bǎi liàn chéng xiān dì sān juǎn yōu zhōu luàn dì wǔ bǎi líng qī zhāng liǎng mó jiào xīn jī
百炼成仙第三卷幽州乱第五百零七章两魔较心机
In the third volume of "Cultivation Anecdotes," Chapter 507: Two Demons Compete in Intrigue
rán ， cǐ mì shù suī rán ào miào ， dàn qū qū yí gè fù shēn zhī tǐ ， yě zhǐ néng fēn zhī yī zuǒ yòu de shén tōng 。
然，此秘术虽然奥妙，但区区一个附身之体，也只能分之一左右的神通。
The secret technique was indeed profound, but even with a possessed body, it could only grant about half of its full power.
dàn ráo shì rú cǐ ， jí è mó zūn fǎ lì zhī shēn ， yě bú shì lián xíng dòng dōu shòu dào xiàn zhì de xuè mó kě yǐ dǐ dǎng de 。
但饶是如此，极恶魔尊法力之深，也不是连行动都受到限制的血魔可以抵挡的。
Despite this, the Great Evil Sovereign's immense magical power wasn't something the Blood Demon could easily resist. After a fierce battle, the Blood Demon fell defeated.
yī fān dà zhàn xià lái ， xuè mó yǐn hèn luò bài 。
一番大战下来，血魔饮恨落败。
However, as an ancient evil cultivator, his demonic techniques were awe-inspiring, and eliminating him would require significant effort from the Great Evil Sovereign.
dàn zhè ge lǎo jiā huǒ ， bì jìng shì shàng gǔ xié xiū ， yī shēn mó gōng jīng shì hài sú ， jí è mó zūn xiǎng yào jiāng qí miè le ， yě dé fù chū bù xiǎo de dài jià 。
但这个老家伙，毕竟是上古邪修，一身魔功惊世骇俗，极恶魔尊想要将其灭了，也得付出不小的代价。
Both old demons were clever, so they wouldn’t engage in mutually destructive tactics. The Great Evil Sovereign thus settled for sealing the Blood Demon and bringing him back to his lair. As he looked at this half-human, half-beast creature, a glint of intelligence flashed in his eyes, but it was unclear what he was thinking.
liǎng gè lǎo mó dōu shì cōng míng rén ， zhè zhǒng liǎng bài jù shāng de shì qíng zì rán bú huì qù zuò 。
两个老魔都是聪明人，这种两败俱伤的事情自然不会去做。
In contrast, the Blood Demon appeared weaker than before, with numerous scars covering his ugly body. Without the flesh and spirit of a cultivator, he couldn’t recover.
yú shì mó zūn tuì ér qiú qí cì ， jiāng xuè mó fēng yìn hòu dài huí zì jǐ de dòng fǔ ， cǐ shí kàn zhe zhè ge bàn rén bàn shòu de guài wù ， tā de yǎn zhōng jīng máng shǎn shuò ， yě bù zhī dào xīn zhōng zài xiǎng xiē shén me 。
于是魔尊退而求其次，将血魔封印后带回自己的洞府，此时看着这个半人半兽的怪物，他的眼中精芒闪烁，也不知道心中在想些什么。
"Friend, have you come here to collaborate with me?" The Blood Demon's voice was filled with temptation: "Or do you need my help because you've encountered difficulties?"
fǎn guān xuè mó zūn zhě ， yǔ shù yuè qián xiāng bǐ ， tā xiǎn de gèng jiā xū ruò le xiē ， chǒu lòu de shēn tǐ shāng hén biàn bù ， méi yǒu xiū shì de xuè ròu yǔ jīng hún ， tā gēn běn jiù wú fǎ huī fù 。
反观血魔尊者，与数月前相比，他显得更加虚弱了些，丑陋的身体伤痕遍布，没有修士的血肉与精魂，他根本就无法恢复。
"Do you really think you can help this old man break through his bottleneck and enter the late-stage元婴 stage?" The Great Evil Sovereign’s tone was emotionless.
