Chapter 1278: Lingering Fear

The true words of Ku Jue, uttered before the Tian Ma Plateau,naturally resounded beyond this place alone.

"That fellow Ku Jue, playing such a grand game?" a rough voice echoed from within the void."Truly, I cannot fathom it. He and that Jiang Wang,was it not said to be a one-sided fervor, like a bald monk's load?Do they possess such deep sentiment?"

Another female voice, however, laughed, "His nature has always been topsy-turvy.In those days, because of Ku Xing's demise, he nearly turned fellow disciples into foes.After so many years, he remains unchanged, still acting on impulse."

The rough voice seemed intrigued. "I am unaware of this matter of Ku Xing.Pray, elaborate in detail?"

"Should you wish to know the particulars of such matters,turn back and inquire of Fu Dongxu in private." The female voice,laced with laughter, paused, then turned to ask,"Fu Dongxu, is it not time for you to resolve him?"

"How am I to resolve him?" Fu Dongxu's voice countered.

"That is your concern," the female voice held a clear tone of amusement, as if watching a play.

"For me to slay him alone is no easy feat," Fu Dongxu's voice replied."Would you condescend to accompany me?"

"I have no leisure," the female voice stated."Why not inquire of Xian Nankui? Is he not greatly displeasedby Ku Jue's pursuit and apprehension of my Jing Kingdom's prodigies?"

"General Xian will have even less leisure. He is currently..." Fu Dongxu's voice gave a slight laugh."Let it be so. If this old monk wishes to display his deep master-disciple affection, let him.After all, I now wield the Mirror of the World. Could I truly slay him for such a trifle?"

"Fu Dongxu does not go because the time is not yet ripe.Ku Jue claims to have departed from the Hanging Temple now,but those monks in the Hanging Temple clearly still harbor old sentiments towards him.The importance of the Hanging Temple in the Eastern Domain need not be reiterated.To slay Ku Jue at this moment is indeed not a wise move." The first, rough voice said,"Let us observe further. See if Ku Jue knows moderation."

"Suit yourselves. In any case, it is not I who will face reproach," this female voice stated."Speaking of which, where has Zhao Xuanyang fled to?Previously, I did not discern that this lad possessed such talent in this regard.To be sought high and low by that old monk Ku Jue, yet remain unfound,appears truly pitiable."

"If it were within your contemplation, then Ku Jue should also be capable of such thought,"there was a hint of satisfaction in Fu Dongxu's voice."In any case, his current situation should be quite favorable.The intelligence I left in the乾天 Mirror was read not long ago."

The rough voice gave a chuckle, "Truly a person of great deeds,contacting no one!"

"I see why you are not in a hurry to act against that monk! So that is the reason!"the female voice enlightenedly exclaimed.

Fu Dongxu laughed and asked, "What have you discovered now?"

"You have already issued an order to silence Zhao Xuanyang by leaving messagesin the 乾天 Mirror, is that not so?" the female voice said."Such a method of resolution is, after all, not entirely honorable.Allowing Ku Jue to continue the pursuit, firstly, can delay the timefor this information to be exposed, seeking more reliable evidence from Zhuang Gaoxian.Secondly, in a situation of utmost necessity,one can use the excuse of being pressed hard by Ku Jue!"

Fu Dongxu smiled, "Truly, nothing can be concealed from you."

"Cease these words of flattery to beguile me!" the female voice retorted."Between myself and Qiu Tie, who speaks the truth within your mirror?"

Fu Dongxu replied, "What you say is correct, and what Qiu Tie says is also correct.But the crux of the matter lies in... since Ku Jue has departed from the Hanging Temple,I can act against him at any time. There is no need for haste at this moment."

He must have... been saved.

Though still in an extremely weakened state, he could at last feel the existence of his internal organs once more.A certain unknown medicinal power, slowly flowing and dispersing within his body,nurturing his vitality.Death had been so close, yet with a turn at the door, it had thus departed.

Jiang Wang kept his eyes closed, unmoving.He still felt lingering fear.Those "dreams" he had experienced at the time were truly too real.While within them, it was impossible to distinguish between truth and falsehood.

That black-clothed demon race who had clashed with Song Wanxi in the Ten Thousand Realm Desolation Tomb,one would assume, even within the Ten Thousand Realm Desolation Tomb,was by no means an ordinary individual. Was it a True Demon,or even... a Celestial Demon?

