Chapter 817: Starring Zhang Yu, Supreme Truth
Labyrinth Factory District.
Inside the Corpse Recycling Station, formerly known as “Memorial Garden”.
The several corpse mountains that once reeked to the heavens had vanished completely. Those corpses — rotting, shattered, or damaged — had now all been buried by Zhang Yu beneath the Forest of Steles, becoming part of the Artificial Spirit Vein and infusing the entire area with increasingly dense spiritual energy.
A portion of this spiritual energy flowed through the Grotto-Heaven Bridge, surging into Zhang Yu’s Immortal Grotto-Heaven with each breath of the Qi Absorption Machines.
At this moment, Zhang Yu’s Immortal Grotto-Heaven was slick with blood and unidentified fluids.
As Zhang Yu restarted the Artificial Spirit Vein, a massive swarm of Berserk Corpse Components had descended upon him. He had drawn them into his Immortal Grotto-Heaven for suppression.
Throughout this process, Zhang Yu continuously absorbed the Grotto-Heaven force contained within these Berserk Corpse Components.
Each absorption seemed to deepen the foundation of his Immortal Grotto-Heaven, expanding it higher and wider. Now, its length, width, and height had all surpassed 500 meters.
However, with the piles of various Corpse Components, Zhang Yu’s Immortal Grotto-Heaven felt less empty and far more bustling.
Among the numerous Corpse Components, the most eye-catching and massive was undoubtedly the Qi Absorption Machine production line known as the Myriad Bone Melder.
As more Corpse Components of the same type were loaded into it, its size expanded repeatedly, until it stood like a small mountain in a corner of the Immortal Grotto-Heaven.
It was precisely because of these same-type Corpse Components that Zhang Yu managed to complete all the traits for the Myriad Bone Melder.
Crucible of Myriad Forms (8/8): Corpse Component decomposition efficiency +100%, Corpse Component reforging efficiency +100%.
Crucible of Myriad Forms (10/10): Extremely low chance to produce a Void Refinement-level Qi Absorption Machine.
The second-tier effect was self-explanatory. After a quick test, Zhang Yu found that the Myriad Bone Melder’s recycling efficiency had significantly improved. The same quantity of defective Corpse Components could now produce more Qi Absorption Machines after recycling.
The third-tier effect, however, was a delightful surprise.
“A Void Refinement-level Qi Absorption Machine?”
After this period of subduing Corpse Components and expanding his Grotto-Heaven, Zhang Yu had become increasingly adept at developing his Immortal Grotto-Heaven. He had come to realize a crucial point…
“To build anything, energy is the foundation.”
If not for the fear of being discovered, Zhang Yu would have dragged a Magic Power Circuit and a Spiritual Energy Circuit from his dormitory into his Grotto-Heaven, frantically siphoning and transporting the sect’s spiritual energy and magic power.
“I must have enough Qi Absorption Machines of sufficient quality, constantly drawing spiritual energy from the outside world, to provide a continuous energy supply for the entire Immortal Grotto-Heaven.”
“Then, whether I’m using production lines or engaging in combat… everything will be twice as effective with half the effort.”
Besides the Myriad Bone Melder, Zhang Yu had also assembled another Qi Absorption Machine production line and a Magic Power Circuit production line while subduing Corpse Components. However, due to insufficient energy, they remained dormant for now.
Zhang Yu planned to activate the second Qi Absorption Machine production line once he had more spiritual energy. It would work alongside the Myriad Bone Melder to produce more Qi Absorption Machines, further increasing the spiritual energy within his Immortal Grotto-Heaven.
In addition to these three production lines, Zhang Yu also controlled two sets of combat-oriented Corpse Components.
One set was the Sorting Demon, which he had subdued earlier. It resembled a dark cloud of countless tentacles and possessed the “Occupational Curse” trait.
The other set was the Light Cannon Array Dragon, which he had recently collected after careful selection.
Within the Factory District, there were a few production lines that manufactured combat-type magical artifacts.
One of these production lines had gone berserk, merging with the weapons it produced to become a Combat Corpse Component — the Light Cannon Array Dragon.
On the flesh-and-blood production line, which resembled a giant dragon, cannon barrels glowing with dark red light emerged, emitting power fluctuations at the Spirit Transformation level.
Since the labyrinth’s formation, the Light Cannon production line, lacking buyers, had been driven by the primal urge to produce and destroy. It had transformed into a flesh-and-blood dragon armed with eighteen light cannons, rampaging and creating new cannons wherever it went.
