Hongjun, Xiang Yu, and the Carp Demon looked at the snow outside together. His heart gradually calmed down as he waited for the final result that Li Jinglong would bring them. The Carp Demon cherished that piece of dragon scale, caressing it here and there and even rubbing it against its mouth endlessly. It was as if with this scale, the dream of becoming a dragon was no longer so unattainable. With just a little bit of dragon aura, after a long time, it would become a dragon. If it wasn't for the fact that the carp's tongue was too short to stick out, the Carp Demon would have licked it all over.
Xiang Yu: "…"
Hongjun: "?"
"What is this?" Xiang Yu asked. At that moment, the Carp Demon was trying to stuff the dragon scale into its mouth with difficulty. However, the size was really wrong and it couldn't stuff it in no matter how hard it tried.
After Hongjun explained the gratitude and grudges involved, Xiang Yu said, "I heard from the elders that it's not easy to become a dragon. Someone has to confer it the title of Righteous."
Hongjun said, "Righteous."
When demons cultivated, they needed someone to confer them the title of Righteous. Legend has it that humans were the spirit of all things. Only by being conferred the title of Righteous could demons attain the Dao and flood dragons transform into dragons. As for the method of conferring the title of Righteous, it was really very strange. Just by pointing at that thing and saying "You've become a human" or "You've become a dragon", the demon could obtain a mysterious power.
"Your Highness is fated to be with it." Xiang Yu said, "Perhaps it's the person who conferred it the title of Righteous. Legend has it that this fate has long been predestined."
"Just like Wen Bin?" Hongjun thought about it carefully. Xiang Yu and Wen Bin also seemed to have some kind of destiny. Ever since they met, Xiang Yu truly possessed the seven emotions and six desires of a human, happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy.
The Carp Demon, however, didn't listen. Its eyes were only filled with the dragon scale. After a moment, it asked, "When will Second Brother take action?"
Hongjun shook his head. The time they had agreed upon earlier might have been a day or a few days, but as long as Li Jinglong activated the power of the ley lines, the Seven Towers would definitely sense it. During this period of time, they had to temporarily guard the building. Xiang Yu sat with Hongjun for a while, then got up to bring them food.
Hongjun leaned against the window and took a nap. Outside the window, the snow rustled, and he sank into a long dream. In that dream, there were countless screams, cries, and roars that sounded like they were tearing apart the heavens. It was as if the nightmare he had in Dunhuang had returned.
He dreamed that the man used a dagger to cut off the flesh from his body. The old man lay in the coffin and closed the lid. The hanged woman's face was sallow, and blood was dripping from her lower body. Tens of thousands of dead children crowded the streets of Luoyang. The black clouds spread, and they opened their mouths together, letting out mournful cries at him.
Li Jinglong's forehead slammed against the iron fence, and he woke up.
He was really too tired. Even if he was being tortured, he still had to sleep for a while. Otherwise, when he encountered An Lushan, he might not be able to fight anymore. The sky was still dark, and it was impossible to tell how many hours he had slept. What he was most afraid of was that An Lushan might not even intend to interrogate him and just directly escort him back to the Chang 'an.
But he guessed that An Lushan would not do this. After all, the subordinates of the Exorcism Division had escaped. If he was escorted out of Luoyang, it would only increase the variables. A long night was fraught with dreams. He bet that An Lushan would definitely take care of him as quickly as possible.
Two monsters were pushing the cage containing him, dragging him out of the main hall. Li Jinglong immediately sensed that the main character was about to appear.
His eyes opened a slit as he was pushed through the grand hall of the Ming Hall. He was pushed through a corridor filled with ashes. The wind was wrapped in grayish-black snow, and it carried with it the smell of blood. At this moment, he suddenly missed Hongjun dearly, and even felt a tiny bit of regret.
How did I end up in my current state?
Li Jinglong sat in the cage and could not help but think of his entire life. From when he was young until now, he had never imagined that this moment would come.
The long corridor quickly came to an end. At the end of the corridor was a spacious plateau. This was where Wu Zetian had once worshipped the Heavenly Altar in Luoyang. In front of the Heavenly Altar were stacked layers of dried corpses.
This was An Lushan's masterpiece. At this moment, he was sitting on the Heavenly Altar. His body was massive and majestic, and his entire body emitted bursts of black Qi. He held a corpse in his hand and brought it to his mouth to suck. The black Qi enveloped the corpse, instantly causing it to rot before being sucked in.
Beside him was a large pile of fresh corpses. Every time he devoured a corpse, he would casually throw it under the Heavenly Altar.
The monster pushed the cage containing Li Jinglong up the slope to An Lushan. This fellow's rotting body seemed to have taken a turn for the better. His exposed belly had been stitched together with a needle and thread, and his body was no longer festering like before. It was as if the essence blood he had sucked in was nourishing this rotting body.
"Just what are you?" Li Jinglong stared at An Lushan. Without waiting for him to answer, he only muttered.
"Devil." An Lushan's voice had already become low and hoarse. It was as if there was a giant bellows in his chest. "Seeing that you're about to die, there's no harm in telling you."
