“ lín dào yǒu ， nǐ zěn me le ？” yuàn kē liǎn shàng lù chū chà yì zhī sè ， zì jǐ ** kǒu wèn wèn jiè miàn ér yǐ ， tā de biǎo qíng wèi miǎn yě tài gǔ guài le xiē 。
“林道友，你怎么了？”媛珂脸上露出诧异之色，自几**口问问界面而已，他的表情未免也太古怪了些。
"Friend Lin, what's wrong with you?" Yuan Ke's face showed a look of surprise. He had just asked a few questions on the interface; his expression was too strange.
“ méi yǒu 。” lín xuān yáo le yáo tóu ， xīn niàn yī zhuǎn ， biǎo qíng yǐ huī fù le mù rán ， yuàn kē suī rán jué de yǒu xiē gǔ guài ， dàn yě méi yǒu duō yán 。
“没有。”林轩摇了摇头，心念一转，表情已恢复了木然，媛珂虽然觉得有些古怪，但也没有多言。
"No." Lin Xuan shook his head. His mind shifted, and his expression returned to its usual blank state. Although Yuan Ke felt something was off, she didn't say much more.
shōu huí shì xiàn ， chóng xīn jiāng shǒu zhōng de mó shí bǎ wán 。
收回视线，重新将手中的魔石把玩。
He收回 his gaze and started playing with the demon stone in his hand again.
“ dào yǒu suǒ yán bù cuò 。 zhǐ bù guò yí lòu le yì diǎn 。”“ yí lòu le yì diǎn ， mò fēi hái yǒu qí tā de jiè miàn ？” lín xuān méi tou yí zhòu ， huǎn huǎn kāi
“道友所言不错。只不过遗漏了一点。”“遗漏了一点，莫非还有其他的界面？”林轩眉头一皱，缓缓开
"Friend's words are correct; there is just one thing missing."
“ bù cuò ， fǒu zé dào yǒu yǐ wéi shàng gǔ zhī shí ， nà xiē yāo mó shì cóng hé lái guì ？”
“不错，否则道友以为上古之时，那些妖魔是从何来桧？”
"One thing missing? Could there be other interfaces?" Lin Xuan frowned and slowly said, "Indeed. Otherwise, how did those demons and monsters come from elsewhere during ancient times?"
“ gōng zhǔ zhè me shuō 。 mò fēi tā men bú shì rén jiè zhī wù ？” lín xuān zhuǎn le zhuǎn yǎn zhū ， lù chū yī fù chà yì zhī sè 。
“公主这么说。莫非他们不是人界之物？”林轩转了转眼珠，露出一副诧异之色。
"Princess says so. Don't they not originate from the human realm?" Lin Xuan rolled his eyes, showing a look of surprise.
“ dāng rán bú shì ， chú le nǐ gāng gāng suǒ shuō de sān jiè zhī wài ， hái yǒu yī yāo mó jiè yǔ líng jiè píng qí 。
“当然不是，除了你刚刚所说的三界之外，还有一妖魔界与灵界平齐。
"Of course not. Besides the three realms you just mentioned, there is also a demon realm that stands on par with the spirit realm."
“ yāo mó jiè ？” lín xuān dào hái zhēn shì dì yī cì tīng shuō ， yǐ de diǎn jí cóng wèi yǒu tí dào guò 。
“妖魔界？”林轩倒还真是第一次听说，以的典籍从未有提到过。
"The demon realm?" Lin Xuan had indeed heard this for the first time; it was never mentioned in any ancient texts he knew.
“ gōng zhǔ qǐng xiáng shuō 。”
“公主请详说。”
"Princess, please elaborate."
“ jù tǐ de wǒ yě bù zěn me qīng chǔ ， zhǐ bù guò běn zú de diǎn jí yǒu yī xiē jì zǎi bà le ， zhè yāo mó jiè zì gǔ jiù yǒu ， lǐ miàn quán shì yī xiē xíng zhuàng gǔ guài qiě shén tōng jí dà de guài wù ， jù shuō qí zhōng gāo jiē de cún zài ， lùn xiū wèi ， sī háo bù xùn sè yú líng jiè dà xiū shì de 。”
“具体的我也不怎么清楚，只不过本族的典籍有一些记载罢了，这妖魔界自古就有，里面全是一些形状古怪且神通极大的怪物，据说其中高阶的存在，论修为，丝毫不逊色于灵界大修士的。”
"I'm not very clear about it either. However, our clan's ancient texts do have some records. The demon realm has existed since ancient times, filled with monstrous creatures of bizarre shapes and immense power. It is said that the higher-ranking beings there are no less powerful than the great cultivators in the spirit realm."
