Chapter 596

With the fall of the Naked Body Sect, millions of player disciples switched to the Outer Demons' faction, and the Heavenly Tribulation of the Supreme Devil finally came to an end!

Brother Qian Chen dissolved his demonic avatar and sealed the demonic nature of the Supreme Devil into the Dao Dust Pearl.

Of the Three Great Devil Generals, only General General Xuehe was deliberately refined by Brother Qian Chen.

Destruction was born from the Supreme Devil's primordial demonic nature, stirred into self-annihilation by the Celestial Stars' Secret Demon Spindle, emerging from the primordial chaos of heaven collapsing and earth overturning, making it half a demonic avatar.

Yōumíng was also forged through the joint efforts of Brother Qian Chen and the Supreme Devil: the Supreme Devil laid the Wangchuan Great Array, and Brother Qian Chen secretly gave it a final push.

Even though Brother Qian Chen had exerted great restraint, the latent great annihilation and great destruction within the Dao Dust Pearl's demonic nature still caused catastrophic ripples, leaving countless living beings dead.

Had this world not possessed a peculiar essence, Brother Qian Chen vaguely sensed that its living beings were closely tied to the origin of Western Kunlun—if they died, they would not truly perish!

Had it not been so, such a catastrophe in the Earth Immortal Realm would have plunged Brother Qian Chen into endless sin, leaving him no path back!

Precisely because he sensed Western Kunlun's uniqueness, Brother Qian Chen had decided to test the demonic nature within the Dao Dust Pearl. Otherwise, with the demonic nature so deeply hidden, how could he dare challenge the Nascent Soul?

Now, while the demonic nature had yet to awaken self-awareness, he had split it into three primordial sources: Blood Sea, Destruction, and Yōumíng—allowing Brother Qian Chen to glean insights into how to customize the demonic nature within the Dao Dust Pearl for his future Nascent Soul breakthrough!

"The demonic nature within the Dao Dust Pearl, though born from Supreme Dao's reversal, was sealed within the Dao Dust Pearl the moment it arose, and thus never fully matured."

"My probing has divided it into these many demonic paths: General General Xuehe stems from the demonic path of the Blood Sea Demon Xie Xie Zushi; Yōumíng stems from the demonic path of the Yōumíng Demon Xie Xie Zushi; Destruction represents the path of universal extinction, opposing the continuity of Heaven's Dao and Primordial Taiji… but I sense another demonic path still hidden within—the one I must sever!"

"Supreme Devil Dao is the reverse of Supreme Dao's union; Primordial Devil Dao is the path of some ancient Demon Xie Xie Zushi predating Yōumíng and Blood Sea; Void Devil Dao is the future demonic path beyond Destruction…"

"Among these paths, Supreme Devil Dao is the root, but without the Supreme Dao Xie Xie Zushi appearing, I cannot sever it. The remaining two—Void Devil Dao and Primordial Devil Dao—one lies far beyond Destruction, at the end of Heaven's Dao; the other belongs to the ancient past of devilry, though I do not know if it was split into Blood Sea and Yōumíng."

"By observing which demonic avatar emerges next, I may unravel this ancient mystery hidden within devilry!"

"The whereabouts of the Primordial Demon Xie Xie Zushi…"

The deeper Brother Qian Chen studied devilry, the more he sensed the mystery of the Primordial Demon Xie Xie Zushi, whom the Demon Sects had desperately downplayed—his Supreme Devil body was the Primordial Devil Body, synthesizing all divine and demonic forces of devilry.

The Primordial Demon Xie Xie Zushi founded the divine-demonic path of devilry; legend says his body perished and transformed into boundless divine demons and Yōumíng's myriad beings, evoking the feeling of Lord Pangu opening heaven and earth.

This world had no Lord Pangu myth, yet the oldest devilry scriptures contained fragments about the Primordial Demon Xie Xie Zushi resembling Lord Pangu.

But this history was so ancient that even Brother Qian Chen, as the origin of devilry after his union with Supreme Dao, did not fully know it—he understood ancient devil tongues, and the fragmented whispers echoing in Yōumíng, incomprehensible to other demons, were crystal clear to him.

Yet even though he eavesdropped on Yōumíng daily, he still could not discern what had transpired in the demonic era before the Yōumíng and Blood Sea Demon Ancestors.

Brother Qian Chen gazed at his nearly fully condensed devilry panel—

【Supreme Devil·Brother Qian Chen】

【Level: 490】

【Realm: Supreme Demon Xie Xie Zushi】

【Merit and Karma: Infinite】

【Techniques: Dao Reversal, Supreme Devil Dao, Yōumíng Devil Dao, Blood Sea Devil Dao, Primordial Devil Dao, Destruction Devil Dao, Void Devil Dao…】

【Spiritual Powers: Inconceivable…】

【Magic Treasures: Will-Formed Creation, Yōumíng, Supreme Dao Dust Pearl (Demonic)…】

【Avatars: General General Xuehe, Destruction, Yōumíng…】

（Role Deviation Value: 98 (Red), Deviation Direction: Devil）

"Deviation value still lacks two percent…" Brother Qian Chen sighed faintly; his shadow slightly lifted its head, the blood mark on its brow writhing like a living thing.

