Seeking Immortality in a Bizarre World-Chapter 583 - 578 Bizarre Alias, Thought Bizarre_1
"Bizarre Demons are in the Taiqing Marketplace?"
The Sect Master of Taiqing was startled for a moment, his face showing disbelief.
He couldn’t help but cast a doubtful look, not believing Jia Ren’s words.
Outside the Taiqing Marketplace, there was an Evil-Averting Spiritual Treasure capable of sensing the presence of Bizarre Demons; inside the marketplace, there was a formation for detecting the aura of Bizarre Demons.
If a Bizarre Demon appeared in the Taiqing Marketplace, it would be discovered immediately. It was impossible to remain completely unaware.
"You can verify the truth."
Jia Ren appeared completely confident, firmly convinced that the terrifying Bizarre Demon, which grew stronger upon being known, was indeed in the Taiqing Marketplace.
He did this for two reasons: first, to gain the Taiqing Sect’s attention and have them verify his conjecture; second, because the reward would differ based on the outcome. If his gamble was right, the gains would be astonishing. If wrong, he would suffer no loss.
This was a matter where it was better to believe it existed than not.
Whether true or false, the Taiqing Sect had to take it seriously and deploy all their energy to dealing with the Bizarre Demon.
"Decree!"
The Sect Master of Taiqing cast a spell and channeled it into the Sect Master’s Command Token at his waist, quietly waiting.
Tens of miles away, the Taiqing Sect’s Sect Protection Array was fully activated, standing heavily guarded.
The Sect Master of Taiqing still hadn’t completely believed Jia Ren and maintained his skepticism. He worried it might be a ploy by the Sinful Denizens to draw the tiger away from the mountain. Therefore, all formations were activated to prevent their forces from seizing an opportunity.
The formation inside the marketplace had activated at some unknown time. Pure white Spiritual Energy rippled above, like an inverted white bowl firmly protecting it.
No entry and no exit.
"What’s happening? Is a Bizarre Demon attacking the Taiqing Marketplace?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
The people inside the Taiqing Marketplace, upon seeing the formation rising into the sky, couldn’t help but feel a surge of panic.
Jia Ren seemed to sense something, staring intently at an empty area in the distance.
Hundreds of figures appeared out of thin air, their bodies shifting from ethereal to solid without drawing the attention of the marketplace’s inhabitants.
Each cultivator exuded an extraordinary aura, the weakest among them at the Spirit Transformation Stage.
All high-order cultivators of the Taiqing Sect were gathered, with the exception of one Nascent Soul period cultivator and disciples below the Divinity Transformation Stage who remained to guard the Sect.
The Disciples of the Taiqing Sect had not received definite news and were mostly puzzled. Many cast their eyes on Jia Ren’s unfamiliar face.
Who is this person? And he’s actually drinking with the Sect Master?
"There’s suspicion of a powerful Bizarre Demon hiding in the Taiqing Marketplace. Follow me, and let’s suppress the Bizarre Demon together!"
A powerful Bizarre Demon in the marketplace?
The Disciples of the Taiqing Sect were significantly shocked, with even more showing disbelief.
The marketplace interior was peaceful, with mortals and cultivators safe and secure. How could a powerful Bizarre Demon be lurking within?
"Taiqing Divine Talisman—Conceal!"
The Sect Master of Taiqing raised his hand, casually drawing talismans in the void.
Purifying Spiritual Energy danced through the air like a curtain descending upon everyone. In the blink of an eye, they all vanished into thin air.
"Lead the way," the Sect Master of Taiqing said to Jia Ren, after finishing the Taiqing Concealment Talisman.
Jia Ren took the lead and flew toward the West District, nearing the territory of the Lifeless Cult.
"Isn’t this the Lifeless Cult’s area?"
"There’s only one Golden Core Stage cultivator here. Why go to such great lengths?"
The Guardian of the Taiqing Marketplace, upon seeing this, couldn’t help but speak.
The Sect Master of Taiqing was stunned for a moment, then quickly asked, "The Lifeless Cult?"
He compared the names he knew with that one but found no match.
