125: Chapter 125 Why Become a Demon

On a certain mountain peak outside the bamboo forest, lingering music echoed like threads of silk winding around the mountains, as intricate Formation patterns connected into a single expanse, radiating a brilliant light.

Qin Jiangmei sat upright on the cliff, her elegant figure bathed in starlight as her slender white fingers lightly brushed the zither strings. Every pluck rippled out golden undulations.

Wherever the ripples passed, they condensed into brand new Formation patterns, quietly merging into the Formation.

The seven Su Family Sword Cultivators within the Formation felt as if they were divinely aided; their Sword Qi crisscrossed, kicking up a sky full of blood mist.

Massive Yao Beast corpses fell one after another, and Cultivators from unknown factions were instantly killed, submerged under countless streaks of Sword Qi!

An Ziyao was covered in crimson flames, his greatsword burning with a raging fire as he suddenly cleaved downward.

The Cultivators and Yao Beasts facing him froze in place like puppets, all perishing within the blade light and scorching crimson flames. Accompanied by a thunderous roar, a lava trench dozens of meters long was carved out!

"Madam's Melody Formation is truly terrifying. Not only does it provide us with the Formation's aid, but it also makes the opponents act like headless flies, completely unable to see our attacks."

A Su Family Sword Cultivator exclaimed excitedly.

They had never experienced such a satisfying battle.

Once the melody sounded, the enemies instantly became dazed, either shouting in panic or standing still waiting for death...

Even though a few Cultivators resisted the influence of the Melody Dao Technique, they still had to fight at a disadvantage under the coverage of the Formation formed instantly by the melody.

The Su Family Sword Cultivators were already fierce in combat, and with the Formation's empowerment, their offensive became even more sharp; even a Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator would find it hard to withstand their combined assault.

"This is the Illusory Sound Sect Legacy; one must be proficient in both melody and Formations to perform it."

The flames on An Ziyao's body receded, and he grinned. "As long as we protect Madam, with this Dao technique's help, we need not fear anyone within the Secret Realm."

Everyone nodded in deep agreement upon hearing this.

The control effects of the Melody Dao Technique were impossible to guard against; even if someone blocked the melody, they couldn't block the instantly formed Formation.

Without Madam's Dao technique, they definitely wouldn't be as at ease as they were now.

"Madam, on the other side of the mountain is a vast bamboo forest. All those Yao Beasts have bypassed that area."

A Su Family Sword Cultivator approached and reported to Qin Jiangmei.

Qin Jiangmei pondered for a moment and said calmly, "Only by killing Yao Beasts and gathering spirit plants can we obtain points and star energy. Our primary goal is points and acquiring star energy to increase our cultivation."

"The Yao Beasts all avoiding the bamboo forest indicates there is something strange inside. Therefore, we should also bypass it and try to secure all the Yao Beasts and spirit plants on the periphery rather than venturing deep into an unknown dangerous place."

An Ziyao walked over slowly and asked in a low voice, "Madam, what if the Family Head and the others entered the bamboo forest?"

Qin Jiangmei shook her head slightly. "No need to worry. Their strength is far above ours. If the bamboo forest is truly dangerous, our entry would only make us a burden instead."

Though most of the Su Family's manpower was here, in reality, they were not the main combat force.

Su Xuanheng and Wei Yan alone could crush the seven Su Family Sword Cultivators combined.

Hearing this, the group had no further objections. They quickly cleaned up the battlefield and followed her lead to bypass that bamboo forest.

...

Meanwhile, a handsome young man was strolling through the bamboo forest as if he were sightseeing, showing no tension regarding his surroundings.

It wasn't until he encountered three identical, empty thatched huts in a row that he finally stopped and looked up at the river of stars.

"The scenes repeat, and the environmental details are exactly the same, yet it's not the same place. It's like copy-pasting."

Su Yang narrowed his eyes and murmured in analysis, "No hidden Formation traces found, but the star energy around here is denser than outside..."

"What is the purpose of such a peculiar design? Could there be a treasure hidden within?"

This Secret Realm was left by the Late Emperor of Great Wei; it wasn't strange for treasures to be hidden here.

Many ancestral experts had such quirks, simply to test whether their descendants were qualified to inherit their treasures or Dao techniques.

Su Yang found a chair in front of a thatched hut and sat down.

Since he couldn't find a direction, he might as well stay put and observe carefully. Looking at the river of stars hanging in the sky, he suddenly had a realization.

