after the sect’s fall, how he’d taken their sacred treasures, then enslaved their minds and forced them to build the Array.

Wei Xinghe listened, heart pounding. He had never imagined Qingyun Jian Ge harbored such a monstrous elder. Sending his son to study there had truly been like sending a lamb to the wolves.

If not for Lu Qing’s intervention, not only would his family have perished—but the entire Zhou Fu Cheng would have been consumed by the Array’s destruction.

"...After the Array activated, many citizens died," Zihao whispered, eyes filled with shame. "We didn’t mean to… but we did it under his command. We’re responsible."

The other disciples nodded, their faces heavy with guilt.

"Enough," Wei Xinghe said firmly. "The past is done. The Array has been dismantled. The Demon is dead. What you did was not your fault. You were controlled. Let go of this burden—your hearts must not be burdened by what was not your will."

He saw the weight in their eyes. But he also saw the resilience of true disciples from a great sect. After a while, they managed to steady themselves.

"Father," Zihao asked, "where are we now?"

"We’re in a cave just outside Zhou Fu Cheng," Wei Xinghe explained. "Lu Xiao Langjun said the Demon’s seals are extremely dangerous—siphoning your life force to fuel the Demon’s power. If not removed soon, you’d have died of vitality depletion. He’s just now lifted the mental control—this is why you’re awake."

Zihao and the others turned to Lu Qing, eyes wide with awe.

They remembered everything—every second of his power. How, without a single motion, he had effortlessly subdued them when they were at Xian Tian Jing. How, even as they fought back, their strength had been crushed like paper.

Zihao, who had watched the entire battle from start to finish, knew better than anyone just how terrifying Lu Qing truly was. It was beyond imagination.

"Thank you, Lu Xiao Langjun," Zihao said, bowing deeply despite his weakness. "For saving our lives… and for killing the Demon who destroyed our sect. You’ve avenged our fallen brothers."

"Thank you, Lu Xiao Langjun!" the other disciples echoed, their voices thick with gratitude.

"Enough formalities," Lu Qing said, handing them a small vial of medicine. "Take this. It will help heal your injuries. The seals are currently suppressed. By tomorrow, your wounds should be healed. Then we’ll return to Cang County—there, we’ll begin removing the seals properly."

As the disciples drank the medicine, Lu Qing’s spirit retreated back into the Lihuo Ding.

"Master," the Demon Cultivator greeted instantly, eager and subservient. Within the Spirit Artifact Space, all external senses were sealed. The Demon had no way of perceiving the outside world.

"Yes," Lu Qing nodded. "Their minds are restored. The Demon Qi Mark has been removed. You were wise not to lie to me."

"I would never dare!" the Demon Cultivator protested. "I am now your slave. How could I deceive you, when even a single thought against you is instantly known?"

Indeed, Lu Qing had branded the Demon’s True Spirit Core with a Spirit Soul Mark—enslaving him utterly. Any hostile thought would be instantly detected.

But Lu Qing remained silent. He knew better than to trust blindly.

Even with the Spirit Soul Enslavement, he couldn’t be certain. The cultivation world was vast. Masters with Great Divine Power abounded—especially in the Tian Yuan Da Shi Jie. Countless strange combat techniques existed, some capable of evading even the most powerful soul bindings.

Who knew what forbidden arts the Demon had learned? What tricks he might still possess?

"Enough," Lu Qing said. "Since you’ve been obedient, I’ll give you a little Demon Qi to restore your spirit. Once you’re strong enough, you’ll remove the seals from Zihao and the others."

He reached into the air—and a black, severed hand appeared, tossed toward the Demon.

The same hand he’d severed during their battle.

The Demon’s body had been nearly destroyed by the Lihuo Ding’s spirit fire. His essence was nearly gone. If he didn’t replenish it soon, he’d disintegrate before Lu Qing even lifted a finger.

With a greedy cry, the Demon lunged at the hand, devouring the remaining Demon Qi.

As the Demon absorbed the power, a faint figure appeared beside Lu Qing.

"Little Master," the figure said softly, "you’re keeping this Demon alive?"

"For now," Lu Qing replied. "This Demon’s origins are unusual. I have questions. He still has use."

The Demon’s past—originating from the Tian Yuan Da Shi Jie—was something Lu Qing was deeply curious about.

"Very well," the figure said. "But remember—Demons are naturally cunning. This one is particularly strange. Even Spirit Soul Enslavement isn’t foolproof."

"Trust me," Lu Qing said. "I know what I’m doing."

He had no intention of ever releasing the Demon from the Spirit Artifact Space. As long as he remained trapped, Lu Qing held absolute control—over a thousand ways to break him.

And he’d never promised the Demon a chance at survival.

The figure nodded. It had seen Lu Qing’s mind at work before. This boy was no ordinary talent. Even it had once fallen into his trap.

If Lu Qing had a plan, it was best not to interfere.

Their conversation, though spoken aloud, was never meant for the Demon to hear. Within the Spirit Artifact Space, only Lu Qing and the figure could speak—and the Demon remained utterly unaware.

Once the hand was tossed, Lu Qing withdrew his spirit from the Lihuo Ding.

He glanced back at Zihao and the others, still healing, and decided not to disturb them.

Instead, he resumed his meditation. His Spirit Soul Power surged from his brow qi cavity, spreading outward—sensing the surrounding Heavenly and Earthly space.

Today had been the fourth time the Heaven and Earth Dao Yin had sounded. He hadn’t yet had the chance to fully perceive the changes in the world.

Now, his Spirit Soul Power was strong—on par with a true Zhu Ji Qi cultivator.

And he felt it immediately: the Qi in the air was denser, richer than ever.

But what truly caught his attention was the stability of the Heavenly and Earthly Laws. After the fourth Dao Yin, the rules of existence had evolved further—becoming more refined, more resilient.

The invisible suppression he’d felt after reaching Lianqi Great Completion? Gone.

He understood now: the laws had matured—finally capable of supporting even greater cultivators.

This meant no more frustration like before, when he’d reached a level but been unable to break through due to incomplete laws.

Now, the evolution of Heaven and Earth had finally caught up with his cultivation.

From here on, as long as he trained steadily, breaking through to Zhu Ji Qi would be within reach—no longer blocked by the world’s limitations.

A sense of quiet joy stirred in Lu Qing’s heart.

Yes, the tightening of the laws had weakened. That meant more powerful cultivators might emerge—perhaps even from those hidden sanctuaries.

But Lu Qing was no longer afraid.

Even if he faced a true Zhu Ji Qi master, he wouldn’t flinch.

With his Spirit Artifacts in hand—his arsenal of hidden weapons—he wasn’t afraid even of a perfected Zhu Ji Qi.

"Xuan Kong Shan," he murmured, eyes narrowing. "I hope you’ll give me something worth the wait."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end