“ ó ？” lín mǎng sǒng rán dòng róng 。
“哦？”林莽耸然动容。
"Oh?" Lin Mang was taken aback.
lüè yī sī suǒ ， tū rán biǎo qíng yǒu xiē gǔ guài de kāi kǒu le ：“ zhào gōng zhǔ suǒ shuō ， yāo mó jiè jì rán shì yǔ líng jiè píng qí de shàng wèi jiè miàn ， nà me wǒ men rén jiè xiū shì dá dào lí hé qī yǐ hòu ， yīng gāi yě kě yǐ fēi shēng dào yāo mó jiè duì me ？”
略一思索，突然表情有些古怪的开口了：“照公主所说，妖魔界既然是与灵界平齐的上位界面，那么我们人界修士达到离合期以后，应该也可以飞升到妖魔界对么？”
After a moment's thought, he suddenly asked, "If what Princess says is true, and the demon realm is on par with the spirit realm as an upper-level interface, shouldn't we human realm cultivators also be able to ascend to the demon realm after reaching the Separation Stage?"
“ bù cuò ， zhè shì dāng rán de 。” yuàn kē diǎn le diǎn tóu ：“ ér qiě fēi shēng yāo mó jiè hái yǒu bù shǎo hǎo chù 。”
“不错，这是当然的。”媛珂点了点头：“而且飞升妖魔界还有不少好处。”
"Indeed. That would be natural," Yuan Ke nodded. "And there are many benefits to ascending to the demon realm."
“ hǎo chù ？”
“好处？”
"Benefits?"
“ dào yǒu xiǎng bì yě qīng chǔ 。 lí hé qī xiū shì xiǎng yào fēi shēng líng jiè ， bì xū yào dù guò sān jiǔ xiǎo tiān jié ， ér fēi shēng yāo mó jiè 。 bù xū yào dù jié ， bù guǎn wǒ men yāo zú hái shì nǐ men xiū xiān zhě ， zhǐ yào dá dào lí hé qī ， bìng shī zhǎn pò suì xū kōng de shén tōng ， jiù kě yǐ zhí jiē dǎ tōng jìn rù mèi mó jiè de tōng dào le 。”
“道友想必也清楚。离合期修士想要飞升灵界，必须要度过三九小天劫，而飞升妖魔界。不需要渡劫，不管我们妖族还是你们修仙者，只要达到离合期，并施展破碎虚空的神通，就可以直接打通进入妹魔界的通道了。”
"Cultivators at the Separation Stage need to pass through a minor heavenly tribulation when ascending to the spirit realm, but there's no need for that when ascending to the demon realm. Regardless of whether you're a cultivator or a demon, as long as you reach the Separation Stage and use the technique to shatter the void, you can directly open a passage into the demon realm."
“ ó ， zhè me qīng sōng ， nà shì fǒu yǒu qí tā xiàn zhì ， bǐ rú shuō bì xū shì xiū mó zhě ？” lín xuān náo le náo tóu ， yǒu xiē yì wài de kāi kǒu 。
“哦，这么轻松，那是否有其他限制，比如说必须是修魔者？”林轩挠了挠头，有些意外的开口。
"Oh, so it's that easy. Are there any other restrictions? For example, must one be a cultivator of darkness?" Lin Xuan scratched his head, surprised.
“ bù ， zhè yǔ gōng fǎ méi yǒu rèn hé guān xì ， bù guǎn nǐ shì zhèng mó rú fú ， hái shì wǒ men yāo zú ， xiǎng yào fēi shēng mó jiè dōu shì suí yì de 。”
“不，这与功法没有任何关系，不管你是正魔儒佛，还是我们妖族，想要飞升魔界都是随意的。”
"No, this has nothing to do with cultivation techniques. Whether you're a Taoist, Buddhist, or we demons, ascending to the demon realm is just as simple."
