Chapter 529: Persuasion is Du Ge's real name |
This is the charm of my personality!
Whether I'm a good guy or a bad guy, loyal followers always gather around me quickly...
Du Ge turned back to look at them and said, "Xiao Du, I've prepared thoroughly this time and am confident in breaking the Dao Ancestor's seal on me. However, I suggest you don't rush into a decision. You can observe first to see if I'm worth following."
Saying this, he looked at Liao Jiulong, "Friend Liao, there's nothing wrong with staying true to your heart, but the fear is that your heart might be wrong from the start. A heart that is unclear and doesn't distinguish right from wrong will remain confused to the end, which is of no benefit to cultivation.
Cultivating the heart is actually a process of understanding oneself. When your heart is clear, your cultivation can yield twice the result with half the effort."
Like a great bell ringing in their minds, Liao Jiulong and his two disciples were stunned on the spot. Du Ge's words seemed to clear the fog in their minds, allowing them to grasp the true essence of cultivation.
At this moment, Liao Jiulong couldn't even tell if the person in front of him was the Heavenly Demon.
As if seeing through Liao Jiulong's thoughts, Du Ge said, "Friend Liao, the Heavenly Demon has a thousand faces, can be hard or soft, righteous or evil, and thus can spread throughout the world. The brutal and violent Demon Head you think of is just a low-level evil being. How could such a lowly Demon Head catch the Dao Ancestor's eye?"
Convinced!
"Thank you, senior, for your guidance," Du Ziming and the others said.
Long Yichen and the others looked puzzled.
Isn't he a demon? How did he become the Heavenly Demon?
However, Du Ge was strong, and their fate was tied to him. At this moment, they wouldn't be foolish enough to reveal Du Ge's identity. Even if they did, those Qi Refiners probably wouldn't believe it.
Besides, is he really a demon?
"Jian Thirteen, if I am a demon, would you still be willing to follow me?" Du Ge no longer paid attention to Liao Jiulong and the others, turning to Jian Thirteen and asking.
"If my benefactor is a demon, then Jian Thirteen is also a demon," Jian Thirteen replied respectfully.
"Good, step forward," Du Ge smiled and beckoned him forward.
Jian Thirteen quickly walked a few steps, came before Du Ge, knelt on one knee, and looked up at Du Ge, "Please instruct me, benefactor."
This child is so clever, with some guidance, his future is limitless!
Du Ge looked approvingly at Jian Thirteen and placed his hand on his forehead.
Then.
He separated a strand of Dark God power from his divine power and injected it into Jian Thirteen's meridians.
The moment the Dark God power entered Jian Thirteen's body, he instinctively frowned, showing a pained expression, but he gritted his teeth and remained silent.
This is how the God of Darkness creates a Messenger of God, by injecting a seed of Dark God power into a mortal's body.
Using the Golden Elixir to forge a divine body, with the divine power in the soul matching the body, Du Ge had naturally learned many methods of using divine power.
Not only the method of creating a Dark God Messenger but also the method of creating angels.
Du Ge's divine power was still very weak now. When he accumulates divine power like the Sun God for tens of thousands of years, he could create angels in batches with a wave of his hand. Back then, the twelve archangels of Boderuna were personally created by the Sun God.
"Jian Thirteen, this is the 'Nine Transformations of Darkness Technique' I comprehended from the 'Nine Transformations of the Universe Technique' on Dragon and Tiger Mountain. I now pass it on to you, for you to protect this group of brothers and sisters."
Du Ge guided the Dark God power, circulating it through Jian Thirteen's body along the meridians of the 'Nine Transformations of the Universe Technique' for a full cycle, finally converging it in his dantian, "Remember this cultivation route, practice day and night, and when you have achieved success in your cultivation, I will teach you more advanced techniques."
Transmitting skills through enlightenment?
Du Ziming looked enviously at Jian Thirteen, who was being taught by Du Ge, and swallowed lightly. This was being taught by the Heavenly Demon, who was on par with the Dao Ancestor. This little guy's future achievements are probably limitless.
The other children also cast longing glances at Du Ge.
Du Ge withdrew his hand from Jian Thirteen's crown and looked around at everyone, "The rest of you should first follow Manor Lord Long to practice martial arts. If any of you show outstanding aptitude, I will consider passing on skills to you."
"Thank you, benefactor." The children saw hope and immediately became excited, responding unevenly.
When Jian Thirteen stood up again, his whole demeanor had changed, as if he had suddenly matured.
Several black cloud patterns appeared between his eyebrows. Jian Thirteen felt the changes in his body, stretched out his hand and made a virtual grip, and a wisp of black energy flashed in his palm, the cold aura in the black energy quickly dissipating.
