Chapter 697: Chapter 697

Xu Qing gradually realized what was wrong.

It was unnaturalness.

Xu Qing understood one thing.

No matter how the drum of the Dusk Drum interprets the "Dao," there’s always one aspect it cannot express.

That is, the drum sound of the Dusk Drum always has an unchanging pattern that can be perceived and grasped.

The Diamond Sutra says, "One should generate the mind that dwells nowhere."

The Dusk Drum has something it "dwells" upon.

"It seems that only using both the Morning Bell and the Dusk Drum together can truly approach the true meaning of Shakyamuni’s Buddhist teachings," Xu Qing pondered silently.

Last time, he didn’t get a chance to take the Dusk Drum because when the Living Buddha was injured, the Black Mountain Old Demon descended.

If he stayed, Xu Qing could return, but King Lin had no chance of coming back.

And being able to take the Dusk Drum, it’s hard to say it wasn’t a bait deliberately thrown by the Black Mountain Old Demon.

This is a psychological game.

Xu Qing had no fear; at worst, he would eat the sugar coating and return the cannonball.

Immersed in the study of the Dusk Drum, Xu Qing did not come away empty-handed; he gained deeper insights into the Dao of the "Innate Divine Fire Spell."

Undoubtedly, Xu Qing gained a deeper understanding of the Black Mountain Old Demon’s path of cultivation. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NoveI~Fire.net

This might be a good thing, or perhaps it’s a deliberate attempt by the Black Mountain Old Demon to mislead Xu Qing’s path.

But it doesn’t matter.

Xu Qing’s Heavenly Demon Skill is meant to embrace everything.

Whether good or bad, it’s all part of Xu Qing’s cultivation resources.

"Dad, I dreamed of a person last night, and he taught me many cultivation techniques..." Xu Xuanhu’s words startled Xu Qing.

Xu Qing asked carefully.

He soon learned who this person appearing in Xuanhu’s dream was.

The Black Mountain Old Demon!

This guy could infiltrate his son’s dream right under his nose.

Xu Qing always used Heavenly Demon Skill to enter others’ dreams, and even then, only if they were constantly thinking of him.

But Xu Xuanhu had never met the Black Mountain Old Demon and had no connection.

This was extremely frightening.

Xu Qing inquired about everything the Black Mountain Old Demon said to Xu Xuanhu in the dream, including those cultivation insights.

These cultivation insights were profound and obscure yet directly pointed to the Great Dao.

Undoubtedly, the Black Mountain Old Demon was forcibly passing down the Great Dao comprehended by the third-generation old demon to Xu Xuanhu through words. He might not understand it now, but he naturally would in the future.

Meanwhile, this also meant the Black Mountain Old Demon displayed his Dao to Xu Qing without reservation.

No, this is a "challenge letter."

A scene played out in Xu Qing’s mind, a conversation between two peerless swordsmen before a duel.

One swordsman said to the other, "After I die, my sword will be yours."

Martial Arts Academy.

The four Martial Saints, Fu Xuan, Ji Changxi, Xiong Chan, and King Lin, gathered together, listening to Xu Qing’s narrative.

"The old demon is too arrogant!" King Lin, as the newly promoted Martial Saint, is young and vigorous.

He is not unaware of the Black Mountain Old Demon’s prowess.

It is precisely because the old demon is recognized as the number one expert in the world that King Lin’s greatest wish is to defeat the old demon.

As a man born between heaven and earth, one should pursue the fiercest.

His life only accepts the most brilliant bloom, not mediocrity.

This is why King Lin has come this far.

Fu Xuan frowned: "Xu Gongming, as the number one expert, the old demon would understand the impact of this move on himself. If he dares to do this, he must have confidence."

"Murong the old dog, and the Snowfield Living Buddha, are not ordinary either. At least they are more than enough to defeat a Martial Saint with a severed arm, and with the old demon added, we are still on the weaker side." Ji Changxi glanced at Fu Xuan.

Fu Xuan was already immune to Ji Changxi’s sharp tongue.

The old woman is really malicious, too targeted against him.

If she has the guts, don’t die before him; otherwise, he might dance a Sirius dance on her grave and take a leak!

Xiong Chan: "Gongming, how do you think we should respond?"

Xu Qing: "Let’s first focus on ourselves and not worry about what other trump cards His Majesty might have. We need to hurry the refining of the Heavenly Palace, and next, I hope the four of you can cooperate."

Xu Qing took out an array map.

This is the Four Symbols Star Formation, which he and the Tianling master repeatedly studied, set with the Heavenly Palace as the formation base.

The key trump card is to use the four Martial Saints to activate the Four Symbols Star Formation of the Heavenly Palace, capable of unleashing a world-destroying strike.

This is the "Four Symbols Annihilation Sword."

According to Xu Qing and the Tianling master’s calculations, the power of the "Four Symbols Annihilation Sword" should be able to pierce through the creator’s defenses.