“ gōng zhǔ suǒ yán kǒng pà yǒu xiē bù shí ， jiǎ ruò zhēn shì rú cǐ ， zhè rén jiè nǎ hái huì yǒu lí hé qī xiū shì ？”
“公主所言恐怕有些不实，假若真是如此，这人界哪还会有离合期修士？”
"Princess's words might not be entirely truthful. If that were true, there wouldn't be any Separation Stage cultivators in the human realm anymore."
zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī ， xiū xiān zhǐ wèi cháng shēng ér yǐ ， wèi le dá dào zhè ge mù dì 。 xiū xiān zhě men kě wèi wú suǒ bù yòng qí jí 。
众所周知，修仙只为长生而已，为了达到这个目的。修仙者们可谓无所不用其极。
It was well-known that cultivation was solely for immortality; to achieve this goal, cultivators would do anything.
zhè yě shì wèi shén me zài shòu yuán jiāng jìn de shí kè ， nà xiē lí hé qī lǎo guài wù míng míng méi yǒu bǎ wò dù guò tiān jié ， yě yào yǎo yá shì shàng yī shì ， jiǎ ruò bù yòng jīng lì tiān jié ， yě néng qīng yì fēi shēng dào shàng yī jiè ， jiù suàn shì chéng wéi yāo mó ， xiǎng bì nà xiē lǎo jiā huǒ yě bú huì zài hū 。
这也是为什么在寿元将近的时刻，那些离合期老怪物明明没有把握度过天劫，也要咬牙试上一试，假若不用经历天劫，也能轻易飞升到上一界，就算是成为妖魔，想必那些老家伙也不会在乎。
This was why those old monsters at the Separation Stage, even if they had no chance of passing the heavenly tribulation, would still try their luck. If one could ascend without going through a tribulation, becoming a demon or a monster wouldn't matter much to them.
bì jìng bǐ qǐ wàn jié bù fù 。 zhè ge jié jú yǐ jīng shì lìng rén wú bǐ xiàn mù 。
毕竟比起万劫不复。这个结局已经是令人无比羡慕。
"Friend Lin, don't be in such a hurry; I haven't finished yet."
“ dào yǒu jí shén me 。 qiè shēn kě hái méi yǒu shuō wán de 。”
“道友急什么。妾身可还没有说完的。”
"Oh, it's Lin who is impatient. Please explain further," Lin Xuan said with a smile.
“ ó ， shì lín mǒu xīn jí le ， hái qǐng xiān zi jiě shuō 。”
“哦，是林某心急了，还请仙子解说。”
"Ascending to the demon realm doesn't require passing through a tribulation, but there is another extremely difficult test: after entering that realm, one will undergo a body-penetrating demonic essence."
“ fēi shēng dào yāo mó jiè suī rán bù yòng jīng lì tiān jié ， dàn tóng yàng yǒu yī jí wéi jiān nán de kǎo yàn ， jìn rù gāi jiè yǐ hòu ， huì jīng lì yī cì mó qì guàn tǐ 。”
“飞升到妖魔界虽然不用经历天劫，但同样有一极为艰难的考验，进入该界以后，会经历一次魔气灌体。”
"Demonic essence penetration?"
“ mó qì guàn tǐ ？”
“魔气灌体？”
"Yes, it can be considered an extremely rigorous essence cleansing and refinement technique. Only those who endure it will become demons. However, most Separation Stage cultivators often perish in the process; thus, the danger is comparable to that of passing through a tribulation," Yuan Ke explained with a serious expression.
“ bù cuò ， nà kě yǐ shuō shì fēi cháng yán kē de xǐ suǐ duàn fèng zhī shù ， zhǐ yǒu chēng guò qù cái huì chéng wéi yāo mó ， rán ér shí zhī ** de lí hé qī xiū shì ， wǎng wǎng dōu bào tǐ ér wáng le ， suǒ yǐ lùn wēi xiǎn ， yě bù bǐ lì jié xiǎo shàng shén me 。” yuàn kē biǎo qíng níng zhòng de jiě shuō 。
“不错，那可以说是非常严苛的洗髓锻俸之术，只有撑过去才会成为妖魔，然而十之**的离合期修士，往往都爆体而亡了，所以论危险，也不比历劫小上什么。”媛珂表情凝重的解说。
"Ah, I see." Lin Xuan nodded. This made sense; cultivation was inherently against nature, and there couldn't be any shortcuts.