Opposite him, Long Yichen shivered involuntarily, suddenly waking up. Damn it, this black energy must be something Du Ge brought himself!
Du Ge glanced sideways at Long Yichen and asked with a smile, "Long Yichen, is there any problem with you staying here to teach these children martial arts?"
"I will do my utmost to protect these children," Long Yichen quickly responded with a clasped fist.
Du Ge's influence was growing stronger, and if he didn't hold on tightly, it would be too late. He also hoped that one day, Du Ge would pass on skills to him and lead him onto the path of cultivation.
Du Ge flicked his fingers, and several black lines entered the bodies of Long Yichen and the others, continuing, "If anyone comes to trouble you, don't hesitate to resist. If you encounter danger, I will return immediately."
Long Yichen and the others were just martial artists. His next enemies were at least Qi Refiners, so it was no longer suitable to take them along. It was better to leave them to look after the children.
Du Ge couldn't predict what the future situation would be like, so he didn't know how to proceed in the future.
But this didn't stop him from setting up his forces in advance. If he wanted to compete for the world, these children he saved would be his most loyal base.
As for whether anyone would find them, Du Ge believed it was unlikely because what he was about to do should attract everyone's attention.
"Practice diligently, don't be lazy," Du Ge advised the children in front of him again, "Remember this: only when you have value will you not be abandoned. More people will be willing to help you, and your efforts will be valued."
The meaning of persuasion included encouragement and guidance. Du Ge found this word particularly fitting for himself. He didn't need to do it deliberately; just speaking naturally increased his attributes.
Unfortunately, the second skill of persuasion had not yet been triggered, and he didn't know what opportunity was needed.
...
The capital.
Du Ge and three others were having tea in a teahouse outside Prince Duan's mansion.
"Senior, are we really going to take action against Prince Duan?" Liao Jiulong asked cautiously.
"We've come all this way, wouldn't it be a waste not to do something?" Du Ge said leisurely, sipping his tea.
His mature expression was quite incongruous with his childlike physique, but Liao Jiulong and the others were long used to it. In their eyes, the person before them was an old monster in a child's skin.
Du Ge's perception could cover the entire capital.
But just like on the previous Alien Star Battlefield, the palace, the prince's mansion, the Minister's Mansion, and other important places were perception black holes, making it impossible to detect the people and events inside.
However, from the various entertainment venues in the capital, he had heard a lot of useful information. At least three Alien Star warriors had died in the capital...
The commotion at that time was not small.
The Alien Star warriors were likely besieged by Qi Refiners, but whether any Golden Elixir masters were involved, Du Ge couldn't tell.
Du Ge was playing the role of the Heavenly Demon at this time, so it wasn't appropriate to ask too many questions about the cultivation world's common knowledge.
But since the palace's important places were shielded from perception, he also set up a layer of Sun God power around the four of them to prevent eavesdropping.
"Friend Liao, can you perform the art of observing qi?" Du Ge switched the topic and asked, "Can you see the rise and fall of this New Moon country?"
Liao Jiulong's face stiffened, and he said awkwardly, "Senior, you overestimate me. The art of observing qi cannot be performed by anyone less than a True Immortal. I'm just a mere Qi Refiner..."
"Oh!" Du Ge responded, "You all wait here, I'll take a trip to Prince Duan's mansion to settle this karma."
"Senior, I want to go with you," Du Ziming stood up eagerly, gripping his sword, "I want to see Prince Duan punished with my own eyes."
"No need, I'll go alone. In this life, I've just awakened, and my power is still insufficient to protect you," Du Ge looked at the young man with the same surname as himself, shook his head, and smiled, "Just wait here for my good news."
After speaking.
His figure had already disappeared from the three people's sight, and when he reappeared, he was in a hidden alley behind Prince Duan's mansion.
Unable to perceive the situation inside Prince Duan's mansion, Du Ge couldn't teleport directly into the mansion and had to transfer in the back alley.
With another flash, he leaped onto the wall, observed the specific layout inside Prince Duan's mansion, and then leisurely broke in.
After that, his suppressed perception suddenly cleared, and everything in the front courtyard of the mansion was imprinted in his mind, but the middle and back courtyards were still perception black holes, likely where Prince Duan resided.
These royal heirs really had tight security!
But thinking about it, it made sense. With Qi Refiners everywhere, if the security wasn't tight, no secrets could be kept...
Du Ge shook his head helplessly, stopped using teleportation, and instead used Sun God power and Dark God power alternately, hiding himself in the sunlight and shadows, leisurely wandering around the mansion.
...
At this time.
