22: Chapter 22: On the Eve of Departure

Eternal Night Palace, cultivation room.

Xiao Ran opened his eyes, and a fleeting, phantom black vortex flashed deep within his pupils.

He slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air; the breath did not dissipate but instead swirled in the air for several seconds before slowly vanishing, faintly carrying an aura of the silence of all things.

"Golden Core Early Stage Peak... finally stabilized."

Xiao Ran looked inward at his Dantian, where a pigeon-egg-sized demonic core, pitch-black throughout with twelve golden patterns flowing across its surface, was slowly rotating.

Each rotation exhaled and inhaled pure, vast demonic energy.

Compared to when he had just broken through, the golden patterns on the surface of the demonic core were now clearer and more solid, and the core itself had shrunk by a circle.

This meant that the demonic energy had been further compressed and purified, and his Foundation was built exceptionally solidly.

He raised his hand and clenched his five fingers into a void grip.

A grey-black vortex appeared out of thin air in his palm, and the light in the quiet room seemed to dim as if swallowed by the vortex.

In the center of the vortex, faint, dense black lightning leaped.

This was the first Divine Ability recorded in the "Guixu Demon Scripture · Golden Core Chapter".

Guixu Demonic Light.

"It can devour, it can decompose... it is worthy of being a remnant of an ancient Demonic Technique; although it is only the first level, its power far exceeds that of ordinary Golden Core Spells."

Xiao Ran dispersed the Guixu Demonic Light and pondered in his heart.

Over the past few days, apart from stabilizing his cultivation, he had spent most of his energy on comprehending this Divine Ability.

The Guixu Demonic Light seemed simple, but in reality, it had infinite variations; its core lay in the two words 'Guixu' (Return to Ruins).

It could simulate the Concept of all things returning to silence and returning to Chaos.

When cultivated to a profound level, a single beam of Guixu Demonic Light could forcefully blast an opponent's Magic Treasure, Spells, or even their Protective Aura into the most primitive Spiritual Qi.

It was extremely domineering.

Of course, he was still far from reaching that Realm.

At best, he could only devour some Spells of the same level or erode an opponent's protective spiritual light.

"Take it slow; one must eat a meal one bite at a time."

Xiao Ran stood up and stretched his muscles and bones.

His bones emitted crisp cracking sounds, the Qi and blood throughout his body surged like a river, and a faint dark golden luster flowed beneath his skin.

This was a manifestation of the Myriad Dao Guixu Body spontaneously tempering his Physical Body as his cultivation increased.

Even without using demonic energy, he could now go head-to-head with a Foundation Establishment Stage Body Cultivator based solely on his Physical Body strength.

"Xiao Ran, are you there?"

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang in his mind.

Xiao Ran curled his lips, sat back down, and sank his consciousness into the connection.

"What is it, Changsheng? Not cultivating at this hour, looking for me to chat?"

"Cultivate, my ass; I just got lectured by my Master."

Li Changsheng's voice carried obvious depression.

"He said I was too impatient in my Core Formation, my Foundation was a bit unstable, and he made me go into seclusion in the Dao Inquiry Tower for three months to polish my Golden Core... three months!"

"I just broke through to the Golden Core Stage and was just about to go out and show off, and maybe flirt with a few Fairies!"

Xiao Ran laughed.

"You're already thinking about flirting with Fairies?"

"Besides, who told you to be greedy for speed? You took pills to rush your Core Formation, didn't you?"

"What else? Do you think everyone is like you? The Myriad Dao Guixu Body is like a black hole; it can digest however many resources you feed it."

Li Changsheng muttered; he did not want to fall too far behind his brother.

Therefore, upon learning that Xiao Ran had successfully formed his Golden Core, he had also resolutely begun to impact the Golden Core Realm.

"But seriously, how are things on your end? Has your Golden Core stabilized?"

Li Changsheng asked.

"Of course it has stabilized; I am already at the Peak of the Golden Core Early Stage, and I have also mastered the first Divine Ability from the Guixu Demon Scripture rewarded by the System."