“ dào yǒu lái cǐ ， kě shì xiǎng hǎo le yǔ wǒ hé zuò ？” xuè mó de shēng yīn chōng mǎn le yòu huò ：“ hái shì dào yǒu yù jiàn le nán tí ， xū yào wǒ de bāng zhù 。”
“道友来此，可是想好了与我合作？”血魔的声音充满了诱惑：“还是道友遇见了难题，需要我的帮助。”
"Of course, why would I lie to you?"
“ nǐ zhēn de kě yǐ ràng lǎo fū tū pò píng jǐng ， jìn rù yuán yīng hòu qī ？” mó zūn shēng yīn háo wú gǎn qíng 。
“你真的可以让老夫突破瓶颈，进入元婴后期？”魔尊声音毫无感情。
"Humph. Blood Demon. Don't think that because I know nothing about you, I won’t recognize your deceit. I’ve read many ancient texts from a million years ago during the primordial era. You were indeed a formidable figure who terrorized one area and made people shudder at your name. But even in your prime, you only reached mid-stage元婴. How can you dare to boast that you can help me break through my bottleneck and become a late-stage great cultivator?"
“ dāng rán ， lǎo fū yòu zěn huì piàn nǐ ？”
“当然，老夫又怎会骗你？”
The Great Evil Sovereign’s voice was icy, clearly skeptical.
“ hēng 。 xuè mó 。 bié yǐ wéi běn mó zūn duì yǔ nǐ yī wú suǒ zhī 。 wǒ yǐ jīng chá yuè le bù shǎo shàng gǔ diǎn jí 。 zài bǎi wàn nián qián dì hóng huāng shí qī 。 hái zhēn yǒu nǐ zhè me yī hào rén wù 。 céng héng xíng yī fāng 。 ràng rén wén zhī biàn sè 。 bù guò 。 jiù suàn nǐ quán shèng zhī shí 。 yě bù guò yuán yīng zhōng qī 。 nǐ zì jǐ dōu méi yǒu jìn rù hòu qī 。 yòu zěn gǎn kuā xià hǎi kǒu 。 néng gòu ràng wǒ tū pò píng jǐng 。 chéng wéi hòu qī dì dà xiū shì ？” mó zūn shēng yīn bīng hán 。 míng xiǎn yǒu xiē bù xìn dì dào 。
“哼。血魔。别以为本魔尊对与你一无所知。我已经查阅了不少上古典籍。在百万年前地洪荒时期。还真有你这么一号人物。曾横行一方。让人闻之变色。不过。就算你全盛之时。也不过元婴中期。你自己都没有进入后期。又怎敢夸下海口。能够让我突破瓶颈。成为后期地大修士？”魔尊声音冰寒。明显有些不信地道。
"Great Evil Friend, there's no need for anger. I will explain the reasons," the Blood Demon confidently said: "Indeed, I was only mid-stage元婴 before. But you should remember that I was trapped for a million years. During this time, although my body couldn’t move, my mind remained unharmed. With my intelligence, I wouldn't waste time; instead, I pondered the mysteries of cultivation techniques and finally figured out how to bypass the bottleneck and reach late-stage元婴."
