While other Heavenly Demons possessed greater combat power than the Formless Heavenly Demon, capable of shattering all techniques with a single strike and even achieving a state of near-immortality, they couldn't completely conceal the dense demonic aura that enveloped them.
The Formless Heavenly Demon, however, could instantly transform into an exact replica of anyone it had ever seen, even mimicking their habitual movements and aura of magical power.
Even their closest loved ones might not be able to detect any discrepancy.
It is said that over a hundred thousand years ago, a Formless Heavenly Demon appeared in the cultivation world. She wandered freely among the major factions, toying with their prodigies, fairies, and elders for her own amusement.
The various factions had laid down heavenly nets to hunt and kill her more than once, yet she effortlessly dispelled them with a laugh. She even disguised herself as a peerlessly handsome man and carried off many beautiful fairies.
This caused countless prodigies to lose their true loves, filling them with a burning hatred for her!
Later, that Formless Heavenly Demon vanished without a trace. Some claimed she was suppressed and destroyed by the joint effort of the great sacred lands using their deepest reserves.
Others said she ascended to the Demon Realm after surviving ninety-nine heavenly tribulations, twelve times over.
There were also those who claimed that after toying with the various immortal sects, she went to sleep in the endless snowy plains in the north and would one day awaken to play with the cultivation world once more.
In any case, no one had any conclusive evidence that the Formless Heavenly Demon was ever exposed and captured by the righteous path. In fact, no method for discerning a Formless Heavenly Demon was ever even recorded.
As streaks of golden light merged into Wang Xiu's body, his comprehension of this peerless cultivation art, originally belonging only to the Formless Heavenly Demon clan, rose at an unbelievable rate.
Entry!
Minor Perfection!
Major Perfection!
Great Perfection!
This rate of improvement, even within the Demon Realm, would be an absolutely earth-shattering existence.
After all, for tens of thousands of years, demonic cultivators had tried every means to obtain the cultivation arts of the various Heavenly Demon clans and attempted to practice them.
But Heavenly Demons were born with demonic bodies. Although they looked similar to humans, their meridians and acupoints were vastly different, making it difficult for humans to adapt to their techniques.
Even the most monstrously talented demonic prodigies would spend several millennia to cultivate their clan's foundational art to Major Perfection. And even then, they needed to borrow the original power of a Heavenly Demon to transform themselves into a 'half-demon, half-human'. Otherwise, even reaching Minor Perfection would be difficult.
Now, Wang Xiu, though still in a human body, had perfectly adapted to the inheritance art of the Formless Heavenly Demon clan, all thanks to the power of the System.
If this were to get out, it would surely cause a massive uproar in the Demon Realm!
Time.
Gradually, it passed.
As Wang Xiu's understanding of the 'Heavenly Demon Myriad Transformations Sutra' deepened, the aura he exuded underwent a constant transformation.
He sat cross-legged.
At times, he was as solemn as a Buddha descending to the mortal world, his body radiating a golden light as if cast from gold. His spiritual energy transformed into pure golden Buddha light, accompanied by the chanting of Buddhist sutras.
At other times, he was ethereal and detached, like a Daoist Lord manifesting in the mortal realm. His body was wreathed in purple mist, condensing into immortal scenes of cranes, qilins, celestial palaces, and mountain ranges.
At other times, he was sinister and terrifying, his body exuding black qi that condensed into countless demonic shadows, baring fangs and brandishing claws.
Hundreds of layers of demonic prisons materialized behind him, imprisoning countless evil demons.
The auras of these demons were wild and defiant, constantly swirling around Wang Xiu.
Occasionally, they would merge with Wang Xiu, making his own aura infinitely sinister and evil.
Fortunately.
Before fusing with the 'Heavenly Demon Myriad Transformations Sutra', Wang Xiu had already enveloped the abandoned Daoist temple with the Green Lotus Heaven-Shrouding Formation.
Otherwise.
