Devil Cultivators are those that had converted themselves to devouring others to become stronger. It was easy and they have fast cultivation. They even devoured their fellow but sometimes when someone had seen one, there were more of them coming.
They are the plague of Heaven and Earth and their Ancestors are even more because of how they could devour countless worlds just to become stronger. The Ancient Desolate Era is when those ancestors had been killed by Origin Return Sovereign, a mortal that had the power to rival Peak Existences.
It is said that he was born with the Dao or the Dao simply originated from him or he was born from the Dao itself. There are many tales but it was Yun Haoran's favorite mythology because he could use it as a reference. Too many references to use.
Origin Return Sovereign also has the power to purify the Death and Darkness that would come from the slain Devils that could corrupt anything or anyone. A normal mortal becoming Devil Cultivator is a normal occurrence. That is where Yun Haoran flashes that idea of how to purify those vile energies.
Yun Haoran felt he would grow some white hair because of them becoming more and more cunning each day. They would sometimes just kidnap someone to power them up.
This time, however, they have a formation that he second guesses because of the murky and disgusting feeling he has felt in the Empire
They wanted to refine the whole Empire and advance in their cultivation. To power it up, they needed 5 Qi Sea Cultivators from a different source that would also refine those cultivators as puppets to gather more Spiritual Qi. In other words, they become a battery for their own use.
As for the mortals, they now have their health back. He used hundreds of 9 Turn Rank 1 Pill and reversed the Formation to give them their missing Life Force. He was not here for the mission, he was here to relax and tried hunting some Devils.
But instead, he felt that 'relaxation' would again become a symbol of the Devil's Daily Resurgence.
Daily because those Devil that is slain would tell 'The Devil would resurge, no one could escape.' It became an ordinary joke at Myriad Martial World.
He uses a clone to fight those guys and also hijack the formation where if the Devil used them, he could fasten the hijack. In return, he could reverse the situation. The formation becomes deeply rooted but not enough for the Grotto Heaven Protectors to feel it because of how advanced and plan it ahead.
"Damn, bastard." Yun Haoran said as his eyes have an emotionless feeling in them. Because Grotto Heaven is involved, it should be a Core Mission and some compensation because of the lack of information. He was irritated however because one of his clones needed to be sacrificed.
He was lucky enough to not call forth his strongest technique but to let his clones sacrifice to stop that guy is horrendous.
He used countless resources just to create three and now he only had two because of them. He was not angry but irritated about how these guys are becoming a mess each day.
If not for the fact he was the one who accepted the mission, this Empire would be erased, those Grotto Heaven cannot do anything and Nine Halls would become a laughingstock of nearby sects.
He was talking to a guy who found that Formation, he was bound in a cross position in a tree. He doesn't have anything to wear and even his things can be seen.
"Yun Haoran, kill me already." The Devil Cultivator said as he didn't have any emotion on them. He was a Devil and he was not afraid of death. He was a man who was transitioning to a middle-aged man with muscles all over his body and also scars around him.
Yun Haoran only smiled and punched him in the gut, after that punch, a tree had a hole in it that healed faster. The Devil Cultivator had blood on its orifices because how this guy's thing is also dripping blood.
"Where did you get that formation? Did all those Devils have one as well?" Yun Haoran asked as his emotionless eyes wanted to know everything and that the Devil would remain forever here.
"Hehe, you cannot make me speak." The Devil Cultivator proudly said. Taunting Yun Haoran that even if he tortured him, he would never speak.
"You know, I am easy to talk with. If that is what you want, learn to squirm." Yun Haoran said and a maggot appeared before his palm. That maggot is inactive but with spiritual qi of him, it becomes active.
"I am not righteous but I have a bad blood against your kind that I cannot imagine. Seeing all your ugly faces makes my blood boil." He added and he put the Maggot on the Devil Cultivator's feet.
"You would not die but you would experience something worse than death itself. Hehe." He added again while he vanished.
If Yun Haoran cannot make him talk with simple torture, better torture is suited for him. He was not a fan of torture but if someone or something could make them speak without him torturing them, is a great thing for him.
The reason why he was delighted to get his hands on a torture device that Ancient people used to make to let their enemies speak.
Sometimes, only seeing that is enough for them to speak, however.
He then appeared inside the Royal Palace where the Ruler of this Empire had been waiting.
"Lei Ku, right? There are no more parasites because they have either been eaten or were dealt with by me. The parasites living inside all your bodies had also been exterminated. Your newborn child would have at the very least an Earth Grade Root or even better. Don't pamper him/her and let him/her learn the hardship of the world.
Make him test himself to our sect 15 years later." Yun Haoran said while smiling. The world would be a better place if Yun Haoran's smile is true.
The Ruler of the Empire, Lei Ku had been hoping for the Nine Hall to win. Yun Haoran may have been young in his eyes but he had the power and knowledge all around him so he trusted him. He never thought he would return to finish an hour after he left and for the Empire to flourish once more.
Devils may wait but they cannot wait for their hunger to subside and their pride to be thrown into humiliation. If they created chaos, it would be more than what Yun Haoran could handle but to wait is another matter entirely.
