Other powerful demon lords in the world sensed Ji Xiang.
The demonic thoughts emanating from them also established a connection with Ji Xiang.
This was a situation they had never encountered before.
At the same time, although Ji Xiang couldn't sense the half-step ascension powerhouses, he could feel faint traces of immense demonic thoughts from various directions.
"I never expected there to be so many powerful demons in the world. I thought most demons had become lackeys of cultivators, mere servants used to accumulate good deeds and play the role of villains."
There were movements in all directions. The demonic thoughts from the north were more dispersed. Apart from the faint but massive demonic thoughts from the Changbai Mountain direction, huge demonic thoughts also appeared in other areas, including many regions he had never set foot in.
From the demonic thoughts he sensed, he could gauge the strength of others based on their perceived magnitude.
Even below the level of immortals, powerful demonic thoughts at the Pure Yang level were enough to cause immense turmoil in the world.
As he was contemplating, several wills suddenly transmitted through the faint connections between the demonic thoughts.
Most of them were the demon lords attempting to trace him, but there seemed to be a pathetic, thick barrier between them and Ji Xiang. No matter how hard they tried to trace, they could only get close, but not see Ji Xiang's true form.
They knew of his existence.
They knew he was the one wearing the black robe.
But they could only ever see a back.
Nothing else could be spied.
With a thought from Ji Xiang, those demonic thoughts immediately retreated, and in the void, several muffled groans seemed to echo.
This was not due to the great abilities of these demon lords.
It was because Ji Xiang could hear their pained voices from thousands of miles away, following the demonic thoughts.
And these demon lords were completely unaware of this.
Thus, the demonic thoughts abruptly ceased, and the connection was severed.
"It's truly incredible. It seems I do possess some power akin to a demon king."
"Unfortunately, the Jade Purity Hidden Scroll must be cultivated to the Chapter of Trial by Demonic Tribulation, the sixteenth lesson, to truly qualify for conducting demonic trials for others. As I am now, I can at most exert a slight influence on the demonic thoughts during a trial."
He was still unclear about the various stages of the Demon Subjugation Chapter, let alone the sixteenth lesson. He could only say that the lessons of a demon king were not something that could be completed in a few years or decades, but perhaps in hundreds or thousands of years.
The passage of time in the Inner Mountains and Rivers differed from that of the Outer Mountains and Rivers. To increase his cultivation as quickly as possible, he had to enter the Inner Mountains and Rivers.
However, once entered, it was difficult to return. One always had to abandon either cultivation or the mortal world.
"I can't sense them anymore, but near Ying Tian Fu, there are quite a few things that have particularly surprised me."
Ji Xiang could no longer sense those demonic thoughts. The influence of the Heavenly Demon Scroll had disappeared, but what he had sensed earlier was the presence of so many demonic thoughts near Ying Tian Fu!
The sheer number was abnormal, as if the entire Ying Tian was surrounded.
Furthermore, there were also a considerable number of demonic thoughts within Ying Tian Fu itself.
However, compared to the outer ring, the quality of these inner demonic thoughts was uneven. This was actually a good thing, because pure demonic thoughts were too ferocious, something no normal person could possess. The unevenness indicated that these demonic thoughts were born from the hearts of cultivators.
"Have the people undergoing demonic tribulations increased?"
Ji Xiang also sensed that the number of people undergoing tribulations had suddenly surged.
It had been a full two days since the Demon Subjugation Chapter had undergone changes.
The cultivators were quick to act. They noticed that demonic tribulations were easier to overcome in the past two days, so they began to attract trial demons in large numbers.
Tomorrow is the fifteenth of August, the Ascension Assembly.
The halo of light gradually cast westward, and the national destiny in the mortal world was rising, creating an atmosphere of peace and harmony.
...
Huo Jun felt a sense of dumbfoundedness as he observed everything happening around him.
Demonic tribulations, a large number of demonic tribulations, had appeared in Ying Tian Fu. Although they had not caused any direct impact on the mortals, they were extremely detrimental to the Ascension Assembly on the fifteenth of August!
