On Yaoyue Island, within Qingyang Hall.
A gull and a flood dragon fixed their burning gazes upon the pill enveloped in golden cloud-patterns, an intense longing and urge surging from the depths of their bloodlines.
They did not know why, only that it felt like an instinct.
It was as though that pill held within it an opportunity for them to advance to the next rank.
Beside their ears came their master's leisurely voice.
"This is a Transformation Pill, Tier 4 low-grade, personally concocted by this seat."
"Consuming it allows one to manifest a human form and forge meridians and vessels, enabling you to practice human cultivation methods even at the third tier, accelerating your cultivation speed."
Hearing these words, both beasts' hearts could not help but pound violently.
So-called demonic beasts were originally ignorant, unthinking wild beasts that, steeped day and night in the spiritual qi of heaven and earth, gradually unlocked their intelligence and advanced step by step toward power.
It could be said that the vast majority of demonic beasts began their cultivation "passively."
In ancient times, because of this passivity, even after demonic beasts developed intelligence, they remained accustomed to using crude methods of cultivation. The supreme realm they ultimately achieved was that of the so-called "desolate beasts."
Desolate beasts were formidable. Though they had become mere legends, up until before the ancient era, desolate beasts still roamed the Mountain Sea Realm. Their colossal physiques allowed them to contend with Soul Formation grandmasters, and even gain the upper hand!
Yet such immense strength came at a price.
Namely, an exceedingly long time spent cultivating.
Passively absorbing spiritual qi without conscious design, relying on crude methods, and possessing massive frames—all of this destined ordinary wild beasts to require a terrifying span of time to advance step by step into demonic beasts and desolate beasts.
The hardships human cultivators spoke of, spending centuries or millennia to attain the great Dao of Soul Formation, were genuinely not worth mentioning when compared to the vast cultivation spans of demonic beasts, which easily stretched across several thousand years.
Thus, before ancient times, desolate beasts were the supreme rulers of the Mountain Sea Realm!
That was until human cultivators rose, gradually becoming the true masters of this world.
During ancient times, fierce battles raged endlessly. One human grandmaster and Nascent Soul Perfected Person after another paid tremendous prices to slay, suppress, or expel the powerful desolate beasts, gradually claiming the lands with the finest spiritual veins.
Only then did the mighty among the various demonic beast clans realize that the strength bought with endless years came with a flaw far too vast.
Once a generation of top powerhouses was wiped out, it was impossible for successors to bridge the gap in a short time.
Thus, even before hostilities ceased, the demonic beast powerhouses in the Mountain Sea Realm began researching methods of human transformation.
Once they assumed a human form, they could pursue human cultivators at the same realm with comparable cultivation speeds.
Their research ultimately succeeded.
Perhaps because demonic beasts were the primordial living beings of this realm and enjoyed the favor of heaven and earth, the world had left them a sliver of hope.
Relying on the immense demonic qi their massive bodies could store, low-tier demonic beasts could condense an inner core even at Tier 2, gaining subtle characteristics of human Golden Core cultivators.
Upon reaching Tier 3, they could comprehend the method of transformation, refine away the transverse bone in their throats to speak human tongue, and temper their souls.
And upon reaching Tier 4, with the aid of heavenly thunder, they obtained great fortune and took that final step across the threshold of transformation!
By then, a generation's Demon Emperor was no inferior to a Nascent Soul Perfected Person, and could truly be called a demon cultivator.
If one possessed the bloodline of an ancestral desolate beast that had ascended, they might even awaken an alternative inherited bloodline demon art, far superior to ordinary human secret techniques.
Transformation was a shortcut for demonic beasts leading directly to the Grand Dao!
Yet embarking upon this shortcut remained arduous.
The Tier 3 realm alone could consume who knew how many years of their lives.
Now, hearing that Luo Chen possessed a pill that could let them transform ahead of time, how could the two beasts not be overjoyed?
However!
Black King swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly as he asked, "Master, is there only one?"
Luo Chen gave a slight nod.
He had only this single pill. It had not come easily, and replicating a second furnace in the future was practically impossible.
After all, capturing a Nascent Soul Perfected Person alive and extracting their origin essence blood to refine a pill was a feat far too difficult to achieve.
Perhaps only an extraordinary top powerhouse like Qingshuang, the Hall Master of Zhoukong Hall, could manage it.
