Batian Martial Soul

Chapter 14559 Inheritance

"You...you are...that person...!" The old woman was utterly shocked.

The woman in white nodded slightly in response, then stepped aside to let Ling Xiao move to the front. Her voice was clear and melodious, like the tolling of a bell, and resounded throughout the entire palace.

"I brought the people."

"He is one of the future torchbearers of the Evil Insect Path, and also a direct descendant of the Demon Lord."

"Unfortunately, the foundation of the demonic path is chaotic and incompetent, possessing a treasure mountain but unaware of it. Today, I trouble you all to clear away the thorns and brambles, rebuild the foundation of the demonic path, and rectify its origins."

Swish!

The gazes of the thirteen demonic phantoms instantly focused on Ling Xiao!

That gaze seemed to penetrate his skin, bones, and soul, reaching his deepest origins, examining every inch of his understanding related to the demonic path, his entangled fortune, his hidden impurities, and even the ignorance and yearning for the demonic path deep in his soul.

The pressure was like a massive, imposing mountain crashing down on him. Lingxiao's soul buzzed, as if he were about to be crushed by this pure, extreme demonic intent, and his blood and qi almost stopped flowing.

But he took a deep breath, straightened his spine abruptly, and all distracting thoughts vanished from his eyes, leaving only a burning thirst for knowledge, intertwined with the trembling and excitement of glimpsing the origin of the Great Dao.

The white-haired old man's phantom floated in front of Ling Xiao, his withered finger lightly touching his brow.

A divine thought, cool as a spring yet containing immense probing power, instantly seeped into Ling Xiao's limbs and bones, flowing through his meridians, dantian, and sea of ​​consciousness.

In less than three breaths, the old man abruptly withdrew his finger, his pupils contracted sharply, his withered face trembled slightly with excitement, and his eyes shone with a brilliance more dazzling than the stars.

"This bloodline... is incomparably pure and unparalleled in its dominance!"

"This is... the direct bloodline of the ancient Demon Lord?!"

"His identity is beyond question."

The woman in white spoke calmly, yet with an undeniable air of authority.

"It's just that his guide on the path of evil went too far and too high, only seeing the road to heaven, but forgetting to teach him how to take each step firmly and steadily."

“Now his demonic path is chaotic and his foundation is weak. He is even confused about where his ‘demonic heart’ is. You should help him sort it out and let him see what the true demonic system really looks like.”

The white-haired old man carefully examined the almost unconscious, mixed demonic energy flowing around Ling Xiao, his brows gradually furrowing.

“Strange… His demonic foundation clearly carries a hint of ‘rebellious’ flavor, yet it is neither quite the same nor quite the same, more domineering, more… pure?”

"Someone else introduced him to the profession."

The woman in white explained calmly.

"That person has too high a vision. Ordinary demonic paths in the world are not worth mentioning in his eyes. This child can only explore on his own, and has acquired a mixed set of skills. They seem to be in full bloom, but in reality they are castles in the air and will collapse at the slightest storm."

The old man pondered for a moment, then nodded solemnly, his tone filled with reverence for the tradition.

"As the successor of the Demon Lord and the future torchbearer of the Evil Insect Path, we, the remnants of our former selves, should do our utmost to rectify his ways!"

The woman in white then looked at Ling Xiao, her gaze seemingly piercing through his soul.

Listen carefully, think seriously, and comprehend with your heart.

"There are no shortcuts here, only the most fundamental principles of the demonic path."

"Only with a solid foundation can one carry the path to heaven."

Ling Xiao took a deep breath and bowed deeply.

"I understand, and I will certainly live up to the expectations of my seniors and all the sages!"

The white figure, like flowing moonlight, turned gracefully and transformed into a wisp of ethereal light, dissipating into the void outside the palace gate, leaving only a faint aura of nothingness, as if it had never existed.

Ling Xiao faced the thirteen solemnly standing illusory figures and bowed deeply once again.

"I would be grateful if you, my seniors, could offer me some guidance!"

