Chu Zhiyuan surveyed the situation within the Flying Cloud Sect, observing every detail, inside and out, with perfect clarity.
Simultaneously, he examined the state of the Hao Yang Subduing Demon Mirror.
After devouring the souls of two Great Heavenly Demons, the Hao Yang Subduing Demon Mirror continued to emit a soft light, with all nine layers of divine inscriptions illuminating one by one, shrouded in a hazy glow.
An idea flashed in his mind, and he immediately began to chant the divine inscriptions on those nine layers.
Each divine inscription possessed power, each was an evolution of heaven and earth, containing both sound and imagery, possessing complete and complex meanings.
To write them down and manifest them externally required resisting the power they wielded; merely reciting them did not require such immense power.
“Nan Weng He,”
The strange sound emerged softly from his mouth, yet it seemed to drift from the distant horizon, faint and elusive.
As he recited the dozen or so divine inscriptions of the second layer, Chu Zhiyuan's voice echoed throughout heaven and earth, ethereal and indistinct, as if originating from the sky.
The divine inscriptions resonated with the sounds of heaven and earth, creating a harmony with his voice.
His voice became the voice of heaven and earth.
When he recited the divine inscriptions of the third layer, the sounds of heaven and earth became increasingly clear.
By the fourth layer, the sounds were close at hand, with everyone hearing the voice as if it were right beside them.
By the fifth layer, the voice was at their ears.
By the sixth layer, the voice was like a thunderclap.
By the seventh layer, the voice was like the rising sun, with the image of the sun ascending before their eyes, radiating red light.
By the eighth layer, they saw a golden light like that of an abbot.
By the ninth layer, the sun blazed in the sky, and all that existed between heaven and earth was a pure white expanse.
The Hao Yang Subduing Demon Mirror before Chu Zhiyuan also emitted a brilliant light, like a small sun falling before him.
As the sound ceased, the scene before everyone's eyes dimmed.
Chu Zhiyuan's vision also dimmed, and he then realized that the Hao Yang Subduing Demon Mirror had transformed into a ray of white light, darting into his brow and entering his mind.
In the void of his mind, a sun appeared.
The void of his mind, which had originally been like the first light of dawn, now became as bright as day.
He felt a warm, comforting sensation, his entire being enveloped in gentleness.
His body seemed to lighten instantly, becoming more agile and relaxed.
It felt as if he had suddenly lost over ten pounds of weight.
He knew this was just a feeling, not that his body had actually become lighter, but that his soul had become lighter and more agile, becoming purer.
The changes that had occurred due to absorbing the memories of the Heavenly Demon souls were instantly dispelled by the warm sunlight.
His body, both inside and out, including his soul, was purified.
This was true purification.
Hao Yang Subduing Demon Mirror, the so-called Hao Yang, possessed the meaning of purification.
Illuminating all filth in the world, cleansing all defilement in the world, returning to the world a bright and clear sky.
The Hao Yang Subduing Demon Mirror completely merged with him.
His thoughts stirred.
A brand-new bronze mirror appeared in his hand.
No longer possessing its original vicissitudes and antiquity, it was as if it had just been forged.
Although the craftsmanship was somewhat rough and not exquisite enough, it shone brightly.
The surface of the bronze mirror faintly shimmered with a hazy light.
With a thought, the bronze mirror transformed into a ray of white light, darting into his brow, entering his mind, and plunging into the sun within the void of his mind.
This bronze mirror was merely a manifestation of the bronze mirror within his mind; the true Hao Yang Subduing Demon Mirror had always been rooted in the void of his mind.
And as it took root in the void of his mind, he became thoroughly aware of the wondrous uses of the Hao Yang Subduing Demon Mirror.
His thoughts stirred.
The sun in the void of his mind shot out a ray of white light, landing on the distant horizon, where his soul resided.
His soul instantly strengthened.
Doubling again.
The souls of these two Great Heavenly Demons far surpassed the previous two Great Heavenly Demons.
Unlike the previous absorption of the two Great Heavenly Demon souls, this time, he did not directly absorb their memories.
Their memories were stored within the Hao Yang Subduing Demon Mirror and could be called upon at any time.
