Volume 1 Volume 6 Chapter 105

Volume 6 Chapter 105: Fate and Choice (13)

In the past, Xu Qingfan, just starting out, returned to the Southern Wasteland to seek revenge against the Blue-eyed Cloud-hoofed Beast for his tribe. However, he became caught up in a great change in the Southern Wasteland. Ting’er’s father and his cousin Xu Lin were corrupted by the "Demon Pearl." Xu Qingfan, along with several young masters from the cultivation world and two powerful Golden Core Stage experts, surprisingly could not win.

Later, "Penance Valley" came to help and together defeated Xu Lin, but the "Demon Pearl" ended up in the hands of Zhang Xusheng, who was disguised as a master from "Penance Valley" at that time.

So much time had passed that if Zhang Xusheng had not taken out the "Demon Pearl" now, Xu Qingfan would have almost forgotten that Zhang Xusheng had this precious demonic treasure that was even more valuable than the "World Defying Sword."

"I can’t wait! What will happen when you merge with the ‘Demon Pearl’? Will the Demon Thought inside it consume your mind? Or will your good thoughts keep the Demon Thought in check and help you stay awake?"

As he spoke, Zhang Xusheng slowly approached Xu Qingfan while holding the "Demon Pearl."

Xu Qingfan felt terrified as the "Demon Pearl" came closer to his head. Before it even touched him, countless evil thoughts surged from deep within him, flooding his mind with violence, destruction, and wickedness. The negative emotions grew stronger, making it almost impossible for him to keep control.

Xu Qingfan was horrified and desperately tried to evade the approaching "Demon Pearl," but his body felt weak and he could hardly move at all. Beside him, Little Black could no longer hold back and screamed as he charged towards Zhang Xusheng. However, the power gap was too great, and with a simple wave of Zhang Xusheng’s hand, Little Black lost control of his body, transforming into a streak of black light that rushed into the area of "Overflowing Night" above them, colliding and screaming with its kin.

Seeing Xu Qingfan’s fearful expression and how he was struggling to resist, Zhang Xusheng’s smile grew even wider.

"What? Have you finally learned to be afraid? Just now, when facing death, you weren’t this scared. Weren’t you the one who looked down on me for not resisting the dark thoughts in my heart and going down the wrong path? Why are you scared now? If you can resist the ‘magic pearl’s’ invasion of your heart, wouldn’t that prove I’m wrong?"

The smile on Zhang Xusheng’s face gradually turned mocking.

For Xu Qingfan, who had become accustomed to death, it was no longer terrifying. But at this moment, he was even more afraid of everything the ‘magic pearl’ would bring him.

"I’m about to die; it won’t matter if you merge the ‘magic pearl’ into my body."

While evading and resisting, Xu Qingfan glared at Zhang Xusheng hatefully and said.

Zhang Xusheng’s smile didn’t change as he quietly said, "So, you should merge with the ‘magic pearl.’ After merging, you can not only stop your body from collapsing but also gain strength you have never imagined before. Such power can help you do anything you want, even kill me."

As he spoke, the ‘magic pearl’ in Zhang Xusheng’s hand was pushed close to Xu Qingfan’s forehead, the demonic energy swirling, and the dark thoughts in Xu Qingfan’s heart intensified.

"If I merge with this ‘magic pearl,’ my body may not collapse, but if my mind and emotions change, then I will no longer be myself. My body may be safe, but my soul will be dead."

Xu Qingfan moved his body, but it took a lot of effort. The collapse of his body, which had been gradually suppressed with Zhang Xusheng’s help, began again. As he gasped, sweat dripped down his body, and blood rushed out of his seven orifices, making him look quite tragic.

Hearing Xu Qingfan say this, Zhang Xusheng was slightly taken aback and said, "I never expected you to have such insight."

As he spoke, his face returned to that strange smile, and he said, "Maybe what you said is true, but sadly, the current situation is beyond your control. All I hope for is to create another Zhang Xusheng and watch you struggle. It’s too naive to think you can convince me with such reasons."

While speaking, a bright light flashed in Zhang Xusheng’s eyes, and he moved the "magic orb" forward in his hand. With a flick of his finger, the "magic orb" silently merged into Xu Qingfan’s chest like a shadow.

"Ah…"

The moment the "magic orb" merged into Xu Qingfan’s chest, he felt an endless stream of demonic energy spreading from his chest. It felt as if his body had been plowed through, causing him intense pain. At the same time, alongside the pain, the demonic energy began to transform Xu Qingfan’s body. Where the powerful and infinite demonic energy flowed, his body, which he thought was beyond repair, not only ceased to crumble but also began to slowly heal the damaged veins, organs, and internal organs.

