Old Gong's expression truly startled me.
He then widened his eyes even further, uneasily saying, "Things aren't looking good... Lord, do you really think that young miss has the heart and ability to make it up the Night-glowing Cave? If she can't make it, it would be a disaster."
I pressed my hands hard against my forehead, waves of irritation swelling continuously.
According to the analysis obtained from Old Qin's case, prematurely releasing the poisons would make the coming soul poison and the true outbreak of the three demons even more fierce and leave us with no defense.
By observing him on the stage, one can see that lacking heart and forcefully improving one's strength will result in the same outcome, namely, the flow of body poisons.
This brings about a new definition: no matter what level of strength one has, it cannot be forcefully promoted. Only with the ability to control can it be acquired.
Looking at the previous Second Elder, he indeed reached the level of a true person with the help of another pill given to him by Taiyiling Pills and WuLing Pill. However, the illusory three demons caused by heart demon continuously flowed. That is only a surface phenomenon, and the actual three demons have not yet appeared in corporeal form.
He has poor temperament and insufficient strength.
What about Si Yan?
If her temperament cannot be improved, she will not be able to resist the three-demon soul poisons and will become like Old Qin Head...
The Night-glowing Cave is not a magical elixir that will allow her to rise overnight, but it will become a deadly poison!
"It's too late." My expression added a touch of desolation.
"Oh..." Lao Gong also had a gloomy expression, "The Snowy Ice Lady is bound to be blessed. Even if the master died, she's already pitiful enough."
I remained silent and did not speak again.
My gaze was entirely fixed on the body of Lao Qin, especially on his eyes and eyebrows. After a long while, I finally sealed the coffin lid.
The corpse will not produce any new corpse insects. All the actual three demons are in my hands. Lao Qin's body is just a dry and clean transmutation corpse, without a soul, only a skeleton.
Perhaps so, there is still a soul in his body, that is called the true self, but that part of existence is completely silent, under the suppression of heart demons, it can not wake up.
Turning around, I opened the door of the stone room.
I could see Qiyao Ziyao standing on the staircase, continuously emitting a faint blue mist, making her look extremely pitiful.
After eye contact, a joyful expression appeared on Qiyao Ziyao's miserable face. Then, she disappeared from sight.
"Hard to resolve is the debt of affection, Old Qin Head created a problem and he's fine, saying he would lie down and spend the rest of his life that way. This Qí family maiden, as soon as she's with you and doesn't make a sound, you should think more about what to do. Anyway, even if I were to intervene, there's nothing I can do about it." Lao Gong kept muttering.
I furrowed my brow and didn't respond.
I walked up a few steps, stopped in front of what should be the tomb chamber where Lei Ping Dao Ren's coffin and bones were kept. I bowed deeply to the door.
"Ancestor, if you were here, you should also have seen and heard that the Tian Gong Spring is indeed not to be used excessively."
Raising my head again, I didn't notice any unusual changes in the tomb chamber. I didn't detect the presence of Lei Ping Dao Ren.
I stayed for about a minute or two and then continued climbing the stairs.
This walk took a considerable amount of time.
When I finally returned to the entrance of this passage, the sky was already midday and bright.
Sunlight shone into the room through the windows, slightly blinding.
After pushing the door open and stepping out of the room, the light was even stronger, causing pain in my eyes. When I closed them, a series of light spots floated in my eyes, blue, white, and red...
They moved and wriggled like insects...
I suddenly opened my eyes, looked down and panted heavily.
Frightened, I fumbled for my phone, dialed He You Tian's number, and when he answered, I asked in a hoarse voice, "Big brother, has Si Yan come out of seclusion?"
"What's wrong? Look nervous and disordered. Si Yan hasn't come out of seclusion yet, but the aura of the Six Palaces has become deeper, and the auspicious signs are even heavier." He You Tian's tone was slightly solemn.