His figure passed through the seals, reaching beyond the cave.

There, Ten Years Old, riding a green ox, trembled violently, his heart uneasy: "Master Yùchén is growing stranger—yesterday, during the Great Calamity of Little Southern Pole, the aura emanating from his seclusion chamber was like annihilation, nearly obliterating the entire cave! Just now, when the Naked Body Sect fell, I heard wailing cries of ten thousand ghosts from his chamber; many yin spirits rushed in, and those not erased by the seals all fled toward him!"

The most terrifying part—when Ten Years Old had briefly glimpsed Master Yùchén upon his emergence from seclusion.

He saw only Master Yùchén shrouded in faint black mist, his entire body devoid of color, like a shadow.

Yet his shadow bore a crimson line on its brow, its hair white—more like the original Master Yùchén…

In these past hours, the faint black mist had nearly dissipated; the shadow-like figure had grown increasingly vivid, lifelike, as if it had stepped out from the shadow itself.

Ten Years Old had a bold guess—"Master Yùchén has likely been possessed by a devil…"

He glanced at his quest and saw it was nearly complete, confirming his suspicion.

But how to proceed with the main quest next, he had no clue whatsoever—whether devil or Master Yùchén, he was but an ant before them; one flick of their hand and he'd be dead!

Ten Years Old gritted his teeth and logged onto the forum, sending a private message…

"Should I strike the Dianxi Devil Sect next, or trouble the Asura Sect?"

Brother Qian Chen weighed his options—the seven days were almost up, and that Tūntān seemed frightened by him, unlikely to wait any longer!

Before the righteous alliance—no, perhaps now the righteous and demonic alliance—stormed his door, this Supreme Devil must restore his full state to give them a surprise!

I wonder if Brother Yan and the others in "reality" found the Hundred Poisons Immortal Sword I sent?

"This cycle's narrative world feels real yet illusory—a vast seal for us. A heavenly opportunity! That's why I took the risk to probe the demonic nature within the Dao Dust Pearl. If Western Kunlun's origin isn't what I thought, then I'll truly have to flee with my bucket, leaving this mess to the Cycle Master!"

"If my guess is right, the Nascent Soul will be a great trial—and the true beginning of my mastery over the Dao Dust Pearl!"

"The ancient devil tribulation… if I misstep now, the Earth Immortal Realm may truly face the ancient devil tribulation!"

"Will I be the reviving patriarch of Lóuguān Sect—or the harbinger of the ancient devil tribulation? This is the moment to find the key to crossing the tribulation!"

Brother Qian Chen felt a quiet unease, murmuring softly: "I'm so burdened! As Supreme, I've shouldered too much for this world! The pressure to become a devil never ceases… I, Brother Qian Chen, am truly a good man!"

At that moment, far away in Baiman Mountain, the General General Xuehe Devil General slowly opened the thousand eyes on his arms, gazing at the intruder.

He waved his hand to seal the devil palace, then looked up slightly and said: "Old Shīpí, you come to me—do you not fear the monks, Daoists, and nuns suspecting you? Do you not fear the Iron City Mountain elder and the Stone God Lord?"

The visitor was none other than one of the Asura Sect's patriarchs: Old Shīpí!

Hearing Brother Qian Chen mention the Iron City Mountain old devil, he sneered: "What Dianxi Devil Sect, Southern Devil Sect, or that Iron City Mountain elder—calling themselves Central Devil Sect, claiming dominion over the Five Directions? Playing with insects, summoning yin ghosts, practicing dual cultivation, dabbling in scattered, inferior tricks—what trash! Our Asura Devil Dao inherits the true path of devilry; when you forged your three avatars, though I remained stationed in the Asura Palace, I sensed them!"

"You are no Outer Devil—you practice the true path! You must have descended from the upper realms…"

General General Xuehe spoke softly: "You have some insight. Why have you secretly come to me?"

Old Shīpí sighed deeply: "Though I inherit the true path of devilry, the righteous here are too powerful—devilry has long been severed, leaving my path with no future. Those Daoists and Buddhists may ascend to the Spirit Void Immortal Realm, yet we devils struggle to attain true fruition. I've come to ask you, Supreme Devil—why can we not achieve true fruition, condemned as heterodox?"

Brother Qian Chen glanced at him, sensing faint Buddhist energy on him—he realized this devil, seeing no future, had grown regretful and now sought to convert to Buddhism.

He recalled how this devil once vowed to attain fruition through heterodoxy, enduring a thousand years of hardship, countless calamities and dangers, never committing a single evil deed—yet now he abandoned his vow, seeking Buddhist salvation. The plight of devilry here was evident; without me, Western Kunlun might tinker for a hundred years and still fail to produce the "Dao declines, Devil prospers" narrative!

But even the Buddhist sects demanded he abandon his devil nature before granting him salvation.

Now, he had glimpsed the path to devilry's attainment through this Outer Devil, and thus appeared to seek aid.

