Chapter 4: The Great Extinction - Devil's Maze

  What entered Chu Lian's eyes was a scene like a paradise on earth, a magnificent mansion stood in front of her, and the mansion itself was unknown what kind of material it was built with. The main hall of the mansion actually emitted a faint green light, matching the misty fog that lingered around the mansion, making people suspect that they were really in the fairy cave.

  "This doesn't look like a grand formation for sealing away a demonic overlord at all; it's more like a paradise, a place where one can enjoy blessings and happiness."

  Treading on the plain and wide road paved with colorful glazed tiles, Chu Linfeng finally calmed down and walked towards that "Fairy House" not far away.

  It wasn't until he approached the "Xianjia Mansion" that Chulinfeng realized his own insignificance. The large gate in front of the hall was over ten feet high, and with a push, it unexpectedly slowly swung open, revealing an opening just wide enough for two people to enter side by side.

  He peeked outside the door, but it was because the hall inside was too huge, and the light was relatively dim, so he couldn't see the situation clearly. He hesitated for a moment, Chu Linfeng took a deep breath, and without worrying about anything else, he rushed in.

  As soon as he entered the hall, a strong wind suddenly rose, and the force of the wind was so great that it almost blew Chu Linfeng's body away. If not for the fact that Chu Linfeng had spent most of his time over the past two years tempering his physical body because he couldn't cultivate his true yuan energy, he probably wouldn't have been able to withstand such a fierce gust of wind.

  "This wind... is a bit cold..."

  It has been two years since Chu Linfeng was invaded by the Xuan Yin Demon, and he has gained an extra endurance to cold. Even in the coldest winter months, it is rare for him to be frozen, but under this raging wind, he couldn't help but shiver involuntarily.

  Right behind, but a loud noise came from behind, the huge temple door that was originally pushed open with a slight gap suddenly closed with a creak. Chu Linfeng subconsciously tried to push the temple door open again, but at this moment, he used all his strength like an ant trying to shake a tree, and still couldn't make any movement.

  "Little doll, what's the hurry to leave? Since you've entered this Devil's Palace, why not stay and chat with me for a bit? Who knows, if I'm in a good mood, I might just help you dispel the accumulated yin evil spirits that have been pent up inside your body for years..."

  A hoary voice suddenly rang out, causing Chu Linfeng to be stunned and rooted to the spot. His original intention was indeed to find an extraordinary demon cultivator within the Great Extermination Demon Array to help him expel the mysterious dark magic from his body, but he didn't expect to find the person he was looking for so quickly.

  What Chu Lianfeng didn't know was that the Great Annihilation Demon Array had been constantly refining that peerless demon cultivator over the years, but at the same time, it was also being consumed by that peerless demon cultivator who refused to be reduced to dust and earth.

  Up to now, the Array of Desolation has been destroyed by half, and even if Zhen Wei's cultivation is still at its peak, it would not have been possible for Chu Linfeng to break through the core of the Great Annihilation Array with just one layer of Xuan Yin Demon Barrier.

  Chu Linfeng is the only one who knows the origin of this world's sealed and banned Mo Xian. He was the number one strongman in the Mo Xiu school over 3,000 years ago! Moreover, he was once a super strongman who single-handedly challenged the entire Taicheng Sect, which was undefeated from top to bottom, and retreated unscathed.

  At first, in order to deal with this extraordinary demon cultivator, the top masters of the five major sects of the Daozong all came out and set up a killing formation, but they were unable to kill him. They could only seal him away using the "Great Destruction Demon-Imprisoning Array", which also shows his terrifying abilities.

  These two years of tempering have allowed Chu Linfeng to quickly regain his composure, and he no longer bothered to push the door. He looked around at the situation in the hall, and his gaze soon locked onto a strange structure resembling an altar in the center of the great hall.

  "Senior, since you're here, at least show yourself to me first...". As he spoke, Chu Linfeng quickly walked towards the altar in the center of the hall.

  "The little doll does have some insight, but this Demon Sealing Altar is not a place you can set foot in..." The old voice sounded again.

  "Seal of the Devil?!"

  At this moment, Chu Linfeng had already approached the front of the altar surrounded by purple light. Indeed, as the old voice said, an invisible force blocked his way, making it impossible for him to get within two zhang of the Demon Sealing Altar.

  However, due to their close relationship, Chu Linfeng took a closer look at the Demon Suppression Altar. In the center of the approximately three-zhang-square altar stood a half-human-high, three-headed, six-armed demon statue with a ferocious expression. It was unknown what material the demon statue was made of, but it emitted a faint, rare purple-gold glow. The purple-gold light seemed to be alive, rising and falling in a way that was quite intimidating.

  For some reason, from the moment he first saw that demon statue, Chu Linfeng felt in his heart that this demon statue was a living thing, and he stared at it tightly for half a while.

  "This is the Demon-Sealing Puppet crafted from the Purple Heart Golden Flame Stone, and it is also the foundation for sealing the true body." The old voice sounded again, but this time with a hint of indignation and desolation that was not present before.

  "Oh?"