The Light Cannon Array Dragon’s trait was an ability called “Blood Malevolent Divine Light.”
Blood Malevolent Divine Light (6/6): Allows the Blood Malevolent Divine Light Cannons to completely disintegrate flesh and blood, making regeneration and self-healing extremely difficult for the target.
Blood Malevolent Divine Light (8/8): Allows the Blood Malevolent Divine Light Cannons to corrode the Primordial Spirit, with the corrosive effect being difficult to dispel.
After a brief test, Zhang Yu knew this was a powerful weapon capable of threatening Spirit Transformation Cultivators and even launching special attacks against their Primordial Spirits.
With enough energy, materials, and time, under Zhang Yu’s control, the Light Cannon Array Dragon could even produce new Blood Malevolent Divine Light Cannons.
Aside from these subdued and utilized Corpse Components, Zhang Yu temporarily stored the rest as spare resources in his Immortal Grotto-Heaven. Due to their sheer number, he hadn’t had time to organize them, and they were piled up in a chaotic mess.
But at this moment, Zhang Yu had no energy to spare for such matters. His gaze was fixed and solemn as he stared at the corpse before him, feeling the surging Grotto-Heaven force emanating from it.
Zhang Yu knew this was the next ancestor’s corpse he had been searching for.
Unlike before, however, after being drawn into his Grotto-Heaven, this ancestor’s corpse did not immediately undergo liberation, releasing its memory dream and Grotto-Heaven power.
Zhang Yu looked at the figure and asked, “You… are awake?”
The figure nodded and looked back at Zhang Yu. “Ying Xintian told me he would choose a successor to inherit his legacy and the ideals of the Righteous Path.”
“So… upon sensing your arrival, I wanted to see for myself if he had chosen the wrong person.”
Zhang Yu asked, “So you deliberately lured us here? Was this some kind of test?”
The True Spirit snorted coldly. “That had nothing to do with me. It was Ying Xintian’s own presumptuous idea to introduce you to a few traitors, foolishly hoping to use the power of those Demonic Path cultivators to reform Kunxu.”
“Utterly absurd.”
With that, the True Spirit took a step forward and thrust a finger toward Zhang Yu.
“Now, this is how I do things.”
“I don’t care who you were, what you’ve done, or what you’re thinking.”
“Now, inherit my will, inherit the will of the Righteous Path, and resolve to eradicate the Demonic Path from this world.”
“If you can inherit these, it proves he didn’t choose the wrong person.”
“If you can’t, then die.”
When Zhang Yu regained his senses, he found himself in a bottomless, dark cage.
He realized he couldn’t see or hear, having lost all perception of the outside world.
At the same time, his magic power, Primordial Spirit… all the Immortal Dao forces within him were completely sealed, leaving only a deathly stillness.
“Who locked me in here?”
“Such a tight seal… what did I do?”
“I… I am…”
“I am… Li Feng… of the Myriad Laws Sect…”
Meanwhile, watching Zhang Yu — or rather, Li Feng — completely sealed within the memory dream, Fu Ji remarked, “Oh ho, is Zhang Yu starring in this little movie himself this time?”
Immortal Slayer replied, “Zhang Yu’s consciousness has been dragged into the dream, participating as the protagonist. It seems the master of this dream intends to use his own memories to influence Zhang Yu, turning him into another version of himself.”
The Sect Examination Clone burst into laughter. “Hahahaha, if he fails, shouldn’t we suppress him together? And take control of this body?”
Desolate Ox said, “If Zhang Yu changes, but becomes a better version of himself, I don’t mind continuing to assist him.”
Having experience with collective consciousness, Desolate Ox took a detached view. “So-called sapient beings are creatures constantly shaped by external information, step by step.”
“Whether one is gradually changed over years or decades of life experience, or abruptly transformed by a massive influx of memories, there’s no fundamental difference.”
Desolate Ox added calmly, “The key… is what he changes into.”
With Zhang Yu absent, Fu Ji saw no need to maintain a facade of harmony with these wills.
She scoffed and spoke in the tone of a seasoned veteran: “Based on my decade-plus of close, third-person observation of Zhang Yu, he’s not someone who’s easily changed.”
Kunxu, within an unknown high-level space.
