Mo Fan still did not know what kind of people these two actually were, so naturally he would not trust them just because of a few words.
Moreover, the White Tiger Sacred King had once told him that the Heaven-Devouring Demon Clan was treated like rats crossing the street in the upper realm. It had even warned him to keep this identity strictly secret, for once it was exposed, he might face deadly disaster.
Therefore, in Mo Fan’s view, letting these two remain sealed might actually be more advantageous for him.
Besides, releasing them would inevitably offend Inverted Mountain. With his current cultivation, how could he dare clash with such a colossal force?
This was something that did not even need thinking about.
Wouldn’t it be better for a demon like me to develop stealthily and wretchedly?
Why go out and wreak havoc on the world, becoming the public enemy of all?
Am I full and have nothing better to do?
In Mo Fan’s eyes, this was a choice that required no consideration at all.
Faced with his refusal, Zhantai Xuanyue showed no surprise whatsoever. Instead, she smiled slightly and said, “Don’t be so quick to refuse. Actually, even if I didn’t come to you, you would still walk this path sooner or later. It’s only a question of time.”
“Why do you say that?” Mo Fan frowned.
“Because you belong to the Heaven-Devouring lineage!”
Zhantai Xuanyue gave Mo Fan a meaningful glance, then continued, “Although the Heaven-Devouring lineage is rare, since ancient times it has always been the source of chaos in the world. That is why it is called a forbidden bloodline.”
“Do you mean I am destined to fall into demonhood in the future?” Mo Fan frowned.
“No, it’s not that you will fall into demonhood. Rather, in this vast world, there is no place for you unless you become strong enough!”
“I believe you have already discovered how different the Heaven-Devouring bloodline is. Unlike ordinary cultivators, your cultivation relies more on plundering the dao fruits of others.
So you don’t need to fall into demonhood, because you are a great demon by birth!
The fundamental reason cultivators of the world shout for the killing of the Heaven-Devouring lineage is fear. They dread that demons like you will devour them.
And the best way to eliminate fear is, of course, to destroy its source!”
“Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Zhantai Xuanyue smiled, then added, “Moreover, even if you take ten thousand steps back, this world will fall into great chaos sooner or later even without you. I’m sure you have already sensed it.
The deal between that great white tiger and Inverted Mountain only delayed the chaos.
But as long as the grudge between your demon race and the human race remains, and as long as the devil race and witch race do not give up their ambitions, this world of yours will descend into chaos eventually!”
“Then why not wait until that time comes?” Mo Fan sneered.
“I can wait, but my mother cannot!”
Zhantai Xuanyue sighed, then said to Mo Fan, “Rest assured, I won’t ask for your help without reward.”
“If you agree, I will first give you three gifts.
And if you truly help me escape confinement, I will give you an even greater gift!”
Hearing there were gifts, Mo Fan’s mind instantly became active. He frowned at the man and asked, “You mean that as long as I agree, you’ll give me the gifts?”
“Exactly!” Zhantai Xuanyue replied with a beaming smile.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll take your benefits and then not follow through?”
Mo Fan frowned, finding it hard to believe something so good could happen.
“It doesn’t matter. As I said, my escape is only a matter of time anyway. Besides, your current cultivation is still too weak to disturb the world.
On the contrary, once you accept my gifts, your strength will increase further. The stronger you become, the closer this world comes to great chaos.
So no matter what, it benefits me.
Of course, the most important thing is that I value your bloodline. Making friends with you before you fully grow up is also good for me.
I believe faced with such temptation, you won’t refuse, right?”
Zhantai Xuanyue looked at Mo Fan with a smile. The latter gave a wry smile, took a deep breath, then grinned and said, “Only a bastard would pass up free benefits!”
Seeing Mo Fan agree, the smile on Zhantai Xuanyue’s face grew even brighter.
Without wasting words, he spoke directly, “The reason I can contact you is that the bronze ancient mirror you obtained in the True Dragon Lair once belonged to my clan. It is called the Water Moon Spirit Mirror, an ancient treasure!”
“Ancient treasure?”
Mo Fan was stunned. This was the first time he had heard of such a thing.
“Ancient treasure, literally, a treasure refined by ancient cultivators of the primordial era. Its power is immense, far beyond ordinary magical treasures, and even stronger than many spirit treasures!”
“What are spirit treasures, then?”
Mo Fan asked, though he already had a vague idea.