“ jí è dào yǒu wú xū dòng nù 。 zhè zhōng jiān dì yuán yóu lǎo fū zì rán kě yǐ jiě shuō qīng chǔ 。” xuè mó chōng mǎn zì xìn dì kāi kǒu le ：“ lǎo fū yǐ qián 。 què shí zhǐ shì yuán yīng zhōng qī dì xiū shì 。 dàn nǐ bú yào wàng jì 。 wǒ céng jīng bèi kùn bǎi wàn nián 。 zhè me zhǎng dì shí jiān 。 lǎo fū shēn tǐ suī rán bù néng dòng 。 dàn xīn shén què shì sī háo méi yǒu shòu sǔn 。 yǐ wǒ dì cái zhì 。 zì rán bú huì bái bái làng fèi shí guāng 。 yì zhí zài sī suǒ gōng fǎ ào miào 。 zhōng yú ràng wǒ kān pò xuán jī 。 zhǎo dào le rú hé rào kāi píng jǐng 。 zhí dá yuán yīng hòu qī dì dà dào 。”
“极恶道友无需动怒。这中间地缘由老夫自然可以解说清楚。”血魔充满自信地开口了：“老夫以前。确实只是元婴中期地修士。但你不要忘记。我曾经被困百万年。这么长地时间。老夫身体虽然不能动。但心神却是丝毫没有受损。以我地才智。自然不会白白浪费时光。一直在思索功法奥妙。终于让我勘破璇玑。找到了如何绕开瓶颈。直达元婴后期地大道。”
"Humph, how can I know if what you say is true?"
“ hēng 。 lǎo fū zěn me zhī dào nǐ suǒ shuō dì shì zhēn shì jiǎ 。”
“哼。老夫怎么知道你所说地是真是假。”
"Friend, your words are a bit inconsistent!" The Blood Demon laughed: "With the Great Evil Sovereign's intelligence, how could you not recognize truth from falsehood? If I were to deceive you with fake things, wouldn’t that be self-defeating? You don't need to beat around the bush. Since you've come here today, you must have decided to collaborate. Just lay out your conditions; there’s no need for such fuss."
“ dào yǒu zhè huà yǒu xiē yán bù yóu zhōng a ！” xuè mó xiào le qǐ lái ：“ yǐ mó zūn dì cōng míng cái zhì 。 qǐ huì lián zhēn jiǎ dōu bù shí 。 rú guǒ wǒ ná jiǎ dōng xī piàn nǐ 。 qǐ bù zì tǎo méi qù 。 dào yǒu wú xū guǎi wān mò jiǎo 。 nǐ jīn tiān jì rán lái dào zhè lǐ 。 zì rán shì xià dìng jué xīn yào yǔ wǒ hé zuò 。 yǒu shén me tiáo jiàn jǐn guǎn kāi chū lái hǎo le 。 yòu hé bì zài zhè lǐ lī suo ？”
“道友这话有些言不由衷啊！”血魔笑了起来：“以魔尊地聪明才智。岂会连真假都不识。如果我拿假东西骗你。岂不自讨没趣。道友无需拐弯抹角。你今天既然来到这里。自然是下定决心要与我合作。有什么条件尽管开出来好了。又何必在这里哩嗦？”
---
“ hǎo ba 。 jì rán dào yǒu kuài rén kuài yǔ 。 nà wǒ yě jiù jiāng huà tiǎo míng le 。 wǒ kě yǐ tí gōng xiū shì jīng xuè 。 ràng nǐ huī fù shén tōng 。 dàn nǐ bì xū jiāng rú hé bù rù yuán yīng hòu qī dì xīn dé 。 quán bù gào sù wǒ 。 yī zì bù lòu 。”
“好吧。既然道友快人快语。那我也就将话挑明了。我可以提供修士精血。让你恢复神通。但你必须将如何步入元婴后期地心得。全部告诉我。一字不漏。”
"Alright, since Friend is straightforward, let's get to the point: I can provide a cultivator's essence blood to restore your powers, but in return, you must tell me everything about how to reach late-stage元婴, without leaving anything out."
“ zhè shì zì rán 。 cǐ yì běn lái jiù shì zài xià tí chū dì jiāo huàn tiáo jiàn 。” xuè mó liǎn shàng bìng wú yì wài 。 yī kǒu dā yìng le xià lái 。
“这是自然。此议本来就是在下提出地交换条件。”血魔脸上并无意外。一口答应了下来。
"This is natural; this was my proposal," the Blood Demon agreed without surprise.
