Chapter 133: Chapter 112: Responding
Liu Xiaosheng strolled away, leaving Yang Ji frowning.
He hadn't expected that revealing his talent would bring certain benefits as well as drawbacks.
Indeed, all things in life have a cyclical nature of mutual promotion and restraint, with ups and downs, advantages and disadvantages; all things possess a duality that one cannot escape from—it's an unavoidable principle.
To think that Liu Xiaosheng had taken a liking to him and was insistent on recruiting him under his command—this was truly problematic.
If he were just a person, it would be somewhat easier to deal with, but the main issue is that he's a "demon."
This demon wasn't just any individual who had practiced demonic cultivation techniques, but a true Outer Realm Heavenly Demon.
Heavenly Demons are cunning and adept at schemes.
Earth Demons are brutal by nature, violent and savage.
These two great races often prey on other species, and are the least welcome in the Myriad Realms; once discovered, they are hunted down like rats crossing the street.
Especially the Heavenly Demons, who are a major menace to cultivators, full of schemes, targeting the weaknesses of one's heart, capable of inducing Heart Demons, leading cultivators to die horrific deaths.
Many people despise them to the bone yet fear them endlessly.
Because of the ability of Heavenly Demons to induce Heart Demons, the Ten Great Dao Sects and the Ten Great Demon Sects have opened the Hunting Ground of the Heavenly Demons, leading directly into the Outer Void.
Disciples enter to temper themselves, confronting Heavenly Demons face-to-face, refining their spirit, allowing their minds to radiate Spiritual Light, untainted and honest.
By utilizing the tempering of Heavenly Demons, they transform their spirit, attaining the Great Unblemished Realm where mundane matters do not disturb them, and the path of immortality holds no worries.
This state is like high monks of Buddha's Sect in meditation, their relics shining with Buddha's light, impenetrable by evil demons.
Of course, it's extremely difficult to genuinely control one's emotions and desires, to be unaffected by anger, ignorance, and greed.
Even Immortal Kings can't achieve it completely; the reason they can suppress their Heart Demons is that they haven't encountered a formidable opponent capable of inducing them.
Now faced with a Heavenly Demon, and a Demon Emperor at that, Yang Ji couldn't help feeling overwhelmed.
This was akin to a being of the Mahayana level.
Sitting down to contemplate for a moment, he knew he wasn't powerful enough to completely erase their karmic ties.
If possible, he wanted to avoid confronting this Heavenly Demon, but their previous interaction had already established a karmic connection.
The demon's demeanor left no room for refusal; he seemed set on deciding Yang Ji's fate.
If he refused, there was no telling what kind of disaster would befall him, after all, this was a cunning Heavenly Demon.
After considering his options, Yang Ji decided to shift the conflict, letting the Sect deal with this demon.
If the Sect heed his words, that would be ideal; if not, there was nothing he could do.
"Sect Master, do you really plan to tell the Sect that this young man is a Heavenly Demon? He is a True Disciple, with a distinguished status. If the Sect doesn't believe you, and accuses you of slandering him, and if this young man finds out, that would be a major problem.
Who knows, maybe with a snap of his fingers, he would silence you." Buddha Child, having devoured countless fragments of cultivators' souls and practiced the Supreme Buddha-Demon Sutra, was becoming increasingly insightful, quickly foreseeing various pros and cons.
Yang Ji was well aware of this, but if he did not take any action, he would only be forced to join the Heavenly Domain and serve others as his master.
This was not what he hoped for.
"Of course, we can't look for those Void Refining or Fushion Realm elders; we have to go to the real higher-ups. Those individuals have sharp insights, discerning the finest details and understanding the consequences; they won't act recklessly. Even if I say Liu Xiaosheng is a Heavenly Demon, such individuals are not likely to behave like minor characters and snitch on a True Disciple.
Instead, they might take it seriously in secret. If it turns out that Liu Xiaosheng really is a Heavenly Demon, then I'll be free of all this."
Yang Ji's thoughts spun hundreds of times in an instant, considering various possibilities.
"So who shall we approach?" Buddha Child asked, his brows knitted in concern.
"Elder Chun Ye?!" Suddenly, a person and a mushroom spoke at the same time.
