The Heart's Demon

Gu Chengyin was quite tactful. He nodded immediately, a humble smile appearing on his face. Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Auntie.

He did not pester her further, nor did he probe anymore. He simply closed his eyes and began to circulate the Azure Cloud Formula.

This time, he did not deliberately control the release of his aura, but allowed the effects of the Azure Cloud Formula to spread completely.

Since he had already obtained the crucial information, it was time for him to fulfill his end of the bargain.

A blue-gold light slowly rose around his body. At first, it was just a faint layer, lingering like morning mist.

But soon, the light grew brighter and more solid, ultimately transforming into tangible golden runes that swirled and hovered around Gu Chengyin.

These golden runes were ancient and mysterious. Each one contained the rhythm of the Great Dao, and every stroke seemed to elucidate the supreme truths of heaven and earth.

They intertwined and collided in the air, emitting a low, majestic humming sound that resembled ancient sacrificial chants.

The entire interior of the Meditation Tower was enveloped by this blue-gold light and filled with this ancient Dao rhythm.

The air contained the scent of sandalwood, spiritual energy, and the aura of ionization, but at this moment, all of these were assimilated by the pure immortal charm.

Lin Qingyan did not immediately begin to comprehend it. Instead, she silently watched Gu Chengyin, a complex and indiscernible light flickering in her eyes.

Only after a long while did she slowly close her eyes.

The moment her eyelids fell, the aura around her instantly changed.

She was no longer the aloof and distant Lord Jingzhe, but a pure and devout seeker of the Dao.

Her divine sense extended like tentacles, carefully touching, sensing, and capturing those golden runes flowing in the air.

Every touch felt as if she were brushing against the origin of the Great Dao.

Every sensation was like listening to the voice of the world.

Lin Qingyan saw it.

She truly saw it.

A complete immortal path, a road to the heavens, a way that could allow her to break through the Golden Core stage, glimpse the Nascent Soul stage, and perhaps go even further.

Although this path was completely different from her Nine Heavens Thunder Art, and although only a small segment of it was revealed, it was already enough.

There are thousands of Great Daos, but all paths lead to the same destination.

She could correct her own Dao based on the direction of this path.

She could complete her own techniques based on the trajectory of this path.

She could break through the bottleneck that had been troubling her based on the revelations of this path.

Lin Qingyan was completely immersed in this comprehension, mesmerized and ravenous for more.

Meanwhile, Gu Chengyin had also reined in all his thoughts, devoting himself entirely to the circulation of the Azure Cloud Formula.

But somewhat strangely...

Gu Chengyin felt that the true Qi converted from his influence seemed to have increased.

Not just increased, it had practically skyrocketed.

What was going on?

Could it be that his influence had finally spread out entirely?

Various speculations flashed through Gu Chengyin's mind, but he quickly suppressed these thoughts.

The acceleration of his influence was actually a good thing for him.

Although the system's hypnosis was terribly flawed, it was still highly authoritative when it came to raising his cultivation level.

Putting everything else aside, how could normal cultivation possibly allow someone to rush to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment within a month, even aiming straight for the great perfection stage?

Not to mention that the system had also analyzed the original Dao patterns of the Azure Cloud Formula.

This was a genuine inheritance of the immortal race, a manifestation of the Great Dao's origin.

As long as I reach the great perfection of the Foundation Establishment realm, Gu Chengyin calculated in his heart, all that remains is the matter of an official position.

However, this matter was no longer difficult now.

A cold sneer curled up the corners of Gu Chengyin's mouth. After all, he had obtained crucial information about Emperor Luo.

As long as he held the method to complete the immortal path in his hands, even if Emperor Luo was unfathomably deep, he would still have to sit down obediently and make a deal with him.

And once he stepped into the Golden Core stage, the sky would be high enough for a bird to fly freely, and the ocean wide enough for a fish to leap.

Just as Gu Chengyin was cultivating the Azure Cloud Formula while deducing his future.

Suddenly, he felt his surroundings begin to grow restless.

Gu Chengyin immediately opened his eyes to look.

At this sight, his expression changed drastically.

He saw Lin Qingyan opposite him; although her eyes were tightly shut, the ionized aura around her had suddenly begun to run rampant.