In the teahouse, Liao Jiulong and his two disciples looked towards Prince Duan's mansion in shock after Du Ge left.
"Master, how deep do you think senior's cultivation level is?" Liu Ziyun asked, "He entered Prince Duan's mansion without triggering the formation against cultivators. Isn't it said that even a True Immortal must enter the mansion through the main gate?"
"The formation is against cultivators, but he's someone on par with the Dao Ancestor. It would be strange if the formation could affect him," Liao Jiulong smiled wryly, "He doesn't use incantations or gestures when casting spells, doing it effortlessly and naturally. He probably mastered the rules of heaven and earth long ago, like the Dao Ancestor. Even if there's a formation, he could likely break it with a wave of his hand."
"Then why did he say his cultivation level is insufficient to protect me?" Du Ziming asked, "I clearly wanted to go in and help him."
"Because he doesn't want to take you in," Liao Jiulong glared at him, "Prince Duan is a royal heir. Senior can withstand the backlash of dragon energy, but what will you rely on to bear the karma of killing a royal heir? With your shallow cultivation level?
Even if you don't take action, the moment Prince Duan dies, your cultivation level might turn to nothing. Do you really think the backlash of dragon energy is a small matter? When senior said he couldn't protect you, he likely meant he couldn't help you withstand the backlash of dragon energy."
"..." Du Ziming was stunned, and after a while, he murmured, "Senior is actually protecting me?"
"What do you think?" Liao Jiulong sighed, looking at his two moved disciples with a face full of melancholy, "If this is the path of cultivating the heart, the three of us might soon be assimilated by him, willingly working for him. The Heavenly Demon is too terrifying, silently eroding our minds."
"Master, but why do I feel that following senior in cultivation isn't bad? Apart from saying he wants to destroy this world, he hasn't done anything evil!" Du Ziming said, "He hasn't even massacred cities or killed innocents..."
"Exactly, I also feel he's a good person, not much different from the benevolent Heavenly Demon," Liu Ziyun's eyes sparkled with a strange light, "If all Heavenly Demons were like him, there probably wouldn't be any bad people left in the world."
Looking at his two disciples, who were deeply trapped in the demonic barrier, Liao Jiulong opened his mouth to persuade them to return to the right path.
But after thinking about it, he didn't know what to say!
In the end, it turned into a helpless sigh, "No matter what, his goal is to destroy this world. Once his power returns to its peak and he reestablishes the elements, everyone will die... Ziming, Ziyun, we can't be accomplices to the tiger!"
"But he can't even bear to harm those children. Will he really destroy this world?" Liu Ziyun sighed, looking towards Prince Duan's mansion, murmuring softly.
...
The places that suppressed perception didn't affect hearing and sight.
But hearing and sight were limited to ordinary human levels, not exaggerated to cover the entire city.
After wandering around Prince Duan's mansion for a while, Du Ge quickly found his target in the study and then quietly infiltrated using Dark God power.
There were three people in Prince Duan's study.
Prince Duan, in his forties, wearing a brocade robe, and two Qi Refiners, one old and one young.
After Du Ge sneaked in, the old Qi Refiner instinctively turned his head to look but, finding nothing, turned back, "Prince Duan, don't worry. The Soul Calming Bottle has my mark on it. I've sent my disciple to intercept at every checkpoint leading to the capital and the border. If that Qi Refiner dares to break through with the Soul Calming Bottle, he will surely be discovered."
"Master Si, are you confident?" Prince Duan was anxious, "If the matter of the Soul Calming Bottle leaks, I'll be doomed. Could there be a True Immortal involved on the other side?"
"Prince, I speculate that the matter at Longliu Manor is likely an accident," Master Si said, "If it were the Crown Prince or other princes, they wouldn't have incited internal strife at Longliu Manor. If any Qi Refiner were involved, no one at Longliu Manor could have escaped. Most people in the martial world know Longliu Manor is the prince's property and wouldn't suddenly attack it. I believe Longliu Manor was most likely the work of demons."
"Demons?" Prince Duan was stunned.
"Yes, only they would act so recklessly and without any pattern," Master Si said.
"If it's demons, that's easier to handle. Nowadays, demons are hated by everyone. Even if they took the Soul Calming Bottle, they probably wouldn't dare show up," Prince Duan breathed a sigh of relief, "But Long Yichen is missing, dead or alive. If he colludes with demons, it's still a hidden danger. Master, if you go to Fancheng, can you find a way to lure out those demons?"
"Prince, at this point, we can only wait," Master Si shook his head, "Unless someone below can find the whereabouts of Long Yichen and those children, if the demons hide, I have no way to deal with them."