A soft sound of surprise echoed as a woman’s voice rang out: “Li Feng? It’s actually him? How could it be him? Would this person help Senior Brother?”
“Is this guy trying to brainwash the successor Senior Brother chose, turning him into another version of himself?”
Another voice, that of a young man, spoke up: “If he’s so easily brainwashed, then he’s not worthy of our investment.”
“Let’s keep watching.”
“Let’s see what choices he makes after experiencing everything Li Feng went through.”
“Let’s see if he can truly bear the responsibility Senior Brother wants to entrust to him.”
Meanwhile, Zhang Yu — or rather, Li Feng — had lost all track of time in the endless darkness and silence. Finally, a voice reached his ears.
“Junior Brother, the Righteous Use of Demonic Arts has begun. I need your help.”
Li Feng jolted at these words, and a furious rage surged through him. “Ying Xintian! You slaughtered our fellow sect members and fell into the Demonic Path, yet you still have the gall to face me?!”
“Kill me, just like you killed my master.”
The master he spoke of was Ying Xintian’s own Junior Martial Uncle.
Listening to Li Feng’s barrage of curses, Ying Xintian sighed and said, “Junior Brother, if you’re so furious and worried about the Myriad Laws Sect falling into the Demonic Path, then you should understand… once the reforms for the Righteous Use of Demonic Arts begin, it’s inevitable that some will cross the line.”
“For example, now that the sect has started researching and using Demonic magical artifacts, Master and I worry that some will succumb to the allure of Demonic Path Technology. They might not just research and use it… but even start treating mortals as materials.”
Watching their exchange, Immortal Slayer sighed. “The Righteous Use of Demonic Arts means applying Demonic Path Technology with the methods and principles of the Righteous Path.”
“For instance, you can use Demonic magical artifacts and study Demonic cultivation arts, but you cannot harvest human souls, consume human flesh, or conduct blood sacrifices to advance Demonic Path Technology.”
Immortal Slayer lamented, “But the line here is incredibly difficult to draw.”
Fu Ji curled her lip, thinking to herself, What’s so hard to draw? Doing this is just shackling themselves for no reason.
The Sect Examination Clone said, “Although our Myriad Laws Sect took a detour in its history, we ultimately triumphed and succeeded.”
Listening to Ying Xintian, Li Feng sneered. “Master (Ying Xintian’s Martial Uncle) told you long ago: once you change, there’s no going back. After researching Demonic magical artifacts and practicing Demonic cultivation arts, do you really think no one will commit Demonic Path acts?”
“There will definitely be people who, for convenience and profit, will consume human flesh, conduct blood sacrifices, and extract souls…”
“That’s how the bottom line is eroded, step by step!”
Ying Xintian countered, “So should we starve ourselves just because we might choke? Should we confiscate all the blades in the world just because someone might use one to kill?”
“The world needs the blade of the Demonic Path. If someone uses this blade to kill or conduct blood sacrifices, they should be punished for their crimes. The solution isn’t to take away all the blades in the world.”
Li Feng said coldly, “What are you trying to say?”
Just then, a female figure appeared before Li Feng.
She spoke, “Junior Brother, we want to release you. We want you to join me in monitoring the Myriad Laws Sect, both inside and out. We’ll watch for anyone who crosses the line, anyone who misuses Demonic Path Technology.”
“Yun Taizhen…” Li Feng looked at the woman before him, seemingly surprised. Hearing the latter half of her proposal, he immediately swallowed the words “you adulterous pair” that were on the tip of his tongue and said, “You want me to help you monitor everyone?”
[TL note: Yun Taizhen is the full name of Immortal Venerable Supreme Truth]
Yun Taizhen said, “To use Demonic Path Technology with Righteous Path principles, we must establish rules and regulations. We need to prevent anyone from misusing this technology and stop sect members from becoming overly demonic.”
“When someone can kill with a blade, the solution isn’t to confiscate all the blades in the world. It’s to establish laws, administer punishments, and restrain those who wield them.”
Yun Taizhen looked at Li Feng and continued, “Junior Brother Li, you’ve always followed Martial Uncle and stood irreconcilably opposed to the Demonic Path. In our view… you are the most suitable person to monitor the sect, both inside and out, during the coming tide of the Righteous Use of Demonic Arts.”
Li Feng asked coldly, “Does ‘inside and out’ include you two?”
Yun Taizhen’s expression turned solemn. “Junior Brother Li,” she said seriously, “from the Outer Sect Disciples to the Sect Leader himself, everyone will be under your scrutiny.”
