Chapter 1259: Big Feast

**Pure Nine-Lotuses Treasure Lamp:**

As Chen Mobai was considering summoning Du Mengyun to inquire about the Avatar Demonic Art, news of the Calamity Frost Disaster Saber reached him. He knew more about these extraterrestrial 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 the situation was salvaged.

To understand the power of a peak sixth-tier artifact, one only needs to recall the Old Flood Dragon. With the Sea-Calming Pearl above its head, generations of Soul Transformation cultivators in the Eastern Continent's righteous path could do nothing against it. Ultimately, it was Chen Mobai who, relying on the Dharma Realm to isolate the Profound Sea and the elemental suppression of the Primordial Chaos Bell, managed to slay it. Indeed, Chen Mobai's rise to become the foremost figure in the Eastern Continent largely relied on the power of artifacts.

Wen Buyue had not yet reached Soul Transformation. Even with the demonic treasure, he certainly wouldn't be able to 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 learning this news, Chen Mobai immediately notified the other three Holy Lands.

True Monarch Wuchen and the others were greatly surprised by this. It wasn't that they were surprised Wen Buyue had gained recognition from the demonic treasure, but rather that Chen Mobai hadn't thought of monopolizing the Calamity Frost Disaster Saber. Cultivators in the Sky River Realm typically held the belief that "if used right, it's righteous; if used wrong, it's evil." Many who obtained demonic artifacts believed they could refine and tame them. Even a demonic treasure was a peak sixth-tier artifact. It was worth noting that the Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Sect's Heaven-Reaching Dao Refining Pagoda and Taihe Sword were even lower in grade than the demonic treasure. If it had been True Monarch Wuchen or others, their first action upon learning this information would have undoubtedly been to mobilize their sect's forces to slay Wen Buyue and retrieve the Calamity Frost Disaster Saber. Only if they truly couldn't refine it would they consider other options.

Chen Mobai, however, directly shared this intelligence. This made True Monarch Wuchen and the others feel somewhat ashamed. They thought, "As expected of one who cultivates the Grand Dao of Saintly Virtue, his moral character is truly lofty."

Chen Mobai had initially intended to send this news to every member force of the Eastern Continent Immortal Alliance, but he was stopped by True Monarch Wuchen and the others. They all stated that eradicating demons and defending the Dao was their duty as Holy Lands. Furthermore, Wen Buyue was originally a Nascent Soul expert, and now with a demonic treasure, only Soul Transformation cultivators could reliably deal with him. To avoid harming innocents, it was better for them, the elders, to act.

Faced with a peak sixth-tier demonic treasure, the Soul Transformation cultivators of the Eastern Continent's Holy Lands were also greatly moved. After all, even if they couldn't refine it themselves, taking it to the Central Continent could earn them a significant favor from the Millennium Brush-and-Ink Grove. Moreover, the five continental branches of the Grand Void Ethereal Palace had all received direct instructions from True Immortal Taixu to deal with any demonic treasures immediately, and to notify the Central Continent headquarters if they couldn't handle it themselves. It was precisely for these reasons that, after Chen Mobai notified them, Grand Void and Wuchen, two Soul Transformation True Monarchs, immediately began searching for traces of Wen Buyue. The Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Sect, meanwhile, was focused on the Plate of Life and Death and did not participate in this matter, but they did express gratitude to Chen Mobai for his great righteousness.

It wasn't that Chen Mobai was entirely unmotivated by the peak sixth-tier demonic treasure; rather, he was very clear that artifacts of such a grade had long since merged with their associated Grand Daos, or were even crystallizations of the Dao itself. A cultivator not practicing that specific Grand Dao could at best only activate a superficial fraction of its power. With his Pure Yang foundation, it was simply impossible for him to switch to cultivating the Jade Mirror Demonic Sect's techniques just for a Calamity Frost Disaster Saber. After realizing this, Chen Mobai had no more covetous thoughts.

The main reason he conveyed this news to the Eastern Continent Holy Lands was that he had something to ask Du Mengyun and wanted to give her a little incentive. However, just as he had finished dealing with Wen Buyue's matter, he discovered that Du Mengyun had actually 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 caused Chen Mobai's expression to become solemn. Although he was confident that his Pure Yang Scroll was invincible against demonic cultivation, a name carries weight. Facing the foremost demonic cultivator in the Sky River Realm, especially one with two powerful demonic treasures, Chen Mobai felt this might be the most formidable enemy he had encountered in his cultivation journey.

