Chapter 768 - 270: Innate Five-Colored Earth
The demon cultivators of Celestial Sandalwood Mountain gripped their magical artifacts tightly, their eyes filled with alarm as they watched Shen Chongming slowly approach from afar.
Just as Hua Qing had said, they had no chance of escaping under the watchful eye of a Golden Core cultivator.
Shen Chongming arrived before the demons and glanced at the hundreds of demon cultivators in front of him.
He found that most of these demon cultivators were in the Fetal Breathing Realm, with a few in the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation but not yet reaching the Fetal Breathing Realm.
"If they can be subdued, they would indeed be quite a formidable force."
After musing to himself, Shen Chongming looked at Hua Qing, who was leading the demons, and smiled faintly, saying, "Fellow Daoist Hua Qing, we meet again."
Hua Qing was taken aback, her expression complex, and quickly bowed respectfully, saying, "Hua Qing doesn’t dare to accept the title of ’fellow Daoist’ from the elder."
After speaking, she quickly turned her head to the demons behind her and urged, "Hurry and greet the elder!"
Only then did the demon cultivators react, hurriedly putting away their magical artifacts and respectfully kneeling on the ground.
"We greet the elder."
Demon cultivators who reached the Fetal Breathing Realm have lived for at least one or two hundred years.
These demon cultivators were not foolish; seeing Shen Chongming not immediately resorting to violence and instead associating with Hua Qing,
meant that he did not intend to kill them all outright.
As Shen Chongming watched the trembling demons kneel, a slight smile appeared on his face, and he looked at Hua Qing, curiously asking, "I heard you betrayed Celestial Sandalwood Mountain years ago, and there’s a rumor about ’Flowers Before the Buddha.’ What happened there?"
Hua Qing trembled slightly, secretly raising her eyebrows to glance at Shen Chongming. After a moment of struggle, she revealed the inside story.
Shen Chongming sneered after hearing this, "It seems it was as my Shen Family predicted."
"So, is your Jade Profound Sun Flower avatar still in Jianan Temple?"
With a bitter expression, Hua Qing shook her head, "Elder Feng ordered the demon general to poison the avatar in secret long ago, faking its extermination by the Celestial Sandalwood Mountain as part of a betrayal scheme."
Back then, she had cultivated a Profound Yin Avatar using the Wood Moonlight Pine, creating a single body with two souls; both avatars were essentially her body.
She only needed to continue cultivating, and when Yin and Yang harmonized, she could further progress.
It should have been a heavenly opportunity.
But now, with the destruction of the Profound Yang Avatar, Hua Qing was uncertain how to achieve the Golden Core Dao or if she would ever have such an opportunity again.
Listening to this, even Shen Chongming frowned.
He hadn’t expected Feng Changyou to be so ruthless and unscrupulous.
After some reflection, Shen Chongming spoke grimly, "You should be aware of the current situation."
"In consideration of our past association, I offer you all an opportunity,
"If you surrender a strand of your true spirit and pledge allegiance to the Shen Family, I will spare your lives today."
"And I can assure you, once you pledge allegiance to us, you will receive the same treatment as Shen Clan members."
"Otherwise..."
He didn’t finish his sentence.
But the demons understood.
There were only two paths ahead: surrender a strand of true spirit or die here and now.
Hua Qing slowly turned to face the hundreds of demon cultivators watching her, hesitating.
Originally, she was a wildflower growing deep in the valleys, transformed after absorbing a drop of Essence Blood during Feng Xi’s nirvana, gradually reaching her current realm.
In her heart, she had always regarded herself as a descendant of Feng Xi, believing feng xi had enlightened her.
Moreover, relations among the minor demons below Golden Core in Celestial Sandalwood Mountain were quite harmonious, often referring to each other as siblings.
Choosing allegiance to the Shen Family now meant true betrayal.
"Sister Qing..."
As Hua Qing was torn, a young demon with a leopard head and human body, looking only in his teens, suddenly spoke, "Celestial Sandalwood Mountain is no longer what it used to be."
"Master Shu, didn’t he die because the elder forced him?"
Mentioning Old Man Jin, the demons looked mournful, and subtle sobs could be heard.
Hua Qing was startled, recalling Old Man Jin’s familiar smile and hearing his last words.
[Girl, let Master Shu handle this alone].
Tears welled in Hua Qing’s eyes as she turned to the robust man at Fetal Breathing Perfection beside her and softly asked, "Ah Niu, what do you think?"
The robust man pondered for a moment and spoke in a low voice, "It’s hard for us demon cultivators, spending over a hundred years in confusion before gaining sentience. Ah Niu feels they shouldn’t die."
Upon hearing this, Hua Qing turned to the kneeling young demons again.
Seeing the deep desire for life in their eyes, Hua Qing sighed.
"Elder, we are willing to pledge allegiance to the Shen Family."
"But I have a request. If the elder refuses, I’m willing to die with them."
Shen Chongming lowered his gaze, "Let’s hear it."
Hua Qing bowed, "I hope after pledging allegiance to the Shen Family, my siblings can remain by my side."
Upon hearing this, Shen Chongming frowned.
Hua Qing quickly explained, "Elder, rest assured. Should the Shen Family command, my siblings and I will risk life and limb without complaint!"
"We’ve lived together for hundreds of years and are accustomed to it."
"I don’t want us to separate."
After some consideration, Shen Chongming nodded, "Alright."
"I’ll allocate an area on Hidden Dragon Mountain for you all to reside and cultivate."
An appreciative expression appeared on Hua Qing’s face as she nodded repeatedly, "Thank you, elder!"
With Shen Chongming’s assurance, joy appeared on the faces of the demons.