“ yuán lái rú cǐ 。” lín xuān diǎn le diǎn tóu ， yě zhǐ yǒu zhè yàng cái jiě shì dé tōng ， xiū xiān běn wèi nì tiān zhī jǔ ， zì rán bù kě néng yǒu shén me jié jìng kě yǐ xuǎn zé 。
“原来如此。”林轩点了点头，也只有这样才解释得通，修仙本为逆天之举，自然不可能有什么捷径可以选择。
"But what happens after successfully enduring demonic essence penetration? Do all demons look monstrous?"
“ nà mó qì guàn tǐ chéng gōng yòu huì rú hé ， suǒ yǒu yāo mó dōu zhǎng dé guài mó guài yàng me ？”
“那魔气灌体成功又会如何，所有妖魔都长得怪模怪样么？”
"Not necessarily. Demons come in many forms, some of which are almost human."
“ zhè dào bú shì ， yāo mó xíng tài wàn qiān ， qí zhōng yě yǒu bù shǎo yǔ rén lèi chà bu duō 。
“这倒不是，妖魔形态万千，其中也有不少与人类差不多。
"What about this demon stone?" Lin Xuan held the object in his hand, puzzled.
“ nà zhè mó shí ……” lín xuān bǎ wán zhuó shǒu zhōng zhī wù ， yǒu xiē yí huò de kāi kǒu 。
“那这魔石……”林轩把玩着手中之物，有些疑惑的开口。
"It's an item from the demon realm; its function is similar to that of a crystal stone in our world."
“ zì rán shì yāo mó jiè zhī wù ， qí zuò yòng xiāng dāng yú rén jiè de jīng shí 。”
“自然是妖魔界之物，其作用相当于人界的晶石。”
"Cystal stone? Is it really that concentrated with demonic essence?" Lin Xuan said doubtfully.
“ jīng shí ， bú huì ba ， lǐ miàn de mó qì rú cǐ nóng yù 。” lín xuān lüè yǒu bù xìn de kāi kǒu 。
“晶石，不会吧，里面的魔气如此浓郁。”林轩略有不信的开口。
"Of course not. This item looks like something brought from above the heavens. In terms of value, it might even rival the legendary top-grade crystal stones," Yuan Ke said.
“ zì rán bú shì pǔ tōng jīng shí 。 cǐ wù yī kàn jiù shì shàng jiè dài guò lái de ， lùn jià zhí ， kǒng pà néng yǔ chuán shuō zhōng de jí pǐn jīng shí xiāng bǐ 。
“自然不是普通晶石。此物一看就是上界带过来的，论价值，恐怕能与传说中的极品晶石相比。
"What, top-grade crystal stones?" Even Lin Xuan, known for his composure, was taken aback.
“ shén me ， jí pǐn jīng shí ？” jí biàn yǐ lín xuān de chéng fǔ ， yě bù yóu de dà jīng shī sè ，
“什么，极品晶石？”即便以林轩的城府，也不由得大惊失色，
He looked at the object in his hand and lowered his head to ponder.
kàn zhuó shǒu zhōng zhī wù ， dī tóu chén yín qǐ lái le 。
看着手中之物，低头沉吟起来了。
"Is something wrong with this item, Friend Lin?" Yuan Ke's jade hand gently brushed against the demon stone, which was enveloped by demonic energy and flew over to him.
“ zěn me ， dào yǒu duì cǐ wù gǎn xìng qù ？” yuàn kē yù shǒu qīng fú ， nà mó shí bèi yī céng yāo lì bāo guǒ ， xú xú fēi guò lái le 。
“怎么，道友对此物感兴趣？”媛珂玉手轻拂，那魔石被一层妖力包裹，徐徐飞过来了。
"Why me?" Lin Xuan showed a look of surprise.
“ gěi wǒ ？” lín xuān liǎn shàng lù chū chà yì zhī sè 。
“给我？”林轩脸上露出诧异之色。
"Yes, although this item is precious, as a demon, I don't have much use for it. You once saved Shang'er; this demon stone will be a small token of gratitude," she said with a smile.
