I Became the Devil Queen's Heart Demon-Chapter 1029 - 382: Burning with Rage! The Demon Lord Descends! (Part 2)

"They all once came to seek a child, and now they've returned to fulfill their vows." The young Taoist said with pride, "These women either had physical deficiencies or just bad luck, and were unable to conceive for a long time, enduring much scorn."

"Finally, under Lady Zhao Hua's guidance, their wishes were granted. It's a great blessing!"

"Is that so?"

Chen Mo's brow furrowed slightly.

The young Taoist led them to Xuanzhen, bowing as he said, "This real person here says he has a matter to discuss with you."

Xuanzhen looked up and, upon seeing Chen Mo, couldn't help but be momentarily dazed.

Though the man's face was blurry, it only took a glance to recognize him as the mysterious individual he had clashed with the previous night!

"Didn't we say three days? Why are you here now?" Xuanzhen looked towards Yu Zhe, who followed behind, frowning, "Who is he?"

"One of ours." Chen Mo murmured, "The Princess entered the city this morning, the location of the second batch has been exposed, and Tang Xingbang is dead! The situation is urgent, there's no time to waste, we must move the stock before dark!"

As he spoke, he subtly channeled his soul power, vibrating at a special frequency, constantly affecting the other's perception.

Whether due to the method's effect or not, Xuanzhen showed not the slightest doubt, and replied seriously, "I've also received news, which is why the ritual was started earlier—to settle this matter as soon as possible."

He handed the horsetail whisk to a nearby Taoist, and stood up, "Everything's ready, come with me."

Chen Mo gave Yu Zhe a look, signaling him to stay outside while he followed Xuanzhen through the back gate.

The pregnant women who had received blessings did not immediately leave, instead lining up neatly, heading towards the inner courtyard.

Their expressions were wooden, their movements stiff, resembling marionettes, showing no reaction to external stimuli.

"What's going on with these people?"

Chen Mo's sense of unease grew stronger.

The inner courtyard was heavily guarded, with Taoists wielding long swords patrolling everywhere.

Xuanzhen came to the rockery in the yard, pressed his hand on a stone, and twisted it left and right. With a rumbling sound, the mountain shifted aside, revealing a deep tunnel.

"Please enter." Xuanzhen gestured.

Without hesitation, Chen Mo walked in.

Xuanzhen followed closely, as the entrance slowly closed.

The inside was dimly lit, with narrow stone steps descending. Only the copper lamps on the walls offered enough light to barely make out the path ahead.

As the two descended the stairs, Xuanzhen spoke as if making small talk, "This place was built by the previous abbot. At that time, war was rampant on the Southern Border, and he foresaw that the flames of war would eventually reach Bailu City, so he prepared early."

"Sure enough, within a few years, the Barbarian Tribe's iron cavalry broke through the Southern Border, and Bailu City fell."

"The abbot hid the elderly, women, and children seeking refuge here, while he and his disciples went down the mountain to fight the enemy, but they were no match for the Barbarian cavalry."

"That battle was extremely bloody, the abbot himself was gravely injured and soon passed away, and as the sole surviving direct disciple, I naturally took over the Daoist Temple..."

Chen Mo nodded, "The old abbot was quite a character, sacrificing himself to save others. He deserved a Merit Temple built in his honor."

"Once people are dead, what's the use of a temple?" Xuanzhen dismissed disdainfully, "I say that old fool was too stubborn. We Taoists pursue immortality. After stepping onto the cultivation path, we are not the same kind of creature as those mortals."

"Sacrificing one's life for a bunch of ants is utterly foolish."

Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, "Immortality? Even the Ultimate Venerable couldn't achieve it, right? Besides, your cross-training skills don't seem like the Daoist way either."

"Hehe, that's a long story." Xuanzhen chuckled, "Trying to attain the Great Dao through dedicated cultivation is indeed as difficult as climbing the heavens. But from another angle, as long as one replaces the body with Gu Poison Worms, propagating endlessly over lifetimes, wouldn't that achieve a certain sense of 'immortality'?"

"I have to thank Master Yin of the Gu God Sect for enlightening me and for willing to help transform my body." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"However, post-transformation, the meridian paths differed from ordinary people's. The previous cultivation techniques couldn't be used, so I had to switch to martial arts."

"But compared to the pursuit of immortality, such sacrifice is hardly significant."

As they conversed, they descended the last step and arrived at a stone chamber at the end of the passage.

Xuanzhen pushed the door open, "Come in."

"What's this?!"

Upon seeing the scene inside, Chen Mo's heart skipped a beat!

The stone chamber was quite spacious, with intricate patterns etched on the floor, resembling an interlocking kaleidoscope.

The outer layer held twelve stone beds, each with a woman lying on it. Their stomachs were hugely swollen, with a thin bamboo tube inserted into their navels, the other end connected to the ground, through which a pale yellow liquid dripped, flowing into the patterns.

The liquid slowly trickled along the grooves, eventually merging at the central intersection.

The stone cracked open, and a flesh-colored Lingzhi mushroom emerged, white filaments swirling around like a living creature.

This was something Chen Mo was all too familiar with.

Because he himself carried an unfinished, immature version of it.

"Meat Ganoderma mushroom…"

But unlike the one he'd encountered in Fengmu County, the mushroom here matured incredibly quickly, changing almost every moment!

"It's a genius creation, isn't it?"

Xuanzhen said with a proud smile, "There was an incident in Tiannan State, not only was the Heart Devouring Poisonous Insect's supply cut off, but the Meat Ganoderma mushroom was also gone. So, to not delay the important plans, I improved the original cultivation method."