Lei Ruolan looked liked she was about to either throw up or pass out. Even on the brink of unconsciousness, however, her face still showed an expression of horrified regret.
"...I...I didn't mean for him to touch it..." She gasped, clutching at her stomach. "My father...he said..."
"What did he say?" Qiu Yunru said coldly. "To give it to Li-shidi? Did you not know that this is a Demon Soul Idol?"
Demon Soul Idol-- a forbidden demonic cultivation technique that had originated in the Demon Realm itself.
Invented by demons, it was a way of crushing the soul of lesser demons into an essence that could be stored in an object--usually an idol figure with a demonic appearance. This essence could later be released through touch. The moment the idol was touched, the seal would disintegrate, allowing the stored qi to rush into the body of the one who had touched it. Great temporary leaps in demonic cultivation could be made in this manner. Though the qi would eventually dissolve, it was like inhaling a drug; for a period of time, you would be thrumming with so much demonic qi that you would be able to create more destruction than you ever had before. Much like a drug, it was also addictive.
Evidently, this technique was an extremely dangerous one, for both humans and demons alike. For demons, it required the killing of one of their own kind. As demons didn't have the same perception of murder and death that humans did, it wasn't so frowned upon in the Demon Realm to use this technique; to kill another demon and store its power for your later benefit was simply a way to grow strong. For humans, however, it was dangerous in more ways. If one's body had never stored demonic qi, touching one of these idols could result in one's meridians imploding, leading to a gruesome death. If one's body had...they might completely lose control.
Lei Ruolan's eyes flashed with recognition. She had most definitely heard the term before. Perhaps it was delirium, or pain, or guilt, or all three; she curled up, holding her head and speaking falteringly:
"Father told me...what it was...he said that...if I gave it to him...he would..." She trailed off, her voice slurring with disorientation. "...be proud of me...but I wasn't going to...I just...I just...I left it...in my robes..."
Qiu Yunru didn't have the brain space to figure out any more of what was going on with her. They needed competition officials here, and they needed them fast. Urgently, he fumbled with his alchemy pack, lit his red flare, and set it off towards the sky.
Only, it never exploded.
There seemed to be some sort of barrier laying over the sky just above the cliffside, preventing any flares from shooting up. Looking closely, it was created from demonic qi itself, like a violet fabric pulled over the arena. Qiu Yunru felt a cold sweat creep down his neck.
"Gege..." Li Chenyuan spoke. His voice cracked with desperation. Turning around, Qiu Yunru saw that he was holding his head, which was heavy with demonic qi. His eyes still glowed red, and he seemed to be in extreme pain, tearing at his hair and shaking his head violently. "My head...It hurts..."
Qiu Yunru tensed up as Li Chenyuan stepped towards him. He wanted to step forward and help his shidi, but...and influx demonic qi could do unpredictable things to the body and mind. If he stepped forward, it might be his last step.
"Li-shidi," He said, his voice steady. "Lower the sky barrier. I need to set off a flare."
Li Chenyuan looked up at him through hazy eyes. Those eyes were no longer glowing red, but purple now, infused with demonic qi stronger than Qiu Yunru had every seen. "I didn't do it...I can't turn it off..."
Qiu Yunru's throat went dry.
Of course they just had to end up in the worst case scenario!
This was one of the worse and rare side effects of being flooded with demonic qi as a human. One's body, mind, and meridians, unused to hosting so much of the substance, would overload and begin to commit actions that one couldn't recognize as their own. Whether it was raising a sky barrier or killing someone with your own two hands, the person would be unable to process what they were doing until even days later.
He tried one more time. "Li-shidi...even if it doesn't feel like it, you can lower it. Just concentrate a little..."
Li Chenyuan squeezed his eyes shut, stumbling towards Qiu Yunru in blind desperation. Though Qiu Yunru felt his stomach turn over in fear, he stayed put. After a moment, Li Chenyuan opened his eyes. He was beginning to cry. "I really can't..." He gasped. Even the tears flowing down his cheeks glowed with a faint violet residue. "I can't do it...I'm sorry...Agh!"
He doubled over, coughing up a mouthful of blood. Qiu Yunru winced. This was, of course, one of the more common side effects of using a Demon Soul Idol--internal bleeding.
"Hey--what's going on here?"
Qiu Yunru's heart sank then from the soles of his feet and straight into the earth.
The last thing we need right now is a fucking audience, ah!
Disciples had begun to creep back towards the clearing upon seeing the demonic barrier in the sky. They had been avoiding the area just earlier due to the commotion with the giant Shadow Demon Puppet, but now they were back and filled with curiosity.
People! Qiu Yunru thought, mentally tearing out his hair. Why can't they go mind their own business?!
The reason the arrival of more peering eyes was such a bad thing wasn't because he didn't want help. No--he absolutely needed help in handling this situation!
It was that, firstly, about a dozen people were now going to see Li Chenyuan roiling with demonic qi. There was absolutely no good that could come from that.
Secondly, these disciples, most of whom had just formed Golden Cores, wouldn't be of help at all. A situation of this level had to be handled with delicacy by experts. What's more...
Li Chenyuan suddenly lifted his head. He was no longer crying, though glimmering tear tracks still streaked his cheeks. His expression was blank, and he tilted his head towards the disciples appearing out of the forest.
The more people there are, the more likely he'll kill someone!
With the strength and speed of a tiger, Li Chenyuan lunged.