Brother Qian Chen's thoughts shifted—he realized this devil intended to defect. He smiled faintly: "You wish to know why you cannot sense Yōumíng or ascend to the Nine Heavens?"

Old Shīpí rejoiced: "Indeed! Our devilry, like the Daoist and Buddhist paths, has its own ascension realm! But why can we not sense it? Is it our cultivation?"

"Because this world is a great prison!" Brother Qian Chen said calmly. "The Western Kunlun origin evolved this realm, yet severed its connection to the myriad realms beyond. Thus, only those who resonate with the Spirit Void Immortal Realm may attain true fruition; all who do not align with Western Kunlun's origin cannot achieve the Dao."

"So that's why!"

Old Shīpí, who had long suspected this, bowed deeply to Brother Qian Chen: "Supreme Devil, do you have a way to guide me to attainment?"

"I descended from beyond heaven, trapped in this realm. Now I've unleashed boundless devil tribulation precisely to shatter this isolation! If you truly align with my path, I'll take you with me when I depart." Brother Qian Chen made the promise without hesitation.

"Then I pledge myself to the Supreme Devil's service, aiding your cause!" Old Shīpí pledged allegiance without delay.

"I intend to unify all devil sects here and revive devilry. Since you have this resolve, become my Devil Envoy!"

From the General General Xuehe's body, Brother Qian Chen separated a streak of bloodlight, forming a Heavenly Devil Blood-Transforming Knife, which landed in Old Shīpí's hands as his authority and credential. He continued: "Now, the northern, southern, and central devil sects are all extinct; the eastern devil sect under He Yang is too weak—he fled before I even came for him!"

"Now that your Asura Devil Sect has pledged to me, the only devil sect left unsubmitted is the western Dianxi Devil Sect!"

"Help me finish them off!"

Old Shīpí breathed a sigh of relief—he had anticipated the Supreme Devil would target him. After much thought, he found no defense. He could have sought aid from the Buddha masters like Zūnshèng, but having witnessed Brother Qian Chen refine the three devil avatars, he understood the terror of the Supreme Devil's power—perhaps even surpassing the upper realm's emperors, akin to the very source of devilry—leaving him utterly without will to resist.

Thus, under the pressure of devil tribulation and the lure of true devil fruition, he betrayed the Buddhist path and defected to the Devil.

Now, hearing the Supreme Devil intended to exterminate every devil faction, he knew his choice was right—he had narrowly escaped disaster.

Otherwise, the next to be refined into a devil avatar wouldn't have been the Dianxi Devil Sect—it would have been his own Asura Devil Sect!

After a brief pause, Old Shīpí spoke: "I know some secrets of the Western Devil Sect's founder, Old Buddha Chìlì. He was close to the Iron City Mountain lineage; his sect's techniques blended Dao and Buddhism. Once he studied under a high Daoist master, then delved into Esoteric Buddhist teachings and mastered dual cultivation. Though his devil arts are crude and unworthy of notice, he still possesses some skill. Supreme, do you intend to…"

From the thousand hands of the General General Xuehe Devil General, tiny grains of crimson sand drifted slowly, landing before Old Shīpí and forming three zhang of red dust…

"The Western Devil Sect excels in poison-sand techniques. Simply hide this Red Dust Barrier Sand within their cultivated Ten Thousand Demons Soft Red Sand. The Dianxi sect will be annihilated by me!" Brother Qian Chen said bluntly. "What crude devil arts can stand against my will?"

Old Shīpí recalled the Heavenly Devil Blood-Transforming Knife Brother Qian Chen had granted him—and suddenly trembled.

That Red Dust Barrier Sand certainly countered the Western Devil Sect—but didn't the Heavenly Devil Blood-Transforming Knife also counter his own Asura Devil Sect? Had he not defected…

The Heavenly Devil Blood-Transforming Knife would have been the very blade sent to bury his sect! "

"Ten Thousand Demons Soft Red Sand is a treasure of the Poison Dragon Master's lineage. Old Buddha Chìlì faked his death by cremation and fled, his soul hiding somewhere unknown. I suspect he's either in Iron City Mountain or Stone God Palace—only they possess the means to open a small world to shelter his soul. Supreme Devil, by granting me this Red Dust Sand, you intend for me to strike at the Poison Dragon Master, luring Old Buddha Chìlì out. This tribulation will settle accounts with all remaining devil sects in this realm."

"I shall strike at the right moment, crushing the remnants of the Five Directions' devil sects, as my token of loyalty!"

Old Shīpí understood fully, took the Red Dust Sand, and departed without further word…

Brother Qian Chen's true body, ten thousand miles away, opened his eyes calmly: "He's sensible! Originally, I planned to use his Asura Devil Sect as the material for my fourth devil avatar. The Dianxi Devil Sect's second patriarch, Poison Dragon Master, is too weak—I've grown unimpressed. This man has keen insight…"

"The red dust of mortal realms stretches three thousand zhang—seven emotions and six desires grind it down—grinding is devilry!"

"Used as sand, it is most effective at wearing down. I wonder—what devil path will my fourth avatar become?"