After producing the two beams of light, the Demon Suppression statue rapidly dimmed, and Li Qingshan stood before the statue silently for another long while. Only after becoming completely well-versed with the first form of the Demon Suppression Statuary did he open his eyes. He was slightly intrigued.
Although he had guessed that the cultivation method hidden within the statue had to be different from normal, he had never expected the Demon Suppression Statuary to be so wondrous, and it did not conflict with the Arts of the Boundless Ocean.
The Demon Suppression Statuary could also be regarded as a cultivation method for the body. It could drastically strengthen his physique. However, the method of practising it was completely unheard of. It actually utilised the demonic nature within him, converting it into his own strength through the constant suppression and struggle.
In order words, if demonic cultivators practised the Demon Suppression Statuary, they did not have to abandon their original cultivation method. It would still serve as the foundation of their cultivation, but an additional method of cultivation would be layered on top of that, essentially doubling their might. There was even the chance for them to obtain great strength that surpassed their current realm of cultivation.
Simply that aspect alone made the cultivation method very rare. The Nine Transformations of the Demonic and Divine that Li Qingshan practised possessed a similar function.
However, not only was learning this cultivation method extremely difficult, but practising it was layered with difficulties too. Some comprehension on the spot definitely would not be enough.
During the cultivation process, if the demonic nature was too weak, then it could easily be completely suppressed, making it impossible to learn the remaining part of the cultivation method and thus being limited to the third or fourth layer of the Demon Suppression Statuary at most.
When regular wicked people repented, they would become regular kind-hearted people at most. Only when people of great wickedness and evil repented and changed their ways could they achieve great benevolence and virtue. In other words, for those with insufficient demonic nature, they would not be able to unleash the full power of the cultivation method even if they managed to comprehend it.
But if their demonic nature was too powerful and unable to be suppressed, they would suffer from qi deviation and basically blow up on the spot. No demonic cultivator would continue to commit evil with it after practising the Demon Suppression Statuary. Once their cultivation failed, only death awaited them.
It was possible to imagine that basically no one could reach the ninth layer with the Demon Suppression Statuary; this cultivation process was no different from walking on a tightrope.
Li Qingshan clenched his fist. His lips curled into a smile.
This cultivation method is basically made specially for me. I definitely have enough demonic nature, and it will grow stronger as I cultivate. I virtually have an endless amount of the most important resource for practising the Demon Suppression Statuary already, and with the Spirit Turtle’s Method of Sea Suppression, there’s absolutely no danger of me suffering from qi deviation.
Whether it was the “Initial Remorse of the Demon Heart” or the “Remorselessness of the Demon Heart”, he needed a demon heart before all that. The first statue of the Demon Suppression Statuary also contained the method to condense a demon heart.
Li Qingshan remembered the things Duoge had been eating. When he considered how he would be condensing one of those in his body, he felt rather disgusted, but for the sake of cultivation, he could not care so much anymore.
He immediately crossed his legs and sat down, gathering his demonic nature to condense a “Demon Heart of Remorselessness”.
……
“What do you think, senior brother?”
The Unraging monk stared at Li Qingshan. His eyes shone brightly as a smile oozed out of his mouth, just like a smiling buddha. Only at that moment did he demonstrate the great power on par with Monk Kings.
“Amitābha. It’s all up to him now.”
The Dauntless monk brought his palms together, closed his eyes, and uttered the buddha’s name. He did not practise the Demon Suppression Statuary, but he did understand how parts of it worked. He knew that upon practising this cultivation method, it was equivalent to becoming wrapped in invisible chains. All they could do was constantly suppress their demon heart and demonic nature and never deviate from the righteous path, or what awaited them would be destruction.
The thoughtful and benevolent senior who created the Demon Suppression hall was simply amazing. However, having received a successor like him after several millennia, perhaps Li Qingshan truly did have a destiny with the buddha.
The Unraging monk then asked, “If I were to accept him as my disciple, would you allow that, senior brother?”
“If he were willing to join the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga, then there was no need for him to pay a visit to the Demon Suppression hall in the first place.”
The Dauntless monk was basically implying he recognised Li Qingshan now.
Reaching mid Foundation Establishment in his twenties already proved his talent, and he had comprehended the Demon Suppression Statuary that no one had managed to comprehend for several thousand years. That was a destiny with the buddha. He would definitely become someone extraordinary in the future.
And, in comparison, the Dauntless monk was instead less worried about Li Qingshan than Xiao An. Although Li Qingshan had claimed he had a special liking towards “conflict and sins”, he was clearly a person who drew a distinct line between black and white. And, bound by the Demon Suppression Statuary, there was even less of a reason to worry he would do anything detrimental to the monastery.
The Unraging monk smiled. “But he’s practising the true secret cultivation method of our monastery right now. Even if he doesn’t want to join the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga, senior brother probably won’t permit it.”
The Dauntless monk thought silently for a while. “Do you really want to accept him as your disciple?”
“There’s always room to change my mind. Let’s keep watching for now!”
……
Li Qingshan practised the Demon Suppression Statuary as he gradually released the spirit turtle’s suppression, allowing the ox demon and tiger demon to loosen up. Extremely heavy demonic nature gathered in his chest without dispersing.
Demonic nature had always been an invisible will that could only be sensed. However, under the function of the Demon Suppression Statuary, it was converted into a visible aura that sprayed out.