"You … Inner Demons can actually grow like this?" Li Jinglong could hardly believe his eyes. If last time An Lushan still had some semblance of a human, now that he was up close, he was simply a monster from head to toe!
"A devil is a devil," An Lushan revealed a mouth full of sharp teeth, seemingly smiling as he sized up Li Jinglong, who was trembling from his intimidation. Soon after, he waved his hand. Chao Yun came forward and opened the cage door. Li Jinglong crouched down and crawled out. He raised his head to examine this terrifying monster that was already beyond his knowledge.
An Lushan waved his hand again. Chao Yun pushed the cage down. At this moment, only An Lushan and Li Jinglong were left on the altar, quietly facing each other.
An Lushan's body seemed to have been rubbed into countless dead people. Those resentful spirits were mixed together, as if all the sorrow in the world had been poured into a pool of asphalt. Then, thousands of pounds of asphalt had been poured into this monster. His fat and black body was constantly emitting Devil Qi. Every part of his body had resentful spirits roaring, trying to escape from the shackles of this body.
"Inner Demons, Blood Demons, Anger Demons, Resentment Demons, Lust Demons …" An Lushan growled on the stage. "Once I absorb enough Devil Qi, I will become the most powerful god in this world —!"
The dusky world seemed to have sensed An Lushan's growl and trembled.
Li Jinglong's hands were tied behind his back by a magic tool. With a slight struggle, the chain tightened. But this was not important. Once the power of the ley line surged, any magic tool would be turned into ashes.
"Xie Yu's soul has been refined to be so powerful." Li Jinglong said with a trembling voice. "I really can't imagine. Who are you? You are no longer An Lushan. "
An Lushan said in a low voice, "I am everyone in this world. Li Jinglong, everyone has resentment and pain. Do you think you are so open and aboveboard?"
Li Jinglong actually took half a step back and said in a low voice, "Everyone has resentment and pain. Yes, but the reason why people are human is because …"
"Stupid —!" An Lushan's voice was like thunder, instantly covering the second half of Li Jinglong's sentence. "Become a demon —!"
He twisted his huge head and roared, "Be possessed by the devil! Let me see how many dark secrets you don't dare to speak of. The human heart —! "
After he finished speaking, An Lushan suddenly stretched out his huge palm and aimed it at Li Jinglong. With a loud bang, darkness surged like a violent storm and instantly surrounded Li Jinglong.
"… It is precisely because there are still things in this world that I yearn for!" Li Jinglong stretched out his palm in the darkness, and a blazing white light suddenly blossomed from his palm!
The hurricane of demonic energy engulfed Li Jinglong's entire body. The evil energy that An Lushan had absorbed was released in an instant and enveloped the entire high platform. Li Jinglong was like a small boat in the boundless dark sea, standing majestically amidst the raging waves like a mountain!
"I see —!" An Lushan's wild laughter rang out. He roared, "Your destruction —!"
Li Jinglong held the talisman in his left hand and the Heart Lamp in his right palm brightened again. He shouted, "It ends here! "
Just as he used his strength to burn the talisman, a white light flashed, and something in his heart seemed to shatter.
"The living are passersby, the dead are returnees."
"Heaven and Earth are one journey backward, and we grieve together for eternity."
Qing Xiong's voice instantly rang in his ears, and Li Jinglong found himself back in the Exorcism Division. Countless scenes flashed back in his mind.
"Father — I'm in so much pain —!"
"Hongjun?" Li Jinglong looked at the scene in front of him in a daze and roared, "Hongjun —!"
"Silk Star! Silk Star … "
Jia Yuze hugged the young Hongjun and cried in grief. Li Jinglong suddenly turned around and found that the Golden Armored God of War holding the Sword of Wisdom had appeared behind him!
In an instant, golden flames burned Hongjun's entire body. His entire body was charred, cracked, and spurted out blood. He struggled and rolled in his mother's arms. Kong Xuan released a spell and rushed towards the Golden Armored God of War, blocking the dazzling arrow!
Time flowed back again. Li Jinglong held the Demon Subduing Record tightly and stood in the abandoned Exorcism Division.
"Bring him here." On the mural, Di Renjie's portrait shone. "I will remove the demonic seed in his body …"
"No, no." Li Jinglong retreated.
In an instant, countless causes and effects were connected in his mind. The rainy day in the Exorcism Division, Hongjun who was about to leave Chang 'an, Kong Xuan's family was destroyed, and finally … Qing Xiong's appearance.
"Atone for your sins."
What Li Jinglong heard was Qing Xiong's final whisper. "In this life, you are destined to atone for your sins."
Li Jinglong pressed his head and roared like a wild beast. When he looked up again, he was already in the dark hurricane. The black gas in his body was sucked out, and the black gas rolled and turned into another him standing in front of him.
"So … that's how it is." The other Li Jinglong in the dark opened his mouth and let out a muffled voice of An Lushan. "What did I see … guilt, hatred, and your selfish desires …"
Li Jinglong tried to control himself, but it was too late. The moment the talisman burned, blue light surged out from the ground and swallowed the hurricane!
"What is this!" An Lushan never expected such an unforeseen event!