Seeing Li Feng still silent, Yun Taizhen pressed on, “Don’t you want to see the results of the Righteous Use of Demonic Arts?”
“If you truly inherited Martial Uncle’s will, wouldn’t you want to play a part in this movement, to prevent the Myriad Laws Sect from completely falling into the Demonic Path?”
“Or would you rather just wallow in self-pity here?”
In the end, Li Feng finally left the prison and saw the light of day again. Under the shocked, astonished, and suspicious gazes of countless fellow disciples, he became the Vice Hall Master of the Myriad Laws Sect’s newly established Demon Supervision Hall, assisting Yun Taizhen… tasked with monitoring all Demonic Path-related matters both inside and outside the sect.
Initially, Li Feng found no violations.
In the early stages of the Righteous Use of Demonic Arts, and in the immediate aftermath of a brutal internal sect conflict, the entire sect was on edge. Everyone constantly reminded themselves not to fall into the Demonic Path, not to let the sacrifices of their fallen comrades be in vain…
Someone said to Li Feng, “Senior Brother Li, look! With the Righteous Use of Demonic Arts, no one in the Myriad Laws Sect has overstepped their bounds. It proves we can control Demonic Path Technology with Righteous Path principles!”
Li Feng remained silent. Having fought on the front lines alongside Martial Uncle, he had seen far too many Demonic Path disciples. He knew that so-called “demonic thoughts” were simply desires, something that existed in everyone’s heart.
As time passed, Li Feng gradually sensed a shift in the atmosphere both inside and outside the sect.
Demonic magical artifacts, once studied with extreme caution, were now openly displayed.
Corpses and Yin Souls began to appear openly, no longer feared or shunned.
The event that made everyone in the sect realize how much hearts had changed was the first major case Li Feng investigated.
“Martial Uncle Li…” Li Feng looked at the old man before him. “To defeat the Netherworld Sect disciples on the front lines, you performed a blood sacrifice of innocent civilians to enhance your magical artifact’s power. Is this true?”
The old man snorted coldly. “If I hadn’t, my disciples would have all perished in that battle!”
“Besides, even if I hadn’t sacrificed those mortals, the Netherworld Palace would have used them anyway. They were nothing more than blood fodder raised by the Netherworld Palace!”
“If we’re unwilling to commit even this minor transgression, if we don’t use every means necessary to defeat the Demonic Path first, what future is there?”
“Or are you going to arrest me for the sake of a few mortals and jeopardize the entire front line?”
“Leave. From now on, stay out of front-line matters.”
With that, the old man flicked his finger. A fierce gale erupted from the heavens and earth, threatening to blow Li Feng beyond the Nine Heavens.
Li Feng knew the old man had a point. In a life-or-death battle… how many would willingly face death without struggling, without using Demonic Path Technology?
If they hadn’t mastered Demonic Path Technology, that would be one thing. But now that they possessed these more efficient methods, who would tie their own hands in a major war? Who wouldn’t use demonic arts to increase their chances of victory?
Yet, it was precisely because the old man’s reasoning was so sound, precisely because he could so righteously treat mortals as mere materials… that Li Feng understood the “Righteous Use of Demonic Arts” had failed.
“The first major case… has fizzled out. Now, the Myriad Laws Sect will inevitably… become a new Demonic Path in its war against the Demonic Path.”
However, when Li Feng reported all this to Yun Taizhen, she said only one thing.
“Wait for my return.”
The next moment, a rolling thunderous resonance echoed from the sky. Flashes of lightning erupted in the air. The people inside the Demon Supervision Hall felt their scalps tingle as they watched Yun Taizhen transform into a bolt of heavenly lightning and soar into the sky. That very night, she returned to the sect with the front-line Martial Uncle in tow, ready to face judgment.
Staring at Yun Taizhen, who was covered in injuries, Li Feng asked in disbelief, “You went to the front lines and dragged him back?”
Yun Taizhen chuckled. “What? Are you scared?”
Li Feng replied, “Martial Uncle Li leads his disciples in a bloody battle against the Demonic Path on the front lines. By doing this… what will his disciples think? Aren’t you afraid they’ll come after you?”
Yun Taizhen laughed heartily. “The ‘Righteous Use of Demonic Arts’ doesn’t mean they can abuse Demonic Path Technology and treat mortals like pigs and dogs. Anyone who tries to turn the Myriad Laws Sect into a Demonic Sect will have to get past me, Yun Taizhen, first.”
