Record of a Demon's Cultivation Chapter 1279: Avoiding Strength, Striking Weakness

Translator: CinderTL

"Fellow Daoist Heng, you are overestimating your own abilities," Song Wen stated. "Had I wished you ill, my move would have occurred before you left the gale’s range. At that point, all three of you were ensnared by the gale while I remained safely outside. With a simple action, I could have allowed the gale and its lightning serpents to annihilate you."

Heng Ziping’s brow furrowed deeply, his gaze sweeping over Song Wen from head to toe. While the truth in Song Wen’s words was undeniable, he remained perplexed by his intentions.

"Fellow Daoist Gou Jun," Leng Zhi inquired, "is there something peculiar about this location that makes rash actions inadvisable?"

"Upon our entry into the abyss," Song Wen responded, "the cyclical frequency of the gang qi shifted. Have you pondered the reason for this alteration?"

As their conversation unfolded, the gang qi completed another cycle, transitioning from an inhaling phase to an exhaling one.

"Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, are you implying that our presence disturbs the gang qi’s natural flow? Yet, in the face of this gale, we are nothing more than insignificant ants. How could we possibly exert influence over its operation?"

Song Wen shook his head. "I cannot state with certainty whether that is the case. However, ever since I arrived, the gang qi immediately altered its direction, permitting the three of you to reach this spot unharmed. A major confrontation here could precipitate further unpredictable changes, potentially imperiling us all. Furthermore, we depend on the upward-blowing gale to make our escape from this abyss. If the gale continues to shift its direction erratically, how will we ever ascend back to the surface?"

Heng Ziping declared, "Since Fellow Daoist Gou Jun advises us to exercise restraint for the moment, we shall comply. But Leng Zhi, once we are clear of this abyss, our score will be settled."

"I shall anticipate it," Leng Zhi replied.

Despite her composed demeanor, a wave of relief washed over her in secret.

Had "Gou Jun" and Heng Ziping decided to unite their forces, she, already wounded, along with Xue Cong, who was nothing but a liability, would have stood no chance whatsoever.

Disregarding the trio, Song Wen plunged deeper into the abyss.

The Pure Origin Heavenly Dew remained elusive. To him, prior to the opportunity to advance to the Body Integration Stage, petty disputes were as insignificant as fleeting clouds.

Nevertheless, his descent was executed with meticulous slowness, his movements marked by extreme caution.

Witnessing his approach, Leng Zhi, Heng Ziping, and Xue Cong followed suit.

Heng Ziping positioned himself to Song Wen’s left, while Leng Zhi and Xue Cong occupied the right flank. The quartet moved in tandem, yet an undercurrent of mutual suspicion persisted among them.

The four individuals advanced with careful steps, yet encountered no immediate perils. After descending tens of thousands of miles, they finally reached the abyss floor, the destination they had ardently desired.

To their surprise, however, no trace of the Pure Origin Heavenly Dew was present; only the unyielding, cold expanse of rock greeted them.

"Fellow cultivators," Leng Zhi proposed, "given that no apparent dangers exist here, perhaps we should divide our search efforts?"

Heng Ziping offered no verbal response, instead proceeding westward independently.

Leng Zhi and Xue Cong exchanged a look and were about to depart together when the voice of the shadow void suddenly resonated within Song Wen’s mind.

"Master, proceed eastward. Within a radius of five thousand miles, there is naught but a minor anomaly located to the east."

Upon hearing this directive, Song Wen immediately turned his attention towards Leng Zhi and Xue Cong.

The pair were situated in the eastern sector.

A welcoming smile graced Song Wen’s features.

"Fellow daoists, we experienced some minor misunderstandings earlier. Why don’t we cast them aside and proceed harmoniously?"

Xue Cong directed a glare at Song Wen but remained silent.

Leng Zhi, however, responded with a faint smile.

"Very well."

"Now that our differences are settled, I wish you both the utmost success in your endeavors," Song Wen conveyed.

As he spoke, he gradually moved past them, establishing a distance of several miles ahead as he ventured eastward.

Observing Song Wen’s eastward progression, Leng Zhi and Xue Cong found themselves compelled to select an alternative direction, heading south.

Guided by the shadow void's instructions, Song Wen arrived before an immense stone pillar.

The sheer magnitude of the pillar defied even the shadow void’s capacity to ascertain its complete dimensions.