Whether it be those "dreams," or the descent of the "Sevenfold Hatred Demonic Art,"or that Demonic character, all were maneuvers beyond Jiang Wang's ability to fathom.Was it when summoning the Blood Puppet True Demon that a trace was detected?And thereafter, by following the vine, this ancient demonic lair in the present world was found?

Although he did not know why the opponent did not descend with their true body,whether due to some restriction, or if there was still some difference between a true demonand Song Wanxi, this Blood Puppet True Demon... but in the future,he truly could not easily summon Song Wanxi again.

However, the sensation of the Divine Seal Method at the moment of the Five Palaces Shining Together,perhaps that was a path to communicate with Song Wanxi.Perhaps, after confirming that he was not being tracked, he could attempt the summoning again.

Nevertheless... this was not something that could be achieved in a short period.At least with his current cultivation, he was far from capable.

He seemed to smell a faint, ethereal fragrance. Jiang Wang did not move a single jot,maintaining his previous breathing rhythm, and continued to ponder.

That "Sevenfold Hatred Demonic Art" itself, of course, should be a peerless cultivation method,but he truly did not wish to glance at it. He had personally experienced the Qi Yang battlefield...What kind of figure was Yang Jiande, the ruler of the Yang Kingdom?He shared a mutual appreciation with Chong Xuan Chu Liang,and by the side of the dominant Qi Kingdom, as the lord of the Yang Kingdom,he struggled for every possibility. In the end, when there was no other path,he cultivated that "Emotion Extinguishing Lust Severing Blood Demonic Art,"vainly attempting to break the situation by force. What was the outcome?

It was still defeat in battle, death, and the ruin of his kingdom. He failed to change anything.

Jiang Wang naturally yearned for powerful strength, but what he desired was strengthcultivated painstakingly, bit by bit, truly belonging to himself.He wished to grasp it steadily, advancing step by step,rather than becoming a puppet for some existence, growing by selling off his true self.

If I am no longer myself, even if all my former ideals are achieved,for whom are those ideals then achieved?

At this time, the demonic voice was no longer heard, and no demonic qi was detected.That terrifying existence had vanished without a trace.But Jiang Wang's lingering fear was indeed not extinguished.Striking from the Ten Thousand Realm Desolation Tomb at an immeasurable distance,controlling such sparse demonic qi to condense into a black demonic spear,a single thrust had nearly killed him!If not for the Five Palaces shining together, if not for the existence of the Cloud Peak Immortal Palacewithin the Five Palaces Sea, would he have a life now?Furthermore, even with these, if not for the protection of a Buddhist chant left by Master Guan Yan,his soul would likely have been destroyed.

Truly, it was a terrifying existence!To be targeted and tempted into demonic depravity by such a terrifying demonic race expert,he did not know whether to call it fortunate or unfortunate!

Jiang Wang seriously contemplated his own condition.He had not yet inscribed instant spell techniques in the Fourth Inner Palacebefore knocking open the Fifth Palace. Fortunately, the expansion of the Fourth Palace itselfwas already complete. Not having inscribed spell techniques was merely becauseno suitable ones had been found, and he refused to settle.It was still not too late to inscribe them later.

As for the newly plucked Scarlet Heart divine ability, its outward manifestationcontained the principle of imperishability. Its core expression wasbeing unaffected by external wills.This reminded him of Lin Xian at the Yellow River Assembly.If Lin Xian's Unfettered divine ability was the physical body being free from obstruction and restraint,then his Scarlet Heart divine ability was this heart being untainted by anyone,by any force. In a sense, it could be the "unfettered" of the soul layer.

Of course, even with the same divine ability, in the hands of different cultivators,completely different effects could be developed.A divine ability seed is not complete upon being plucked. It requires development,it requires exploration.Jiang Wang was very certain that the "Scarlet Heart" divine ability held more possibilities,awaiting his discovery.

He then thought, he wondered if Zhao Xuanyang's death had been discovered?Previously, he believed that waiting in that ancient demonic lair was the safest optionrelative to the outside situation.In reality, it was merely a gamble, and not entirely certain.Because leaving the demonic lair without authorization and exposing his whereaboutswould truly lead to too terrible a situation, he had to gamble out of necessity.Of course, the danger of the ancient demonic lair itself was something he had far underestimated.

Jiang Wang continued to think in this scattered, non-stop manner, until...

"Still pretending to be asleep?" a languid female voice, like a nimble snake,drilled into his ears.