From the outside, a black light appeared on Xu Qingfan’s chest, and black mist spread over it, quickly enveloping his entire body. Xu Qingfan was wrapped in black mist, and his eyes had turned pitch black with no shine, the whites of his eyes disappearing. If Xu Qingfan were not in such a state of distress, one might truly think a Demon Lord had descended!

Xu Qingfan cried out in agony, rolling uncontrollably, while Zhang Xusheng stood by, grinning, quietly watching Xu Qingfan’s performance with a hint of excitement and anticipation in his eyes.

"Now, let’s see how you resist the invasion of the Demon Thought within the ‘magic orb’…"

Zhang Xusheng murmured.

In fact, after the "Magic Pearl" entered Xu Qingfan’s body, his mind was truly flooded with Demonic Thoughts. Many dark ideas overwhelmed him one after another, crashing against Xu Qingfan’s consciousness, his memories, his determination, and the good feelings in his heart. Under the assault of these Demonic Thoughts, everything could collapse at any moment, and at that time, he would be completely controlled by them.

Xu Qingfan finally understood how ridiculous it was that he didn’t resist the evil thoughts that invaded Zhang Xusheng’s mind in the past. Perhaps the power of the evil thoughts that entered Zhang Xusheng’s mind was not as strong as the Demonic Thoughts now invading Xu Qingfan’s mind, but it was certainly not something one could easily resist. In fact, the pain suffered by the mind under the assault of Demonic Thoughts almost surpassed the limits of what a human could endure.

Xu Qingfan trembled, enduring the double torment between his body and his mind with great willpower. He stopped rolling and wailing, instead collapsing on the ground. With great effort, he stretched out his hand and took out a golden-white pearl from his sleeve, placing it against his forehead.

This golden-white pearl was indeed the precious "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic"! Xu Qingfan was preparing to use the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" to resist the impact of the Demonic Thoughts within the "Magic Pearl" on his mind.

Originally, taking out the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" in front of Zhang Xusheng to resist the "Magic Pearl" was a very foolish act. After all, Zhang Xusheng could stop him at any moment. In his current state, if Zhang Xusheng took the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" away, Xu Qingfan would have no power to resist.

However, at this moment, the situation was urgent. Xu Qingfan never expected that the Demonic Thoughts hidden in the "Magic Pearl" were so powerful, and his mind could collapse at any moment. In desperation, he had no choice but to take out the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" in front of Zhang Xusheng.

When the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" touched Xu Qingfan’s forehead, countless golden-white rays of light suddenly burst forth from it. The light was pure, gentle, yet majestic. Wherever it spread, it began to suppress the demonic energy that surrounded Xu Qingfan, and his mind became clearer. The various evil thoughts started to retreat like the tide under the power of the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic."

As the light of the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" shone, Xu Qingfan’s eyes gradually regained clarity. The light dispersed the black mist that enveloped him, tightly wrapping the dark light and mist in his chest. In the moment of black and white meeting, without any warning, the world suddenly erupted with a thunderous roar, each side fighting fiercely.

The energy contained within the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" countered the "Magic Pearl," and when they met, they unleashed a powerful energy like never before.

Xu Qingfan finally had a moment to catch his breath.

On the other side, watching Xu Qingfan take out the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic," the power of the "demonic orb" unexpectedly began to retreat under the golden-white light. Zhang Xusheng was taken aback and murmured, "The Buddhist relic contains a large amount of ‘Holy Spirit Stone’ energy; no wonder it can suppress the energy within the ‘demonic orb.’"

He instinctively reached out to snatch the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" from Xu Qingfan’s hands, but halfway through, he withdrew his hand. He was even more curious to see how Xu Qingfan, as the battleground for the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" and the "demonic orb," would turn out—would he be both good and evil? Neither truly good nor evil? Zhang Xusheng was full of expectations.

However, as time went by, the golden-white light emitted by the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" began to fade away, eventually disappearing, while the demonic energy within the "demonic orb" was endless. Once the light from the "Holy Spirit Buddhist Relic" faded, it quickly invaded Xu Qingfan’s entire body.

"What a pity," Zhang Xusheng said softly while looking at everything before him. "This relic should belong to that old fellow Jiuhuan. Although he has reached the peak of the Golden Core Stage, he has lived so long that he has become like a monster. His understanding of the Heavenly Way is unmatched in the world. This relic merges with his understanding of the Heavenly Way before he died; its energy is certainly not less than that of those at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. Plus, with the energy of the ‘Holy Spirit Stone,’ its power can completely compare with the ‘demonic orb.’ It’s a pity that Xu Qingfan can only draw on the outermost layer of its energy, and it cannot last. The energy within the ‘demonic orb,’ however, is endless. As its connection with Xu Qingfan’s body deepens, its power will grow greater, and the demonic energy will become more abundant and stronger. Xu Qingfan, no matter how hard you try, you cannot escape the fate of being corrupted…"

However, just at the moment Zhang Xusheng finished speaking, an unexpected change occurred!