As long as you're crazy enough, everything is right.

A crimson pillar of light shot into the sky, the bewitching and magnificent glow of the array ritual reflecting on Gao Fang's astonished face.

Li Yingling's gaze was calm, having already formed some deductions in her mind.

The reason why there was always an unlucky soul chosen next to these cursed pillars of light was that they truly needed an unlucky soul.

What if this pillar of light meant the Heavenly Demons were temporarily unable to completely open the passage between the two realms, but lacking manpower, they needed reinforcements?

Divine Descent might be their solution.

At the very least, according to the Records of the Great Calamity, the demons of the past had also gradually escalated their rampage step by step.

If they could truly cross between the two realms without any scruples, this world—which back then still allowed ascension and had far fewer Tribulation stage experts than now—would probably have been completely shattered long ago.

After all, the idea of the Heavenly Demons betting everything on a final resort just to drag all their compatriots and themselves down into mutual destruction was somewhat of a dark joke.

Then these specially selected evil cultivators might be extremely suitable vessels.

Gao Fang was likely too perfect for a prototype study. He knew evil soul arts, was a bit insane, and using such evil soul arts would definitely cause severe wear and tear on his soul.

This kind of madness and somewhat amnesic state was highly likely a side effect.

Those with weak souls might be the chosen targets. If these Heavenly Demons truly used this to descend via divine sense, this would be a great way to identify them.

Under these circumstances, she might as well let one come down to see what they were made of.

With only the body of a Golden Core cultivator, even if the Heavenly Demons had extraordinary means, they couldn't possibly bridge such a massive cultivation gap, right?

And if they could be captured alive...

Li Yingling pondered slightly, then said in a cold tone, No one is answering you. You are only answering yourself.

Impossible! Gao Fang immediately retorted. Straining his hollow eyes, he shouted sternly, Sun Zhong! Come out! Come out for your master at once!

Have you forgotten the sect rules? Have you forgotten your master's careful cultivation of you?

Sun Zhong! Your master has poured his heart and blood into raising you!

Li Yingling furrowed her brows, watching as Gao Fang became completely unable to even distinguish what he was doing.

Was it because losing his eyes made him unable to discern the current situation, causing him to completely sink into the world within his own mind?

Releasing a slight pressure, Li Yingling said coldly, Sun Zhong is dead.

Gao Fang turned his head, his hollow gaze fixed deadly on Li Yingling as he hissed, You killed him?! Did you kill him?!

Li Yingling's expression remained calm. After some thought, she understood the fate of this disciple, Sun Zhong. If the disciple were still here, this evil cultivator probably wouldn't even be casting this evil art. She stated bluntly, Think carefully about the day you refined Sun Zhong. Did he fight a great battle with you?

Hearing this, Gao Fang paused, then a smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

Fight a great battle with me? Sun Zhong willingly walked in that day, believing I had a secret art to compensate for his deficient spiritual root.

I watched with my own eyes as his expression turned from trust to terror, watched as he tried to resist but couldn't, only asking me why in confusion.

So what if Sun Zhong was smart? Knowing full well I am an evil cultivator, he actually believed I would wholeheartedly do what was best for him.

Hahahahaha, it's truly so stupid it makes one laugh.

And he even prepared a gift for me...

Gao Fang laughed wildly, laughed with such arrogance, but soon, his laughter came to an abrupt halt.

Obviously, he had realized it.

Sun Zhong is dead, refined by me... Gao Fang suddenly muttered. Then who... agreed with me... answered me?

Li Yingling sneered, You are already mad. It was you answering yourself.

Upon hearing this, Gao Fang's face instantly filled with horror as he stared at the pillar of light ahead.

No... Sun Zhong clearly said he saw that this array ritual contained a secret soul art. As long as I comprehended it... as long as I comprehended it...

Gao Fang's expression gradually shifted from horror to despair. As an evil cultivator, his instinct over the years had always been to constantly examine himself from the perspective of others.

Soon, Gao Fang understood. With a look of despair, he said, I... am mad.

Gao Fang remembered it too. Overusing secret soul arts would indeed damage the soul.

It was just that he had been using them constantly without ever feeling anything was wrong.

He thought he was still just as calm, just as smart, just as brilliantly talented, enough to play everyone in the palm of his hand.

It turned out the wear and tear had been happening every second, every moment, at every time he thought there would be no change.

A sense of crisis surged in his heart, but Gao Fang's first reaction was not panic, but composure and calmness.

Years of tempering between life and death had molded Gao Fang to be calmer and more poised the more dangerous the situation became.

Showing weakness was equivalent to handing his life over to the judgment of others.

Gao Fang restrained his expression, suddenly stood up straight, and looked at Li Yingling, saying, I remember now. You are from the Evil Spirit Cult.

Li Yingling looked at Gao Fang, who seemed to have regained his calm and clarity, but she knew this was merely a facade; everything had long been irreversible. She directly delivered the final blow:

Although Sun Zhong is dead, the matter of the soul is true. This pillar of light is the answer.

You have your secret arts. A body can just be refined again, but the answer to eternal immortality lies within.

Go on. Go comprehend your secret art yourself.

Gao Fang spaced out again, his expression turning somewhat manic once more.

He turned around and looked at the array's pillar of light in front of him.

That's right... Sun Zhong said he wouldn't lie to me. The gift he left for me wasn't some pill to repair the soul, but this heaven-sent opportunity.

Hearing this, Li Yingling felt somewhat helpless in her heart.

Sun Zhong had probably discovered long ago that his master's soul was worn and his mind was going mad. If that soul-repairing pill was real, it certainly wasn't something money could buy.

Knowing full well his master was mad and an evil cultivator, he actually still trusted his master.

Gao Fang's expression was crazed and obsessive as he walked toward the core, braving the continuously overflowing energy pouring from the crimson pillar of light.

Perhaps Sun Zhong truly was Gao Fang's beloved disciple.

Gao Fang would always discuss things with Sun Zhong at all times; if there was truly no trust, these discussions naturally wouldn't have existed.

Perhaps Gao Fang had also regretted it, which was why he kept forgetting the fact that Sun Zhong had already been refined.

Gao Fang reached out to touch the crimson pillar of light, and the rushing torrent of spiritual energy mercilessly washed away the hand he touched it with, leaving not even bone behind.

Yet he showed no reaction to this, even preparing to step directly into it.

Li Yingling was considering whether she should stop him first.

But the next moment.

An extremely tyrannical fluctuation spread out.

It was not spiritual energy, but soul power.

That incredibly unique power instantly gathered. The tyrannical soul power condensed into a crimson hue before completely submerging into Gao Fang's body.

That's it! That's it! Gao Fang's expression was one of extreme pain and struggle, but his tone was wildly joyous. This is the boundless mighty power of the soul!

Li Yingling had no time to keep listening to Gao Fang's nonsense. With a backhand grab, she hoisted Li Xingtian, who was still looking closely, by the collar and swept backward with him.

This second junior brother was truly foolish. It was obvious that something massive was coming, yet he was still staring wide-eyed.

If he wanted to watch, he should stand further back.

Several Tribulation stage experts naturally stepped to the very front. Various magical treasures appeared in their hands, and they activated every single soul-protecting treasure they had.

He was merely waiting to see if a Heavenly Demon would descend from above.

Then, the moment he opened his eyes, he was greeted by so many surprises.