Volume 1, Chapter 172: The Demon God Descends

"Good, excellent! The Demon God has accepted our offering!" 

Fanaticism lit the eyes of the black-robed Cult Master as he raised his hands in celebration. 

Other demon cultivators cheered, their eyes shining with hope. 

If the Demon God accepted their offering, blessings would surely follow, boosting their cultivation. 

In a blink, the warriors slain by their hands vanished into the bloody light pillar. 

"Not bad. This flesh and blood offering pleases me..." 

At that moment, a voice filled with overwhelming威压 (prestige), urging submission, echoed in the minds of all Blood Moon Demon Cult members. 

They knelt hurriedly, awaiting the Demon God's blessings. 

The bloody pillar enshrouding the flesh altar shrank until it was no thicker than a baby's fist, then turned and plunged into the Cult Master's body. 

"Cult Master, why do we not share in the Demon God's blessing?" 

All eyes turned to the Cult Master. In the past, blessings were shared—was he hoarding them? 

"Lord Demon God, what... what are you doing?" 

Suddenly, the kneeling Cult Master flailed wildly, as if trying to sever the bloody light pouring into him. 

The others watched, confused—was he acting? 

As more bloody light entered him, his struggles weakened until he stood still as a statue, letting the light flow in unhindered. 

Moments later, all the bloody light had entered him. 

"Cult Master, are you... alright?" someone ventured. 

The Cult Master turned to face the cultists. At the sight of him, they recoiled in horror. 

His eyes were blood-red, pupils replaced by swirling crimson vortices. His skin cracked, bloodlight seeping from the fissures that spread across every exposed inch—likely his entire body looked the same. 

"Having seen my true form, why do you not kneel?" 

A威压-laden voice issued from his mouth, carrying an aura familiar to Blood Moon Cultists—the aura of the Demon God they worshipped day and night. 

Under the恐怖的威压 (terrifying pressure), the demon cultivators collapsed to their knees, staring at the Cult Master in fear. He was陌生的 (unfamiliar), same face and body, yet utterly transformed. 

"Who... who are you?" someone stammered. This cold, merciless being with swirling blood vortices was no human. 

"I am the Demon God you worship, borrowing this vessel temporarily." The Cult Master cackled. "You may call me Lord幽月 (Dark Moon) Demon Venerable." 

Boom! 

As he spoke, terrifying devil qi spread, wilting ancient trees in an instant. Within thousands of zhang, plants, insects, birds—all withered and vanished under the qi. 

"Not enough. This body's strength is still short of Void Transformation Realm Level 3." Lord Dark Moon Demon Venerable shook his head. "With this power, I may not slay that detestable boy." 

He eyed the kneeling cultivators, blood vortices spinning faster. "You are all my followers, yes?" 

They nodded frantically. 

"Good. I grant you the honor of offering your flesh and blood, to merge with me." He laughed wildly. 

The cultivators looked confused, unsure of his meaning. 

Lord Dark Moon raised his hand, firing bloody lights that pierced each cultist's heart. Their flesh and blood flowed into him like water with each pulse of light. 

"Just like this," he sighed in pleasure. "Almost there—this body will soon break through to Void Transformation Realm Level 3." 

As their血肉 was devoured, the cultivators withered, leaving only empty husks as his nourishment. 

Boom! 

Devil qi erupted from him, shattering the husks. Lord Dark Moon opened his eyes, a cruel smile on his lips. He looked toward a distant part of Spirit Mountain: "Boy, you've slain my followers and disrupted sacrifices. Did you think erasing my curse would hide you? Wait for me—I'm coming." 

With that, he became a bloody light and shot out of the forest. 

"Eh?" 

Lin Yu, meditating on a mountain peak, opened his eyes and looked in that direction. 

"What's wrong, kid?" Lord Cauldron asked. 

"Lord Cauldron, I just felt that curse again—the Demon God watching me." Lin Yu frowned, explaining the strange sensation. 

" Impossible. I erased the curse myself. Unless a Demon God avatar descends, it can't spy on you." Lord Cauldron was confident in its power. 

"Maybe I'm overthinking." Lin Yu nodded. "Let's keep cultivating." 

"Right!" 

Lord Cauldron channeled thick spiritual energy into Lin Yu, who refined it with Saint Emperor Heart Sutra, his cultivation soaring. 

"Too bad—you're still short of Void Transformation Realm Level 2." Lord Cauldron sighed. Lin Yu's energy needs were staggering—his Saint Emperor Sword Body and high-level功法 (martial arts) required far more energy than others. Even the energy from the Netherworld Cult Master and demon cultivators wasn't enough. 

"Spirit Mountain has endless opportunities. I'll just find some Void Transformation Realm demonic beasts to fight." Lin Yu smiled, confident he'd breakthrough before leaving. 

"Eh?" 

Lin Yu's eyes suddenly showed curiosity.