Yet, I still found it hard to calm down and stay composed. I tried to organize my thoughts as best as I could and explained everything to He You Tian.
On the other end of the phone, there was a moment of silence.
After about 10 breaths, He You Tian finally sighed softly and said, "As expected, I have always felt that the effect of Tian Gong Spring is really that great? Then this world, wouldn't it be already filled with true men and gods who have transcended into the realm of Yin? This is the real solution, more like an exercise on the desires. If you can't control it, then on the day when three demons poison is released, it will be even stronger. If you can control it, at least tomorrow will have some skills to deal with."
"This tests one's temperament even more, to risk everything for that state of solitude where no one exists."
He You Tian was lamenting, but I was anxious and whispered, "Big brother... If Si Yan fails, she will definitely separate her three souls and manifest the three demons into physical form. You need to dispatch ordinary disciples to guard the area around her. Senior elders and you can't go either. The external demons will probably also provoke the original ones. I may harm Si Yan. You can't get into any more trouble."
"I will naturally be fine," He You Tian replied.
After a brief pause, he continued to say, "In fact, the dangers of the night-glowing cave are somewhat known to me. Ancient books record that Lu Pi Gong swallowed jade essence and let out worms; Wang Xicheng gargled dragon fetus and died by decree; he drank jade spirit and knocked on the coffin; Qiu Jiizi swallowed gold liquid and its smell permeated hundreds of miles. Jiuzhuang took frost scattering pills to ascend quietly, but his head and feet were separated. Hei Di swallowed red dragon pills and drowned in water; Ning Sheng took stone brain pills and plunged into fire; Bi Cheng inhaled qi but his intestines, stomachs, and livers all rotted."
"These events are all the costs paid by past elders in order to enhance their realm and power."
"I only think that Tian Gong Spring itself might have issues, but they're not clear yet. Night-glowing Cave Nose can improve one's external strength, after all, it is part of the Five Chih Pills from Juqu Mountain, so it should also have some nourishing effect on the soul."
"It's better to choose a elder with a chaotic heart than to choose Si Yan, who is naturally simple and sincere. At least, she has a higher chance of success. The four-regulate mountain indeed needs one more try."
He You Tian's words left me silent.
"It's both a stroke of fate and a disaster. If Si Yan can pass it, she will undergo a rebirth and transformation. If she can't, then it will be the master's lack of discernment, your younger brother's self-blame, and the master's regret for the rest of his life. If she succeeds, then it will be your repayment to the seventh sister and also an opportunity for four-regulate mountain." He You Tian added one more sentence.
I remained silent for a long time.
I didn't know when He You Tian hung up the phone.
I didn't know when Shen Xiaodao stood in front of me. He had his hands clasped behind his back, still somewhat awkward. The sunlight shone on his head, and he could faintly see some markings from vows, but also some short white hair growing.
"The three demons are indeed so terrifying. Thankfully, I... ahem, the Taoist here did not partake in those things." There was a trace of fear in the eyes of Shen Xiaodao.
I couldn't force a smile, my face turned sour.
"Why do you have to blame yourself, Zhi Shen Xiao You? I overheard before, many things are beyond your control."
"You've been too tired."
"You, need to rest well."
The emotion in Shen Xiaodao's eyes turned into concern and comfort.
"I'm not tired..." I shook my head, speaking in a low and hoarse voice, "There are still many things for me to do, I..."
I could hear a faint snapping sound in my ears, and I saw that Shen Xiaodao had a string of Buddhist beads in his left hand, which he had been holding for some time. His other hand was held in front of him, and he muttered to himself, the tone was very long, like chanting.
No, that's chanting.
A sense of fatigue washed over me, and the Buddhist music kept echoing around, making me feel drowsy.
"I have broken the convention and will serve as an old monk again. Amitabha Buddha, Mr. Zhi Shen, you should rest now."
Shen Xiaodao raised his hand, flicked the beads, and sent them towards my head.