Under these circumstances, Chen Mobai would certainly do everything possible to increase his chances of victory. First and foremost was intelligence. He immediately teleported to Yaoguang Immortal City.

"Greetings, Old Ancestor!" Honghe was greatly startled, seeing Chen Mobai appear out of thin air before him, and performed a deep bow.

"Tell me everything you know," Chen Mobai commanded. Honghe nodded and repeated everything he had seen and what Du Mengyun had told him.

"The Avatar Demonic Art actually has such hierarchical restrictions?" Chen Mobai was also somewhat surprised after listening. It could only be said 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 higher-tier demonic control method, making him feel a slight twinge of shame.

Honghe replied, "Reporting, Old Ancestor, that's all I know. For specifics, we might need to find Senior Sister Du."

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

These words astonished Honghe, and then his mouth dropped open. Chen Mobai, standing before him, waved the wide sleeve of his Fire Spirit Robe. The void suddenly parted on both sides, as if connecting to another realm, and 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 spatial displacement to directly seize her from thousands of miles away, pulling her back from the depths of the desolate ruins where she had hidden. With a thud, Du Mengyun's body fell from mid-air and struck the floor, but she dared not cry out in pain. She immediately scrambled up and repeatedly kowtowed to Chen Mobai before her, "Old Ancestor, please don't kill me. I was confused for a moment. Please don't kill me..."

Watching her fearful demeanor, like a bird startled by a bowstring, Chen Mobai thought his reputation shouldn't be so bad. In the Eastern Continent, he was supposed to be a highly praised sage. How did he now feel like a remorseless great demon?

"Get up. Confess honestly, and I will spare your life," Chen Mobai said. He didn't bother saying more to Du Mengyun; he simply went along with her words. As expected, she immediately stopped kowtowing and nodded repeatedly, indicating she would answer any questions.

"Can you directly transcribe the Avatar Demonic Art?" Chen Mobai asked. Because many cultivation techniques here required cultivators to swear Dao Heart Oaths before being taught, he wasn't sure if Du Mengyun could transmit it.

"Reporting, Old Ancestor, 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 art, the more the one with the highest cultivation can harvest," Du Mengyun said, taking a jade slip directly from her storage bag and respectfully presenting it with both hands.

"In that case, why don't you transmit it widely?" Chen Mobai asked after receiving it. He had noticed upon arrival 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 this one, following the demonic path's logic?

"Old Ancestor, he and I truly love each other. I would certainly not harvest my own husband," Du Mengyun said earnestly, causing Honghe's mouth to twitch slightly beside her.

"I mean, why don't you spread the Avatar Demonic Art throughout the world? Shouldn't demonic cultivators be selfish?" Chen Mobai added, while simultaneously perceiving the jade slip with his divine sense.

"This technique is forbidden by all Holy Lands across the Five Continents and Four Seas. If its widespread dissemination is discovered, it will be relentlessly pursued to the end. Furthermore, the spread of the Avatar Demonic Art ultimately only benefits the person with the highest cultivation..." Du Mengyun explained with a bitter smile. It was precisely for this reason that, despite cultivating the Avatar Demonic Art, she had not abandoned her foundation in the Jade Mirror Demonic Sect. However, both paths were treacherous; it remained to be seen if she could transcend by leveraging the inheritances of both demonic traditions.

"Demonic mighty figures are truly inhumane!" Chen Mobai couldn't help but exclaim after finishing reading the jade slip in his hand.

The Avatar Demonic Art was the inheritance of the Supreme Inner Demon among the Three Thousand Demonic Paths. He had known this before. This inheritance was actually somewhat similar to the Primordial Celestial Demon, except that the Primordial Celestial Demon merged the Three Thousand Demonic Paths to achieve "Primordial," while the Supreme Inner Demon controlled the demonic thoughts, desires, and obsessions in the hearts of all beings, eventually manifesting into myriad forms, omnipresent and omniscient. This path was called the Grand Dao of Inner Demons. Once controlled by an inner demon, one would be completely enslaved, eternally sinking, and losing one's self. And those with the heaviest inner demons were precisely the cultivators of this Grand Dao. Thus, anyone cultivating the Avatar Demonic Art would be controlled by a higher-level existence of this technique. Even the Lord of the Central Demonic Path, if he encountered the Supreme True Demon who passed down the Grand Dao of Inner Demons, would instantly lose himself. This was the Demonic Path! The so-called disciples and inheritances were merely feeding pigs and sheep, waiting for them to fatten up to provide a feast for demonic mighty figures.

