Volume One, Chapter Ten: Neither Demon, Nor Immortal, Nor Buddha

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Amidst his anxiety and struggle, a sudden image of his younger sister, Lin, with her innocent and pure smile, flickered through Ye Chen’s mind. Her safety shone like a light, piercing through the shadows clouding his heart. He abruptly realized that no matter how arduous the path ahead, he could not abandon his responsibility to protect her. Without becoming stronger, everything would be mere empty talk.

With newfound resolve, Ye Chen’s eyes hardened as he declared loudly, “Nonsense! So what if it’s an artifact of the demonic path? As long as I maintain righteousness and discern right from wrong, even demonic items can aid my cultivation!”

While a tangle of complex emotions swirled within him, the wildly spinning vortex of blood energy seemed to sense an invisible force, abruptly ceasing its rampage. The blood energy, as though pulled by unseen ropes, began to slowly converge, gradually taking shape into a clear figure.

At last, before Ye Chen stood an old man clad in blood-red robes, his hair and beard stark white. His visage bore kindness, a slight smile gracing his lips, yet within that smile lay an indescribable strangeness, as if concealing profound secrets.

“You’re not bad, boy,” the old man’s voice was deep and magnetic, each word striking Ye Chen’s soul with immense weight. The voice was hauntingly familiar. Suddenly, Ye Chen recalled a voice he had heard earlier within the inner space of the Azure Blood Pearl—this old man’s voice was astonishingly similar.

“Are you the Old Azure?” Ye Chen’s gaze locked onto the elder, his tone trembling with disbelief and reverence. Though unsure of the Old Azure’s true cultivation realm, Ye Chen instinctively recognized that this man was far beyond his current reach.

The Old Azure smiled gently, a calm borne of countless trials evident in his expression. “That’s me, the old man,” his voice warm yet powerful, capable of piercing through the haze of the heart and reaching deep into Ye Chen’s soul.

Yet Ye Chen found himself momentarily at a loss for words. Swirling questions and curiosity flooded his mind, yearning for answers from this mysterious figure. Confronted with such an unexpected turn, he stood dumbfounded, opening his mouth but unable to utter a single word.

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Noticing Ye Chen’s silence, the Old Azure’s eyes twinkled with amusement as he chuckled softly, “What’s this? Seeing the old man has rendered you mute? Surely you have questions to ask?”

Startled back to reality, Ye Chen quickly withdrew his gaze from the elder’s profound and mysteriously unfathomable presence. He marveled inwardly—though the Old Azure appeared unassuming, every gesture radiated an ineffable authority and power that commanded respect.

As Ye Chen averted his eyes, the Old Azure seemed even more entertained, teasing, “What, can’t discern the old man’s true realm?”

His smile bore kindness and gentleness, yet his eyes gleamed with an uncanny light. Embarrassed, Ye Chen scratched his head and nodded sheepishly.

Just as the Old Azure prepared to speak further, Ye Chen abruptly interrupted, “Senior, may I ask—this Blood Pearl… is it truly a demonic artifact?”

By now, Ye Chen’s address to the elder had quietly changed from “Old Azure” to the more respectful “Senior,” reflecting both his reverence and growing trust in this enigmatic figure.

The Old Azure hesitated at the question, seemingly unprepared for such directness. Then, with resolve, he answered, “It is…”

But he paused mid-sentence, as though some words remained unspoken.

Hearing this, Ye Chen inexplicably exhaled in relief. Though the Blood Pearl was indeed a demonic artifact, having a clear answer dispelled much of his prior uncertainty and unease. It gave him a newfound sense of grounding, as if he had found the direction to move forward.

Silently, he resolved that regardless of the Blood Pearl’s nature—whether righteous or demonic—he would harness its power, wielding it as a sharp sword on his path of growth.

“Are you having second thoughts?” The Old Azure’s gaze sharpened like a burning torch, perceiving the subtle tremors within Ye Chen’s heart.

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He noticed Ye Chen’s slight trembling and the flicker of hesitation in his eyes, mistaking it for the prelude to surrender.

The Old Azure’s voice was low and potent, tinged with both probing inquiry and hopeful expectation.

Ye Chen drew a deep breath, his gaze gradually firming. He shook his head honestly, “Senior, to be truthful, I did feel some regret at first. Facing the unknown Azure Blood Pearl, fear and uncertainty naturally filled my heart. But now, after deep reflection, I no longer regret it. No matter what lies ahead, I am willing to give it a try.”

The Old Azure smiled approvingly, nodding in recognition.

“Ah, yes, the old man hasn’t finished speaking yet,” he teased, his eyes glinting mischievously, as though testing Ye Chen’s patience and resolve.

Ye Chen’s heart skipped a beat, his doubts deepening. He pressed, “Senior, what do you mean? Could it be that the Azure Blood Pearl isn’t purely a demonic artifact?” His face was etched with confusion, eyes fixed intently on the elder’s wrinkled face, searching for answers.

The Old Azure gently shook his head, his voice carrying a distant resonance. “The Azure Blood Pearl is indeed a demonic artifact, yet it is also not entirely one.”

Though contradictory, his words contained profound truth.

Ye Chen frowned, clearly struggling to comprehend. He pondered, attempting to unravel the logic, but ultimately resigned with a shake of his head.

The Old Azure smiled slightly, as if he had anticipated Ye Chen’s reaction. Slowly, he spoke, his tone imbued with both weariness and mystery: “In truth, I came across this Azure Blood Pearl by chance in the Burial God Realm. After obtaining it, I used it to aid my cultivation of the Blood Path. At first, it harmonized well with my techniques, significantly advancing my strength.”

He paused briefly, a complex expression flickering in his eyes. “However, as I delved deeper, I realized the power within this Azure Blood Pearl was far more intricate than it seemed. It harbors an ancient and mysterious force—one that embodies the wildness and untamed nature of demonic energy, yet also contains something purer and more profound. I began to suspect that this Azure Blood Pearl is not a mere demonic artifact, but rather a remnant of a far more complex and elevated existence.”