In simpler terms, the pillar's diameter surpassed at least 2,500 kilometers.

Its base was discernibly broader, giving the impression of an irregular stone plinth.

Song Wen surveyed the colossal structure from its base to its apex before commencing his ascent along its surface.

"Master, approximately 4,000 kilometers above your current position, on the right flank of the pillar, rests a Pure Origin Heavenly Dew," the shadow void announced abruptly.

Song Wen’s expression lit up with anticipation, and he immediately set course for the indicated location.

Before long, he discerned a droplet of Pure Origin Heavenly Dew partially embedded within the stone.

Wielding the Soul Cleaving Blade, Song Wen executed a delicate incision around the dewdrop.

The dew, accompanied by a small fragment of rock, was cleanly separated.

Precisely as Song Wen was carefully placing the dew into a jade box, the shadow void's voice resounded once more.

"Master, 3,000 kilometers to the left and 4,000 kilometers vertically from your position... there exists a drop of Pure Origin Heavenly Dew at each of those four distinct locations."

A clear smile instantly bloomed on Song Wen’s countenance.

“Finally, I’ve managed to find some Pure Origin Heavenly Dew! This expedition has truly not been in vain!”

Guided by the shadow void, Song Wen managed to collect nine drops of Pure Origin Heavenly Dew within moments. When combined with the four drops he had already secured, acquiring roughly ten more drops would be more than sufficient for his impending advancement to the Body Integration Stage.

“I wonder how much Pure Origin Heavenly Dew Xue Cong, Leng Zhi, and Heng Ziping have managed to gather?”

As Song Wen mused on this, he found himself arriving at the apex of the stone pillar.

Directly overhead, a massive stone wall presented itself, resting upon the pillar and extending horizontally across the vast void.

Speculating that this colossal wall might also harbor Pure Origin Heavenly Dew, Song Wen proceeded to fly along its underside, meticulously examining the surface.

However, after traversing tens of thousands of miles along the immense structure, he did not discover a single drop of the coveted dew.

“How can there be none?”

A wave of disappointment washed over Song Wen.

But in the very next instant, his eyes sparkled with realization.

He had failed to consider a critical factor.

If the initial pillar was capable of supporting this enormous wall, then there must undeniably be other pillars as well.

Such a magnificent and colossal construction could not possibly be supported by a solitary pillar, regardless of its unimaginable size.

Given that the first pillar had yielded Pure Origin Heavenly Dew, it stood to reason that the others might do the same.

With this newfound understanding, Song Wen redirected his attention from the minute search for dew drops to the more significant task of locating the colossal pillars themselves.

No longer needing to proceed with painstaking caution, his movements became incredibly swift.

Within a short span of time, he successfully identified a second stone pillar.

To his immense delight, and precisely as he had hypothesized, the surface of this stone pillar was indeed adorned with Pure Origin Heavenly Dew.

Song Wen descended the pillar, gathering the dew with the efficiency of a farmer harvesting his crops.

Just as he collected the fifth drop of Pure Origin Heavenly Dew from this second pillar, a voice suddenly echoed from behind him.

“Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, it appears your endeavors have yielded quite a bountiful harvest.”

The speaker was identified as Leng Zhi, who was accompanied by Xue Cong.

Despite having his valuable find discovered by others, Song Wen maintained his composure. He leisurely continued to collect the remaining Pure Origin Heavenly Dew present before finally addressing them.

“Indeed, I have made some progress. Might I inquire about the success of your own harvests, fellow daoists?”

Leng Zhi and Xue Cong offered no verbal response, their gazes fixed upon Song Wen with palpable displeasure.

Song Wen immediately grasped their unspoken intentions and promptly clasped his hands in a gesture of polite deference.

“I must continue my search for more Pure Origin Heavenly Dew. I shall take my leave now.”

With his pronouncement made, Song Wen began to ascend the pillar, soaring upwards.

Witnessing his ascent, Leng Zhi and Xue Cong immediately gave chase, their speed dramatically surpassing Song Wen’s. They rapidly soared thousands of miles above him.

The pair then separated, one heading towards the east and the other towards the west, commencing their search along both extremities of the pillar.

A subtle, cold smile then materialized on Song Wen’s face as he abruptly altered his course, plummeting back down the pillar.