"Heh heh, I want you to go to a place. It's where I gained enlightenment of my demonic arts," the Demon Lord said, his tone a little guarded, as he had always boasted to the outside world that his demonic arts were self-realized.
However, he had pioneered the demonic path in this world, so there was nothing wrong with him calling himself the Demon Lord.
"Of course, don't get any wild ideas. I am human, and have nothing to do with those extraterrestrial celestial demons," the Demon Lord continued, realizing Li Xiaotian had misinterpreted and thought he was like Ji Yu.
Li Xiaotian was relieved at this, but his curiosity about the place the Demon Lord mentioned was piqued.
"That place, how should I put it, it's rather strange. I've always suspected it's related to hell. It should be a loophole in the Demon Suppressing Grand Formation, but the experts in Fuzhou have never discovered it," the Demon Lord said. He had entered that place by accident back then. At that time, he was already an Emperor-level martial artist.
But he was only an ordinary Emperor-level martial artist. Being trapped there for a hundred years allowed him to comprehend the Devouring Demonic Art.
In the end, he made a firm decision, crippled his cultivation, and started cultivating anew, which led to him becoming the Demon Lord.
"Although your strength is acceptable now, your foundation is too weak. I'm talking about your demonic foundation. If you want to have the strength to protect yourself before the world is perfected, you must go to that place." The Demon Lord continued, his tone suddenly becoming somewhat mysterious.
"Because that place has primal demonic energy!"
"Primal demonic energy?" Li Xiaotian frowned, looking confused.
"Yes! Primal demonic energy. That's my name for it – the purest, most supreme demonic energy!" the Demon Lord said.
"Haven't you noticed? Although you cultivate demonic arts, do you feel like you are a demon compared to Ji Yu?"
"Of course I'm not a demon. I am human, and I can't become a demon." Li Xiaotian frowned and immediately retorted. If the price of power was becoming a demon, he would rather not have it.
"Tsk tsk, what's the rush, you brat? I haven't finished speaking," the Demon Lord couldn't help but tease, thinking young people were too impatient.
"I'm talking about the aura, the aura of a demon. You should know, both you and I are human, but we walk the demonic path. It doesn't mean you have to become a demon, no, not the kind of demon that is an extraterrestrial celestial demon, but to become a demon of humanity! A demon of this world!"
Boom!
Upon hearing the Demon Lord's words, Li Xiaotian felt as if something in his mind had been unlocked, and he instantly became incredibly clear-headed.
A demon of humanity! A demon of this world!
No wonder his cultivation had been progressing slowly after breaking through to the Overlord level. He had always thought demonic arts were just a cultivation technique, and since he was human, he could never become a demon, thus mentally negating himself. If he continued to cultivate this way, there would be no progress at all.
The Demon Lord's words continued, completely unaware of the change in Li Xiaotian's mindset.
"Take me as an example. Although I call myself the Demon Lord, who can say I am not human? But who can deny that I am a demon?"
"Becoming a demon is a state of mind. Don't think that after becoming a demon, you have to abandon your loved ones and kill the innocent. Nonsense!"
"Becoming a demon is just to make yourself stronger. It doesn't change your personality at all. Of course, this path is full of various temptations. If you can't hold on, you will truly fall into demonhood."
"After all, the cultivation technique I created is based on primal demonic energy. When you cultivate it, you will definitely be influenced, but the decision is still in your hands. If you reject it, you will master it. If you accept it, you will be controlled by it." The Demon Lord spoke unhurriedly, but Li Xiaotian had already understood, and his heart felt suddenly enlightened.
Becoming a demon was just a state of mind. Like Buddhist cultivators, they aim to become Buddhas, but in the end, they are still human, and their essence has not changed.
However, since demonic arts were derived from primal demonic energy, there would definitely be various demonic temptations during the process of becoming a demon. But the initiative was still in his own hands. If he accepted those temptations, he would become what he imagined, abandoning his loved ones and killing the innocent. But if he could stick to his original intention, even if he became a demon, he would still be himself, his personality and mindset would not change, and his strength would increase significantly.
"I understand," Li Xiaotian said, his mindset having changed. He believed in his will and that he could maintain his original intention in the face of various temptations. This was not blind confidence, but true confidence from enduring hardships in the war zone since he was six years old and ultimately becoming the master of the Dragon King Hall!
"Heh heh, it's good that you understand. But mindset is only one part of it; there's another crucial point." The Demon Lord smiled, feeling a little proud as his disciple could change his mindset so quickly.
"That is primal demonic energy. While mindset is important, the foundation must also be solid. Otherwise, even if the demon in your heart is formed, your external strength hasn't caught up. How will you have the confidence to face your enemies then?" Li Xiaotian nodded; he understood this. His cultivation speed was too fast, and his foundation was already unstable.
"Tempering the foundation is usually a slow and meticulous process, but I know you don't have that patience. Of course, your enemies won't give you time either."
"Therefore, I'm having you go to that place to absorb the primal demonic energy there, allowing you to quickly solidify your foundation. That is the purest and most supreme demonic energy, and it has already been tempered. You just need to absorb it." The Demon Lord said, then chuckled and added a little sheepishly.
"Of course, I also need primal demonic energy to recover now, so letting you go is a win-win situation."
Li Xiaotian's heart rejoiced at this. This was exactly what he needed: to improve his strength as quickly as possible. With primal demonic energy, he should have the strength to protect himself when those Heaven-level powerhouses awakened.
"Where is that place?" Li Xiaotian asked, eager.
"It's in Fuzhou!" the Demon Lord replied, and simultaneously, a location appeared in Li Xiaotian's mind. It was in the northern part of Fuzhou, at the border between Fuzhou and Manzhou.
Knowing the location, Li Xiaotian felt relieved. After finishing the matters in Fuzhou, he would head there.
After staying in Guzhi for a day, Ye Qingmei and her daughter finally woke up. Li Xiaotian rushed to see them. He asked them to continue staying in Guzhi Village. Ye Qingmei understood why, but Tiantian was unhappy. She had only spent a few days with her father and now they had to separate again.
Li Xiaotian spent another day coaxing his daughter, and after promising her countless conditions, he finally managed to appease her and get her to agree to let him leave.
"Go with peace of mind. You don't need to worry about these mother and daughter. No one dares to bully them in the village." At the entrance of Guzhi Village, Granny Yue E said to Li Xiaotian, impatiently urging him to leave. Couldn't he see Tiantian crying again? If Li Xiaotian didn't care, she did.
"Then I'll trouble you with them, Granny." Li Xiaotian said, then looked affectionately at his wife and daughter, steeling his heart, and turned to fly into the sky.
"Daddy, remember to come back and see Tiantian! *Wuwu*!" Tiantian, held in Ye Qingmei's arms, shouted, her eyes teary. Ye Qingmei comforted her daughter softly, also feeling sad but holding it back.
"Stop looking, let's go home. Perhaps in not much time, your family will be reunited." Granny Yue E said, muttering to herself that once Ye Qingmei and her daughter had fully absorbed the efficacy of the seven-petaled Heavenly Lotus of Buddhism, Tiantian might not, but Ye Qingmei's strength would definitely be enough to protect herself even against Overlord-level powerhouses.