They are not targeted because of the Grotto Heaven's existence underground but a parasite had been planted on the that they cannot intervene in what they are doing.
They could only report it to the Nine Halls but they didn't know how many Devil and their powers are so 4 Qi Sea died in vain.
"Senior, don't you want to attend the banquet? The Empire would throw a celebration for defeating those Devils." Lei Ku asked and even called Yun Haoran a Senior even though he was 46 this year. He was also the Ruler of a Mortal Empire. Although not as large as other nearby empires, they are still a considerable Empire.
"No, and also 2 of your Daughters and 3 Sons have now a High-Grade Root. If you want, I'll ask the Sect to fetch them up." Yun Haoran asked Lei Ku as he smiled. With that sentence alone, their Empire would have a chance to become a High-Grade Empire.
Those words became a gong for Lei Ku to have his mouth become agape in shock, he then asked, "How did that happen, Senior? My sons and daughters had only Low-Grade Roots."
"I don't know, maybe you had faulty Spiritual Stones to not realize it a bit?" Yun Haoran played him like a fool. He never showed up but he saw those 5 that are hard-working and a little not arrogant and so he gave them the Seed… when they were sleeping.
So they had a nightmare where their bodies had been shattered to countless pieces. They cannot wake up for unknown reasons but their bodies had a putrid smell coming from it waking up. They then realize that their cultivation is faster and their bodies have explicit power coming from them.
"I thank Senior for your generosity. Please let them become a Cultivator." Lei Ku said as he stood up from his throne and bowed his head but he was stopped by Yun Haoran.
Yun Haoran then replied, "A Ruler doesn't bow to anyone. We are a Cultivator and you are a ruler. If some arrogant shit tried to make you bow, let them know the name of Saint Gold Sword." A plaque also appeared in his palm and gave it to Lei Ku.
"Of course, you cannot use it to make anyone submit to you. It would explode when you did something bad. It would only stay in your possession and would explode in your death." Yun Haoran said all the conditions.
He has two reasons for giving it to him. First is for his Master's luck to soar and Second, for the Devil Cultivators to not take any revenge.
He would be running for his life if his Master found out but that's it. His master would not lower himself to be worshiped by Mortals but Yun Haoran could definitely do it.
"Yes, Senior." Lei Ku replied as he returned to his throne while accepting the plaque. He was excited that his Imperial Family and his Empire would have protection as long as he was alive.
"Ready yourself because changes would happen in this world." Yun Haoran smiled and vanished.
—
Yun Haoran never left this place because he became an ordinary mortal enjoying the sceneries of this Empire.
"That Ruler is good, eh." Yun Haoran mumbled while looking at how this festival had unfolded. They looked happy and laughter could be heard all over the place.
Some regained their strength at their peak. Martial Artists had also been included. Martial Artists are those mortals who practice the Way of Martial Arts and become stronger through that stage.
The Peak Martial Artist had the power of a Middle-Grade Meridian Opening which is impressive on its own.
The reason why the Citizens become energetic after their blood had been mysteriously drawn on them and also mysteriously come back with an unknown power would become a mystery no one but Cultivators could solve.
He enjoyed the festival, clapping his hands on the shows and having seen those 3 Princes and 2 Princesses being showered with gifts. Tomorrow morning, they will become a Cultivator.
Nine Halls protected countless empires and they are only Middle-Grade ones, those High-Grade Empires have Cultivators at their ranks or even the Emperor himself has a cultivation, albeit low but still a Cultivator.
He also ate their food and watched their culture unfold before his eyes. His smile grew wider. It was a genuine smile coming from his very being.
His Dao Heart, solid as a stone, became heavier so that no one could push it. The Empire's luck also grew for unknown reasons. It may not be a Dragon of Luck that is said in legends but it became a Flood Dragon that had the potential of becoming a True Dragon.
—
"Do you care to explain now?" Yun Haoran smiles while looking at the Devil Cultivator. His image must be censored because of how grotesque it has become. He would not die in this torture because of how the tree would heal him in unending pain.
Those maggots would slowly eat him while multiplying rapidly within one's body. From the inside out, they would eat him. They bypass pain tolerance, and savor their food while their teeth can cause too much itch within the body.
"I had gotten it and no one knew except for the Grotto Heaven and Qi Sea I employed. Now, kill me. Remember that you would die worse than this, Yun Haoran." The Devil mocked him while weariness had been evident in his eyes. He had maggots appearing on his eyes, he was too pale compared to yesterday.
"If you had only said those words to me, I would have killed you a painless death. Now you need torture just to say that to me. Hahaha, how laughable, no?" Yun Haoran recalled all the maggots that had multiplied to a much greater degree overnight. Whitey excitedly walk over and ate those Maggots that had been floating.
Blackie on the other hand ate the man whole. He long died because of how Yun Haoran pierced his head.
"If that formation showed up, there must be more formation that guy didn't know about. Damn Devils." Yun Haoran thought as he vanished. If he saw one, there should be another appearing like those Devils.