Demonic Cultivation: Devouring Ten Thousand Demonic Beasts

Thus, despite being more than six centuries old, the map left behind by Elder Guo remained an invaluable treasure. Holding the map in his hands, Lang Tian felt his heart growing steadfast.

Elder Guo had named this place the Myriad Demons Shadow Valley, for it was steeped in demonic aura, akin to a sacred land of ten thousand malevolent spirits. The deeper one ventured, the denser the demonic aura grew, and the greater the peril became. Legends spoke of countless powerhouses who had reached the Saintly Body Realm daring to enter. Among them all, many had perished, while others fell into demonic deviation, transforming into frenzied monstrosities.

Lang Tian gripped the map tighter, his eyes scanning the detailed markings once more. However, a subtle discomfort lingered in his thoughts; something just didn't feel right.

"Senior Sister," he asked suddenly, voice low with uncertainty, "this map… could it be incomplete?"

"Oh? You noticed, did you?" Yue Ling let out a soft chuckle.

"Yes," Lang Tian nodded. "This map only charts the upper regions of the Myriad Demons Shadow Valley. But according to Elder Guo's words, he ventured into the deeper layers below. Yet there's not a single note about those areas…"

At this, Yue Ling laughed again, raising her hand to lightly tap his forehead.

"Silly boy. Do you think a place so perilous would be so easily mapped out for posterity to recklessly charge into?"

"Oh… right. Haha…" Lang Tian scratched his head, chuckling awkwardly.

Upon reflection, it made sense. It is possible that Elder Guo purposefully left out those regions, and maybe even went so far as to destroy the corresponding section of the map, so as to discourage people in the future from endangering themselves in that deadly abyss.

"Alright, is there anything else about the map that troubles you?" Yue Ling asked.

"Well… Senior Sister Shangguan, there's one more thing," Lang Tian said hesitantly.

"Oh? Speak freely."

"I was thinking about… the Abnormal Flame."

"Abnormal Flame?" Yue Ling raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Lang Tian nodded. "Don't you remember, Senior Sister? You once speculated that this place might harbor a Abnormal Flame. But if that's true, with Elder Guo's cultivation and realm back then, he would have surely discovered it. Why, then, is there no mention of any Abnormal Flame in any of his records?"

At this, Yue Ling gently ruffled his hair.

"What… Senior Sister, did I ask something foolish again?" Lang Tian asked, suddenly apprehensive.

"No, not at all," she said, shaking her head with a tender smile. "In fact, you've touched on the very question I once pondered."

"So… what do you think the reason is?"

The smile on Yue Ling's face faded. She withdrew her hand, her expression turning solemn.

"There are two possibilities," she said, raising two fingers.

"First: The Abnormal Flame may not actually exist here, as I once speculated. The anomalies I sensed could merely be natural reactions of the ancient demonic aura within the valley."

Lang Tian nodded slightly. It was indeed possible.

"And the second possibility?" he pressed.

"The second possibility is…" Yue Ling's voice grew low, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes. "The Abnormal Flame does exist. But it is far too dangerous to get to it. And, much like the missing portion of the map, Elder Guo deliberately left no trace of it… to shield future generations from calamity."

___________________

Thus, after carefully examining the map and the detailed notes left behind by Elder Guo on the Myriad Demons Shadow Valley, only one item remained that Yue Ling had yet to introduce.

Lang Tian's gaze was now drawn to the last treasure presented. It was a white jade artifact meticulously crafted in the form of a blooming lotus flower. The surface emitted a delicate, mist-like glow that was both calming and soothing to observe. It was remarkably beautiful.

He pointed toward it, curiosity growing in his chest.

"Senior Sister Shangguan, what is this thing?" asked Langtian.

"Oh," Yue Ling replied gently, glancing down at the jade piece, "this is known as the Radiant Lotus Heart."

"Radiant Lotus Heart?" Lang Tian repeated, the name rolling off his tongue. "As in… the heart of a glowing lotus?"

"Exactly," she nodded with a faint smile. "It's a very fitting name, don't you think?"

"Yeah…" Lang Tian murmured. "So… does it have any special functions?"

"It does. And not just special, they're exceptionally rare and valuable. Here, hold it in your palm. Then sit and meditate for a moment. You'll understand."

"Yes, Senior Sister."

Lang Tian nodded, taking the lotus-shaped jade with both hands. It felt cool to the touch. As instructed, he sat down cross-legged, placed it atop his palm, and closed his eyes, drawing a long breath as he began to circulate his qi.

In an instant, he felt a profound difference.

Compared to his usual cultivation, holding the jade pendant doubled the speed at which he circulated the Lotus Heart Sutra of Tranquil Dao!

But what shocked him even more… was when he turned his mind inward to his sea of consciousness. There, above the surface of the spiritual sea, an ethereal radiance was descending from an unseen point in the void. It was soft and gentle, yet incredibly pure. It embraced the Lotus Seed that sat within his spirit sea.

Bathed in that light, the Lotus Seed trembled, releasing ripples of five-colored brilliance, as if being purified and elevated, rendering his spirit clearer and more lucid than ever before.

'Could this… be the power of the Radiant Lotus Heart? Amazing!'

A moment later, Lang Tian opened his eyes, astonishment still lingering in his gaze.

He immediately recounted his experience to Yue Ling.

Yue Ling's smile deepened, and she gave a slow nod.

"Indeed. That is the work of the Radiant Lotus Heart."

She then sat down beside him and began to explain further.

"According to the records I found, this jade pendant is a treasured artifact passed down within the inner circle of the Lotus Path Sect."