Chapter 374: Demonic Abilities, Warm Regards
“How could this happen?!”
A man and a woman, shrouded in a strange black mist, their faces obscured, suddenly appeared outside the thatched hut.
But their words were filled with shock and disbelief, clearly not expecting this sudden turn of events.
Even they could sense the chilling baleful energy emanating from the hut!
“This is completely different from what your Innate Pavilion told us!”
The woman in the black mist said in a cold voice: “Not only did the ‘catalyst’ and various evil objects we painstakingly gathered fail to impregnate the vessel after thousands of attempts, causing her mind to collapse and her body to decay beyond repair, but the demonic fetus, which took more than three years to form, is now completely out of control, even the tribulation lightning failed!”
“The experience gained from the impregnation process is still valuable to you. It’s just a mortal vessel, what does it matter if she’s ruined?!”
The man in the black robe shouted anxiously: “Now’s not the time for you to complain, quickly help me suppress this out-of-control demonic fetus! Otherwise, we’ll all become its targets, even if you’re both at the Crimson Demon Realm, you won’t be able to escape!”
“We’ll… settle the score with your Innate Pavilion later!”
The man and woman in black mist exchanged glances, their anger intensifying, but they still quickly formed hand seals, swirling Yin energy erupting as they activated the Soul Fusion Formation within several dozen feet, trying to— “You… are courting death!”
But the moment the formation activated, the man in the black robe suddenly fled, making the man and woman roar in fury.
The man in black robe didn’t hesitate, transforming into a streak of dark light, trying to escape as fast as possible.
As one of the conductors of this “Nine Transformations Demonic Fetus Emperor Origin Simulation” ritual, he knew very well what an out-of-control demonic fetus meant!
This technique was originally meant to cultivate a supreme demonic fetus, merging hundreds of souls and thousands of bloodlines, using the innate energy within the womb to forge a “Demonic Emperor Origin Heart.” If a Savage Realm great demon were to consume it, they would have the opportunity to break through the limitations of their realm, achieve great things in this chaotic world, and become a true overlord.
But the growth rate of the demonic fetus had suddenly changed in the past few days, the mother’s body rapidly nourishing its growth. In just a few days, it— Such a demonic fetus, defying the natural order, couldn’t be allowed to exist!
With the tribulation lightning to restrain and control it, they naturally wouldn’t have to fear the demonic fetus turning on its creator, but the Heavenly Tribulation had suddenly dissipated, removing all restraints and completely ruining their plan!
“Those two Chiyu traitors are insignificant, I’ll just use them as decoys and escape from here. With the experience gained from this demonic fetus, I can use the Nine Transformations Demonic Fetus technique to create another Emperor Origin Heart in the future.”
The man in black robe thought to himself, forming hand seals to conceal his presence.
As for what horrifying things this out-of-control demonic fetus would do after he escaped, it was no longer his— Pfft!
A severed arm flew past him, hitting the ground in front of him, splattering blood and black mist.
“…”
The man in the black robe slowly stopped, his expression blank, and he reached for his left shoulder.
It was empty.
It wasn’t those two Chiyu traitors who had escaped and attacked him.
But… the power of the demonic fetus.
“Damn… Damn it!!”
He roared in shock and anger, his body erupting with a surge of black mist from beneath his robes, enveloping the area within dozens of feet, like shadowy figures.
The demonic fetus had just been born, and at such a distance from the mother’s body, if he resisted with all his might, he should be able to push it back!
As soon as this thought arose, the black mist in front of him instantly dissipated, making the man in black robe’s eyes widen.
No—
It hadn’t dissipated.
But been… devoured!
Then, as the man in the black robe watched in horror, bloody baleful energy formed a massive maw filled with sharp teeth, instantly swallowing him and the surrounding black mist!
“…”
As the terrifying and piercing scream faded, and the black mist dissipated, a large, smooth crater, several dozen feet wide, was revealed, as if everything inside had been completely devoured, leaving no trace behind. The man in black robe had died without a sound, without causing any further disturbance.
The bloody baleful energy quickly retreated, returning to the dilapidated thatched hut and the two corpses, now just white bones, still frozen in their spell-casting positions.
Countless strands of bloody baleful energy, like tentacles, swirled and twisted around the house, a terrifying and chilling sight, as if a powerful demon was lurking within.
But this energy gradually condensed into a small figure, its form blurry, its face indistinct, stumbling back into the hut and towards the pile of straw.
—A naked woman with black hair lay in a pool of blood.