“ bù cuò ， cǐ wù suī rán zhēn xī ， dàn qiè shēn zuò wèi yāo zú ， què yě méi yǒu duō dà yòng chǔ ， dào yǒu céng jīng jiù guò xiāng ér ， zhè mó shí jiù dàng zuò xiǎo xiǎo de xiè lǐ 。”
“不错，此物虽然珍惜，但妾身做为妖族，却也没有多大用处，道友曾经救过香儿，这魔石就当做小小的谢礼。”
She was indeed generous. A hint of strangeness flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes, but the treasure was undoubtedly significant, so he happily accepted and put the two demon stones away.
tā dào huì jiè huā xiàn fó ， lín xuān yǎn zhōng shǎn guò yī lǚ yì sè ， bù guò cǐ bǎo què shí fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， zì rán shì xīn xǐ wàn fēn de xiào nà le ， shǒu zhǎng yī fān ， yǐ jiāng liǎng kuài mó shí shōu le qǐ lái 。
她倒会借花献佛，林轩眼中闪过一缕异色，不过此宝确实非同小可，自然是欣喜万分的笑纳了，手掌一翻，已将两块魔石收了起来。
Then they searched the room for more items but found none. So, they left the room to find another area where two transformed-stage demons approached a sacrificial altar.
suí hòu yòu zài fáng jiān zhōng zhǎo xún yī fān méi yǒu bié de xiàn ， yú shì liǎng rén mài bù zǒu chū le fáng què shuō lìng yī biān ， liǎng míng huà xíng qī yāo zú lái dào le yī zuò jì tán de miàn qián 。
随后又在房间中找寻一番没有别的现，于是两人迈步走出了房却说另一边，两名化形期妖族来到了一座祭坛的面前。
The term "sacrificial altar" wasn't entirely accurate; it looked like an intricate array, ancient and grand, about a thousand feet wide.
shuō shì jì tán ， yě bù tài zhǔn què 。
说是祭坛，也不太准确。
At each corner of this array were four white tower-like structures made of huge stones. On top of these towers lay monstrous beasts: the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise, all gazing at the center of the array with fierce expressions.
yīn wèi kàn shàng qù yòu yǒu diǎn xiàng xuán ào de zhèn fǎ ， gǔ piáo yì cháng ， yuē yǒu qiān zhàng zhī guǎng 。
因为看上去又有点像玄奥的阵法，古朴异常，约有千丈之广。
"This must be the Xuan Tian Four Divine Beasts Array?" the tiger demon muttered.
zài cǐ zhèn de sì jiǎo ， gè yǒu yī chù bái tǎ mú yàng de jiàn zhù ， yóu jù shí duī qì ér chéng ， jí dà jí gāo ， tǎ dǐng J1 hái pú fú de yǒu yī zhī jù shòu
在此阵的四角，各有一处白塔模样的建筑，由巨石堆砌而成，极大极高，塔顶J1还匍匐的有一只巨兽
"Indeed. Only such a mysterious array could contain the ancient demon Jialuo, then slowly erode his essence through corruption," the dark-faced man examined the front and suddenly changed color, exclaiming in alarm: "It's bad."
qīng lóng 、 bái hǔ 、 zhū què ， xuán wǔ ……
青龙、白虎、朱雀，玄武……
"Brother Black, what happened?" The tiger demon was taken aback.
zhēng níng yì cháng ， kuī shì zhe cǐ zhèn de zhōng yāng 。
狰狞异常，窥视着此阵的中央。
"The array has been broken."
“ zhè mò fēi jiù shì xuán tiān sì líng zhèn ？” hǔ guài wù nán nán de zǎn kǒu 。
“这莫非就是玄天四灵阵？”虎怪物喃喃的昝口。
"Broken?"
“ bù cuò ， yě zhǐ yǒu cǐ děng xuán miào zhèn fǎ ， cái néng jìn gù jiā luó gǔ mó ， suí hòu zài yòng fǔ xīn shí hún zhī fǎ ， màn màn xiāo mó tā de yuán shén 。” hēi liǎn dà hàn dǎ liàng le qián fāng jǐ yǎn ， tū rán liǎn sè dà biàn ， shī kǒu jīng hū le qǐ lái ：“ bù hǎo 。”
“不错，也只有此等玄妙阵法，才能禁锢迦罗古魔，随后再用腐心蚀魂之法，慢慢消磨他的元神。”黑脸大汉打量了前方几眼，突然脸色大变，失口惊呼了起来：“不好。”
"Yes." The dark-faced man released his divine sense and nervously scanned around as if afraid that Jialuo would suddenly revive. His words were not entirely unfounded; the eyes of the four beasts atop the white towers appeared lifeless.