“Spirit treasures are also a type of magical treasure, but far more powerful than ordinary ones. They can evolve and transform on their own, and most crucially, spirit treasures give birth to artefact spirits!
Thus, even without their master’s control, spirit treasures can fight autonomously!”
Zhantai Xuanyue finished, looked at Mo Fan, and smiled, “That Thunder Shock spear in your hand is a spirit treasure.”
So that’s how it is!
Mo Fan nodded. It matched what he had guessed.
“You’re quite lucky. Even in the upper realm, spirit treasures are extremely rare. Once one appears, all major forces scramble for it.
Because unlike other treasures that have many restrictions, spirit treasures are perfect for protecting junior cultivators!”
Zhantai Xuanyue then returned to the main topic, “However, the more powerful a treasure is, the harder it is to refine. Ancient treasures are among the hardest because their refining methods differ from modern ones, so you cannot refine it with current techniques.”
“Then what should I do?”
Mo Fan frowned. He really hadn’t considered this before.
He had originally thought the bronze ancient mirror was an immortal treasure, but Zhantai Xuanyue told him it was an ancient treasure instead. It made sense that the refining method would be different.
“Ancient treasures naturally require ancient methods to refine!”
Zhantai Xuanyue smiled faintly, flashed forward, and appeared before Mo Fan. He pointed a finger at Mo Fan’s forehead, giving him no chance to resist, and calmly said, “This ancient treasure refining method is the first gift I give you!”
As Zhantai Xuanyue spoke, Mo Fan felt a stream of information enter his mind.
Moments later, Zhantai Xuanyue withdrew his hand, flashed back, and sat down opposite again.
“So you had your eye on me ever since the True Dragon Lair?” Mo Fan frowned.
“No, strictly speaking, I took an interest in you the first time you came to Inverted Mountain with that white tiger.
I just didn’t expect you to appear in the True Dragon Lair, so naturally I chose you.
Otherwise, did you really think you could obtain the Water Moon Spirit Mirror so easily without that old daoist noticing?
In the end, it wasn’t you who chose the Water Moon Spirit Mirror. I used the mirror as a medium to choose you!”
Zhantai Xuanyue’s words left Mo Fan momentarily silent. He did not rush him and continued speaking on his own.
“As for the second gift, it is an Ice Frost Jiao Dragon Pearl!”
As he spoke, a crystalline pearl appeared in Zhantai Xuanyue’s hand. Inside, a snowy white jiao dragon could faintly be seen soaring.
“This item is formed from the demon core of an ice frost jiao dragon and contains that white jiao’s bloodline inheritance. I recall you have a white snake demon by your side, perfect for her.
As the saying goes, ten years to become a snake, a hundred years to become a python, a thousand years to become a jiao.
Jiao are also evolved from snakes.
However, this pearl contains terrifying ice frost energy. If that white snake demon wishes to refine it, she will suffer extreme cold and might even be frozen solid by the backlash.
But everything has pros and cons. If she succeeds in absorbing it, her chances of evolving into a jiao in the future will be much greater!
So think carefully about whether to let her use it!”
With that, Zhantai Xuanyue flipped his hand. The Ice Frost Jiao Dragon Pearl vanished, replaced by a jade slip.
“This jade slip is the third gift I give you…”
Zhantai Xuanyue suddenly frowned. His entire figure began to grow gradually blurry.
Not only him, but Zhantai Wangyou beside him was the same.
“Young Master, time is up!” Zhantai Wangyou immediately reminded.
“Damn it, I was just getting to the good part, and time ran out!”
Zhantai Xuanyue cursed under his breath, then looked at Mo Fan and said solemnly, “In any case, remember this: I have already placed those two items inside the ancient treasure using a void secret art. Once you fully refine the Water Moon Spirit Mirror, you will naturally obtain them.”
“Fellow daoist, I have no desire to be your enemy, nor to be the enemy of all cultivators in this world. At the end of the day, I am merely a son trying to save his mother. So I beg you to help me, and please do not forget what I said earlier!”
“Also, inside the Water Moon Spirit Mirror there is a void array disc. When the time comes, you only need to place that array disc at…”
Before Zhantai Xuanyue could finish, his entire figure abruptly vanished without a trace.
Mo Fan blinked, then the corners of his mouth curved up. He chuckled and said, “Brother Xuanyue, you can’t blame me for this. You should have got to the point sooner!”
…
Time flashed by, and the day of the Demon King Grand Ceremony arrived!
Mo Fan emerged from seclusion as promised, a strange gleam in his eyes!
…