“ dàn jǐn jǐn zhè yàng shì bù gòu de 。” jí è mó zūn shuō dào zhè lǐ ， zuǒ shǒu yī fān ， zhǎng xīn zhī zhōng yǐ duō le yí miàn wū hēi fà liàng dì mù pái ：“ dào yǒu hái bì xū jiāng yī hún yī pò ， fēng yìn jìn zhè hún qì lǐ miàn ， jiāo yǔ zài xià bǎo guǎn 。”
“但仅仅这样是不够的。”极恶魔尊说到这里，左手一翻，掌心之中已多了一面乌黑发亮地木牌：“道友还必须将一魂一魄，封印进这魂器里面，交予在下保管。”
"But that’s not enough." The Great Evil Sovereign said, flipping his left hand and revealing a black, shiny wooden token: "Friend must seal one soul and one spirit into this soul artifact and entrust it to me for safekeeping."
xuè mó bó rán sè biàn ， liǎn shàng xiàn chū fèn nù yǐ jí de biǎo qíng ：“ jí è ， nǐ shì bú shì zǒu huǒ rù mó ， nǎo dài fàn hú tú ， jū rán xiǎng yào běn zūn zhě tīng mìng yú nǐ me ？”
血魔勃然色变，脸上现出愤怒以极的表情：“极恶，你是不是走火入魔，脑袋犯糊涂，居然想要本尊者听命于你么？”
The Blood Demon's expression turned angry as he revealed an extremely agitated look. "Great Evil, are you out of your mind? Do you think I would submit to you?"
bié kàn nà ge mù pái bù qǐ yǎn ， què shì mó dào yī zhǒng chū le míng de dǎi dú fǎ qì 。
别看那个木牌不起眼，却是魔道一种出了名的歹毒法器。
Don’t underestimate that token; it’s a notorious demonic tool capable of containing a cultivator's soul. The holder can simply erase the spirit inside without causing immediate death but severe damage to the mental faculties and cultivation level. It’s a common item used by demons.
kě yǐ róng nà xiū shì yuán shén ， ér chí yǒu zhě zhǐ xiāo jiāng lǐ miàn de jīng hún mǒ qù ， xiū shì suī rán bú huì yīn cǐ bì mìng ， dàn shén shí shòu sǔn ， xiū wèi bì dìng kuáng jiàng ， jiù suàn diē luò yī liǎng gè céng cì ， yě háo bù xī qí 。
可以容纳修士元神，而持有者只消将里面的精魂抹去，修士虽然不会因此毙命，但神识受损，修为必定狂降，就算跌落一两个层次，也毫不稀奇。
"Friend, there’s no need for such agitation; I have no such intention," the Great Evil Sovereign said with an innocent expression.
nǎi shì mó dào yù xià de yī zhǒng cháng yòng zhī wù 。
乃是魔道驭下的一种常用之物。
"Why did you bring out this soul-restricting artifact then?"
“ dào yǒu hé bì nà me jī dòng ， lǎo fū bìng wú cǐ yì 。” jí è mó zūn liǎn shàng lù chū yī sī wú gū dì qíng 。
“道友何必那么激动，老夫并无此意。”极恶魔尊脸上露出一丝无辜地情。
"Just as a precaution."
“ nà nǐ ná chū zhè jìn shén fǎ qì yòu shì wèi hé ？”
“那你拿出这禁神法器又是为何？”
"A precaution?"
“ zài xià bù guò yǐ fáng wàn yī bà le 。”
“在下不过以防万一罢了。”
"Yes, I’ve checked ancient texts related to you. Although you’re a demon cultivator, your actions are detested by both orthodox and demonic sects alike. You’re seen as a snake or scorpion, to be avoided at all costs. Given your reputation, how could I not take precautions?"
“ yǐ fáng wàn yī ？”
“以防万一？”
"So, you want to control me with this soul-restricting artifact?" the Blood Demon Sovereign sneered.
