The Inner Demon Is Also a Demon

Since Senior Sister Lin is about to face her Inner Demon Tribulation, I should find an opportunity to learn more about it and see if I can exploit the demons for some benefits.

"This is precisely why I asked you to challenge the Sword Tower," Lin, the Chief, suddenly said.

Gu Qingfeng frowned. "What does challenging the Sword Tower have to do with your tribulation?"

Lin, the Chief, nodded. "I am not one to care too much about reputation, but the fact that our Sword Formation lineage is always overshadowed by traditional swordsmen has become a knot in my heart. Normally, this wouldn’t be a big deal, but when facing the Inner Demon Tribulation, one must achieve a flawless state of mind to overcome it. Any unresolved emotional burden will be magnified infinitely by the demon.

So, I need you, Junior Brother, to help me untie this knot and increase my chances of surviving the tribulation."

Gu Qingfeng was speechless after hearing this. Not caring about reputation? It’s literally become a psychological burden—how impressive!

"I see. By the way, Senior Sister Lin, could you share some information about the Inner Demon Tribulation? Maybe I can help in some way."

"I appreciate your kindness, but the Inner Demon Tribulation is something no one else can assist with. It must be overcome alone. If someone interferes, not only will it fail to lessen the tribulation, but it will also amplify the danger—endangering both the one undergoing the trial and the helper.

As for information about the tribulation, there’s no harm in telling you. When a cultivator breaks through to a higher realm, they enter a state of communion with the Great Dao. During this process, their body and mind merge with heaven and earth, leaving them completely defenseless. This makes them vulnerable to invasion by external evils—specifically, the Outer Realm Inner Demons. Once these demons invade, they amplify the cultivator’s negative emotions..."

"Wait!" Gu Qingfeng suddenly interrupted urgently.

"Senior Sister Lin, what did you just say?"

Lin, the Chief, gave him a puzzled look, unsure why he was so excited.

"I said the Inner Demon amplifies a cultivator’s negative emotions."

"No, not that—the sentence before that."

"When the body and mind merge with heaven and earth, leaving them defenseless, they become vulnerable to invasion by external evils—specifically, the Outer Realm Inner Demons."

"Yes, yes, that’s the one!" Gu Qingfeng’s excitement surged. "Why are they called Outer Realm Inner Demons? What’s their connection to Outer Realm Fiends?"

"The Inner Demon is a type of Outer Realm Fiend."

Hearing this, Gu Qingfeng nearly laughed out loud. I’ve finally found my long-lost kin!

"Is there something wrong with that statement?"

"No, nothing. Please continue."

Lin, the Chief, still confused, went on. "The Inner Demon feeds on the cultivator’s negative emotions, rapidly growing stronger until it begins devouring their consciousness, seeking to replace them. The demon is formless and intangible—no conventional means can harm it. The only way to overcome the tribulation is to achieve a flawless state of mind, leaving no opening for the demon to exploit.

This is why cultivation must never focus solely on power. One must also refine their mental state, or they will eventually fall prey to the Inner Demon, becoming a monster enslaved by their own strength."

Gu Qingfeng barely registered anything she said afterward. His mind was too busy reveling in the joy of reuniting with his "kin."

I’ve nearly drained the Life-Extinguishing Fiend dry, and now a new sheep has appeared?

Now this is what I call a pleasant surprise!

The Sword Sect is truly my blessed land!

Human Fiends, Inner Demons, the Emperor Demon Sword, the Heaven-Sealing Seal...

Heh heh heh... Just how many more surprises is the Sword Sect hiding?

At that moment, a cold, clear voice sounded from outside the door.

"Disciple Nangong Xue pays respects to Master."

Lin, the Chief stopped speaking and looked toward the entrance. "Come in."

Gu Qingfeng’s thoughts were interrupted as well, and he turned to look.

A young woman in snow-white robes entered, her ink-black hair cascading like a waterfall, her face as exquisite as a painting.

Gu Qingfeng’s first impression of Nangong Xue was simple: Damn, this woman is pale!

My dead brother wasn’t even this pale after three days.

But Nangong Xue’s paleness wasn’t the sickly kind—it was a luminous, porcelain-like fairness, as if she glowed. Combined with her snow-white robes, she looked like an untainted celestial maiden who had descended to the mortal realm, untouched by worldly impurities.

She was immaculate—so pristine that one might even believe she never excreted waste!

Of course, at her level of cultivation, bodily waste was no longer an issue. High-level cultivators’ bodies naturally expelled all impurities.

So this is the Flawless Divine Body? Truly perfect—jade-like skin and bones!

Aside from her striking fairness, Nangong Xue’s beauty was also exceptional, rivaling even Ling Fei'er’s innate seductive charm.

The two women were polar opposites. If Ling Fei'er was a bewitching enchantress, then Nangong Xue was an aloof, transcendent fairy—a veritable ice queen.

Her frost-kissed face bloomed like an untouchable winter flower, cold and untouchable. Her deep eyes shimmered with an eerie glow, framed by long, curled lashes dusted with icy frost.

She was a vision of serene yet devastating beauty—like a snow lotus blooming atop a sacred mountain, noble, pure, and utterly unapproachable.

Most men would feel ashamed even entertaining impure thoughts about such a woman, as if it were a desecration.

But Gu Qingfeng was no ordinary man. The more unattainable a woman seemed, the more he wanted to defile her. It was like seeing a blank sheet of paper and itching to scribble all over it.

How delightful it would be to corrupt such a cold fairy. I wonder if she could maintain that icy demeanor in the throes of passion. I’d love to see her melt—what a contrast that would be.

Gu Qingfeng mused to himself.

But then he froze. Wait, isn’t this the kind of inner monologue a villain has when he sees the heroine?

Since when did I start thinking like this?

Dammit!

It must be Ling Fei'er’s fault—that temptress has corrupted my body and soul!

"Greetings, Master. May I ask why you summoned me?" Nangong Xue spoke calmly.

"This is your Uncle-Master Gu Qingfeng. He is new to the Sword Sect and unfamiliar with the Sword Formation path. From now on, you will be responsible for teaching him."

Nangong Xue bowed slightly toward Gu Qingfeng. "Greetings, Uncle-Master Gu."

Her voice was icy, devoid of any emotion, completely indifferent to Gu Qingfeng’s peerless looks.

This surprised him. A woman who’s completely unfazed by my face?

Is she pretending, or is she really that aloof?

Hmph, she must be feigning disinterest to stand out and pique my curiosity. That’s how these things always go in stories—the heroine acts indifferent, the hero gets intrigued, and before you know it, she’s fallen for him. Same logic applies in reverse.

Soon, Lin, the Chief, provided an explanation. "Don’t take it personally, Junior Brother Gu. My disciple practices the Emotion-Severing Sword Dao, hence her cold demeanor."

Emotion-Severing Sword Dao?

Gu Qingfeng blinked.

"No men in the heart, the sword ascends to godhood"?