  Chu Linfeng responded with a soft "en", but didn't expect the other party to be so proactive in telling him these things. Just as he wanted to say something, he heard the voice of the Demon Lord again, "Little doll, you now have two choices: one is to be killed by me, and the second is to help me escape, there are no other options. You have the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to consider."

  At the same time as the demon's voice fell, a calm and waveless space suddenly revealed a three-headed, six-armed demon god image over ten feet tall. As soon as it took a light step forward, it trampled out a pit several feet deep on the hard-as-iron ground. With a casual swing of its arm, a black flame burst forth, burning a pillar about ten feet in diameter to ashes.

  "That's just a divine avatar, only one percent of the power of the original deity. However, it's more than enough to kill you, a mere child. You don't have much time left, make your choice quickly."

  "Kill me? If Senior were to kill me, I'm afraid there would be no day of release from prison."

  Chu Linfeng glanced at the demonic god incarnation not far away and said calmly, "On the contrary, I have a good suggestion. If senior can help me expel the accumulated Xuan Yin magic from my body, I am not an ungrateful person. After receiving senior's great kindness, I will definitely listen to senior's orders and do my best to help senior escape."

  "The little doll has some guts, but I've always hated being threatened. This formation has already been broken by me for the most part, and escaping from the seal is only a matter of time. Since that's the case, what's the harm in killing you?"

  Just as the voice of the Demon Lord fell, the demon god's avatar had already burst out a black flame, which poured down on Chu Linfeng like a bucket.

  In his current state, Chu Linfeng simply couldn't dodge it. The black flames engulfed his body, and all he could do was close his eyes and wait for death. But unexpectedly, the black flames that were capable of melting gold and iron only burned around him without extinguishing, yet didn't bring him even a hint of pain.

  "Huh?"

  Hei Yan was suddenly taken away by the demon god's clone, and Mo Zun's voice sounded again, "It's actually a Xuan Yang spiritual body, a Xuan Yang spiritual body, one in a million...".

  "Alright, very well... Haha, little doll, I've changed my mind. Not only will I not kill you, but I'll also take you as my apprentice..."

  The situation suddenly underwent a drastic change, which made Chu Linfeng, who had narrowly escaped death, stunned on the spot. If it were two years ago when he was still arrogant and proud, he would have definitely burst into a loud tirade, denying the words of the Demon Lord.

  However, after experiencing the changes of the past two years and the recent family tragedy, Chu Linfeng hesitated for a moment before kneeling down to the ground, saying: "Disciple Chu Linfeng, reporting to Master."

  Four loud knocks on the head, Chu Linfeng's forehead was already bleeding profusely, but he seemed completely unaware. At this moment, all thoughts of sect rules and the irreconcilable differences between Taoism and Demonism were cast aside. Having experienced two years of falling from the pinnacle to the depths, being bullied and humiliated by others at every turn, Chu Linfeng had come to realize a fundamental truth: "Only with great power can one avoid being bullied, and control their own destiny... nothing more."

  "When one must cut off, then cut off; this temperament is quite in line with Ben's taste."

  The voice of the Demon Lord sounded again, and the incarnated demon god's body was gradually shrouded in a black aura. When the black aura dispersed, a middle-aged man with a slender figure, piercing purple eyes, and a rough face appeared before Chu Linfeng.

  "This master has always done things as I please, since I've taken you on as a disciple, I don't intend to hide anything from you. If you weren't a Xuan Yang spiritual body, you would have been incinerated by my 'Ji Yao Black Flame' long ago. Even if I take you on as a disciple now, if you can't meet my requirements, it's unlikely you'll live for much longer..."

  At this moment, seeing the true appearance of Mo Zun, Chu Lianfeng couldn't help but take a few more glances. After the former finished speaking, although his words were full of naked threats, Chu Lianfeng smiled indifferently and said: "As a disciple entering this place, it was originally a gamble with danger. If there is no opportunity, it would be impossible for me to save my mother from water and fire, or help my father restore the family. What's the point of living? Now that I have only a thread of hope to make myself stronger, I will not let it go."

  Feeling the sorrow and indignation in Chu Lian's tone, the demon lord, who was originally devoid of emotional fluctuations, suddenly felt a sense of empathy, and unconsciously added a few points of closeness to this temporary apprentice.

  "Now that you've entered my gate, remember the name of your master well. I am Zhao Lie, the Nine Underworlds Demon Lord. I have no sect and no school, I come and go alone. You are my first disciple, and also my last disciple. As for other things, there's no need for you to know them now."

  "Jiuyou Mozun!?" Chu Lianfeng muttered to himself, nodding his head and saying: "Lianfeng has taken note."

  It's clear that Zhao Lie is a person who dislikes beating around the bush, and directly said: "This deity will first help you expel the accumulated yin evil spirit in your body, return your yang spiritual body to you. If you can survive this ordeal, then we'll discuss what happens next..."

  "If I can't hold on, I'm afraid my life will be over here!" Chu Linfeng was young in age, but his mind was not inferior to that of an adult. Zhao Lie's words were meant to be guessed by him, but Chu Linfeng did not show any sign of refusal, and instead said calmly: "Master, please do as you wish, I will definitely hold on."