“ bù cuò ， lǎo fū shuō guò ， wǒ yǐ jīng chá guò yǔ dào yǒu xiāng guān de diǎn jí ， nǐ suī shì mó dào xiū shì ， dàn suǒ zuò suǒ wéi ， què rén shén gòng fèn ， bù zhǐ zhèng dào xiū shì yù chú zhī ér hòu kuài ， biàn shì wǒ mó dào de dào yǒu ， yě tóng yàng shì nǐ wèi shé xiē ， bì zhī wéi kǒng bù jí ， dào yǒu míng shēng rú cǐ láng jí ， běn mó zūn yòu zěn me bù dī fáng yī èr ， liú diǎn hòu shǒu 。”
“不错，老夫说过，我已经查过与道友相关的典籍，你虽是魔道修士，但所作所为，却人神共愤，不止正道修士欲除之而后快，便是我魔道的道友，也同样视你为蛇蝎，避之唯恐不及，道友名声如此狼藉，本魔尊又怎么不提防一二，留点后手。”
"Control is too strong a word; I just don’t want you to bite back once you regain your power," the Great Evil Sovereign admitted. Although he was powerful and considered the first cultivator in Youzhou, he still felt wary of this ancient monster.
“ suǒ yǐ nǐ xiǎng yòng zhè jìn shén fǎ qì kòng zhì lǎo fū ？” xuè mó zūn zhě lěng xiào zhe kāi kǒu le 。
“所以你想用这禁神法器控制老夫？”血魔尊者冷笑着开口了。
"What if I refuse?"
“ kòng zhì tán bù shàng ， zhǐ shì bù xiǎng dào yǒu huī fù fǎ lì yǐ hòu ， bèi nǐ fǎn yǎo yī kǒu 。” jí è mó zūn suī rán shén tōng guǎng dà ， bèi yù wéi yōu zhōu xiū xiān jiè dì dì yī rén ， dàn duì yú zhè mán huāng shí qī de lǎo guài wù ， xīn zhōng hái shì pǒ wèi jì dàn de 。
“控制谈不上，只是不想道友恢复法力以后，被你反咬一口。”极恶魔尊虽然神通广大，被誉为幽州修仙界地第一人，但对于这蛮荒时期的老怪物，心中还是颇为忌惮的。
"If you refuse, Friend will stay here until your lifespan ends. Then, hand over one soul and one spirit to me, and I can swear on behalf of the true demons above that I’ll treat you well," the Great Evil Sovereign said nonchalantly. He believed he could break through his bottleneck in a few hundred years anyway.
“ ruò lǎo fū bù dā yìng ne ？”
“若老夫不答应呢？”
"Consider carefully, Friend."
“ bù dā yìng ， nà dào yǒu jiù jì xù liú zài zhè ér ， zhí zhì shòu yuán hào jìn ， yào me jiāng yī hún yī pò jiāo yǔ wǒ ， lǎo fū kě yǐ duì shàng jiè zhēn mó qǐ shì ， bì dìng shàn dài dào yǒu ， jué bù gǎn qīng màn fēn háo de 。” jí è mó zūn wú suǒ wèi dì dào ， tā xiāng xìn yǐ zì jǐ de líng gēn cái zhì ， duō huā gè yī liǎng bǎi nián ， bì dìng yě néng chōng pò píng jǐng ， bù rù yuán yīng hòu qī ， néng gòu jié shěng shí jiān gù rán hǎo ， dàn tā bú huì gěi zì jǐ liú xià rú cǐ dà dí 。
“不答应，那道友就继续留在这儿，直至寿元耗尽，要么将一魂一魄交予我，老夫可以对上界真魔起誓，必定善待道友，绝不敢轻慢分毫的。”极恶魔尊无所谓地道，他相信以自己的灵根才智，多花个一两百年，必定也能冲破瓶颈，步入元婴后期，能够节省时间固然好，但他不会给自己留下如此大敌。
"You…" The Blood Demon Sovereign was furious, panting heavily, but he knew it was futile to argue further. His eyes filled with hatred as he stared at the Great Evil Sovereign without backing down.