Among peers of the Nascent Soul realm, she was virtually peerless.
Unless a Soul Formation grandmaster intervened, no one in the world could do anything to her.
Hearing this answer, Black King and Tianxuan exchanged a glance, falling into silence.
"I only have this one in hand."
"Soon I may travel far away to densely populated places, and your massive bodies are far too conspicuous. My natal magic treasure can only barely hold one of you for now, and ordinary spirit beast pouches cannot contain you either."
"Therefore, one of you needs to assume human form, both for convenience while traveling and to assist me with various matters."
"Considering how much both of you have exerted yourselves for me over the past years, it would be unfair for me to unilaterally decide who receives it."
"Thus, I leave it to the two of you to discuss and decide between yourselves."
As he said this, Luo Chen's gaze lingered a moment longer on Black King.
This fellow had the largest true form, yet remained unable to shrink to a suitable size, making traveling with him the most inconvenient.
Naturally, just as he said, he left the internal decision to the two beasts.
Lest either feel wronged and foster internal friction while serving him.
The beast-taming methods in the Myriad Beast Scripture were far too ordinary; it was, after all, only a Tier 2 cultivation method.
Luo Chen's control over the two beasts was not absolute.
Over the years, beyond relying on divine soul suppression, he had occasionally bestowed small rewards to win their loyalty.
Those modest favors had clearly borne fruit.
At the very least, even without deliberate control on his part, nothing like the explosive ape fleeing with its young had ever happened again.
Tianxuan Battle Gull stood in the hall with her neck held high, though her heart was somewhat heavy.
She could guess that this Transformation Pill would likely not go to her.
The master's favoritism toward Black King was plain to see.
Whether it was the allocation of Emperor's Flowing Syrup or the miscellaneous materials from demonic beasts after alchemy, it was readily apparent.
In particular, the master had even bestowed the carcass of a cliff snake that failed its tribulation upon Black King.
Under such circumstances, even if she wanted to fight for it, she feared...
Just as disappointment welled within her, a voice reached her ears that shocked her beyond measure.
"Give it to Tianxuan!"
"Hmm?"
Before Tianxuan could respond, Luo Chen uttered a surprised exclamation.
Meeting Luo Chen's surprised gaze and the bewildered look of the battle gull beside him, Black King let out a chuckle.
"Master might not know, but that cliff snake carcass contained far too much essence. Even after slumbering for over three years, I still haven't finished digesting it."
"In my current state, if you make me take the Transformation Pill, the human form I manifest would probably end up bizarre and deformed."
Luo Chen was about to say that wouldn't happen—this was, after all, a Transformation Pill he had refined himself.
Yet the figure with a crow's head and a human body atop Mount Cangwu suddenly surfaced in his mind.
Youquan seemed to have taken this pill, only to fail in his transformation, hadn't he?
"I do want to take the Transformation Pill, but if I genuinely wait until I finish digesting the cliff snake essence in my body, it'll probably take another six or seven years. Master's departure is imminent; you cannot wait for me that long."
"Moreover..."
Speaking to this point, Black King paused, a flicker of hesitation and confusion crossing his eyes.
"Moreover, I faintly sense that perhaps not taking the path of transformation, but adhering to the ancient desolate beast cultivation method instead, might be more beneficial for my cultivation."
Luo Chen frowned.
Before he could speak, Tianxuan beside Black King asked, "How could that be? Doesn't everyone say that after transforming, we can cultivate much faster? With your massive frame, if you genuinely temper your demonic body step by step the orthodox way, how long will it take for you to advance to Tier 4?"
Her three consecutive questions expressed precisely what Luo Chen was thinking.
Black King twisted his python frame, covered in deep black scales, and said somewhat uncertainly, "I'm not sure either, but my instincts give me that vague feeling."
Instincts?
Luo Chen's heart stirred.
A bloodline inheritance?
Among formidable demonic beast clans, certain outstandingly talented individuals, through continuously purifying their bloodlines, had a chance of awakening ancestral inheritances latent within their blood.
The black-scaled python was the product of interbreeding among various bloodlines, its ancestral origins long since untraceable.
Black King's earlier transition toward the flood dragon path had also been a crude, mutated evolution.