But they did not invade his own memories.
This was to avoid being tainted by demonic thoughts and being disturbed by the memories.
At this moment, within the Qing King's mansion, the void of Chu Zhiyuan's mind also changed its appearance.
Originally, he sat cross-legged in the void, with a halo behind his head.
Now, a sun appeared above his head.
The soft white light instantly filled the dawn-like sky, turning it into daylight.
Making the halo behind his head appear less dazzling.
The Hao Yang Subduing Demon Mirror could directly transmit to the main body through the avatar.
He could not help but marvel at its wonder.
At the same time, he pondered, with the Hao Yang Subduing Demon Mirror, what about the Great Subduing Demon Seal?
Had it become a useless skill?
But after thinking it over, he still had to continue practicing the Great Subduing Demon Seal.
The Hao Yang Subduing Demon Mirror directly devoured demonic souls, domineering and tyrannical.
The Great Subduing Demon Seal was much gentler, capable of trapping demonic souls and demonic experts.
Compared to the Hao Yang Subduing Demon Mirror, it was a bit more flexible in its methods.
It would be better for the two to complement each other.
Chu Honglin and the others retracted their astonished gazes.
The previous scene was inexplicable, but a trace of gentle aura surged within their hearts.
This caused their original resentment and anger to unknowingly dissipate.
Chu Honglin's killing intent also faded somewhat, and he looked at the dozen or so experts of the Flying Cloud Sect with disappointment, shaking his head: "Not enough mettle."
Their anger surged again, and they sneered repeatedly. They could see that Chu Honglin wanted to take the opportunity to kill them.
The Sect Leader and Elder Zhou must have seen through it and were not letting him get his way.
Chu Honglin tapped on the acupoints of two more people: "Go out and tell them not to resist, otherwise, we can only kill them."
He turned his head and said, "Mr. Chen, send the signal to have them come over."
"Yes." A simple and honest middle-aged man agreed and took out a silver tube from his bosom, coming outside the hall to launch the signal.
With a whistling sound, a golden light soared into the sky, exploding in the sky into a long golden sword.
The several-meter-long golden sword stood vertically in the air, lingering for a long time, with the tip of the sword pointing directly at the location of the Flying Cloud Sect.
Chu Honglin floated back to Chu Zhiyuan's side, curiously sizing him up.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Fifteenth Uncle, what's wrong?"
Chu Honglin said, "The strange sound from before, was that you?"
As the two were speaking, Mr. Zhu and the other two also floated over.
Chu Zhiyuan glanced at the three of them and nodded with a smile.
Chu Honglin asked in surprise: "What kind of wondrous skill is that?"
"The Hao Yang Subduing Demon Mirror bestowed by Father Emperor," Chu Zhiyuan said, "I don't know why, but it actually drilled into my body, involuntarily reciting that incantation."
"Strange—" Chu Honglin shook his head and looked at Mr. Zhu and the others.
Mr. Zhu and the others exchanged glances, as if they were pondering something.
Under the inquisitive gazes of Chu Zhiyuan and the others, Mr. Zhu finally spoke: "The treasure bestowed by the Emperor is by no means ordinary, it may be a type of spirit weapon. What are its wondrous uses?"
"Purifying demonic thoughts—demonic thoughts are the soul contamination caused by demonic cultivation," Chu Zhiyuan said, "It is especially effective against these demonic cultivators. After abolishing their cultivation, washing them with the Hao Yang Subduing Demon Mirror will make them like ordinary people."
"In this way," Chu Honglin said, "it saves their lives."
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "They are indeed lucky."
If they continued to hate the imperial court after abolishing their demonic arts, then they could not be kept alive.
If they were illuminated by the Hao Yang Subduing Demon Mirror, washing away their resentment and demonic thoughts, they could return to being ordinary people.
This would preserve their lives.
"What if we don't abolish their martial arts?" Mr. Zhu asked, "Can it sweep away their demonic thoughts?"
"It can, but if they continue to practice demonic arts, they will continue to generate demonic thoughts, requiring regular purification."
"Your Highness, purify them first, so that they don't go to extremes, saving us trouble."
"I'll give it a try," Chu Zhiyuan said.