With the dense demonic qi Wang Xiu was now releasing, all of Maple City would surely have been thrown into panic.
However.
Even with the formation's support, it could not completely conceal this overwhelming momentum. Because as Wang Xiu's understanding of the sutra deepened, the demonic qi grew heavier.
The Green Lotus Heaven-Shrouding Formation.
After all, it was based on ordinary formation flags. When faced with a level of pressure like this, it was ultimately unsustainable.
The formation's collapse was only a matter of time.
Meanwhile.
Outside the ruins of the Zhao Family estate in Maple City.
As the sun set, the sky grew darker and darker.
The ghostly domain enveloping the Zhao Family estate became increasingly dense with yin energy.
Although the Three Powers Sword Formation continuously dispelled the yin-slaughter qi within the ghostly domain, it was like trying to extinguish a fire with a cup of water. It couldn't eliminate the aura completely, and they could only watch it grow stronger.
The third day of the ghost month!
The seventh day after the vengeful ghost's death!
The collision of these two dates made the situation even more dire.
Tonight, at the midnight hour.
Nie Linglan was certain to manifest within the Zhao Family estate, devouring the massive amount of yin-slaughter qi in this world to reach her peak state.
At that time.
Leveraging the advantage of the terrain within the ghostly domain, even the three Li brothers, who were above the seventh stage of the Core Formation realm, would not dare to be careless and would need to treat the situation with the utmost gravity.
"Second Brother, what time is it now?"
Li Longyou's gaze was grave as he stared fixedly at the Zhao Family estate. His twin swords were already unsheathed, and he was fully prepared, ready to face the enemy at any moment.
"Third Brother, be patient. It's only the third quarter of the hour Hai. It's still early!"
Li Longji yawned.
Li Longhao: ...
Li Longhao: ...
"Get up, you lazy bastard! It's almost the hour of the ghost! With less than a quarter of an hour left, you're still dozing off? Your constitution might be special, but you're just too damn lazy. Slacking off while hunting evil spirits?"
"Brother!" Li Longyou said, "My right eyelid has been twitching. I have a bad feeling about this. Why don't we call for a couple more reinforcements?"
Li Longhao rolled his eyes. He silently swore that next time he took on a mission, he would never team up with his two weird brothers again—one was a sleepyhead, the other a coward. Their combined ability to infuriate his fiery temper could literally kill him.
A moment later, with the stroke of midnight, the quarter of an hour passed. On the Third Lady's Evil Day, the first seven-day anniversary of the evil spirit's arrival, the entire Zhao Mansion was instantly enveloped in an impenetrably dense aura of yin energy, making one's entire body break out in a cold sweat.
"That monster's aura has appeared!"
Li Longhao's tiger eyes widened in fury. He drew the great sword from his back, held it in his hand, and shot towards the Zhao Mansion. The immense sword pressure forcefully shattered the thick yin energy. In a radius of several yards around him, there was not a trace of yin energy left.
"Brother, hold on! Wait for everyone to gather before we engage! Rushing in so fast is a quick way to get yourself killed!" Li Longyou shouted. The magic ring on his finger flashed, and four silver formation flags shot out, embedding themselves in the four corners of the Zhao Mansion and enclosing it. In an instant, the yin energy within the mansion seemed to be suppressed, and its surging growth began to subside.
"Brother Two, stop sleeping!" Seeing his second brother, Li Longji, starting to doze off again, Li Longyou rolled his eyes, slung him over his shoulder, and chased after Li Longhao.
As one of the four great families of Maple City, the Zhao family's estate was vast. Coupled with the ghostly fog, Li Longhao vanished after charging inside.
Fortunately, following the trail of sword energy Li Longhao left behind, Li Longyou could just keep up with his idiot of a big brother.
"Monster, taste my sword!"
After passing through several dark alleys, Li Longyou, carrying his brother on his shoulder, arrived at the Zhao family's back garden. From the thick fog, he heard Li Longhao's furious roar, followed immediately by the crisscrossing of sword energy.
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