“ jiū jìng gāi zěn yàng xuǎn zé ， dào yǒu zì jǐ kǎo lǜ qīng chǔ 。”
“究竟该怎样选择，道友自己考虑清楚。”
After a long silence,
“ nǐ ……” xuè mó zūn zhě dà nù ， hū hū chuǎn qì ， dàn tā yě zhī dào duō shuō wú yì ， yǎn jīng zhōng chōng mǎn le yuàn dú ， jí è mó zūn háo bù tuì ràng de yǔ tā duì shì zhe 。
“你……”血魔尊者大怒，呼呼喘气，但他也知道多说无益，眼睛中充满了怨毒，极恶魔尊毫不退让的与他对视着。
"Alright, this old man has been humiliated, so I’ll agree to your demands. But remember, although you use me due to circumstances, don’t overstep your bounds; otherwise, even if you have my soul and spirit, I will fight to the death," the Blood Demon said with venom in his voice.
liáng jiǔ 。
良久。
"Haha, Friend is worrying too much; I wouldn't dare treat a Sovereign poorly. Together, we can face any challenge—whether orthodox sects, Spirit Herb Mountains, or ghostly jesters. This Youzhou cultivation world belongs to us," the Great Evil Sovereign said smugly, stroking his beard.
“ hǎo ba ， lǎo fū hǔ luò píng yáng bèi quǎn qī ， jiù dā yìng nǐ de yāo qiú ， bù guò jí è dào yǒu yě yào jì qīng chǔ le ， lǎo fū bì jìng shì yī fāng xiāo xióng ， xíng shì suǒ bī ， wèi nǐ suǒ yòng ， dàn nǐ bù kě yǐ qī rén tài shèn ， fǒu zé nǐ jiù suàn zhǎng wò zhe wǒ de yī hún yī pò ， lǎo fū pīn gè yú sǐ wǎng pò ， nǐ yě bú huì hǎo guò 。” xuè mó shēng yīn zhōng chōng mǎn le yuàn dú ， yī zì yī dùn de shuō 。
“好吧，老夫虎落平阳被犬欺，就答应你的要求，不过极恶道友也要记清楚了，老夫毕竟是一方枭雄，形势所逼，为你所用，但你不可以欺人太甚，否则你就算掌握着我的一魂一魄，老夫拼个鱼死网破，你也不会好过。”血魔声音中充满了怨毒，一字一顿的说。
With their agreement reached, there was nothing more to say. The Blood Demon reluctantly agreed and sealed his soul and spirit into the soul artifact as instructed.
“ hē hē ， dào yǒu duō xīn le ， lǎo fū qǐ gǎn bù shàn dài zūn zhě ， nǐ wǒ lián shǒu ， zhèng dào yě hǎo ， líng yào shān yě bà ， huò zhě yīn hún xiǎo chǒu ， dōu bù zú wèi jù ， zhè yōu zhōu xiū xiān jiè ， hái bú shì nǐ wǒ dì tiān xià 。” jí è mó zūn sī háo bù zài yì duì fāng chóu hèn de mù guāng ， mō le mō hú xū ， yī liǎn dì dé yì 。
“呵呵，道友多心了，老夫岂敢不善待尊者，你我联手，正道也好，灵药山也罢，或者阴魂小丑，都不足畏惧，这幽州修仙界，还不是你我地天下。”极恶魔尊丝毫不在意对方仇恨的目光，摸了摸胡须，一脸地得意。
"From now on, we are allies." The Great Evil Sovereign put away the soul artifact and took out an jade tube: "Please inform me of your insights on bypassing the bottleneck."