"Damn! So fast?"

"I have only just understood one-third of the Golden Core part of the Supreme Induction Scripture... comparisons between people are truly infuriating."

Li Changsheng exclaimed, feeling as if he had fallen behind again.

"Cut the act; is your Innate Dao Embryo Sacred Body just for show?"

"If we are really talking about Comprehension Ability, I am not as good as you."

Xiao Ran did not believe a word of it; Li Changsheng's Physique received treatment like a favored son when it came to comprehending the Dao.

How could it not be fast?

"By the way, did your Master reveal what the Dao Palace's attitude is regarding the Blood Fiend Sect matter?"

Xiao Ran asked; he wanted to hear his opponent's thoughts.

Mentioning serious business, Li Changsheng's voice became a bit more serious.

"My Master said that the Blood Fiend Sect was, after all, a vassal of the Demonic Path, and now that their Sect Master has failed to break through, it is only natural for the Eternal Night Demon Sect to take them over."

"The Dao Palace will not interfere in principle, as long as it does not disrupt the balance in the Northern Region."

He paused here and lowered his voice.

"However, I heard Senior Brother Ling Jianxin mention that the Law Enforcement Hall might send people to watch in secret to prevent the Eternal Night Demon Sect from taking the opportunity to expand too aggressively."

"But that has nothing to do with me; my Master explicitly told me to focus on my seclusion and not get involved in this messy business."

Xiao Ran nodded.

The Dao Palace's reaction was within his expectations.

After all, the righteous and Demonic Paths of the Northern Region maintained a delicate balance, and neither side wanted to break it.

"What about you? Has the departure date been set?"

Li Changsheng asked.

"It is set; it is next month. The leader is the Eighth Demon Son, Blood Child, and there are also two other Inner Sect Disciples."

"Blood Child? Is that the pervert who practiced the Bloodthirsty Demonic Technique and turned himself into a dwarf?"

"I heard that within the Dao Palace, he is described as maniacal and bloodthirsty, with his sanity coming and going, and his danger level is extremely high."

"You must be careful when acting with him."

Li Changsheng had clearly heard of this person and hurriedly urged him.

"Rest assured, I know what I am doing."

"White Bone Scholar recommended me to join; he definitely has ill intentions, but it does not matter. The Blood Fiend Sect is a piece of fat meat; it would be a waste not to eat it."

Xiao Ran said.

Being in the Demon Sect, one cannot always act according to one's own will; he could only take it one step at a time.

...

Several days later, the square in front of the Eternal Night Palace.

The sky was gloomy, lead-grey clouds hung low, and occasionally, scarlet lightning flashed deep within the clouds.

This was the phenomenon that occurred when the Eternal Night Demon Sect's mountain-protecting formation was in operation.

More than a dozen people had already gathered on the square, mostly Outer Sect Disciples responsible for transporting supplies and operating the flying boats.

There were only four core members.

Xiao Ran did not arrive early; he was wearing a simple black martial outfit, with the blood-colored jade pendant symbolizing the Ninth Demon Son hanging from his waist.

His entire aura was introverted, and he looked no different from an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator.

But when he approached, several deacons who were originally whispering in low voices fell silent in unison and lowered their heads with awe in their eyes.

Foundation Establishment in one month, Golden Core in three months, reaching the twenty-sixth floor of the Trial Tower, champion of the Inner Sect small competition...

These battle records had long since spread throughout the Eternal Night Demon Sect.

In the eyes of ordinary Disciples, the current Xiao Ran was a monster-level Genius in the true sense of the word.

Xiao Ran did not pay attention to those gazes; his gaze fell on the three people in the center of the square.

The person leading them was a dwarf, no more than four feet tall, shaped like a young child.

He was wearing a bright, blood-red robe; his skin was pale to the point of being almost transparent, yet his cheeks were flushed with a sickly red hue.

The most striking thing was his eyes; the pupils were pure scarlet with no whites, and when he looked at people, it was as if he were sizing up prey, making one's spine turn cold.

The Eighth Demon Son, Blood Child.