The Quest for Immortality Chapter 2348: Awakening (part 2)

A swift action was taken by True Man Situ. He had only just detected an abnormality when he immediately reacted; this entire sequence unfolded in mere breaths, showcasing remarkable speed.

Regrettably, the corruption of the human mind is an instantaneous event.

By the time True Man Situ intervened, the monk, much like the scholar before him, had succumbed to intense longing. Not only was half his face horribly disfigured by worm-like lip marks, resulting in a bloody mess, but his neck and chest were also severely wounded and covered in blood.

True Man Situ could only employ the Red Gold Cup of Six Yang to temporarily quell the malevolent thoughts consuming the monk. He then commanded:

"Recite the incantation, depart quickly!"

The monk's injuries were too grievous to be healed; remaining would certainly lead to his demise, transforming him into a 'puppet' of the Evil God, compelled to fight against his former comrades. His ultimate fate after escaping was left to chance.

The monk's expression was etched with shame and regret as he clasped his hands together and stated:

"This humble monk... is deeply ashamed for failing our Buddhist order."

"Leave!" True Man Situ urged with palpable urgency.

Clenching his teeth, the monk uttered the spell True Man Situ had imparted. As he vanished in a flash of Seven Stars light, his Primordial Spirit began to contort unnaturally.

Yet, in the ensuing moment, the surrounding space started to tremble, intensifying the vile thoughts within the monk.

It appeared as though a potent will was actively obstructing the monk's escape.

However, this encroaching force had not yet fully awakened and could not truly impede the starlight's power emanating from the Mystic Sky Beidou Seven Star Formation. After a brief stalemate, the malevolent influence receded. Brilliant starlight erupted, and the monk's Primordial Spirit, twisting into a vortex, was forcefully extracted from the nightmare.

With the monk gone, True Man Situ's expression grew exceedingly grim.

He pondered internally:

"When did Master Kuji, whose mastery of Buddhist law is so profound, fall victim to this insidious spell?"

Unless the Evil God True Embryo had somehow been reborn, once the Prajna Temple's mantra was invoked, its mental defenses would not be so easily breached and corrupted by such a nascent demon.

Why was this so?

True Man Situ frowned, deep in thought, until his pupils suddenly constricted as comprehension dawned.

The contamination had occurred not in the present moment, but earlier.

Throughout their journey, they had been engaged in battles against malevolent spirits. It was inevitable that the Prajna mantra could not be sustained continuously, leaving brief windows of vulnerability.

It was undoubtedly during one such lapse that this sinister fetal demon stealthily planted the seed of evil desire.

This seed had gradually germinated, only now manifesting its effects.

Master Kuji's profound Buddhist law was designed to ward off malevolent desires.

However, he had already been 'tainted' before he could fully activate his defenses.

This internal conflict led him to question his own Buddhist teachings, creating a disturbance that fractured his Daoist Heart.

This represented a critical vulnerability when confronting demonic entities!

Consequently, within mere breaths, the evil desire had successfully eroded his mental barriers.

Once these defenses crumbled, regret became a futile emotion.

True Man Situ harbored a silent, seething resentment.

The insidious nature of these evil beings lay in their imperceptible yet pervasive corruption of the human heart.

What exactly was this fetal demon?

Scanning his surroundings, True Man Situ declared in a resonant voice, "Everyone, maintain vigilance and seek any trace of this fiend."

No sooner had he spoken than an enchanting melody filled the air, captivating the senses. Even True Man Situ's mind faltered momentarily before his expression shifted drastically. "Take cover!"

Almost simultaneously, a shadowy figure materialized beside the woman clad in white.

A vibrant red lip print lunged forward, aiming to kiss her.

The woman in white's countenance turned frigid.

Gifted with exceptional divine sense and cultivating the secret techniques of a prominent Sect, her Magic Treasure, the Three Pure Ones Bell, possessed a formidable origin. Furthermore, as a woman, she naturally possessed a heightened resistance to such seduction.

Consequently, she awoke a breath earlier than anticipated. Witnessing the blood-red lip print advancing, she promptly activated the Three Pure Ones Bell, unleashing a 'Demon Breaking' resonance.

The shadowy entity recoiled, emitting a piercing shriek.

From a short distance, the elderly woman immediately deployed the remaining half of the Six Ding Six Jia formation to engage the evil shadow.

The Six Ding Six Jia, a divine puppet devoid of consciousness or thought, was impervious to charm.

True Man Situ, without delay, cast a beam of Six Yang Red Gold light, enveloping the malevolent shadow.

United in their efforts, the combined powers repelled the darkness, incinerated the evil Qi, and revealed the true form of the shadowy entity.

It was a monstrous, female-like demon.

Its form was tall and alluring, exuding an irresistible charm. However, its limbs and skin were marred by patches of decaying, purplish-pink flesh. Sinewy demonic patterns crisscrossed its face, distorting its features into an inhuman visage, with only its lips remaining fresh and tempting, emitting an intoxicating fragrance.

"Pink Fetal Demon."

True Man Situ knitted his brows, deeming it troublesome, then found some relief as he discerned the fetal demon's cultivation realm.

Peak of Third Grade.

This was indeed a Third Grade Peak evil embryonic companion demon monster.

Ancient texts from Mystery Valley indicated that the demon accompanying an Evil God True Embryo would possess a grade slightly superior to the evil embryo, but not exceeding one full grade.

This implied that the Evil God True Embryo itself was also of Third Grade.

And among our ranks, in addition to those at Feather Transformation, we also have cultivators at Heaven Void. The disparity in major realms would render dealing with the Evil God somewhat more manageable.

Should it have been a Fourth-grade Evil God True Embryo, its emergence would have undoubtedly sealed all our fates in death.

As it stands, we possess at least a shred of hope for survival.

"Swift and decisive, eliminate this fetal demon!"

True Man Situ's gaze turned frigid, his voice ringing with resolve, as he thrust two fingers forward, unleashing a beam of vermillion and gold light.

The Taoist conjured his Peach Wood Sword, the aged woman invoked the Six Ding Six Jia, and the several Heaven Void Ancestors ceased their restraint, projecting potent Sword Qi and spells, alongside the piercing might of their Divine Thought.

However, in the subsequent moment, the pink fetal demon broke into a malevolent grin and, before the astonished eyes of all onlookers, dissolved into nothingness.

Not a single Primordial Spirit present could detect its trace.

"A fetal demon born alongside the Evil God, blessed by its divine power, proving itself exceptionally cunning and treacherous..."