Chen Mobai's Primordial Demonic Talisman followed a similar principle. Once Du Mengyun or Honghe reached Soul Transformation, they could, in turn, be harvested to perfect the methods of the Primordial Celestial Demon. Thinking of this, Chen Mobai also wondered if, in the eyes of the Demonic Lord, his acquisition of the World-Ending Grinder also made him a piece of cake. A chill ran down his spine, and he decided that in the future, he should focus his main efforts on cultivating the Grand Dao of Saintly Virtue. At least this Grand Dao could suppress Doomsday Fate. Moreover, Saintly Virtue and Doomsday Fate were concepts Chen Mobai had derived from the Pure Yang Scroll. He believed that Daoist Master Zixiao would not trick him, his last direct disciple, in this regard.

"To find someone who has cultivated the Avatar Demonic Art, besides planting Pure Serenity Bamboo, one can also find a cultivator of this technique. For example, if I am at the Nascent Soul realm, then, excluding those who have cultivated this art to the Soul Transformation realm, I would be able to detect anyone else within my sensory range." Du Mengyun immediately volunteered, stating her willingness to help Old 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 asked instead. He had already used the Rhythm of Five Tones to comprehend the Avatar Demonic Art and, referencing his own knowledge system, had thought of more and better ways to distinguish cultivators of the Avatar Demonic Art. For instance, those who cultivate this technique have heavy inner demons, and Chen Mobai's natal artifact, the Morning Bell, is precisely the bane of inner demons. Next, he only needed to have cultivators from various departments of the Five Elements Sect return for their duties and listen to the bell's chime. Anyone within the realm of inner demons would be exposed, their divine sense thrown into disarray. There was also the Haotian Mirror. Since it had absorbed Daoist Dan Ding's Heavenly Phoenix Mirror, it had gained an additional power to ward off evil. When shone with the Profound Yang Divine Light, it would not only affect inner demons but also cause almost any cultivator of demonic techniques to feel as if they were being consumed by intense flames, suffering unbearable pain. The higher the cultivation, the stronger the reaction to the mirror light. In the future, Chen Mobai planned to regularly convene meetings for the upper-level cultivators of the Five Elements Sect, then hang the Haotian Mirror above the doorframe, making everyone illuminate themselves with its light before entering, to ensure there were no malicious individuals among the higher ranks. However, since there was only one Haotian Mirror, cultivating Pure Serenity Bamboo still needed to be promoted. Conveniently, this spiritual plant, besides providing pure qi, was also beneficial for enhancing divine sense and could reach up to the sixth tier, allowing for widespread cultivation.

"The Lord of the Central Demonic Path's cultivation is profound; only he can sense and command me." Du Mengyun shook her head, not daring to try.

"If that's the case, then why were you able to sense him reviewing your memories earlier?" Chen Mobai asked.

"Because that's the only explanation," Du Mengyun said with certainty. She had cultivated the Avatar Demonic Art for hundreds of years and was very familiar with its characteristics. With her mere Nascent Soul realm cultivation, trying to probe the Central Demonic Lord was like a caterpillar trying to climb an elephant.

"In that case, could I propose a hypothesis?" Chen Mobai said, looking at Du Mengyun, his eyes slightly narrowed, his expression somewhat unusual.

"Old Ancestor, what hypothesis?" Du Mengyun immediately asked, while Honghe beside her listened intently.

"If the Avatar Demonic Art is so formidable, then theoretically, the Lord of the Central Demonic Path could not only review your memories but even directly manipulate your inner demons, enslaving and controlling you. So, is the one speaking with me now truly you?" Chen Mobai's words caused Du Mengyun to freeze on the spot.

Honghe, meanwhile, first frowned, then looked at Du Mengyun with a face full of terror.

"Although the Avatar Demonic Art allows for hierarchical control, my inner demon is my own. To completely enslave me, even the Lord of the Central Demonic Path would need to spend some time merging his inner demon with mine..." Du Mengyun began to offer excuses, trying to prove that she was still herself, not the Lord of the Central Demonic Path.

"Was the time from when you left Yaoguang Immortal City until I brought you back enough?" Chen Mobai continued to ask, his expression calm.

At this point, Du Mengyun finally stopped explaining. She narrowed her eyes, lifted her head with interest, and met Chen Mobai's gaze, asking, "When did you find out?"