“I’ll fight those who oppose the Righteous Use of Demonic Arts, and I’ll fight those who abuse Demonic Path Technology just the same.”
“Worst case scenario, we’ll have another civil war.”
Li Feng looked into her eyes and saw an unyielding determination. In that moment… he suddenly felt a flicker of hope for the Righteous Use of Demonic Arts.
He thought to himself, “If the sect had more people like Senior Sister Taizhen, perhaps the Righteous Use of Demonic Arts could actually work…”
This major case seemed to be just the beginning. As the intensity of the war escalated, Li Feng and Yun Taizhen found more and more people crossing the line.
At first, perhaps they only slaughtered criminals.
Later, they began performing blood sacrifices on prisoners of war and Demonic Path disciples.
Then, they started using mortals bred by the Demonic Sects…
When another highly respected elder, who had once repelled Demonic Path masters and earned great merit, was arrested for the “minor offense” of soul-refining a treasure, even more people expressed their dissatisfaction with the Demon Supervision Hall and especially with Yun Taizhen.
“Yun Taizhen, we’re fighting for our lives against the Demonic Path on the front lines, and you’re back here targeting our own people?”
“How many sect members have you arrested for the sake of a few mere mortals?”
“If we weren’t out there risking our lives against those demonic bastards, could you sit comfortably in the rear and supervise?”
“So what if a few mortals were sacrificed? Without us, they would have been captured by the Demonic Path long ago. What’s the big deal if some of them are sacrificed now?”
Faced with these repeated accusations and challenges, Li Feng was terrified to find… even his own conviction was beginning to waver.
“Are we really going to turn against our fellow sect members, those who are risking their lives to protect us, for the sake of those mortals?”
Yun Taizhen laughed heartily. “Li Feng, this is the Demonic Path. It springs from the heart and follows its every whim.”
“The division between the Righteous and Demonic Paths lies entirely within one’s own heart.”
“Our duty is to be that boundary, constantly reminding our fellow sect members to hold fast to the Righteous Path.”
Li Feng stared intently at Yun Taizhen. She always seemed so calm and reliable, so cheerful, facing every problem without anger or retreat.
But he knew that as the Hall Master of the Demon Supervision Hall, she bore far greater pressure than he did. Many elders were already impeaching her.
At that moment, a thought struck Li Feng.
“Compared to when our masters opposed the Righteous Use of Demonic Arts, which ultimately led to civil war… the path of the Righteous Use itself is a hundred, even a thousand times more difficult.”
“But as long as people like Senior Sister Taizhen and Senior Brother Ying Xintian are here… this path is not entirely hopeless.”
Beside him, Yun Taizhen patted Li Feng’s shoulder. “Hold on, Junior Brother Feng. The Sect Leader and the others are working at full capacity to assimilate Demonic Path Technology.”
“Once they’ve extracted the essence and discarded the dregs, completing the Myriad Laws Sect’s own Immortal Dao Technology innovation, everything will get better…”
“By then, techniques like blood sacrifices and soul extraction will become obsolete. The Demonic Path might even be transformed into the Righteous Path.”
Li Feng glanced at her slightly swollen belly and said with concern, “Senior Sister, you should rest more these days.”
Yun Taizhen smiled and patted her stomach. “It’s just a pregnancy. Not much harder than taking a shit.”
Li Feng said, “Senior Brother Ying is worried about you…”
Yun Taizhen waved her hand dismissively, and in the next instant, she transformed into a streak of lightning and vanished into the sky.
Li Feng continued to assist Yun Taizhen in monitoring the sect, both internally and externally, but he could only feel the situation growing increasingly dire.
Cultivators on the front lines became more and more reluctant to cooperate. Elders and disciples within the sect began to deliberately or unintentionally obstruct their work, making investigations increasingly difficult.
Li Feng felt that everything within the Myriad Laws Sect, the place where he had grown up, had become utterly alien.
It was as if invisible walls were closing in around him, squeezing the space around him, leaving him nowhere to go and making it hard to breathe.
Unconsciously, Li Feng realized he was struggling to even move within the sect. He could hardly imagine the pressure his direct superior, Yun Taizhen, must be facing.
Just when Li Feng felt he couldn’t hold on any longer, a revolutionary technological breakthrough occurred.