"Elder Chun Ye guards the Dao Tower and controls all the Sect's Cultivation Techniques and Divine Skills. He's absolutely the core of the inner circle; otherwise, he wouldn't be placed in this position. Moreover, Elder Chun Ye is amiable and approachable—he's the only high-ranking member I've had contact with."
"It has to be him, it can only be him," Yang Ji said, his eyes flashing with certainty.
"Alright, my lord, to not submit to the demon, let's go find Elder Chun Ye. Damn, they even want my lord to kneel and pay homage, to acknowledge him as the master, where does that leave me, the Buddha Child? Not a chance!" The Buddha Child said bitterly and indignantly.
...
Yang Ji did not go straight to the Dao Tower, instead he first visited the Myriad Realms Commerce Alliance and bought a jug of superb Monkey Wine, and then hurried over.
At this moment, outside the Dao Tower.
Yang Ji, under the pretext of retrieving Divine Skills, was allowed to enter by two gatekeeper disciples.
As usual, Elder Chun Ye was drinking alone.
"Eh, young Yang, what wind has blown you here this time? Come quickly and join me for a couple of drinks."
Upon seeing Yang Ji approaching, Elder Chun Ye turned his head, his disheveled hair swinging, a smile immediately appeared on his mature yet charming face, which bore the signs of middle age, and he beckoned Yang Ji to come and sit down.
Yang Ji had had a drink with Elder Chun Ye before when he came to collect the "Golden Light Through Earth," and from one thing to another, they had grown somewhat familiar with each other.
"Elder, today at the Myriad Realms Commerce Alliance I saw a jug of excellent three-thousand-year-old Monkey Wine, and knowing how much you love it, I specially brought it to present to you," Yang Ji said with respectful cheerfulness.
"Oh? Three-thousand-year-old Monkey Wine? Have a seat, have a seat," Elder Chun Ye's eyes brightened, and he gestured repeatedly with his hand.
"Here, Elder, let me fill it up for you." Yang Ji removed the stopper from the jug, and immediately, a rich and mellow fragrance infused with the distinctive aroma of Spirit Peaches spread out; the wine was pale yellow, like nectar and ambrosia, with a thick and mellow fragrance.
"Not bad, not bad, this is superb Monkey Wine. How did you manage to buy it? When I went to the Myriad Realms Commerce Alliance before, they only sold me two-thousand-year-old wine. Young Yang, you have your ways," Elder Chun Ye said, lifting the cup to his nose and inhaling the aroma before praising Yang Ji.
Yang Ji actually didn't know; he had simply mentioned to Bai Bi that he needed good wine, the more precious the better.
He had not expected that even Elder Chun Ye couldn't buy the three-thousand-year-old Monkey Wine; it seemed Bai Bi was truly thoughtful.
"Here, pour some for yourself too; let's have a drink," Elder Chun Ye said with a smile, raising his glass.
Yang Ji also filled his cup to the brim and drank it down with Elder Chun Ye.
With a single gulp, the fragrance filled their bellies.
The two of them squinted, savoring the taste, before Elder Chun Ye, with a smile that was not quite a smile, looked at Yang Ji, "Tell me, young Yang, do you have a matter to discuss with me today?"
Yang Ji chuckled, "Elder, your insight is as sharp as ever; I can't hide anything from you."
"When there's no trouble, and one comes courting favor, how could I not know?" Elder Chun Ye said with an eye roll and a smile, "Go ahead."
"Elder, truth be told," Yang Ji composed himself before speaking.
"Stop hesitating, speak," Elder Chun Ye said, setting down his cup.
"Elder, the True Disciple Liu Xiaosheng is a Heavenly Demon. Although he has a human body and soul, his consciousness and memories from childhood are not human but a reincarnation of the Demon Emperor's consciousness. Such means are exceedingly extraordinary; he has no Demonic Qi, but he possesses the heart of the Demon Emperor.
With such a demon joining our Wuji Dao Sect, it's unknown what his intentions are," Yang Ji conveyed solemnly in a transmitted voice.
"Hmm?" Elder Chun Ye's eyes flashed sharply as he suddenly looked up.
Yang Ji had imagined all his possible reactions but had not anticipated what he would say next.
"How do you know he's a Heavenly Demon? Have you mentioned this to anyone else? Don't you mess with the Sect's plans, young man," Elder Chun Ye said, his voice becoming stern as he spoke with a serious face.
"Ah? The Sect knows?" Yang Ji was startled.