The arrangement of the stars seemed to be shifting constantly, though the speed of movement was imperceptible.

He immediately stood up and followed the direction of the stars' shift into the bamboo forest. It was still an endless scene of bamboo and repeating thatched huts.

However, the star energy permeating the air was faintly increasing.

Su Yang realized his judgment was correct; by following the direction of the stars' shift, he could reach the core area of the bamboo forest.

Skeletons littered the path. The thatched huts he passed were either crushed to dust by Dao techniques or incinerated to ashes by fierce flames...

It was evident that quite a few Cultivators had entered the bamboo forest, and the fighting among them was exceptionally brutal.

As he continued deeper, the roar of a battle came from ahead.

Su Yang lightly pressed his palm against his sword hilt and calmly stepped into this open area.

He saw a familiar figure with surging Devilish Qi and blood-red eyes, suppressing a white-haired old man and forcing him into a steady retreat.

"You old thing, you really are tenacious. As expected of the Lingxi Sect Old Ancestor, your flesh and blood are even richer than a youngster's!"

Shi Xu's face was distorted, and his laughter was eerie, as if he had fallen into madness. His entire spirit had completely merged with his image as a Devil Head.

The reason a Demonic Technique was called such was not only because the cultivation method was inhumane, but also because the technique would influence one's personality.

The stronger the Demonic Technique, the deeper the influence.

Shi Xu was surrounded by a black mist capable of devouring flesh. Every attack forced the Lingxi Sect elder to either evade or defend.

"This is Head of the Shi Family? And... people from the Lingxi Sect?"

Su Yang's brows rose as he recognized their identities. His Divine Sense swept out, and he quickly made a preliminary judgment of the situation.

"Fellow Daoist, run!"

The Lingxi Sect elder noticed someone else entering and subconsciously shouted a warning.

Shi Xu blasted a Spell onto the elder, sending the latter flying back while spitting blood like a kite with a broken string.

"A few rats just escaped; I'll use you to replenish myself instead."

Shi Xu looked toward Su Yang with a cruel grin. He felt the person before him was somewhat familiar but didn't think much of it.

With a wave of his hand, black mist swirled as he lunged toward Su Yang.

"Fellow Daoist, be careful!"

The elder shouted urgently, while simultaneously flicking a Talisman from his fingertips.

His figure suddenly accelerated, flashing in front of Su Yang while sacrificing a defensive Magical Artifact to block the attack.

Boom!

The black mist exploded, blowing a gust of foul-smelling wind.

Su Yang's robes fluttered in the strong wind. His expression was calm, and the look in his eyes toward the elder changed from initial wariness to gradual surprise.

He hadn't expected the elder wasn't acting, but was sincerely trying to help him.

Having been in the Cultivation World for many years, Su Yang's stereotypes of Sect Cultivators were deeply rooted. He never believed that a Cultivator encountered by chance on the road would happen to be one of those few virtuous souls, so he had remained cautious toward the elder.

However, the elder's repeated timely warnings and self-sacrificing aid finally proved that he had indeed misjudged the man this time.

"Senior, go rest to the side. Leave this Devil Head to me."

Su Yang pressed his hand on the elder's shoulder, taking the opportunity to check the extent of his injuries.

The Lingxi Sect elder was slightly stunned, then said angrily, "You junior, leave quickly! This devil's Cultivation Technique is bizarre; any flesh touched by it will turn into withered bone..."

"Rest assured, he and I are old acquaintances."

Su Yang grinned and looked up at Shi Xu, slowly drawing the longsword at his waist.

A streak of extremely condensed Sword Qi suddenly erupted, expanding into an invisible, sharp field centered on him, tinting the very space with a keen edge!

Shi Xu's figure paused, sensing that the newcomer was extraordinary.

His brow furrowed slightly, and then his gaze suddenly froze.

"It's you!"

He finally knew why the other person looked familiar. It turned out they had met once in Lanshui County years ago. At that time, Su Yang and Qin Jiangmei's act of easily wiping out two families had made him wary.

He had thought the other had died in Great Qi's artillery fire, never expecting they would meet in the Secret Realm after so many years.

"So what if you've come?" Shi Xu's cruel grin faded slightly, replaced by a cold smile. "Did you really think I withdrew back then because I was afraid of you?"

"The truth doesn't matter; the result won't change anyway."

A smile bloomed on Su Yang's face, as a cold, chilling light flashed from his sword's edge. "You and I had no grudge, yet alas, you became a demon!"