The white-haired old man's phantom slowly approached, his gaze as deep as an ancient pool. His first question went straight to the heart of the matter, his voice aged yet carrying immense power.

What is the devil in your heart?

Ling Xiao was suddenly stunned.

This question came out of nowhere, like a thunderclap exploding in his chaotic sea of ​​consciousness.

What is a demon?

Is it an ambition to conquer the world?

Is it the overwhelming killing intent during a life-or-death struggle?

Is it the resolute determination to be an enemy of the world when protecting those behind you?

Or is it the freedom of breaking free from all constraints and doing whatever one pleases?

Numerous thoughts swirled and collided in my mind like a revolving lantern, but none of them could accurately depict the full picture of "demon".

He has cultivated the demonic path for so long, killing countless people and encountering many fortuitous events, but he has never truly calmed down to think about this most fundamental question.

"I... don't know."

After a long silence, he managed to utter three words, his cheeks slightly flushed, his heart filled with shame and confusion.

Thirteen illusory figures stood silently, and the air, thick with demonic energy, seemed to freeze.

Suddenly, the illusory figure of a woman in a light blue dress chuckled softly. Her laughter was like a clear spring gurgling over stones, crisp and bright with a hint of wit.

"Not knowing is actually a good thing."

"Only a blank sheet of paper can be used to draw an unparalleled magic picture, which is better than a sheet full of scribbles, putting the cart before the horse, and in the end, not even being able to see the path you want to take."

The white-haired old man slowly nodded, his withered fingertips tapping the void, and demonic energy condensed into ripples.

"good."

"Only when one is confused will one have the desire to seek answers; only when one recognizes one's own limitations will one be willing to diligently refine one's skills."

He raised his hand and pointed to the open space in the hall, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority.

"Sit cross-legged, concentrate your mind and look inward, empty your mind of all thoughts."

“We will use our own lingering resentment as a guide to resonate with your demonic heart and directly address the root of your problems.”

Ling Xiao sat down cross-legged as instructed, closed his eyes, and instantly his mind sank into a state of clarity.

In an instant, his consciousness seemed to be drawn by a powerful demonic intent, falling into a chaotic demonic realm. Thirteen figures radiating different demonic brilliance surrounded him, some like blazing flames, some like icy pools in the depths of hell, and some like thunderbolts splitting the earth. The thirteen pure and extreme demonic intents intertwined into a net, like an ancient and majestic demonic furnace, enveloping his consciousness within it.

The old man's voice resounded directly in my mind, like a great bell.

"Your general direction in the demonic path is not wrong, like a jade pillar of Kunlun pointing straight to the sky. Unfortunately, the branches and leaves are messy and the foundation is shallow, unable to support this towering momentum."

"Let me first clarify the nine levels of the demonic path for you: 'Seeing the Demon,' 'Inner Demon,' 'Dream Demon,' 'My Demon,' 'Other Demon,' 'All Demons,' 'True Demon,' 'Illuminated Demon,' and 'Destroying the Demon'!"

"These nine realms are all crucial and each step must be taken with care. They are the most fundamental and ironclad rules of cultivation in the Evil Insect Path."

Ling Xiao's consciousness stirred slightly, and he eagerly pressed for an answer.

"Where am I now, junior?"

The old man spoke frankly, his tone carrying a hint of seriousness.

“You haven’t even truly stepped into the first level of the ‘Seeing the Demon’ realm.”

"What you see is merely the 'use' of the demon, its power to kill and its might to defeat enemies; what you do not see is the 'essence' of the demon, its true nature and the direction of its will."

Ling Xiao remained silent, his mind rippled with waves.

He always thought he had already stepped into the threshold of the demonic path, but little did he know that he had not even taken the first step into it.

The old man continued.

"The three realms of 'seeing the demon' are progressively deeper."

"The initial stage of 'Demonic Mark' seeks the unity of man and demon, where every move comes from the heart, without any superfluous tricks. It focuses on honing the harmony between demonic intent and body and soul, making demonic intent as natural as breathing..." (End of this chapter)