Chapter 1257: Heart Demon Path

Just as Chen Mobai was thinking of summoning Du Mengyun to inquire about the Avatar Demonic Art, news of the Sky Calamity Frost Scourge Blade reached his ears.

He knew more about these otherworldly demonic treasures than disciples like Liu Wenbo. After the Lord of the Central Demonic Path obtained the demonic treasure, even top righteous cultivators like True Immortal Taixu suffered greatly. It was only after True King Taixu's Artifact of Enlightenment was deployed that they managed to recover.

To understand the power of a peak sixth-rank artifact, one needs only recall the old flood dragon. With the Abyssal Stabilizer and Sea Suppressor Pearl above its head, countless Divine Transformation cultivators of the Eastern Continent's righteous path through generations were powerless against it. Only Chen Mobai, relying on the Dharma Realm to isolate the Profound Sea and the Elemental Bell's elemental suppression, was finally able to slay it. Indeed, Chen Mobai’s ability to become the foremost figure in the Eastern Continent also largely relied on the power of artifacts.

Wen Buyue had not yet reached Divine Transformation. Even with a demonic treasure, he certainly couldn't unleash its true power. If this menace could be dealt with in advance, it would be the best outcome for the Eastern Continent's righteous path. Therefore, upon hearing the news, Chen Mobai immediately informed the other three Sacred Lands.

True Monarch Wuchen and the others were greatly surprised by this. Their surprise wasn't that Wen Buyue had gained recognition from the demonic treasure, but that Chen Mobai hadn't thought of keeping the Sky Calamity Frost Scourge Blade for himself.

Cultivators in the Sky River Realm have always held the belief that "what is used for righteousness becomes righteous, and what is used for evil becomes evil," a mindset where many who obtain demonic artifacts believe they can refine and subdue them. Even a demonic treasure is a peak sixth-rank artifact. One should know that the Nine Heavens Demonic Suppression Sect's Heaven-Reaching Dao Refining Pagoda and Taihe Sword were even lower in rank than this demonic treasure.

If it had been True Monarch Wuchen and his peers, their first reaction upon learning this information would undoubtedly have been to mobilize their sect's forces to eliminate Wen Buyue and retrieve the Sky Calamity Frost Scourge Blade. Only if they truly couldn't refine it would they consider other options. Yet, Chen Mobai directly shared this intelligence. This made True Monarch Wuchen and the others feel somewhat ashamed. They thought, "As expected of one cultivating the Sacred Virtue Grand Dao, his moral character is truly lofty."

Chen Mobai originally intended to send this news to every member faction of the Eastern Continent Immortal Alliance, but True Monarch Wuchen and his peers stopped him. They all stated that eliminating evil and defending the righteous path was the duty of their Sacred Lands. Furthermore, since Wen Buyue was already a Nascent Soul expert and now possessed a demonic treasure, only Divine Transformation cultivators could reliably deal with him. To avoid harming innocents, they, the elders, should take action.

Facing a peak sixth-rank demonic treasure, even the Divine Transformation cultivators of the Eastern Continent Sacred Lands were greatly tempted. After all, even if they couldn't refine it themselves, taking it to the Central Continent could earn them significant favor from the Millennium Brush and Ink Grove. Moreover, the five continent branches of the Ethereal Palace of Grand Emptiness had all received direct instructions from True Immortal Taixu to deal with demonic treasures immediately upon encountering them. If they couldn't handle it themselves, they were to inform the Central Continent headquarters.

It was precisely for these reasons that after Chen Mobai conveyed the news, True Monarchs Dakong and Wuchen, both Divine Transformation cultivators, immediately set out to find traces of Wen Buyue. Meanwhile, the Nine Heavens Demonic Suppression Sect was focused on the Wheel of Life and Death and did not participate in this matter, but they did express gratitude to Chen Mobai for his profound righteousness.

Chen Mobai was not entirely unmoved by the peak sixth-rank demonic treasure, but he clearly understood that artifacts of such a rank had long merged with their associated Grand Dao, even becoming embodiments of the Dao itself. Cultivators not practicing that specific Grand Dao could, at best, only unleash a fraction of its power. With his Pure Yang foundation, it was simply impossible for him to abandon his cultivation and switch to the Jade Mirror Demonic Sect's techniques just for one Sky Calamity Frost Scourge Blade. Having understood this, Chen Mobai harbored no covetous desires.

The main reason he shared this news with the Eastern Continent Sacred Lands was that he had questions for Du Mengyun and wanted to offer her some incentive. However, no sooner had he dealt with Wen Buyue's matter than he discovered Du Mengyun had fled. The news came from Honghe. Through this, Chen Mobai also learned that the Lord of the Central Demonic Path might already be in the Eastern Continent, perhaps even within the territory of the Five Elements Sect. This revelation made Chen Mobai's expression turn grim.