“ hēi xiōng ， zěn me le ？” hǔ guài wù yī dāi ， yǒu xiē qí guài 。
“黑兄，怎么了？”虎怪物一呆，有些奇怪。
"Brother Black, don't be alarmed. Even if this array fails, what does it matter? The ancient demon Jialuo, no matter how glorious, is a monster from over a million years ago and must have long vanished," the tiger demon said indifferently.
“ cǐ zhèn yǐ jīng bèi pò qù le 。”
“此阵已经被破去了。”
"Hmm, your words make sense. Let's quickly find the demonic eye relic."
“ bèi pò ？”
“被破？”
As they spoke, they used their light to enter the interior of the array. In front of them was dense demon fog, but suddenly, a shadow entered their line of sight.
“ bù cuò ？” hēi liǎn dà hàn fàng chū shén shí ， jǐn zhāng de dǎ liàng sì zhōu ， jiù xiàng hài pà nà jiā luó gǔ mó tū rán fù huó ， gǔ shuō zhè huà dào yě bìng fēi wú dì fàng shǐ ， nà bái tǎ dǐng bù de sì shòu diāo xiàng ， biǎo miàn shàng kàn zhēng níng yì cháng 。 rán ér yǎn zhōng què àn dàn wú guāng 。
“不错？”黑脸大汉放出神识，紧张的打量四周，就像害怕那迦罗古魔突然复活，牯说这话倒也并非无的放矢，那白塔顶部的四兽雕像，表面上看狰狞异常。然而眼中却黯淡无光。
The dark-faced man felt a chill and flicked his sleeves, sending out a gust of wind that dispersed the air around him.
“ hēi xiōng bù yòng jīng huāng 。 jiù suàn cǐ zhèn shī xiào yòu rú hé ， jiā luó gǔ mó zài fēng guāng ， bì jìng yě shì bǎi wàn nián qián de guài wù ， rú jīn kěn dìng zǎo jiù huī fēi yān miè le 。” hǔ guài wù bù zài yì de shuō 。
“黑兄不用惊慌。就算此阵失效又如何，迦罗古魔再风光，毕竟也是百万年前的怪物，如今肯定早就灰飞烟灭了。”虎怪物不在意的说。
"What... is this? Could it be the legendary ancient demon Jialuo?" The tiger demon's face turned pale as he realized what they were looking at.
"Friend Lin, what's wrong with you?" Yuan Ke's face showed a look of surprise. He had just asked a few questions on the interface; his expression was too strange.
"No." Lin Xuan shook his head. His mind shifted, and his expression returned to its usual blank state. Although Yuan Ke felt something was off, she didn't say much more.
He收回 his gaze and started playing with the demon stone in his hand again.
"Friend's words are correct; there is just one thing missing."
"One thing missing? Could there be other interfaces?" Lin Xuan frowned and slowly said, "Indeed. Otherwise, how did those demons and monsters come from elsewhere during ancient times?"
"Princess says so. Don't they not originate from the human realm?" Lin Xuan rolled his eyes, showing a look of surprise.
"Of course not. Besides the three realms you just mentioned, there is also a demon realm that stands on par with the spirit realm."
"The demon realm?" Lin Xuan had indeed heard this for the first time; it was never mentioned in any ancient texts he knew.
"Princess, please elaborate."
"I'm not very clear about it either. However, our clan's ancient texts do have some records. The demon realm has existed since ancient times, filled with monstrous creatures of bizarre shapes and immense power. It is said that the higher-ranking beings there are no less powerful than the great cultivators in the spirit realm."
"Oh?" Lin Mang was taken aback.
After a moment's thought, he suddenly asked, "If what Princess says is true, and the demon realm is on par with the spirit realm as an upper-level interface, shouldn't we human realm cultivators also be able to ascend to the demon realm after reaching the Separation Stage?"
"Indeed. That would be natural," Yuan Ke nodded. "And there are many benefits to ascending to the demon realm."
"Benefits?"
"Cultivators at the Separation Stage need to pass through a minor heavenly tribulation when ascending to the spirit realm, but there's no need for that when ascending to the demon realm. Regardless of whether you're a cultivator or a demon, as long as you reach the Separation Stage and use the technique to shatter the void, you can directly open a passage into the demon realm."