Yet after Luo Chen had bestowed several portions of premium Emperor's Flowing Syrup upon him, Black King seemed to have steadily purified his bloodline, even comprehending a "Devouring Demon Art."
That demon art was quite wondrous!
Luo Chen had once studied it personally, finding that it shared remarkable similarities with the Wither-Bloom True Fire's ability to refine life force for personal use, perhaps even surpassing it in breadth.
He had once attempted to learn that demon art!
However, his research had ultimately ended in failure.
The specific reason lay in the fact that the demon art was driven by the terrifying stomach pouch within Black King's bloated body.
Unless Luo Chen modified his own stomach into something resembling Black King's and comprehended the underlying principles of the demon art, it was impossible.
Luo Chen had not dared take such a step; he could not be certain whether modifying his body would adversely affect his currently favorable cultivation speed.
*If he relies on the Devouring Demon Art and the greater inherited knowledge within his bloodline to compensate for the difficulties of the desolate beast path, perhaps Black King's cultivation speed won't be too slow either?*
*Worst comes to worst, I can refine more Emperor's Flowing Syrup for him in the future and seek out more resources beneficial for him to devour.*
Having thought it through, Luo Chen no longer dwelled on the matter.
"Very well, then it's settled."
With a wave of Luo Chen's sleeve, the Transformation Pill drifted over to Tianxuan's side.
She accepted the pill in a daze, listening in a blur as Luo Chen elaborated on several crucial taboos and precautions for consuming it.
Then, at Luo Chen's signal, the two beasts withdrew.
After leaving Qingyang Hall, the gull and the python slowly made their way out, finally stopping at the edge of the ten-li tranquil lake.
Normally at this point, the python would enter the lake and the battle gull would take to the skies, parting ways.
Only this time, Tianxuan took the initiative to call out to Black King.
As the natural predator and the dominant party, Tianxuan had always been forceful in the past.
Yet at this moment, she felt somewhat awkward before Black King.
Seemingly sensing her thoughts, Black King parted his gaping maw and let out a chuckle.
"Save your words of thanks. Whoever transforms will have to bustle about on Master's behalf, which sounds like an enormous hassle just thinking about it. Such chores are better left to you!"
Within her azure avian eyes flickered a complex, human-like expression.
Bustling about naturally had its benefits.
Had Black King not monopolized the master's favor previously precisely because he went out every day to hunt demon crabs for him?
If she transformed, not only would her cultivation speed increase, but by handling errands for the master regularly, she would surely reap even greater rewards.
"Departure is right around the corner. Lord Black here needs to sleep a little longer."
Letting out a foul-smelling yawn, the giant python plunged into the placid lake with a splash.
Watching the rippling surface of the lake, Tianxuan remained silent for a long while.
In the end, she whispered softly.
"Thank you."
Then, spreading her wings, she took flight toward the isolated Wanghai Cliff where she dwelt.
Beneath the surface of the lake, Black King quietly watched that majestic figure, curling his lips.
"Considering you saved me once before, I'll let you have the advantage this time."
Deep down, he thought to himself that a bird ought to soar across the sky; how could she be cooped up in the dark depths of a grey cauldron like him, trembling and never seeing the light of day?
***
On Black Swan Island.
A tall woman stood in a courtyard, scattering feed.
Black swans with slender necks arched upward gathered in the pond at her feet, vying for the delicious feed.
She suddenly lifted her head and looked toward the sky.
She saw a majestic bird flying toward the solitary cliff not far away.
Upon seeing that silhouette, the hesitation on her face deepened.
*I fear the Demonic Lord is truly leaving this time!*
*He even summoned back the spirit beasts roaming outside, clearly making final preparations for his journey.*
*Should I go with him?*
Cheng Haixin could imagine that staying by the Demonic Lord's side would bring boundless benefits in the future.
Having served Luo Chen for so many years, she was well aware that the so-called "Demonic Lord" was not particularly evil.
His demonic aspect showed itself only in matters concerning his cultivation, where he appeared exceptionally overbearing and relentless.
So long as one did not cross his bottom line, Master Qingyang was actually quite decent.
He continually bestowed small favors upon those by his side.
And toward other cultivation families with their petty schemes, he largely turned a blind eye.
One could say that following him would inevitably grant access to broader horizons.