Her face was filled with terror and despair, her body twisted into a grotesque and horrifying posture, covered in sores and wounds, a massive, fleshy tumor growing from her side, no longer resembling a human…
The bloody, ghostly figure slowly walked over to the pitiful woman and knelt down, gently taking her severed and mangled right hand.
“…”
A silent expression of gratitude, sorrow, and pain.
As if sensing a familiar pulse through their connected bloodline, the lips of the pitiful woman, who had already died, parted slightly, as if she was trying to murmur something with all her might.
Until a faint smile of relief appeared on her face.
The bloody ghostly figure remained silent for a moment, then spread its arms and embraced the woman’s dirty and broken body tightly.
Then, the already decaying body transformed into pure life essence, merging with the ghostly figure, reconstructing its bones, meridians, organs, even its flesh, blood, and skin.
And that wasn’t all.
The flesh and blood of the two ghost practitioners who had been killed, and the demon’s soul, were all refined into pure nourishment, becoming fuel for its rebirth.
From its fair legs to its abdomen, chest, arms, neck, and finally, its head. The newly formed face vaguely resembled that of the dead woman, its features delicate and its body slender, even without any clothes, its gender was hard to distinguish.
“Mother, thank you for everything—”
‘She’ knelt unsteadily, her movements still stiff, bowing her head: “You… gave me life, and I have avenged you.”
“The Innate Pavilion, and the Chiyu Sect, I will offer them as sacrifices in the future.”
Her hoarse and clumsy murmurs gradually became more fluent.
‘She’ kowtowed three times towards where the pitiful woman had died, then stood up again with a sorrowful expression. Raising her arms, countless streaks of blood-red light instantly reshaped and reinforced the thatched hut, as if transforming it into an indestructible iron sculpture. A tombstone even rose from the ground in front of the house, bearing the inscription “Fang’s Tomb.”
“Now—”
‘She’ slowly walked out of the hut, her blood-red eyes contracting and dilating, transforming into a pair of eerie and sinister demonic eyes, her gaze empty and vacant as she looked into the distance: “I… will go and see another benefactor who helped bring me into this world.
To become… truly whole.”
Her figure flickered, transforming into a streak of red light and flying away.
But what was most terrifying was that everything in her path seemed to be drained of life, plants withering, birds and insects paralyzed and trembling, countless wild animals fleeing in terror, yet still unable to escape the demonic power that seemed to melt and absorb their very souls.
Now, she was a true demonic fetus, a true disaster!
…
Crack!
After flying for a while, a figure suddenly stepped out of the void, blocking her path.
‘She’ stopped, staring blankly at the stranger before her with empty eyes.
“…I didn’t expect the Innate Pavilion to actually create such a monstrous demonic fetus, even capable of absorbing the mother’s body for rebirth upon birth, truly incredible. It wasn’t in vain that I’ve been secretly monitoring their actions for years, it has finally borne fruit.”
A hunched old man with a white beard tapped his cane, his eyes flickering, and he mused: “Born with the cultivation of half a Savage Realm being, this demonic fetus’ power is truly heaven-defying. Little one, you should obediently— Hmm?!”
But before he could finish his threat, the old man’s expression suddenly changed drastically, his eyes widening in shock: “W-What’s going on?!”
His Yin energy seemed to be leaking and dissipating, the dozens of Yin techniques he had just prepared crumbling.
“Those who block my path are merely nourishment.”
“…N-No, this isn’t right!”
The white-bearded old man’s expression changed repeatedly, and he quickly leaped into the air, distancing himself.
This demonic fetus was even stranger than he had anticipated.
The Innate Pavilion’s methods had completely gone out of control!
…
“Hehehe~”
A soft, seductive chuckle echoed.
Lin Tianlu turned a page, looking at the stories depicted in the book with interest.
And Yun Yue, leaning against him, also chuckled softly from time to time, the sound echoing in the quiet forest.
“These scholars and writers are truly imaginative, coming up with such interesting stories.”
Hearing Yun Yue’s soft sigh, Lin Tianlu’s thoughts stirred, and he couldn’t help but look down at her with a smile: “When I have some free time later, I’ll write some stories for you, Yue’er. Perhaps my writing is still a bit clumsy, but I do have some ideas.”
“Then I’ll look forward to it.”
Yun Yue smiled gently and pulled his wrist, placing the book on her ample bosom: “It must be tiring to hold it up, rest for a bit.”
“Putting it here, Yue’er, are you deliberately trying to distract me?” Lin Tianlu said with a helpless smile.
He wasn’t some saint with an unyielding heart, with such a soft and ample bosom right before his eyes, what normal man could resist?
