https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-564-The-Confusion-of-the-Dao-Heart-the-Demon-of-Shape-Transformation/12942283/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-566-Three-Rules-Hai-Xin-Returns-to-Dust/12942285/
Chapter 565: The Demon King's Transformation and the Demon Lord's Departure
Chapter 565: The Demon King's Transformation and the Demon Lord's Departure
On Moonlit Island, within the Azure Sun Hall.
A seagull and a dragon stared intently at the pill with golden cloud patterns, their eyes burning with intense desire and impulse, welling up from the depths of their bloodline.
They didn't know why, but they felt it was instinctive.
It was as if the pill contained the opportunity for them to advance to the next level.
By their ears, they heard the master's gentle voice.
"This is the Transformation Pill, a lower-grade fourth-stage pill, personally refined by me."
"Taking it will allow you to transform into a human form, create meridians, and enable you to cultivate human body techniques at the third stage, accelerating your cultivation speed."
Hearing these words, the hearts of the two demons began to beat wildly.
So-called demi-beasts are born from ignorant wild beasts, gradually awakening their spiritual intelligence as they absorb the essence of heaven and earth day and night, and then gradually becoming powerful.
It can be said that the cultivation of most demi-beasts starts from a "passive" state.
In ancient times, due to this passivity, even after demi-beasts developed spiritual intelligence, they habitually used this rough cultivation method, and the ultimate achievement was the so-called "Savage Beast."
Savage Beasts were incredibly powerful, and although they were legendary, at least before ancient times, the Mountain and Sea Realm still had Savage Beasts roaming, and their powerful physiques allowed them to rival Divine Transformation experts, and even gain the upper hand!
Such power came at a cost.
The price was the lengthy cultivation time.
The unconscious and passive absorption of the essence of heaven and earth, the rough cultivation method, and the massive bodies meant that ordinary wild beasts needed an immense amount of time to evolve into demi-beasts and then Savage Beasts.
Compared to the thousands of years it took for Savage Beasts to cultivate, the hardships of immortal cultivators who took hundreds or thousands of years to achieve Divine Transformation were insignificant.
Therefore, before ancient times, Savage Beasts were the strongest rulers of the Mountain and Sea Realm!
Until human cultivators began to rise, gradually becoming the protagonists of this world.
In ancient times, fierce battles raged, and many powerful human cultivators and Nascent Soul True Monarchs paid a tremendous price to slay, suppress, or expel the mighty Savage Beasts, gradually occupying the most vital spiritual veins.
It was then that the powerful members of the various demi-beast races realized that the drawbacks of power gained through time were too significant.
Once the top experts of a generation were gone, it was impossible for their successors to make up for it in a short time.
Therefore, even before the cessation of war, the powerful demi-beasts in the Mountain and Sea Realm began to research the art of human transformation.
Once they transformed into human forms, they could catch up with immortal cultivators at the same cultivation level with the same cultivation speed.
Their research eventually succeeded.
Perhaps it was because demi-beasts were the original lifeforms of this realm, favored by heaven and earth, that a glimmer of hope remained for them.
With the massive amount of demonic energy their large bodies could store, even low-level demi-beasts could condense their inner core at the second stage, possessing some characteristics of human Golden Core cultivators.
At the third stage, they could comprehend the art of human transformation, refine the horizontal bone in their mouths, speak human language, and temper their souls.
By the fourth stage, with the power of heavenly lightning, they could obtain great fortune and take the final step of human transformation! At that time, a generation of Demon Emperors would be no less than Nascent Soul True Monarchs, and they could be called Demon Cultivators.
If their ancestors had the bloodline of Savage Beasts that had ascended, they could even comprehend unique bloodline inheritance demon arts, surpassing ordinary human techniques.
Human transformation was a shortcut for demi-beasts to achieve the Great Dao.
However, embarking on this shortcut was still challenging.
Just reaching the third stage would take an unknown amount of time.
Now, upon hearing that Luo Chen possessed a pill that could allow them to transform early, how could the two demons not be extremely excited?
But!
Black King swallowed his saliva, his voice trembling slightly as he asked, "Master, is there only one pill?"