Although he believed his Pure Yang Scroll made him unrivaled against demonic cultivation, a person's reputation casts a long shadow. Facing the foremost demonic cultivator of the Sky River Realm, especially one possessing two powerful demonic treasures, Chen Mobai felt this might be the most formidable enemy he had encountered in his cultivation. Under these circumstances, Chen Mobai was determined to do everything possible to increase his chances of victory.

First and foremost was intelligence. He instantly teleported to Yaoguang Immortal City.

“Greetings, Ancestor!” Honghe's face paled in shock upon seeing Chen Mobai appear out of thin air before him, and he performed a deep bow.

“Tell me everything you know.” Chen Mobai spoke. Honghe nodded and recounted everything he had seen and everything Du Mengyun had told him.

“The Avatar Demonic Art has such hierarchical restrictions?” Chen Mobai was somewhat surprised after hearing this. One could only say that when it came to exploitation and control, the demonic cultivation techniques of the Sky River Realm were indeed formidable. However, he immediately recalled his own Primordial Demonic Talisman. It seemed to be an even more advanced method of demonic control, which made him feel a slight twinge of shame.

Honghe replied, “Ancestor, that is all I know. For more details, we may need to find Senior Sister Du.”

Chen Mobai said, “In that case, let's ask her.”

These words stunned Honghe, who then gaped in astonishment. Before his eyes, Chen Mobai, with a flick of the wide sleeve of his Fire Spirit Robe, caused the void to suddenly split apart, as if connecting to another realm. In that realm, Du Mengyun was looking up with a horrified expression.

After Chen Mobai activated the Primordial Demonic Talisman to locate Du Mengyun, he used Void Teleportation to directly seize her from thousands of miles away, pulling her back from where she had hidden deep within the desolate ruins.

With a thud, Du Mengyun's body fell from mid-air and hit the floor. Yet, she dared not cry out in pain, immediately scrambling up and kowtowing repeatedly to Chen Mobai, saying, “Ancestor, please don't kill me. I was momentarily confused, please don't kill me...”

Seeing her frightened like a bird startled by a bow, Chen Mobai wondered why his reputation was so poor. In the Eastern Continent, he was supposed to be a highly revered sage. How did he now seem like a murderous demon lord?

“Get up. Confess honestly, and I will spare your life.” Chen Mobai didn't bother to say much more to Du Mengyun; he simply followed her words. As expected, she immediately stopped kowtowing, nodding repeatedly and indicating she would answer all questions.

“Can you directly transcribe the Avatar Demonic Art?” Chen Mobai asked. This was because many cultivation techniques here required cultivators to make Dao Heart Vows before being taught, so he wasn't sure if Du Mengyun could transmit it.

“Ancestor,” Du Mengyun replied, “Among the eighteen Demonic Sects, only the Avatar Demonic Art has no restrictions on its transmission. This is because the more people who cultivate this technique, the more the highest-level practitioner can harvest and gain.” As she spoke, she took out a jade slip from her storage pouch and respectfully offered it with both hands.

“In that case, why haven't you widely disseminated it?” Chen Mobai asked after taking it. He had immediately noticed that Honghe's cultivation foundation had already transformed into the Jade Mirror Demonic Sect's path. If the Avatar Demonic Art allowed for harvesting, wouldn't it be better to spread that according to the demonic path's logic?

“Ancestor, he and I are truly in love. I would certainly not harvest my own husband,” Du Mengyun stated earnestly, causing Honghe's mouth beside her to twitch slightly.

“I meant, why haven't you spread the Avatar Demonic Art throughout the world? Shouldn't demonic cultivators be selfish?” Chen Mobai clarified, simultaneously using his spiritual sense to comprehend the jade slip.

“This technique is forbidden by all Sacred Lands across the Five Continents and Four Seas,” Du Mengyun explained with a bitter smile. “If its widespread dissemination is discovered, it will basically be pursued relentlessly until death. Moreover, the spread of the Avatar Demonic Art ultimately only benefits the practitioner with the highest cultivation level.” This was why, even though she cultivated the Avatar Demonic Art, she still hadn't abandoned her foundation in the Jade Mirror Demonic Sect. However, both paths were fraught with pitfalls, and it remained to be seen if she could transcend them by leveraging the inheritances of the two great demonic paths.

“Demonic Grand Cultivators truly are inhumane!” Chen Mobai exclaimed after reading the jade slip in his hand.

The Avatar Demonic Art was the inheritance of the Supreme Heart Devil, one of the Three Thousand Demonic Paths. He had known this before. This inheritance was actually somewhat similar to the Primordial Celestial Devil's, except the Primordial Celestial Devil integrated the Three Thousand Demonic Paths to achieve 'Primordial' status, whereas the Supreme Heart Devil manipulated the demonic thoughts, desires, and obsessions in the minds of all beings, ultimately manifesting as countless avatars, omnipresent and omniscient. This path was called the Grand Dao of Heart Devils. Once manipulated by a Heart Devil, one would be completely enslaved, eternally sinking and losing their self.

