After I stopped trying, a rich woman trained me into a demon emperor.

Upon hearing the name "Zhang Xuansu," a trace of gloom and sorrow finally seeped through the usually placid face of Master Xuyun.

He sighed deeply, his voice filled with an overwhelming sense of helplessness.

"Young friend, please come with me."

The old celestial master said no more, slowly got up, his steps were somewhat heavy, and led Zhou Ran to an inconspicuous side door at the back of the main hall.

Zhou Ran frowned, a bad feeling creeping into his heart.

Back in Jiangcheng, the old Taoist priest Zhang Xuansu was pedantic and stubborn.

But with his unyielding spirit, he dared to physically confront missiles to protect the safety of the city, making him a true man.

He tightened the Yin-gathering banner on his back and followed.

As you walk through the deep, winding bluestone corridor, the surrounding temperature suddenly drops.

A chill crept up from the depths of the earth, running up the soles of one's feet and straight to the top of one's head, making one's bones itch.

At the end of the corridor was a massive dungeon entirely constructed of black iron.

In the center of the dungeon was a bottomless, icy pool.

The pool water was as black as ink, not a ripple could be seen, and it only emitted a foul stench of old corpses and rust.

"Splash—splash—"

The ear-piercing sound of chains being dragged echoed from the depths of the icy pool, reverberating throughout the empty dungeon.

Zhou Ran activated his Purple-Gold Demon Eyes, his gaze piercing through layers of black mist.

The center of the cold pool.

A disheveled figure, with its limbs and collarbone bound by several iron chains, was suspended above the water.

That person was none other than Zhang Xuansu!

But at this moment, he no longer possessed any of the ethereal and otherworldly demeanor he once had.

His Taoist robe had long since turned into strips of cloth, and on the surface of his skin, the dark purple veins bulged and throbbed like living creatures.

His eyes were completely filled with blood, devoid of any clarity, only displaying a beastly madness and brutality.

The blackish-purple Gu energy was so dense it was almost tangible.

It was constantly overflowing from his seven orifices, twisting in the air into human faces screaming in pain.

"roar--!"

Seemingly sensing the presence of a stranger, Zhang Xuansu suddenly looked up and let out a roar in Zhou Ran's direction.

"Xuan Su...sigh..."

Master Xuyun's voice was filled with sorrow and self-reproach.

"A month ago, he learned that the Pai Sect and the Black Witch Village were plotting something in the Yangtze River basin, so he went there alone to investigate, but who knew..."

They had fallen victim to a trap set by the Black Witch Village.

The old celestial master pointed at the writhing dark purple veins on Zhang Xuansu's body, his eyes dimming.

"This is the most vicious 'Heart Demon Gu' of the Black Witch Village."

It is said that each Gu worm contains a trace of the turbid energy of an "extraterrestrial demon," which does not harm the physical body but specifically corrupts the Dao heart and corrodes the soul.

"Once infected, one's Dao heart will become a breeding ground for Gu worms."

We tried everything, even resorting to the ancestral master's magic weapons, but nothing worked.

Once our Taoist true energy touches it, not only will it not be removed, but it will also be polluted and assimilated, becoming its nourishment.

"Now, Xuan Su's Dao heart has been eroded by ninety percent, and he has become a walking corpse who only knows how to kill."

They had no choice but to imprison him here, using the extreme yin energy of the thousand-year-old icy pool to barely suppress the activity of the Gu worms and delay the dissipation of his soul.

Xu Yun's tone was filled with despair.

For these righteous and esoteric sects, this "Heart Demon Gu" is an incurable disease.

However, after hearing these words, Zhou Ran's expression became extremely strange.

Instead of feeling troubled, his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

Those purple-gold demonic eyes stared at the dark purple Gu energy on Zhang Xuansu's body.

The turbid energy of extraterrestrial demons?

It defiles the heart of the Dao and corrupts the soul.

This thing...

It sounds like nutrients!

"Old Celestial Master".

Zhou Ran rolled up his sleeves and strode towards the center of the icy pool.

At the same time, the domineering and murderous aura around him subtly transformed into the greed and mockery of a predator eyeing its prey.

Master Xuyun's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively wanted to stop him.

But then Zhou Ran's arrogant voice slowly echoed in the dungeon.

"You think this is a deadly poison..."

Zhou Ran stood at the edge of the icy pool, letting the foul-smelling Gu aura assault his senses.

He even took a deep breath, a look of ecstasy on his face.

"But in my opinion, this is an excellent tonic."

Before he could finish speaking...

Zhou Ran's figure suddenly disappeared from the spot.

The next second, it appeared like a ghost in front of Zhang Xuansu, who was suspended by iron chains.

Under the horrified gaze of Master Xuyun, who was almost about to shout out loud.

Zhou Ran ignored Zhang Xuansu's claws, which were sharp enough to tear through steel, and pressed his hand directly onto the most concentrated and core source of Gu Qi on the other's forehead!

At the same time, he silently recited a sentence in his mind.

"Master, your disciple bestows upon you a great fortune!"

That old devil is still useful.

We've been putting him down these past few days; it's time to give him a treat.

His consciousness instantly sank into his sea of ​​consciousness.

A spiritual ocean center of purple and gold.

One hundred and eight pitch-black soul-suppressing nails formed a net that pinned Ye Futian's illusory remnant soul to the void, rendering it unable to move.

"You little bastard, what are you up to now?!"

Ye Futian sensed Zhou Ran's intention immediately and roared warily.

Having been tricked by this kid so many times, he was already a nervous wreck.

"Don't make a fuss, this is really a gift to you."

Zhou Ran's will manifested as a cold, indifferent figure, appearing outside the cage.

He flicked his finger, and one of the Soul-Suppressing Nails loosened slightly.

boom!

A stream of dark purple energy, so pure yet so malevolent that it made the entire sea of ​​consciousness tremble.

Forced by Zhou Ran from the outside world, it surged into this spiritual space like a reversed celestial river!

"This is... the turbid energy of the Heavenly Demon?!"

Ye Futian was taken aback at first, but after realizing what was happening, he flew into a rage!

"What do you take me for?"

Your servant?!

Or is it the toilet paper I use to wipe your butt?

"Even if my soul is scattered, I will never suffer such a humiliation!"

"If you have the guts, then die with me!"

The old demon was furious, his remnant soul burning fiercely, ready to fight to the death.

Even though he is a powerful ancient demon emperor, he is not a tool to be manipulated by others, even if he has fallen into a corner!

"perish together?"

Zhou Ran sneered.

Instead of stopping, he increased the pulling force, drawing more Heavenly Demon Gu Qi into his mouth.

"Old man, get your facts straight."

You have no right to negotiate.

"If you don't eat it, I'll reverse the Great Sun Tathagata Purification Mantra right now."

Purify all this demonic turbidity, along with your broken, remnant soul!

"You're useless anyway, you're just a nuisance if you stay. You might as well be buried with my brother!"

The Great Sun Tathagata's Purification Mantra!

These words, like thunder from the heavens, exploded in Ye Futian's soul sea!

He could withstand Zhou Ran's demonic arts and even endure the torment of the Soul-Suppressing Nails, but the supreme vow of Buddhism was the natural nemesis of his remnant soul!

"Shameless scoundrel!"