Luo Chen nodded slightly.
He only had one pill, obtained with great difficulty, and replicating a second batch in the future would likely be impossible.
After all, capturing a Nascent Soul True Monarch and extracting their primordial essence blood to refine a pill was an incredibly difficult task.
Perhaps only an exceptional top expert like the Day Sky Pavilion Master could accomplish such a feat!
Nascent Soul cultivators of the same level were considered invincible.
Without the intervention of Divine Transformation experts, no one in the world could do anything to her.
Hearing this answer, Black King and Tianxuan exchanged glances, both falling silent.
"I only have this one pill."
"I'm about to embark on a long journey to a bustling place, and your massive bodies would draw too much attention. My innate treasure can barely accommodate one of you, and ordinary spirit beast bags can't hold you."
"So, one of you needs to transform into a human form, which will make traveling more convenient and allow you to assist me with some trivial matters."
"Considering that both of you have worked hard for me in the past, it wouldn't be fair to choose one of you."
"Therefore, I'll leave it to you two to decide who will take the pill."
As Luo Chen spoke, his gaze lingered on Black King for a moment.
This guy's original body was the largest, and he couldn't shrink to a suitable size, making him the most inconvenient for travel.
Of course, as he said, he would let the two demons decide among themselves.
This way, they wouldn't feel it was unfair, and there would be no internal conflicts when they worked for him.
The Servant Beast Technique from the Book of Ten Thousand Beasts was too ordinary, after all, it was just a second-stage cultivation technique.
Luo Chen's control over the two demons wasn't absolute.
Over the years, in addition to suppressing them with his divine soul, he occasionally rewarded them to win their loyalty.
These small favors were obviously effective.
At the very least, without his conscious control, there were no incidents like the one with the Explosive Ape escaping with his child.
Tianxuan stands tall in the hall, her neck held high, but her mood is somewhat somber.
She can guess that perhaps this Transformation Pill is not meant for her.
The master's favoritism towards Black King is evident to the naked eye.
Whether it's the rewards of Imperial Essence Plasma or the trivial materials given from the demonic beasts after alchemy, it's clear that the master favors Black King.
Especially, the master even bestowed the corpse of a Clifftop Snake that failed Tribulation Crossing upon Black King.
In this situation, even if she were to compete, she fears that...
Just as she is feeling disappointed, a voice that surprises her beyond measure reaches her ears.
"Give it to Tianxuan!"
"Huh?"
Before Tianxuan could respond, Luo Chen exclaims in surprise.
Facing Luo Chen's astonished gaze and the confusion of the nearby Fighting Gull, Black King gives a hearty laugh.
"The master may not know, but the essence contained in that Clifftop Snake corpse is indeed quite abundant. I've been asleep for over three years, and I still haven't fully digested it."
"In my current state, if I were to take the Transformation Pill, the human form that emerges might be misshapen."
Luo Chen was about to say that wouldn't happen, as he had personally refined this Transformation Pill.
But in his mind, an image suddenly appears—the figure with a crow's head and a human body on Cangwu Mountain.
You Quan, it seems, took this pill and yet failed to transform?
"I do want to take the Transformation Pill, but if I truly wait to digest the Clifftop Snake's essence, it might take another six or seven years. The master is about to depart, and he can't wait that long."
"Moreover..."
At this point, Black King pauses, and a hint of hesitation and uncertainty flashes in his eyes.
"Moreover, I vaguely feel that perhaps I shouldn't follow the transformation method, but instead persist in the ancient Savage Beast cultivation method, which might be more beneficial for my cultivation."
Luo Chen's eyebrows furrow.
Before he can speak, Tianxuan, standing next to Black King, asks, "How so? Isn't it said that after transformation, our cultivation can be faster? Your body is so massive; if you were to refine your demonic body step by step, wanting to advance to the fourth level, how long would that take?"
These three questions are precisely what Luo Chen is thinking.
Black King twists his massive python body, covered in deep, black scales, and says uncertainly, "I'm not sure, but my instincts give me that feeling."
Instincts?
Luo Chen's heart stirs.
Is it bloodline inheritance?