Golden thunderbolts, like out-of-control lightning snakes, flashed and exploded wildly everywhere.

Even more terrifying was the look of extreme agony that surfaced on Lin Qingyan's face.

This is... Qi Deviation?!

Could it be that she lost control because she was comprehending the immortal path!?

Gu Chengyin immediately cut off the circulation of his Azure Cloud Formula, then stood up without hesitation and walked toward the door.

He had absolutely no intention of saving Lin Qingyan.

Are you kidding me? If this Golden Core powerhouse really suffered from Qi Deviation and her spiritual energy went out of control...

How would that be any different from taking a nuclear explosion straight to the face?!

Of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing is best!

However, when Gu Chengyin arrived at the door and reached out to push it, he discovered...

The door wouldn't open.

No matter how hard he pushed, the tower doors wouldn't budge an inch, as if they had merged into one with the entire pagoda.

Gu Chengyin's face darkened, and then he remembered.

This entire Meditation Tower was Lin Qingyan's magical treasure.

That meant if she didn't speak, the door wouldn't open. If she didn't allow passage, no one could leave.

Now Gu Chengyin had no choice but to turn back, carefully observing Lin Qingyan's condition.

However, Lin Qingyan's condition was only getting worse.

Countless bolts of golden lightning surged madly, transforming into chains of lightning that whipped and thrashed recklessly through the air.

Gu Chengyin was forced to retreat again and again, eventually backing up to the edge of the tower wall. He had nowhere left to run.

The lightning chains danced madly less than a foot before his eyes. Every lash brought a piercing shriek as it tore through the air, and every collision erupted in blinding sparks.

Right at that moment.

Lin Qingyan opened her eyes.

Those once-clear eyes were now bloodshot, and deep within her pupils, it seemed as though something was struggling frantically.

She looked at Gu Chengyin, her lips moving slightly as her voice transmitted directly into his mind:

"It's my inner demon. Run!"

Gu Chengyin was speechless.

He glanced at the tightly shut tower doors, then back at Lin Qingyan, a helpless, bitter smile appearing on his face.

"I'd love to leave, but you have to open the door first!"

But Lin Qingyan could no longer pay him any heed.

She closed her eyes again, the look of agony on her face growing even more pronounced. She was clearly engaged in a fierce struggle against something.

Gu Chengyin stared at her, his mind racing to analyze the situation:

First, Lin Qingyan's inner demon had erupted. Her condition was extremely unstable, and she could lose control at any second.

Second, the Meditation Tower was her magical treasure. Unless she opened it, he couldn't get out.

Third, if she truly succumbed to Qi Deviation and went mad, he would undoubtedly die.

What should he do?

Flee? He couldn't.

Help? How could he help?

Just as Gu Chengyin was pondering his options, he suddenly noticed a bizarrely grotesque expression surface on Lin Qingyan's face.

The left half of her face was still locked in an agonizing struggle, her brow tightly furrowed and her lips trembling.

However, the right half of her face slowly curled into a sick, twisted smile.

Furthermore, her right eye, which had been tightly shut, now cracked open just a sliver.

Through that narrow slit, Gu Chengyin saw an entirely different eye.

Within its blood-red pupil lay nothing but pure, unadulterated desire.

"Is this the physical manifestation of an inner demon?"

Gu Chengyin was horrified.

Inner demons were conscious entities formed by the accumulation of a cultivator's negative emotions. They normally lay dormant deep within the sea of consciousness, but once they erupted, they would devour the cultivator's sanity and seize control of their physical body.

And right now, Lin Qingyan's inner demon had actually manifested to such an extreme degree.

Could it be because she had comprehended the Azure Cloud Art, a complete path of the Immortal Dao?

Once the inner demon completely took dominance, Lin Qingyan would no longer be Lin Qingyan. She would become a Golden Core monster controlled by her inner demon.

When that happened, the first person she would kill would likely be the very person trapped in here with her: himself.

Cold sweat seeped from Gu Chengyin's forehead. This was the greatest crisis he had faced since crossing over into this world!

Countless thoughts flashed rapidly through his mind.

What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?!

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Gu Chengyin's mind:

Since an inner demon is a conscious entity born from the accumulation of negative emotions...

Then...

Could he just hypnotize the inner demon?