In reality, creating an opportunity for the creator to receive this sword is also a significant challenge.

However, without a doubt, this will be a nuclear weapon-like presence to deal with the old demon.

If Fu Xuan backs out, Xu Qing can still replace him with the Demon King protector.

As for the other of the Great Yu Twin Saints, the Martial Saint with the surname Jiang, Xu Qing is firstly not familiar, and secondly, the other party considered the influence of the old Emperor there and did not get too close to Xu Qing.

Ji Changxi is different; she is a fanatic of the Daoist of the Xuantian Dragon Ascension Path from the previous generation and naturally has a fondness for Xu Qing at heart.

No matter what, even a Martial Saint, can never forget their Bai Yueguang for a lifetime.

This can also be seen as the Great Yu Twin Saints placing separate bets.

Joining forces to cultivate the Four Symbols Star Formation is now the focus of the four Martial Saints.

The four Martial Saints offered no objections to this.

Especially Xiong Chan, who easily comprehended the mysteries of the Azure Dragon of the East being the head of the Four Symbols Star Formation.

His aptitude is terrifying.

But King Lin is no less formidable, quickly understanding the mystery of the Vermilion Bird Seven Stars.

Fu Xuan corresponds to the Northern Xuanwu, while Ji Changxi is the Western White Tiger.

Northern Water and Western Metal. Don’t be fooled by how Ji Changxi and Fu Xuan used to clash daily, and how Ji Changxi is quite harsh towards Fu Xuan.

But in terms of the cultivation technique, they truly embody the mystery of "metal and water mutual growth," complementing each other well.

To a Martial Saint, the Four Symbols Star Formation presents no difficulty. Even without the Heavenly Palace, they can perform the "Four Symbols Annihilation Sword," though its power is not as terrifying without the Heavenly Palace’s enhancement.

Xu Qing conceded to himself that his Heavenly Demon Body couldn’t withstand the "Four Symbols Annihilation Sword," even without the Heavenly Palace’s enhancement.

If enhanced by the Heavenly Palace, it’s estimated his Inner Heaven and Earth wouldn’t hold up.

But the most challenging part remains how to ensure the Four Symbols Annihilation Sword strikes the Black Mountain Old Demon during a confrontation, which is the greatest hurdle.

Xu Qing’s Sleeve Universe can’t accomplish this.

The third year after the battle of Mount Changbai is drawing near.

Whether it’s Xu Qing, Xiong Chan, or others, there’s a bad premonition in their hearts.

It’s a sign of the "End of Dharma" descending.

Xiong Chan is even aware that if the Black Mountain Old Demon makes a move again, he will certainly strike at all Martial Saint-level and above forces in the world, and no one will be spared.

This is a heavenly punishment targeting all top cultivators.

The cause might be related to the Immortal Dynasty that Xu Qing seeks to establish.

Perhaps this world cannot tolerate the birth of an "Immortal Dynasty."

The Black Mountain Old Demon wants to "act punishment on behalf of heaven."

These are merely speculations in the hearts of Xiong Chan and others.

And this sense of foreboding is becoming increasingly profound.

Unlike Xiong Chan and others, Xu Qing feels no sense of crisis regarding death this time.

Last time, the battle of Changbai was a situation of ten deaths and no life for him.

In fact, the original Xu Qing can be considered "dead."

What exists now is the Heavenly Demon.

Xu Qing’s feeling is quite peculiar; although he doesn’t sense death, he feels an indescribable strangeness, as if the outcome of this battle will determine whether he can maintain his ties with loved ones and old friends.

Perhaps, as the contemporary Demon Lord, he is akin to an invasive virus to the Heavenly Dao of this world, attempting to parasitize the Heavenly Dao.

And the Heavenly Dao naturally produces a rejection reaction, intent on eliminating Xu Qing.

The Black Mountain Old Demon is more like a natural response of the immune system.

If Xu Qing succeeds, it would be nothing short of a cancerous transformation for the Heavenly Dao of this world.

"Or perhaps I’m the fourth natural disaster, the fifth Heavenly Demon King?" Xu Qing laughed at himself.

His emotions are remarkably steady.

After researching the cultivation path of the Black Mountain Old Demon, Xu Qing’s Tai Shi Demon Qi is undergoing a new explosive growth phase.

That kind of pure self-cultivation path is precisely what Tai Shi Demon Qi needs the most.

"The old demon seems hopeful that I enhance my strength as much as possible before the great battle. What is he really thinking?"

Even with Xu Qing’s meticulous thinking, he struggled to guess the old demon’s true intentions.

At this time, Xu Qing received a summons from the old Emperor.

"Peach blossoms fill the hillside, Shu River spring waters rush against the mountain flows.

Flowers red easily fade like one’s feelings, water flows endlessly like my sorrow."

The literary old youth — the Emperor of Longevity recited a poem from the previous dynasty’s great poet’s "Bamboo Branch Ci" in his jade-like voice.