Chapter 17: My Heart and My Actions Are Clear as a Mirror; All That I Do Is My Original Intent

【The strange creature itself does not know where it came from.】

【In fact, demons like it have always been strange; they are without origin or root, as if they suddenly appeared in this human world.】

【And precisely because it cannot find the reason for its own birth in this human world, the thing the strange creature likes to do most is to use its demonic strangeness to scare people.】

【Those who have done shameful deeds will run away in a panic upon seeing it, and amidst their terror, the strange creature discovered that its Demon Power was growing bit by bit.】

【Just like that, it slowly grew and became a great demon with astonishing Demon Power.】

【And the strange creature also gradually discovered that the awe ordinary people held for it would nourish its Demon Power, and even more strangely, whenever it killed those who had committed many evils, its Demon Power would multiply.】

【"Interesting, interesting, this is truly interesting."】

【The strange creature carried out new developments of its demonic abilities; its sorcery became increasingly refined, and it was surprised to find that those ordinary human cultivators, including those so-called named demons, were no longer its match.】

【It also fell in love with the feeling of being high above, judging others.】

【Because at that moment, it could enjoy a kind of awe that commanded respect.】

【The strange creature firmly believes that as long as one is human, there must be flaws.】

【And with flaws, no one can escape the sorcery cast by the strange creature.】

【"A piece of osmanthus cake can save a paper person's life?"】

【The strange creature picked up the osmanthus cake and did not believe it.】

【The reason it was willing to help Guhuoniao is very simple; it is just that she came with goodwill, which made the strange creature feel that it had received the respect it most deserved.】

【Helping her was just a small effort.】

【The strange creature is confident—no, it firmly believes that in all of Yangzhou, there is no longer any cultivator, or even any member of the Demon Race, who can deal with it.】

【It was this box of osmanthus cake that saved that person's life.】

At this moment, Gu Jiangming briefly collected information through the situation on the screen.

This monk's background should not be small; hearing the tone of his speech, he does not sound like an ordinary person, and he has a great deal of confidence.

The rogue cultivator who spoke just now had said a few words of "neglect" before the monk arrived, but once the monk arrived, he dared not speak anymore.

It can also be seen that the monk's origins are not simple.

Of course, Celestial Master Mansion is also not simple; the monk does not give face to others, but he specifically gave face to Celestial Master Mansion.

This is enough to prove that Celestial Master Mansion is still a faction with significant influence.

And after a day of rest.

Monk Fahua took charge of the situation, placing the heavy responsibility of slaying demons and eliminating evil upon his own shoulders, and began to formulate a meticulous strategy to kill the strange creature, who was committing evil in Yangzhou.

After the preparations were nearly complete.

Zhang Tianze used the Demon-Pointing Needle again, placing that unique demonic aura of the strange creature from before onto the upper end of the Demon-Pointing Needle, and immediately found the strange creature's exact location.

【Following the Compass of the Demon-Pointing Needle, you headed to the Lin Family Courtyard in Yangzhou.】

【The strange creature was not wary of your arrival; it didn't even have the thought of fleeing, just letting your group walk into the Lin Family Courtyard.】

【The entire courtyard exuded a gloomy and heavy atmosphere.】

【There were a few paper people sweeping the fallen leaves in the courtyard; Monk Fahua naturally did not accommodate these paper people, striking out with several Golden Seals and smashing these paper people into fragments.】

【But the next second, the rogue cultivator Qiu Jue, who had just joined the team, suddenly looked ferocious as if he had gone mad, and stabbed at Monk Fahua with a sword.】

【Fahua stood still, and a protective shield like a Vajra repelled Qiu Jue.】

【You were affected by Jiazhi's Demon Power, and your hostility toward Monk Fahua deepened, but relying on your own willpower, you controlled the desire to attack Monk Fahua.】

【"Not good, this evil obstacle is using Demon Power to make us fall into chaos." Monk Fahua's monk's robe tore instantly, revealing his full-bodied muscles and bones.】