The trial demons occupied a large number of vacant wish slots within Ying Tian Fu. Moreover, those who had passed the demonic tribulations had their minds cleansed anew. The various strange influences previously exerted through wishes were also conveniently washed away by the trial demons.
The cultivators here were not all subordinates of Prince Lu. The reason they were summoned was not only due to invitations from local cultivator sects but also because many were drawn by the rewards of the Ascension Assembly. Prince Lu had generously offered two levels of heavenly essence, Moon Radiance and Sun Radiance, which was enough to attract many cultivators who had little hope of breaking through to try their luck here.
Even some well-known sect masters had come here.
Upon entering the vicinity of Ying Tian Fu, one would be influenced by the wishes of the populace. However, the demonic tribulations would eliminate this influence.
"How could such a thing happen? The consumption of wishes is too rapid, and conflicts have also arisen among the cultivators."
"Some of the local sects, who were previously influenced by wishes and thus willing to pledge allegiance to Prince Lu, had wishes deeply imprinted into their primordial spirits. Now, some of them are beginning to return to normal and have stirred up some questioning within their sects."
"A prince of the Great Ming should not appear outside his fiefdom; this is an act of treason!"
Prince Lie Jie's expression was very grim: "Huo Jun, we now need to suppress those sects that have encountered issues and issue orders that no one within their sects is allowed to undergo demonic tribulations anymore, nor should they have any contact with the cultivators they invited!"
"Otherwise, under the influence of external forces, they are very likely to act abnormally again. The influence of wishes is merely an influence; it is not soul manipulation, nor is it the crafting of puppets. It simply rationalizes their own actions and thoughts."
"We cannot allow outsiders to interfere and cause them to discover the irrationality."
Huo Jun clutched her head: "This must have been done by Ji Xiang!"
"You saw that shadow in the black robe earlier, didn't you? It must be him, it must be him! He must have done something in Ying Tian Fu!"
Prince Lie Jie frowned: "Stop talking nonsense. Trial demonic tribulations are initiated by cultivators themselves. I've never heard of anyone being able to control trial demons. If that were the case, wouldn't ascended masters be everywhere?"
"Trial demonic tribulations originate from the Azure Heaven of Primordial Beginning, descending from the Azure Firmament under the seat of the Primordial Lord, and coming from the Great Fu Li Land."
"Cultivators in the mortal realm, no, even the celestial beings in the Heavenly Palaces of the Inner Mountains and Rivers cannot control trial demonic tribulations. The Heavenly Heart realm can manifest demonic tribulations themselves, but there is no need for that, and the Heavenly Heart cannot appear in the mortal world."
"I once met... a cultivator, who was somewhat of a half-teacher to me... I learned these things from him. At the time, I thought it was common knowledge... I didn't expect that many people in the world still didn't understand this."
"Teacher taught me some things about the divine path..."
Prince Lie Jie's expression became somewhat pained.
However, the past was the past.
The divine path should protect the people under its rule, yet he had killed them himself.
But those villagers were also deserving of death.
"Just because they entered my temple and worshipped me, the people in the village contracted a severe illness, so they called me an evil god, smashed my golden statue, and burned my temple..."
"Mortals are all like this..."
"Ah, sorry, I've gone off-topic."
"In short, the appearance of trial demonic tribulations is likely because the vast amount of wishes gathered in Ying Tian Fu has strengthened the spiritual will of these individuals, which is why they discovered that demonic tribulations are easier to overcome, and thus began to undergo tribulations here in large numbers, taking advantage of the opportunity."
"Humans are like this. Once there's a slight advantage to be gained, they will never let it go. What is a good opportunity? This is a good opportunity."
"Huo Jun?"
"Pu Zhao! Are you listening to me!"
Prince Lie Jie's voice grew increasingly distant.
Huo Jun's eyes showed deep fear!
She couldn't listen to Prince Lie Jie's words, only muttering repeatedly:
"It must be this guy, it must be him!"
Because she remembered a sentence Ji Xiang had initially said to her.
...
"I descend from the Azure Heaven of the Azure Firmament!"
"Coming from the Great Fu Li Land!"