If she were fortunate enough to become his Dao companion, or even just a favored concubine, she might have hope of reaching the Golden Core Grand Dao!
Cheng Haixin could tell that Master Qingyang was not an ascetic monk devoid of desire; the gaze with which he occasionally assessed her appearance and figure carried appreciation.
It was merely that he perhaps carried other attachments in his heart, or possessed an unyielding Dao heart unmoved by feminine charms, temporarily suppressing that impulse.
*Yet if I leave, what will happen to the clan?*
Cheng Haixin released her divine sense, slowly covering a radius of more than ten li.
She saw many things: clansmen tending diligently to the spiritual fields, flocks of clucking black swans, young juniors learning spells under the tutelage of Clan Elder Cheng Haichang... and an old man with frosted white hair and a face worn by the vicissitudes of time.
As her divine sense swept over, the old man sitting in the clan discussion hall also lifted his head, looking over in confusion.
*Uncle Ji is truly old; I fear he has barely two years left to live.*
*Brother Haichang's cultivation is decent, but he is only skilled in combat; when it comes to managing the clan, he falls short.*
*Because Eldest Brother Cheng Dou collected resources for Master Qingyang in earlier years, he offended quite a few people. With the master overseeing the area, they didn't dare act against our Cheng clan. Yet once the master departs, things might be fine for a short while, but over time, trouble will inevitably brew.*
*I...*
After a long silence, the woman bit her lower lip and slowly shook her head.
She could not leave!
***
Word that the Demonic Lord was leaving had spread, at some point, among the upper echelons of the various clans across the Flying Swallow Archipelago.
Perhaps someone had carelessly let it slip, or perhaps observant figures had pieced it together from subtle clues.
Regardless, Demonic Lord Qingyang's northward journey was already set in stone.
Furthermore, once he left, he was highly unlikely to return.
After all, prior to this, Wu Qi of Wushen Island had visited the island, followed by a visit from the Nascent Soul Perfected Person Blood Nightmare Moluo—both signaling that a premier Nascent Soul faction had extended an invitation to recruit Demonic Lord Qingyang.
Compared to a top Nascent Soul faction brimming with abundant resources, the meager cultivation environment of the Flying Swallow Archipelago was far too barren.
Once someone left, practically no one would ever return.
Did this not mean the Flying Swallow Archipelago would soon be left leaderless once more?
For a time, undercurrents surged within the major cultivation clans.
Even without paying deliberate attention, Luo Chen could perceive these turbulent undercurrents.
In particular, the Cheng clan of Black Swan Island adopting a posture of outward calm but inward vigilance made the direction of these undercurrents glaringly obvious to him.
Within Qingyang Hall.
Luo Chen let out a faint sigh.
The Cheng clan had toiled like beasts of burden for him for nearly twenty years. If his departure brought about their annihilation, it would be truly unrighteous.
"It seems before I leave, I must properly handle the aftermath."
"Ah well, it is but an effortless favor anyway."
With a thought, a divine sense transmission went out.
Cheng Haixin, who was bustling within the clan, could not help showing a look of astonishment upon receiving the transmission, followed by wild excitement as she hurriedly rushed toward Yaoyue Island.
She was not the only one.
At this moment, throughout the archipelago, every late Foundation Establishment grand cultivator and clan head received the transmission.
Regardless of whether they were busy or in secluded cultivation,
and setting aside whatever speculations raged in their minds,
under the terrifying prestige of the Demonic Lord, all of them converged toward Yaoyue Island.
When they arrived, the young man in white robes with a ruddy complexion sat majestically high atop the hall, his eyes burning like torches.
He did not speak, merely watching them quietly.
The somewhat restless atmosphere gradually grew heavy and solemn.
Certain individuals harboring ill intents even began breaking out in cold sweats, their eyes shifting away, not daring to look directly at the man above.
No one knew how long the oppressive atmosphere lasted.
Just as everyone felt each second drag like a year, a voice suddenly descended.
"In three months, I shall depart."
"Before I go, I have three matters to entrust. You must all comply."
"Should anyone disobey, do not blame this seat for showing no mercy!"
"First, the Cheng clan shall temporarily serve as the masters of the Flying Swallow Archipelago, holding the entry and exit tokens for the Yaoyue Island grand formation on my behalf until the birth of the first local Golden Core cultivator!"
Chapter 564