liǎng gè lǎo mó jì rán dá chéng le xié yì ， xià miàn de shì qíng yě jiù méi yǒu shén me hǎo shuō ， xuè mó wàn fēn bù yuàn ， dàn rén zài wū yán xià ， bù dé bù dī tóu ， shì dào rú jīn ， tā méi yǒu xuǎn zé ， zhǐ néng zài jìn shén pái zhōng ， jiāo chū le zì jǐ dì yī hún yī pò 。
两个老魔既然达成了协议，下面的事情也就没有什么好说，血魔万分不愿，但人在屋檐下，不得不低头，事到如今，他没有选择，只能在禁神牌中，交出了自己地一魂一魄。
The Blood Demon sighed and sank his consciousness into the jade tube to record his thoughts.
“ hē hē ， cóng cǐ yǐ hòu ， wǒ yǔ dào yǒu jiù shì zì jǐ rén le 。” mó zūn jiāng hún qì shōu hǎo ， yòu qǔ chū le yí gè yù tǒng jiǎn lái ：“ hái qǐng xuè mó lǎo xiōng jiāng rú hé rào kāi píng jǐng de xīn dé gào zhī zài xià 。”
“呵呵，从此以后，我与道友就是自己人了。”魔尊将魂器收好，又取出了一个玉筒简来：“还请血魔老兄将如何绕开瓶颈的心得告知在下。”
"I need a cultivator's essence blood..."
xuè mó tàn le kǒu qì ， jiāng shén shí chén rù yù tǒng ， bǎ xīn dé kè yìn qí zhōng 。
血魔叹了口气，将神识沉入玉筒，把心得刻印其中。
"Don't worry; I'll send someone to bring it shortly," he assured.
“ wǒ xū yào dì xiū shì jīng xuè ……”
“我需要地修士精血……”
Watching the Great Evil Sovereign’s back disappear, the Blood Demon’s eyes revealed cunning. The soul-restricting artifact? How could that fool know the power of my demonic techniques? It was still uncertain who would be in control now.
In the third volume of "Cultivation Anecdotes," Chapter 507: Two Demons Compete in Intrigue
The secret technique was indeed profound, but even with a possessed body, it could only grant about half of its full power.
Despite this, the Great Evil Sovereign's immense magical power wasn't something the Blood Demon could easily resist. After a fierce battle, the Blood Demon fell defeated.
However, as an ancient evil cultivator, his demonic techniques were awe-inspiring, and eliminating him would require significant effort from the Great Evil Sovereign.
Both old demons were clever, so they wouldn’t engage in mutually destructive tactics. The Great Evil Sovereign thus settled for sealing the Blood Demon and bringing him back to his lair. As he looked at this half-human, half-beast creature, a glint of intelligence flashed in his eyes, but it was unclear what he was thinking.
In contrast, the Blood Demon appeared weaker than before, with numerous scars covering his ugly body. Without the flesh and spirit of a cultivator, he couldn’t recover.
"Friend, have you come here to collaborate with me?" The Blood Demon's voice was filled with temptation: "Or do you need my help because you've encountered difficulties?"
"Do you really think you can help this old man break through his bottleneck and enter the late-stage元婴 stage?" The Great Evil Sovereign’s tone was emotionless.
"Of course, why would I lie to you?"
"Humph. Blood Demon. Don't think that because I know nothing about you, I won’t recognize your deceit. I’ve read many ancient texts from a million years ago during the primordial era. You were indeed a formidable figure who terrorized one area and made people shudder at your name. But even in your prime, you only reached mid-stage元婴. How can you dare to boast that you can help me break through my bottleneck and become a late-stage great cultivator?"
The Great Evil Sovereign’s voice was icy, clearly skeptical.
"Great Evil Friend, there's no need for anger. I will explain the reasons," the Blood Demon confidently said: "Indeed, I was only mid-stage元婴 before. But you should remember that I was trapped for a million years. During this time, although my body couldn’t move, my mind remained unharmed. With my intelligence, I wouldn't waste time; instead, I pondered the mysteries of cultivation techniques and finally figured out how to bypass the bottleneck and reach late-stage元婴."
