698 Whos the Devil! (1/2)

Hmm? It seems like another idiot to me. One that got hooked so easily. Wang Baole's eyelids twitched. He opened his eyes, revealing an icy glimmer deep within. His lips twitched upwards into a cold smile.

Wang Baole had multiple ways to soothe his exhausted mind. He was, after all, a master of Dharmic Armaments. Refining Dharmic Armaments required great mental strength and focus. He might not be able to fully utilize the fruit he had obtained from the Hyacinthus Tree on the ancient sword or his many other mystic techniques in battle, but using them to speed up the recovery of his mind and spirit outside battle was still something within his means.

He hadn't done so earlier and had concentrated purely on healing his physical body because he had wanted to test the consciousness that he had discovered hidden within the Demonic Eye Art!

He hadn't had time to examine it earlier during the chaos of battle and their escape. That didn't mean that he didn't care. He had been keeping a close eye on it all along.

That was why he had left the healing of his exhausted mind to last and why he had pretended to relax. He wanted to know if this consciousness would show any signs of movement or change. Upon sensing its sudden eruption, Wang Baole pulled out the dried Hyacinthus Tree fruit with a wave of his hand, as well as a few pills that he swallowed immediately. With his other hand, he formed a series of hand seals and initiated a few tricks he remembered. They helped soothe his mental exhaustion and stabilize his mind, transforming it into a mental stronghold.

Then, with bright, curious eyes, he extended his senses deep into himself, towards the frenzied consciousness of the Demonic Eye Art that was unleashing mad spikes of power!

The mode of its appearance seems to indicate that it's a spiritual companion of sorts. It didn't surface during my fight with the gigantic black hand. That means this consciousness possesses a certain degree of intelligence. It knew that if I were endangered due to its sudden interference, it would also face the risk of destruction.

\”But a simple bait managed to lure it out. It seems like it's not that smart, after all. Maybe it relies on pure instinct?\” Wang Baole muttered to himself. The look in his eyes sharpened, and a black, mist-like entity began to cloud the sharpness in his eyes, threatening to color his eyes fully black.

Or maybe it only has one trick up its sleeve, which is to cloud my mind with blood lust and a hunger for death during battle? Wang Baole was slightly disappointed. He dissected the agitation that was rising within him currently, and the thoughts of murder that had started to surface in his mind. The sensation was akin to a drug addict suffering a relapse. If he didn't obey those instincts to kill, those impulses would consume him.

Is that all it's got? What a waste of my efforts. Wang Baole shook his head. Black mist clouded his eyes, giving him an almost supernatural appearance. But he was extremely clear-headed. His mind seemed separated from his body, his observations neutral and devoid of emotion.

He observed for a while longer, realized that this consciousness that had risen from the Demonic Eye Art had no other tricks up its sleeve, and then lost interest completely. He was about to silence it when this companion consciousness appeared to be dissatisfied with only spreading murderous thoughts in Wang Baole's head. It began to reach for his Nascent Soul.

That was a pleasant surprise for Wang Baole. He paused in the middle of his hand seals and continued his observation.

The companion consciousness was like thin black strands that gathered inside Wang Baole's body, unaware that he was awake and watching. It crept further inward, like a serpent, as it headed for his Nascent Soul.

So its target is the Nascent Soul? Or maybe after it extends to the Nascent Soul, it's going to infect or devour my spirit, which is housed inside the Nascent Soul? The look on Wang Baole's face turned serious when he realized where the consciousness was headed. When a cultivator achieved the Nascent Soul realm, his spirit would transform into a God Spirit that would then be housed within his Nascent Soul. Once he reached the Soul Conduit realm, the God Spirit would transform into a God Soul!

The God Spirit held incredible importance to a Nascent Soul realm cultivator and required the latter's careful protection. Wang Baole's eyes flashed as he studied his Nascent Soul. Within hid his scabbard as well as the Dark Fire. The latter had formed when he had become a Dark Child and was proof that he was from the Dark Sect. Within the Dark Fire was his God Spirit.

Just to be safe… Wang Baole quietly activated the Dark Art and released a sliver of dark energy through the Dark Fire housed inside his Nascent Soul. He intended to direct the dark energy towards the consciousness and test the latter's strength.

It was but a mere wisp of dark energy. As soon as it appeared, the black strands of consciousness that had been trying to approach Wang Baole's Nascent Soul shuddered violently. It was as if it had suddenly discovered the presence of a terrifying entity. It shook and cowered, appearing on the verge of disintegration.