Among powerful demonic beasts, there are some with exceptional talents who, by continuously purifying their bloodline, have the opportunity to awaken the ancestral inheritance within their bloodline.
The Black-Scaled Giant Python is a product of various bloodline intermixing, and its ancestral bloodline origins are already untraceable.
Black King's previous form as a dragon was also a degenerate derivative.
However, after receiving several portions of top-grade Imperial Essence Plasma from Luo Chen, the python seems to have been continuously purifying its bloodline and even comprehended the Devouring Demon Art.
That demonic art is quite miraculous! Luo Chen has personally studied it and finds it similar to the Withering Vitality Flame's ability to refine vitality for one's use, with even greater potential overall.
He attempted to learn this demonic art!
However, his research ultimately ended in failure.
The specific reason lies in the fact that this demonic art is driven by Black King's terrifying stomach within his massive body.
Unless Luo Chen were to transform his stomach to be like Black King's and comprehend the principles of the demonic art, he dares not attempt it.
Luo Chen doesn't dare to do so, as he is uncertain if transforming his body would negatively impact his current cultivation speed.
"If we use the Devouring Demon Art and the knowledge from the bloodline's inheritance to make up for the challenges of the Savage Beast cultivation method, perhaps Black King's cultivation speed won't be too slow?"
"If it doesn't work out, I'll refine more Imperial Essence Plasma for him later and find more resources beneficial to him for devouring."
After figuring this out, Luo Chen no longer worries about this matter.
"Alright, then it's decided."
Luo Chen waves his hand, and the Transformation Pill floats over to Tianxuan.
Tianxuan, in a daze, takes the pill and listens to Luo Chen's supplementary instructions on the pill's taboos.
Then, at Luo Chen's signal, the two demons take their leave.
After leaving the Azure Sun Hall, the seagull and the python stroll out, finally stopping by the shore of the Ten Mile Lake.
Usually, at this time, the python would enter the lake, and the seagull would fly into the sky, parting ways.
But this time, Tianxuan takes the initiative to call out to Black King.
As natural enemies, and the one taking the initiative, Tianxuan has always been dominant.
Yet at this moment, in front of Black King, she feels a bit awkward.
Black King seems to sense her thoughts and laughs heartily, opening his blood-basin-sized mouth.
"Don't bother with thanks. Anyway, whoever transforms will have to work for the master, and it's a hassle to think about. This task is better suited for you!"
In the green bird's eyes, a complex, human-like meaning flickers.
Being busy has its advantages.
In the past, Black King gained the master's favor because he hunted demonic crabs for the master every day, right?
If I transform, not only will my cultivation speed increase, but I'll also frequently do things for the master, and I'll surely gain more benefits.
"I'm about to set out, and Black King needs to sleep a bit more."
Black King yawns, emitting a stench, and with a plop, he dives into the calm lake.
Looking at the rippling lake surface, Tianxuan remains silent for a while.
Finally, she speaks softly.
"Thank you."
Then, flapping her wings, she flies towards the solitary Sea-Viewing Cliff.
Beneath the lake's surface, Black King's eyes watch the majestic figure, and he smirks.
"Considering you saved me in the past, I'll let you off this time.
Deep in his heart, he thought, birds should soar in the sky, how could they be confined to the depths of a dark cauldron, living in fear and never seeing the light of day?
...
Black Swan Island.
A tall woman stood in the courtyard, scattering feed.
Black swans with slender necks gathered in the pond below, vying for the delicious bait.
She suddenly lifted her head and looked towards the sky.
Seeing a majestic bird flying towards a distant solitary cliff, her hesitation deepened.
"This time, the Demon Lord is probably really leaving!"
"Even the spirit beasts kept outside have been summoned, clearly making final preparations for the departure."
"Should I follow him?"
Cheng Hai Xin could foresee numerous future benefits if she stayed by the Demon Lord's side.
After serving Luo Chen for so many years, she was well aware that the so-called "Demon Lord" wasn't as evil as rumored.
His demonic path only manifested in matters related to his cultivation, making him seem particularly domineering and persistent.