The Guardian of the marketplace explained, "Sect Master, the Lifeless Cult was established not long ago, worshipping the Immortal Dao Ancestor. Disciples previously investigated them; their strongest cultivator is merely at the Golden Core Stage, posing no threat."
"It has been confirmed that the Lifeless Cult has neither Bizarre Demons nor forbidden objects."
The Guardian of the marketplace effectively had eyes and ears everywhere; the Lifeless Cult could not have grown and expanded without his knowledge. After confirming it was a harmless small sect that also had a calming effect on the populace, he had allowed it to operate freely.
The Sect Master of Taiqing’s eyes shone with a faint light, imbued with a strange power that disregarded the formations set up in the Lifeless Cult’s courtyard, and focused on the Immortal Dao Ancestor statue in the distance.
"Seal this place!"
The Sect Master of Taiqing’s Pupil Skill was extraordinary, allowing him to perceive the eerie energy invisible to ordinary people. He immediately realized that this place was unusual.
Anything related to the Bizarre Demon that grows stronger upon being known deserved the utmost attention and was not to be underestimated.
"Taiqing Purple Tumulus Suppressing Evil Formation!"
Everyone spread out, and the white Taiqing Spiritual Energy surged like tides, gradually forming a complex and profound Spirit Pattern formation.
The Spiritual Energy connected with heaven and earth. Stars appeared in the daytime sky, manifesting the majestic image of a purple celestial body.
The purple celestial body, like an emperor among stars, coalesced into a grand purple dragon that roared as it descended towards the distant clay statue.
The Immortal Dao Ancestor statue, showing no outward signs of eerie energy, trembled slightly as if it had come to life, imbued with vitality.
Its eyes fixed on the crowd, circling once, finally settling on Jia Ren, who had quietly retreated behind the others.
"In the end, it’s still exposed!"
A terrifying force awakened in their consciousness, as though it wanted to tear their bodies apart and take their place.
Jia Ren was no exception, vaguely sensing... The problem seems to stem from the name. The Immortal Dao Ancestor, huh?
"Suppress!"
The Purple Tumulus Emperor Star emitted purple stellar light just in time to protect everyone, forcibly suppressing the Bizarre Demon’s power that surged in their minds.
The Sect Master of Taiqing showed no joy on his face, but rather an uncontainable anger.
The strange occurrence proved Jia Ren’s words were true: the Bizarre Demon that, upon being known, inevitably grows stronger, had appeared! It was now capable of communication and possessed extremely high intelligence.
Could this be possession by Sinful Denizens? Such a group of failures!
If not for this person informing them, a powerful Bizarre Demon might have been born right under their noses, and they would have remained oblivious. Unlike typical Bizarre Demons, which possessed little rationality and acted mostly on instinct, this one was far more threatening.
"Save the people!"
The Taiqing Purple Tumulus Suppressing Evil Formation was a step too late to fully protect the Taiqing Marketplace. It saved only some people, while the fanatical followers of the Lifeless Cult involuntarily transformed.
One after another, they turned into monstrous masses of flesh. Some had veins bulging like willow branches, lashing out wildly. Some developed slender lower limbs while their arms grew as thick as millstones, each punch carrying terrifying power. Many others mutated into inhuman forms, corrupted by the eerie power and undergoing various degrees of grotesque transformation.
"Taiqing Suppressing Evil Sword!"
A white jade flying sword appeared in the Sect Master of Taiqing’s hand, wreathed in a celestial, purifying aura. Countless characters on its surface seemed to writhe as if alive.
The sword’s light slashed, too fast for the eye to follow. He thrust once, yet it seemed like a myriad of thrusts in an instant.
Each mutated monster seemed to be simultaneously slammed to the ground, unable to move an inch, as a vivid ’Suppress’ character materialized on their bodies.
"Is this... a Heaven-Piercing Evil-Banishing Spirit Treasure?!"
The Taiqing Sect’s heritage was profound; it wasn’t surprising they possessed a Heaven-Piercing Evil-Banishing Spirit Treasure as part of their legacy.
The white jade sword’s light flashed, piercing the clay statue and shattering it into powder.
This was merely a statue tainted with eerie energy, not the Bizarre Demon’s true body.
As the statue crumbled, the eerie energy at the location vanished completely.