"Oh, so it's that easy. Are there any other restrictions? For example, must one be a cultivator of darkness?" Lin Xuan scratched his head, surprised.
"No, this has nothing to do with cultivation techniques. Whether you're a Taoist, Buddhist, or we demons, ascending to the demon realm is just as simple."
"Princess's words might not be entirely truthful. If that were true, there wouldn't be any Separation Stage cultivators in the human realm anymore."
It was well-known that cultivation was solely for immortality; to achieve this goal, cultivators would do anything.
This was why those old monsters at the Separation Stage, even if they had no chance of passing the heavenly tribulation, would still try their luck. If one could ascend without going through a tribulation, becoming a demon or a monster wouldn't matter much to them.
"Friend Lin, don't be in such a hurry; I haven't finished yet."
"Oh, it's Lin who is impatient. Please explain further," Lin Xuan said with a smile.
"Ascending to the demon realm doesn't require passing through a tribulation, but there is another extremely difficult test: after entering that realm, one will undergo a body-penetrating demonic essence."
"Demonic essence penetration?"
"Yes, it can be considered an extremely rigorous essence cleansing and refinement technique. Only those who endure it will become demons. However, most Separation Stage cultivators often perish in the process; thus, the danger is comparable to that of passing through a tribulation," Yuan Ke explained with a serious expression.
"Ah, I see." Lin Xuan nodded. This made sense; cultivation was inherently against nature, and there couldn't be any shortcuts.
"But what happens after successfully enduring demonic essence penetration? Do all demons look monstrous?"
"Not necessarily. Demons come in many forms, some of which are almost human."
"What about this demon stone?" Lin Xuan held the object in his hand, puzzled.
"It's an item from the demon realm; its function is similar to that of a crystal stone in our world."
"Cystal stone? Is it really that concentrated with demonic essence?" Lin Xuan said doubtfully.
"Of course not. This item looks like something brought from above the heavens. In terms of value, it might even rival the legendary top-grade crystal stones," Yuan Ke said.
"What, top-grade crystal stones?" Even Lin Xuan, known for his composure, was taken aback.
He looked at the object in his hand and lowered his head to ponder.
"Is something wrong with this item, Friend Lin?" Yuan Ke's jade hand gently brushed against the demon stone, which was enveloped by demonic energy and flew over to him.
"Why me?" Lin Xuan showed a look of surprise.
"Yes, although this item is precious, as a demon, I don't have much use for it. You once saved Shang'er; this demon stone will be a small token of gratitude," she said with a smile.
She was indeed generous. A hint of strangeness flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes, but the treasure was undoubtedly significant, so he happily accepted and put the two demon stones away.
Then they searched the room for more items but found none. So, they left the room to find another area where two transformed-stage demons approached a sacrificial altar.
The term "sacrificial altar" wasn't entirely accurate; it looked like an intricate array, ancient and grand, about a thousand feet wide.
At each corner of this array were four white tower-like structures made of huge stones. On top of these towers lay monstrous beasts: the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise, all gazing at the center of the array with fierce expressions.
"This must be the Xuan Tian Four Divine Beasts Array?" the tiger demon muttered.
"Indeed. Only such a mysterious array could contain the ancient demon Jialuo, then slowly erode his essence through corruption," the dark-faced man examined the front and suddenly changed color, exclaiming in alarm: "It's bad."
"Brother Black, what happened?" The tiger demon was taken aback.
"The array has been broken."
"Broken?"
"Yes." The dark-faced man released his divine sense and nervously scanned around as if afraid that Jialuo would suddenly revive. His words were not entirely unfounded; the eyes of the four beasts atop the white towers appeared lifeless.
"Brother Black, don't be alarmed. Even if this array fails, what does it matter? The ancient demon Jialuo, no matter how glorious, is a monster from over a million years ago and must have long vanished," the tiger demon said indifferently.
"Hmm, your words make sense. Let's quickly find the demonic eye relic."
As they spoke, they used their light to enter the interior of the array. In front of them was dense demon fog, but suddenly, a shadow entered their line of sight.
The dark-faced man felt a chill and flicked his sleeves, sending out a gust of wind that dispersed the air around him.
"What... is this? Could it be the legendary ancient demon Jialuo?" The tiger demon's face turned pale as he realized what they were looking at.