Li Qingshan was wrapped in a dark-red aura. It surged about, turning into various hideous faces, filled with greed, wrath, ignorance, fury, and hatred. At a closer glance, they all resembled Li Qingshan, but in contrast, Li Qingshan sat like an old monk in meditation with his face sunken.
The demon qi was like thick smoke, rising right up to the ceiling of the Demon Suppression hall. Cries, roars, and sounds of cold slaughter could be vaguely made out as it grew louder and louder. It was like a clash between armies thousand strong.
Duoge curled up on the ground firmly, utterly afraid to move. He constantly muttered, “Please calm down, venerable. Please calm down.”
Li Qingshan refused to let the ox demon and tiger demon unleash their demonic nature, just in case the Demon Suppression Statuary was unable to keep them suppressed, giving him away.
As a result, with a thought, the surging demon qi began to spin. It wormed into the top of Li Qingshan’s head like a tornado, all vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Li Qingshan’s eyes shone with a dark-red light. His chest bulged as the surging demon qi gathered towards a single point.
There was a great rumble in his head, and the demon qi vanished.
Li Qingshan could not help but stand up. He gathered his focus and gazed into his body, discovering that a dark-red crystal had appeared in his brain. It had many faces, shaped like a rhombus.
Hmm? This is the demon heart, but it seems rather different from the ones that Duoge had been eating. It resembles a buddhist ?arīra.
He had no idea that only demon hearts from the weakest demonfolk would look like that, foul and hideous in appearance. As for powerful demonfolk, their demon hearts were all condensed like rocks.
It was extremely rare even among the Demon race for a demon heart to become such a clear and sharp crystal. Most of them belonged to powerful members of the Demon race with great willpower. Li Qingshan could be regarded as a supreme genius among the Demon race for possessing a demon heart like this while at his level of strength.
However, as long as he possessed a demon heart, he could use the various techniques from the Demon Suppression Statuary. The way the Demon Suppression Statuary defeated its opponents was far too interesting. Li Qingshan was eager to try it out.
The Demon Suppression hall had a total of nine floors, which was equivalent to a Demon Suppression statue on each storey. Upon assembling the nine, that would be the complete Demon Suppression Statuary.
“Duoge, how do we enter the next floor?”
Before Li Qingshan had even finished, the pedestal below the Demon Suppression statue let out a great flash, and a door appeared. A few frantic figures rushed into the chamber. When they saw Li Qingshan in the way, they yelled out, “Get out of my way!”
This was the highest floor of the Demon Suppression hall. Those powerful Demon Generals were unable to come up here, and they were powerful demonfolk close to Demon General. With only Li Qingshan blocking their path, they obviously did not take him seriously.
Li Qingshan licked his lips. His eyes immediately became dark red, reflecting the figures of the demonfolk.
Demon suppression!
Spurt! Spurt! Spurt! Spurt! The demonfolk stiffened. As if an invisible hand had crushed down on them, they were reduced to piles of flesh.
Duoge’s mouth hung agape from surprise. He had no idea what had just happened.
The Demon Suppression Statuary could suppress more than the demonic nature in his heart; it could also suppress the demonic nature of others.
This method of attack was extremely special. Not only was its power relative to the strength of Li Qingshan’s demonic nature, but it was also relative to the opponent’s demonic nature as well. The stronger their demonic nature was, the more powerful it would be.
If this move was used on an infant, it would not even be able to touch a single hair. However, it possessed overwhelming power when used on these regular demonfolk.
Originally, he dared not use his daemon abilities in the Demon Suppression hall, which greatly limited his strength. But now that he possessed the Demon Suppression Statuary, he had something perfect for subduing these demonfolk.
“Let’s go!”
Li Qingshan made his way towards the gaping door.
Duoge faltered and said to Li Qingshan, “Venerable, it’s best if you hide your woman! There are a lot of very powerful Demon Generals down there.”
Because Xiao An had remained on the sidelines the entire time, Duoge thought she was merely Li Qingshan’s woman. With the great strength that Li Qingshan had demonstrated, he would not be in any danger even if he ventured to the next floor. However, navigating around among demonfolk with a woman like her was basically walking into a pack of wolves with fresh meat. They would definitely become swarmed.
“My woman?” Taken aback, Li Qingshan rubbed Xiao An’s head and laughed. “She’s not my woman.”
Xiao An lowered her head and dodged Li Qingshan’s hand. Her lips pouted slightly as she became unhappy.
Even little Duoge who had no concept of relationships between men and women was dumbfounded. Li Qingshan was no different. It was extremely rare for her to display an expression like that. Li Qingshan extended his hand around her shoulder and smiled.
“I’m her man, can’t you tell?”
“Huh?”
“The bruisers obviously walk at the front. She hasn’t fought because there hasn’t been any opponents worth her time.”
Li Qingshan said. If he did not possess the Demon Suppression Statuary and was unable to use his powers as a daemon, Xiao An was indeed much more powerful than him. However, against these demonfolk, it would prove nothing even if she fought. She had to kill some stronger people down below.
Unbeknownst to him, his actions of casually hugging and touching the genius disciple of the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga had already greatly displeased the abbot of the monastery, the Dauntless monk. He could not help but snort coldly, tempted to pull him out of there right now and lop off his hand.