The Disciples of the Taiqing Sect searched everywhere but found no trace of it.
"It got away!"
This was the best opportunity to seal it.
The Sect Master of Taiqing looked grim; this was hardly good news for him.
"Sect Master, what exactly is this Bizarre Demon?!"
One of the Disciples of the Taiqing Sect turned pale. They had seen mortals and ordinary cultivators with no eerie aura suddenly mutate into monsters. Such transformations were utterly baffling and impossible to guard against. What was even more worrisome was the possibility that fellow disciples might also mutate and suddenly attack.
"You already know its name. ’Immortal Dao Ancestor’ is its Bizarre Name."
As if to affirm this statement, the next moment, a new name for the ’Immortal Dao Ancestor’ surfaced in everyone’s minds...
"Its real name is Thought Bizarre!"
"The Thought Bizarre is an extremely peculiar Bizarre Demon. Its sealing method is unlike that of other Bizarre Demons."
"It can only be sealed when everyone has forgotten the name ’Thought Bizarre’!"
"Everyone, return and use the Taiqing Forgetful Heart Secret Technique. Erase all related memories before the contamination deepens."
The Sect Master of Taiqing’s tone grew much heavier as he explained, sparing no detail.
Jia Ren, upon hearing this explanation, felt more doubts arise in his heart.
What is a Bizarre Name? What’s to be done after the contamination grows stronger?
The Sect Master of Taiqing showed no intention of answering. He instructed his disciples to search the Taiqing Marketplace, clearing out the Lifeless Cult’s followers and anything related to the Thought Bizarre. Anyone with knowledge would have their related memories erased.
Jia Ren and the Sect Master of Taiqing returned to the original courtyard. The Sect Master of Taiqing smiled and said, "You have been marked by the Thought Bizarre. As long as you know its name, you will be continuously corrupted by its eerie energy."
"If the contamination grows strong enough, it can take over your body and control everything about you at any time."
"The Taiqing Forgetful Heart Secret Technique is a unique secret technique created by the Taiqing Sect specifically to deal with the Thought Bizarre. It can solve this problem."
"The previous reward is void. How about I teach you the Taiqing Forgetful Heart Secret Technique to clear the contamination?"
The Sect Master of Taiqing poured himself a cup of wine, drained it in one gulp, and then looked intently at Jia Ren as he spoke.
"I appreciate your kindness, Sect Master, but I am more interested in a method to cleanse the contamination from the special nature’s spiritual energy."
Jia Ren’s smile didn’t falter; he didn’t seem concerned about the Thought Bizarre’s contamination.
After all... he had already learned the Taiqing Forgetful Heart Secret Technique.
Through the Corpse-Eating Fiend Pill, the Insect External Incarnation had devoured the flesh of Taiqing Sect cultivators, obtaining over a dozen Divine Skills and secret techniques, among which was the Taiqing Forgetful Heart Secret Technique.
He originally thought the technique was useless, but unexpectedly, it became useful so soon. He wouldn’t waste the hard-earned reward on something he already possessed.
The Sect Master of Taiqing gazed at Jia Ren, not expecting to pay the price so soon. This person had discovered the Thought Bizarre and informed the Taiqing Sect, rendering them a great service. The Sect Master of Taiqing didn’t wish to deceive Jia Ren.
"Contamination by nature’s spiritual energy affects one’s very essence and is not easily resolved. The Taiqing Sect has three methods to address this."
"First, find a cultivator who has mastered the Heavenly Spirit Law to resolve the issue."
"Previously, a Mahayana Stage Cultivator could have resolved it. Unfortunately, since the emergence of Bizarre Demons, no Mahayana Stage Cultivators can comprehend the Laws anymore... Only an Immortal can do so now."
"Second, the Southern Ming Separation Fire of the Divine Beast Vermilion Bird can incinerate even essence. It can cleanse Law-contaminated foreign Spiritual Power. If controlled properly, it will not harm one’s essence."
"The Taiqing Sect can only offer one method, but I fear it will not satisfy you."
"It is called the Soul-Exchange Secret Art."
"It can transfer the foreign Spiritual Energy from within a person to a similar receptive object."