【Mu Qing's vision went black, and she spat out a mouthful of black blood.】

【Even Zhang Tianze's figure swayed as if his consciousness were blurred; Monk Fahua decisively sat on the ground and began to chant Buddhist scriptures.】

【In an instant, the entire team appeared to be falling apart.】

【"Hahahaha—you few with half-baked cultivation want to get rid of me, the paper person?"】

【"I thought you had some profound skills."】

【The courtyard gate was pushed open from the inside, and it was empty; a second later, a paper person appeared out of thin air on the spot.】

【"Oh, there is an unexpected surprise." The paper person looked at you with some surprise, but it did not take you seriously, only thinking that you were just holding on.】

【"A few days ago, my avatar almost took your lives, yet you still dare to come and find me; you truly do not know how to cherish your lives."】

【Monk Fahua's breath was unstable, and he coughed as he said: "What kind of cultivation does this paper person have, how is its Demon Power so profound."】

【He had faced several great demons before, but had never been so disheveled; just from one encounter, he felt countless cracks appearing in his heart.】

【Especially deep within his heart, a trace of obsession bordering on madness, and even evil thoughts, had arisen.】

【He now wanted more than anything to return to Jingtu Temple and replace his senior brother as the new abbot.】

【But fortunately, he had Merit to protect him, which allowed Monk Fahua to retain a shred of dignity.】

【And Zhang Tianze was no better off; a pool of black blood also seeped from the corner of his mouth.】

【On the field, only Gu Jiangming stood tall.】

【It was as if Jiazhi's Demon Power could not affect him in the slightest.】

【Seeing this scene, Monk Fahua could not help but say coldly: "But you seem unable to do anything to him."】

【"Who says so!" The paper person instantly became angry, and the Demon Power soaring from its body rushed toward Gu Jiangming.】

【Gu Jiangming looked at the paper person's shocked and angry expression, simply picked up his Wine Gourd and took a calm sip, and immediately a golden light seemed to cling to his body, reflecting this demonic aura back.】

【You have lived your life with a focused heart, which means you do not have many distracting thoughts.】

【Since childhood, you followed your father to learn swordsmanship, and after you grew up, your father went missing, so you began to search for your father's traces; you have a more resilient character than ordinary people.】

【And in Guanzhong, you and Yin Jiujiu forged an unbreakable bond; by chance, you took the initiative to propose marriage to her. You were unaware of her true identity, but setting aside identity, whether you knew or not, you were extremely sincere toward this relationship.】

【Facing the goodwill Wang Qinghe showed you, you chose your original heart, never wavering, which strengthened your will.】

【You founded Shushan, and your idea of saving the world and bringing peace to the people never changed. When Yin Jiujiu persuaded you to retire to the mountains to avoid calamity, you believed that a true cultivator, even if they know the path ahead is a path of no return like a moth to a flame, should not forget the meaning of their cultivation; every choice you have made has never betrayed your original heart.】

【Among over thirty options, every choice you made in each round was a decision carried out according to the same stance; this proves your choices are pure and your Dao heart is steadfast.】

【My heart and my actions are clear as a bright mirror; everything I have done is of my own intent.】

【Therefore, upon judgment, the demon art of Jia Zhi cannot produce any effect on you.】

【Congratulations, you have temporarily unlocked a new Reincarnation word in this Reincarnation—Pure Heart. (Golden Word)】

A word with golden patterns all over its body appeared before Gu Jiangming's eyes.

【Pure Heart: You ignore any negative effects on your emotions, your Will increases by 20 points, you deal double damage to those whose stance is not firm, and your focus on cultivation is increased.】

【Please believe that every choice you have made is correct, and walk forward unswervingly.】

【The Merit you accumulated has been completely exhausted.】

And on the screen.

Jia Zhi's Demon Power was like it had touched an indestructible barrier, unable to advance or retreat.

【At this moment, Jia Zhi finally realized: its most proficient, most formidable divine ability, when facing the man before it, had completely failed.】

【His Will, his Dao heart, and his thinking seem unable to be shaken by anything in the outside world.】

(End of this chapter)