But the fox woman just looked at him with a seductive gaze and said softly: “Just like in the book, it’s fine for you to… play with me a little, Tianlu.”
“Then I won’t be able to focus on reading.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and rubbed her cheek gently.
…
After a while of playful intimacy, Yun Yue, her cheeks slightly flushed, gathered her hair and said softly: “It seems we’ll be arriving at a town soon. After passing through two more towns, we’ll reach Mount Min, crossing the border between the two provinces.”
With Meixia, their journey was much faster than before. And to reach Mount Min sooner, they had taken a shortcut, traveling directly instead of going through Fengtai County.
“We should be able to reach Lunar Valley by New Year’s Eve… Hmm?” Lin Tianlu suddenly exclaimed softly.
Yun Yue, nestled in his arms, also sat up, sensing a strange aura approaching, her expression turning serious as she looked to the right. It was already late, and a faint rustling sound could be heard from the dark and seemingly endless forest, the Yin wind blowing, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
If an ordinary person were to come here, they would surely be terrified.
“It’s not an ordinary caravan, nor is it a demon, ghost, bird, or beast.”
Yun Yue’s eyes gradually narrowed.
“What’s happening in the forest?” Mao Ruoyu had already peeked out from behind the curtain, looking towards the sound with a look of surprise and uncertainty.
Even inside the carriage, they could sense a strange and unsettling aura, a chill seemingly spreading through their hearts, a sense of danger approaching.
Lin Tianlu gently pulled the reins, signaling Meixia to stop: “We have a visitor.”
As the sound of hooves ceased, silence returned to the night forest.
Until—
A slender figure, clad in rags, slowly emerged from the forest, her skin incredibly fair, her bare feet delicate, her short hair swaying gently. Her face was unclear, like a ghost wandering in the wilderness, a chilling sight.
Just a glance, and Cheng Yishi and Hua Shuya, who had also peeked out from the carriage, couldn’t help but shudder, their hairs standing on end, a sense of wariness rising in their hearts.
This was truly too strange!
How could a woman dressed in rags be wandering alone in the wilderness in the middle of the night?!
She couldn’t be an ordinary person, but they couldn’t sense much Yin energy either, what exactly was— “I’ll go and have a look.”
Lin Tianlu got off the carriage first.
Hua Shuya’s expression changed slightly, and she quickly picked up her sword: “Be careful, Master!”
“Don’t worry, it’s fine.”
Lin Tianlu waved his hand without looking back.
Then, he casually stepped over a few withered tree trunks, approaching the pale figure.
And the strange woman also approached him, her hair swaying, revealing a pretty yet incredibly pale face, her eyes inhuman, their pupils dilating and contracting.
“I, I’m here to—”
“Miss, it’s dangerous to be out alone at night.”
Lin Tianlu suddenly spoke, interrupting her, and said gently: “If you have something to do, it’s best to bring a friend or family member. And your attire is… a bit inappropriate, Miss.”
“…Hmm?”
The pale woman seemed stunned, looking down at herself with a confused expression: “Why… is it inappropriate?”
“In this wilderness, not to mention wolves and tigers, there are also bandits who might… harm you, Miss, seeing you like this.”
Lin Tianlu explained patiently: “And you’re also dressed too lightly, you might catch a cold.”
Saying this, he quickly took off his cloak and gently draped it over the pale woman’s shoulders, tightening it slightly to cover her exposed skin, only her delicate legs still visible.
“…”
The pale woman clutched the cloak, her head slightly raised, and murmured: “This way… I won’t get sick?”
“Yes.”
Lin Tianlu smiled wryly: “But it’s best to find a place to shelter from the wind and rain, Miss, and have a good night’s rest. You can do whatever you need to do tomorrow morning.”
“…Alright, I understand.”
The pale woman nodded slightly, as if deep in thought, and bowed: “Thank you, benefactor.”
“You’re welcome. Please take care of yourself, Miss, and go back now.”
Lin Tianlu smiled, waved his hand, and turned to leave.
And the pale woman just watched silently as Lin Tianlu and his group departed, their figures gradually disappearing from sight.
—How strange.
A sense of confusion arose in her heart.
She had come here to “absorb,” but after just a few words, she had lost all desire to do so.
“…So… warm.”
The pale woman’s eyes flickered, and she lowered her head slightly.
Touching the warm cloak on her body, she wanted to say something more.
After a moment of silence, she suddenly turned her head and looked in another direction:
“I’ll go find… the Innate Pavilion first.”