Yet, those most burdened by Heart Devils were precisely the cultivators of this Grand Dao. Thus, anyone cultivating the Avatar Demonic Art would be controlled by a higher existence of that technique. Even the Lord of the Central Demonic Path, if he were to encounter the Supreme True Devil who passed down the Grand Dao of Heart Devils, would instantly lose himself. This was the Demonic Path! So-called disciples and inheritances were merely feeding pigs and sheep, waiting for them to fatten up before serving as a feast for demonic grand cultivators.

Chen Mobai's Primordial Demonic Talisman followed a similar principle. Once Du Mengyun or Honghe reached Divine Transformation, he could in turn harvest them to perfect the Primordial Celestial Devil's method. Thinking of this, Chen Mobai wondered if, in the eyes of the Demonic Lord, his acquisition of the World-Ending Grinder also made him a piece of cake to be devoured. A chill ran down his spine, and he resolved to focus his primary efforts on cultivating the Sacred Virtue Grand Dao from now on. At least this Grand Dao could suppress Doomed Fate. Moreover, Sacred Virtue and Doomed Fate were concepts Chen Mobai had gained from the Pure Yang Scroll. He believed Dao Venerable Zixiao would not betray him, his final closed-door disciple, in this regard.

“To find those who cultivate the Avatar Demonic Art, besides planting Pure Clarity Bamboo, one can also find a cultivator of this technique,” Du Mengyun began. “For example, if I am at the Nascent Soul stage, then apart from those who have cultivated this technique to the Divine Transformation stage, I would be able to perceive all others within my sensory range.” Du Mengyun immediately volunteered, offering to help Ancestor Chen find any Avatar Demonic Sect cultivators who might be hiding within the Five Elements Sect.

“Can you sense the approximate location of the Lord of the Central Demonic Path?” Chen Mobai, however, asked this question. He had already used the Law of Five Tones to comprehend the Avatar Demonic Art and, referencing his own knowledge system, had thought of more and better ways to identify cultivators of the Avatar Demonic Art. For instance, those who cultivate this technique are plagued by deep inner demons, and Chen Mobai's Natal Artifact, the Morning Bell, was precisely the bane of inner demons. Next, he simply needed to have cultivators from various departments of the Five Elements Sect return for their reports. By listening to the bell's chime, anyone afflicted by inner demons would be exposed, their spiritual sense disoriented.

There was also the Haotian Mirror. Since fusing with Daoist Dandong's Heavenly Phoenix Mirror, it had gained an additional power to ward off evil. When combined with the Mysterious Sun Divine Light, it would not only affect those with inner demons but almost any cultivator practicing demonic arts would feel as though they were being consumed by fierce flames, enduring immense pain. The higher the cultivation, the greater the reaction to the mirror's light. In the future, Chen Mobai planned to periodically convene meetings with the high-level cultivators of the Five Elements Sect. He would then hang the Haotian Mirror above the doorframe, requiring everyone to pass under its light before entering. This would ensure no malicious individuals were present among the leadership. However, since there was only one Haotian Mirror, the cultivation of Pure Clarity Bamboo still needed to be promoted. Conveniently, this spirit plant, besides providing purifying energy, also benefited the enhancement of spiritual sense and could reach up to the sixth rank, allowing for widespread planting.

“The Lord of the Central Demonic Path possesses profound cultivation that rivals creation itself,” Du Mengyun shook her head, not daring to attempt. “Only he can sense and command me.”

“If that's the case, then why were you able to perceive him accessing your memories earlier?” Chen Mobai asked.

“Because that's the only explanation,” Du Mengyun said with conviction. She had cultivated the Avatar Demonic Art for hundreds of years and was extremely familiar with its characteristics. For her, a mere Nascent Soul cultivator, to attempt to probe the Central Demonic Lord in return would be like a caterpillar trying to climb an elephant.

“In that case, may I propose a hypothesis?” Chen Mobai looked at Du Mengyun, his eyes slightly narrowed, and spoke with an unusual expression.

“Ancestor, what hypothesis?” Du Mengyun immediately asked, while Honghe beside them listened intently.

“If the Avatar Demonic Art is truly that formidable, then theoretically, the Lord of the Central Demonic Path could not only peruse your memories but also directly manipulate your inner demons, enslaving and controlling you. In that case, is the one speaking to me now truly still you?” Chen Mobai's words caused Du Mengyun to freeze.

Honghe, initially frowning, then looked at Du Mengyun with a face full of horror.

“While the Avatar Demonic Art allows for hierarchical control, my inner demons are ultimately my own,” Du Mengyun began to rationalize, trying to prove she was still herself, not the Lord of the Central Demonic Path. “To completely enslave someone, even the Lord of the Central Demonic Path would need to spend some time merging his inner demons with mine...”

“Was the time from your departure from Yaoguang Immortal City until I brought you back sufficient?” Chen Mobai continued to ask, his expression calm.

At this moment, Du Mengyun finally stopped explaining. She narrowed her eyes, raised her head with interest, and met Chen Mobai's gaze: “When did you find out?”