"Humph, how can I know if what you say is true?"
"Friend, your words are a bit inconsistent!" The Blood Demon laughed: "With the Great Evil Sovereign's intelligence, how could you not recognize truth from falsehood? If I were to deceive you with fake things, wouldn’t that be self-defeating? You don't need to beat around the bush. Since you've come here today, you must have decided to collaborate. Just lay out your conditions; there’s no need for such fuss."
---
"Alright, since Friend is straightforward, let's get to the point: I can provide a cultivator's essence blood to restore your powers, but in return, you must tell me everything about how to reach late-stage元婴, without leaving anything out."
"This is natural; this was my proposal," the Blood Demon agreed without surprise.
"But that’s not enough." The Great Evil Sovereign said, flipping his left hand and revealing a black, shiny wooden token: "Friend must seal one soul and one spirit into this soul artifact and entrust it to me for safekeeping."
"What?"
The Blood Demon's expression turned angry as he revealed an extremely agitated look. "Great Evil, are you out of your mind? Do you think I would submit to you?"
Don’t underestimate that token; it’s a notorious demonic tool capable of containing a cultivator's soul. The holder can simply erase the spirit inside without causing immediate death but severe damage to the mental faculties and cultivation level. It’s a common item used by demons.
"Friend, there’s no need for such agitation; I have no such intention," the Great Evil Sovereign said with an innocent expression.
"Why did you bring out this soul-restricting artifact then?"
"Just as a precaution."
"A precaution?"
"Yes, I’ve checked ancient texts related to you. Although you’re a demon cultivator, your actions are detested by both orthodox and demonic sects alike. You’re seen as a snake or scorpion, to be avoided at all costs. Given your reputation, how could I not take precautions?"
"So, you want to control me with this soul-restricting artifact?" the Blood Demon Sovereign sneered.
"Control is too strong a word; I just don’t want you to bite back once you regain your power," the Great Evil Sovereign admitted. Although he was powerful and considered the first cultivator in Youzhou, he still felt wary of this ancient monster.
"What if I refuse?"
"If you refuse, Friend will stay here until your lifespan ends. Then, hand over one soul and one spirit to me, and I can swear on behalf of the true demons above that I’ll treat you well," the Great Evil Sovereign said nonchalantly. He believed he could break through his bottleneck in a few hundred years anyway.
"Consider carefully, Friend."
"You…" The Blood Demon Sovereign was furious, panting heavily, but he knew it was futile to argue further. His eyes filled with hatred as he stared at the Great Evil Sovereign without backing down.
After a long silence,
"Alright, this old man has been humiliated, so I’ll agree to your demands. But remember, although you use me due to circumstances, don’t overstep your bounds; otherwise, even if you have my soul and spirit, I will fight to the death," the Blood Demon said with venom in his voice.
"Haha, Friend is worrying too much; I wouldn't dare treat a Sovereign poorly. Together, we can face any challenge—whether orthodox sects, Spirit Herb Mountains, or ghostly jesters. This Youzhou cultivation world belongs to us," the Great Evil Sovereign said smugly, stroking his beard.
With their agreement reached, there was nothing more to say. The Blood Demon reluctantly agreed and sealed his soul and spirit into the soul artifact as instructed.
"From now on, we are allies." The Great Evil Sovereign put away the soul artifact and took out an jade tube: "Please inform me of your insights on bypassing the bottleneck."
The Blood Demon sighed and sank his consciousness into the jade tube to record his thoughts.
"I need a cultivator's essence blood..."
"Don't worry; I'll send someone to bring it shortly," he assured.
Watching the Great Evil Sovereign’s back disappear, the Blood Demon’s eyes revealed cunning. The soul-restricting artifact? How could that fool know the power of my demonic techniques? It was still uncertain who would be in control now.