In situations that didn't violate his principles, the Azure Sun Ascendant was actually a good person.
He would bestow small favors upon those around him.
For other cultivation families with numerous petty schemes, he mostly turned a blind eye.
It could be said that following him would undoubtedly expose her to more opportunities.
If she were lucky enough to become his Dao companion, even as a favored concubine, she might still have a chance at the Golden Core Stage and the True Immortal Path!
Cheng Hai Xin could tell that the Azure Sun Ascendant wasn't indifferent to women; his occasional glances at her appearance and figure were filled with appreciation.
Perhaps he had other attachments or a firm Dao heart, temporarily suppressing his impulses.
"But if I leave, what will happen to my family?"
Cheng Hai Xin spread her spiritual sense, slowly covering a radius of over ten miles.
She saw many things: clan members devoted to tending the spirit field, flocks of black swans cackling, young juniors learning spells under the guidance of Elder Cheng Hai Chang, and an old man with white hair and a weathered face.
As her spiritual sense spread, the old man sitting in the clan's discussion hall also looked up in confusion.
"Uncle Ji is truly old, he might not have more than two years left."
"Cheng Hai Chang's cultivation is good, but he's only skilled in combat. When it comes to managing the family, he's inadequate."
"Because of collecting resources for the Azure Sun Ascendant in the past, Elder Brother Cheng Dou offended many people. With the Ascendant's presence, they dared not cause trouble for the Cheng family. But if he leaves, it might be fine in the short term, but in the long run, there's no guarantee that problems won't arise."
"I..."
After a long silence, the woman tightly bit her lips and slowly shook her head.
She couldn't leave!
...
The news of the Demon Lord's departure had spread among the upper echelons of the various families in the Flying Swallow Archipelago, perhaps due to someone's loose lips or a careful observer piecing together clues.
Regardless, the Azure Sun Demon Lord's journey north was a certainty.
Moreover, if he left, it was highly unlikely that he would return.
After all, before this, Sorcerer Island's Wu Qi had visited, followed by the Nascent Soul True Monarch Blood Nightmare Demon King. This indicated that a top-tier Nascent Soul power had extended an invitation to the Azure Sun Demon Lord.
Compared to these resource-rich top-tier Nascent Soul sects, the Flying Swallow Archipelago was a barren cultivation environment.
Once he left, it was unlikely anyone would return.
This would mean the archipelago would once again be leaderless.
In an instant, hidden undercurrents stirred within the various cultivation families.
Luo Chen, even without paying close attention, could sense these turbulent currents.
Especially the Cheng family on Black Swan Island, with its outwardly relaxed but internally tense battle-ready posture, made him keenly aware of the direction these undercurrents were pointing.
In the Azure Sun Hall.
Luo Chen sighed softly.
The Cheng family had served him loyally for nearly twenty years. If he left without proper arrangements, it might bring them calamity, which would be rather ungrateful.
"It seems that before I leave, I should settle some matters."
"Fine, it's just a simple task."
With a thought, he sent out a spiritual message.
Cheng Hai Xin, busy within the clan, received the message and couldn't help but show her astonishment, followed by excitement. She rushed towards Moonlit Island.
It wasn't just her.
At that moment, Late Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and the heads of various families in the archipelago also received the message.
Whether they were busy or in seclusion, their thoughts were unmentioned.
Under the "influence" of the Demon Lord, they all began to gather towards Moonlit Island.
When they arrived, a young man in a white robe with a red face sat majestically above the hall, his gaze like a torch.
Without saying a word, he quietly observed them.
The initially restless atmosphere gradually calmed.
Even those with ulterior motives couldn't help but break out in cold sweat, their eyes darting away, unable to meet the gaze of the man above.
The oppressive atmosphere lasted for an unknown duration.
Just when everyone felt like time was passing slowly, a voice suddenly sounded.
"In three months, I will leave."
"Before I go, there are three matters to attend to, which you must follow without question."
"If anyone disobeys, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"First, the Cheng family will temporarily be the master of the Flying Swallow Archipelago, managing the entry-exit token of the Moonlit Island Grand Array until the first native Golden Core cultivator is born!"
(End of Chapter)
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