Under the dark sky, at the bottom of the altar, the energy flow of the earth veins destroyed the huge building that was almost fifty feet tall and hundreds of feet wide. The bricks and stones disintegrated in an instant and flew in all directions, circling around Li Jinglong and An Lushan.
A ray of blue light shot into the sky.
"He has begun!" Hongjun immediately turned and ran to the center of the Heavenly Stupa. With a sliding step, he knelt in the drainage array and whispered, "No matter what god he is, please let him return safely …"
Hongjun took out the talisman and used his strength. The moment it burned, the energy of the earth veins surged out.
In front of the Longmen Mountain, above the abandoned mine, Mo Rigen's talisman floated in the air and was burned to ashes. Blue light surged out from under his feet.
In front of the Tianjin Bridge, Trandol burned the talisman.
One after another, the blue light of the earth veins rose into the sky. In Luoyang City, where the Big Dipper was located, the energy of the earth veins in the seven buildings was completely released and surged into the sky!
On the vast land, the seven light pillars scattered in the sky at the same time. Then, they turned into countless light spots and surged toward the altar in the center of the Ming Hall.
"That's it, Mara …" Li Jinglong's voice suddenly became mighty and solemn. Hundreds of billions of light spots rapidly gathered toward his body. As the energy grew stronger and stronger, a white hazy Dharma Idol of a god appeared behind him!
An Lushan roared, "You want to use the same trick again! It's not that easy —! "
Li Jinglong slowly opened his eyes. Just like that night in the Daming Palace, the light flames burned his whole body and turned him into a light body and hollow spirit.
Light Shines Everywhere, the Burning Lamp Descends!
He stretched out his hand and the Sword of Wisdom flew from afar and landed in his hand. He held it tightly.
The light spots were like billions of stars in the dark night. They rushed toward Li Jinglong and turned into countless shooting stars that entered his body. An Lushan tried his best to resist, but the black gas was like snow melting in the scorching sun under the strong light of the burning lamp. It burned and dispersed!
"Disperse —" Li Jinglong's voice reverberated between heaven and earth. All the meridians in his body were burned and broken. The power of the earth veins had already filled his body. At this moment, he felt that his consciousness was connected with the origin of heaven and earth. In an instant, he saw the illusory Great Dao!
An Lushan let out a cry of fear. He had nowhere to run in this sea of light. He knelt on the ground and accepted the judgment of the gods! The Devil Qi in his body began to be blown away. The rotten flesh on his chest flew away, revealing his heart that had been completely corroded by the Devil Qi. His heart was still beating and burning in the ink-like thick black fire!
Just as Li Jinglong's consciousness was connected with heaven and earth for a brief moment, a voice broke the state of selflessness during the Descending Spirit.
"Li Jinglong …" Hongjun's small voice begged for mercy. "Why … did you … do this …"
Li Jinglong's eyes suddenly widened. In a short moment, the power of the Mind's Lamp rolled back and began to burn his heart!
At the same time, in the Babel Stupa.
The entire Chang 'an had become a sea of light. Hongjun felt the power of the earth veins rapidly flowing through his body and toward the distant Ming Hall. In that powerful energy, he vaguely heard a voice.
"Devil Seed …" the low voice said, "You will eventually perish …"
The Carp Demon's voice seemed to ring out behind him. However, at this moment, Hongjun's consciousness was in a blur. The light around him transformed into the blazing sunlight of the Exorcism Division in summer. He seemed to have returned to his childhood, kneeling in the courtyard. When he raised his head again, the Golden Armored War God was pointing at him with the Sword of Wisdom in his hand.
"No … No …" Hongjun said with a trembling voice. "Don't! Don't kill me! "
The earth veins array instantly shook. The Carp Demon shouted from outside, "Hongjun! Hongjun! "
Hongjun was almost drowned in the blue light of the earth veins. His entire body turned into a body of light. His back was like silk being peeled out of a cocoon. Layer by layer, the Dharma Form of the Acalanatha appeared!
"Is this also the spell you agreed on?" The Carp Demon felt that something was wrong. It ran to the periphery of the array and shouted, "Hongjun! What's wrong with you! "
Hongjun felt a sharp pain in his heart. On his chest, the Mind Lamp seal placed by Li Jinglong shattered with a bang. His body uncontrollably ignited with black devil fire!
Hongjun shouted in pain. He vaguely returned to the day when he was young. The faces of his father, mother, and Li Jinglong flashed in front of him. However, immediately after, the Golden Armored War God behind him shouted, "Devil Barrier –! Quickly surrender! "
The Demon Binding Rope burst out with golden light and was instantly pulled out from Hongjun's body. The Carp Demon was extremely anxious outside, but could not help. It only shouted, "Hongjun –!"
At this moment, the Acalanatha raised his hand and pulled the Demon Binding Rope. In an instant, the rope tightened and tightly bound Hongjun's heart. The exploding devil aura that filled the sky was then absorbed back into Hongjun's body!
Hongjun's eyes lost focus and he fell to the ground!
Immediately after, the array went out of control and the Heavenly Stupa collapsed.