Although the sword spirit knew the Spirit-Devouring Dao Body was exceptionally strong, Li Guanqi was also the only possessor of it she had ever encountered.
As for liberating the power of the Spirit-Devouring Dao Body...
All the sword spirit had done was tear open that final layer of Su Xuan's seal.
Li Guanqi took a deep breath and spoke softly in front of the sword spirit:
"Demonic Power Surge, Demonic Domain, Demonic Rune Inscription, Heart Demon Control, Demonic Blood Revival, Dark Concealment, Demon Transformation!"
Only when Li Guanqi finished naming these seven abilities did a slight ripple stir in the sword spirit's eyes.
"Worthy of a special physique that reaches the spiritual physique tier—to possess a full seven special abilities!"
Li Guanqi smiled wryly. "It seems Xun Tian's state of terrifying physical strength and defense, as well as the change in his appearance back then, must have been the Demon Transformation ability."
"As for his absurd regenerative power, that should be Demonic Blood Revival."
"And the divine patterns across his body were the Demonic Rune Inscription that bolstered his defense and attack."
Li Guanqi frowned slightly. If that were so...
Despite possessing the Demon King Physique, Xun Tian had only developed three of its abilities up until his death.
Yet Li Guanqi, having devoured the Demon King Physique, had unlocked every single one of them!
Earlier, once Li Guanqi understood all the abilities of the Demon King Physique, even he felt a chill of lingering fear.
If Xun Tian had fully mastered all of those abilities, Li Guanqi could never have slain him so easily!
At this moment, the sword spirit asked with curiosity,
"Fascinating indeed... I didn't expect this Demon King Physique to be so formidable."
"Xun Tian truly let a rare treasure go to waste."
At that, the sword spirit suddenly suggested,
"Why not try unleashing your current power with everything you have?"
Li Guanqi licked his lips and stood up, eager to test himself.
Boom!
In an instant, Li Guanqi pushed his original power straight to its peak!
Sword Ruins, sword intent, Dragon Transformation, Divine Punishment's fourth layer: Emptiness Release Realm!
Boom!
Violent thunder primal energy roared wildly, instantly shattering the surrounding nothingness as the void trembled in dread.
The aura Li Guanqi displayed now was comparable to a half-step Tribulation Transcendence realm expert!
In the next moment...
The Dragon Transformation scales covering Li Guanqi's upper body turned pitch-black, and jet-black dragon horns sprouted from his brow!
Immediately after, mysterious divine patterns gleaming with an eerie light spread across his chest and back!
The strange divine patterns looked like an ancient demon god glaring wrathfully upon all living beings.
Li Guanqi felt the surging power within him, yet his spiritual terrace remained clear and bright, without the slightest sign of demonic corruption.
Having confirmed this, he finally set his mind at ease. Taking a deep breath, Li Guanqi bent forward and roared!
"Aaaaargh!"
Rip!
Li Guanqi's robes tore open as his frame shot up considerably!
His tall, muscular frame radiated an overwhelming sense of oppression.
A sharp light glinted in Li Guanqi's eyes, his pure white pupils flickering.
"Demonic Power Surge!"
Boom!
In an instant, demonic flames seemed to twine around the lightning blanketing ten thousand zhang of the void!
Demonic flames scorched the heavens; this demonic energy... was countless times purer than when Xun Tian had wielded it himself.
Wherever the demonic flames swept, space warped and withered, as if burned to absolute cinder.
Li Guanqi took a step forward, and in an instant, a layer of pitch-black demonic flames enveloped the surrounding thunder domain!
Within this domain, Li Guanqi's aura was formidable enough to rival a mid Tribulation Transcendence Realm expert!
A flicker of shock crossed the sword spirit's eyes.
It was unimaginable... if Li Guanqi were to truly step into the Tribulation Transcendence realm, just how terrifying his power would be!
Li Guanqi looked down at his current self, clenching a fist as if he could crush the void to pieces.
Yet immediately after, he licked his lips with a touch of unease, dispelled every trace of the Demon King Physique's power, and returned to his original appearance.
The sword spirit frowned slightly and asked softly, "What is the matter?"
Keeping his head lowered, Li Guanqi spoke with worry. "Countless lives in the Six Domains have perished because the Abyss Demons ran amok. And now... I have obtained the power of a demon..."
He slowly raised his head, looking at the sword spirit with deeply conflicted emotions. "I don't know what to do..."
At his words, the corners of the sword spirit's lips curved faintly upward.
Her gaze was steadfast as she looked at Li Guanqi and parted her lips: "Will you slaughter the innocent?"
Li Guanqi shook his head with a furrowed brow.
The sword spirit gave a soft laugh. "If you won't, then what are you worrying about?"
"Power... is meant to serve people in the end!"
"Be it immortal or demon, such power ultimately depends on who uses it."
"A person devoid of virtue, bloodthirsty and cruel, will still commit endless atrocities even if they possess the power of an immortal."
"A demon? What is a demon?"
"Does the world define who is a demon... or is it determined by one's own heart?"
Seeing that Li Guanqi still seemed somewhat troubled, the sword spirit simply gathered her skirts and waved her hand, coalescing two prayer mats in the void!
Li Guanqi was slightly startled, but then smiled, gathered the hem of his robe, and took a seat on one of the mats.
As the sword spirit sat down, she felt more than ever like an elder in that moment.
All the energy surrounding them settled into peace and absolute quiet.
Facing each other, the sword spirit pondered for a brief moment, her chest rising and falling gently before she spoke in a soft voice:
"The mortal world is fraught with turmoil. Beneath appearances, the difference between a true demon and a false saint often hinges on a single thought."
Li Guanqi nodded silently; he could understand that much.
Seeing this, the sword spirit nodded slightly and continued:
"Demon or not is not determined by the nature of the power, but... defined by the intention and true heart of the one who wields it!"
"The people of this world are blind and easily misled."
"They see only dark clouds bearing down upon the city, yet know nothing of the clear skies that stretch for ten thousand miles behind them."
In this moment, Li Guanqi's soul was deeply shaken!
This was the first time he had received teachings and guidance from the sword spirit, so he listened with absolute focus.
"As long as your heart turns toward the light, even if you wield the power of a 'demon,' you remain a traveler on the righteous path."
"Remember, true corruption does not come from the attribute of one's power, but from a faltering will yielding to external temptations."
"Just as a blade cannot speak, whether it harms someone never lies with the blade itself... but with the person holding the sword!"
Here, the sword spirit paused briefly, smiling as she looked at Li Guanqi.
"Therefore, you need not fear the blame and criticism of the ignorant. They see only your shadow, yet know nothing of what lies within your heart."
"As long as... your heart is like a clear mirror stand, untarnished by dust—"
"Then walk your Dao, and let others say what they will!"
At that moment, Li Guanqi's mind shook as clarity washed through him.
He finally accepted the reality that he possessed the power of the Demon King Physique.
Looking at the bright-eyed, spirited young man, the sword spirit slowly rose and vanished into the void.
She knew that with Li Guanqi's temperament, he would soon understand it all.
Li Guanqi stood up slowly, clenching his fists as he felt the surging power within him.
If his current self, fortified by the Demon King Physique, were to fight his former self, he was confident he could slay that earlier self within fifteen minutes!
Chapter 1263