"Really?"
Demon Mother Su Yao stared at Song Yan, her eyes glinting with a secretive eagerness.
Song Yan sighed and said, "No."
Demon Mother Su Yao playfully hit him, saying, "Bad guy!"
Song Yan gazed at the weak point of the black heart and suddenly said, "Wife, I might not be able to pierce it alone. If I fail, I’ll run to the edge of the Sea of Suffering, and you’ll have to return to the sea.
If the Insect King or Elephant Emperor come to capture us, we’ll have to fight to the death, but no matter what, it’ll be like drawing water with a bamboo basket—a complete waste, with nothing gained.
This time, you can’t hold back."
Demon Mother Su Yao fell silent.
Song Yan suddenly said, "This place is the tomb of the Lingbo Ancient Race. You have some connection with them, wife. Is it possible... you’ve already inherited the vast legacy of the Lingbo Ancient Race? Tsk, tsk, eight thousand years of heritage, quite substantial."
Demon Mother Su Yao raised her pale fingers, tapping Song Yan’s forehead, and said, "Bad guy, always scheming against me, wanting to take away every little thing I have."
Song Yan’s pupils slightly constricted.
He was merely testing her.
However, Demon Mother Su Yao firmly affirmed his judgment, causing him to be increasingly cautious at heart.
The reason the Nine-Child Demon Mother chose "Su Yao," a Middle Stage of Crimson Palace cultivator, as the host was one due to some causal connection between them; second, because the host is indeed from the Lingbo Ancient Race and can reasonably inherit and utilize the Lingbo Ancient Race’s eight-thousand-year heritage; third... perhaps the host can even restore the Lingbo Ancient Race’s innate Divine Soul talent.
So, Su Yao made an excellent host.
But this host was still inferior to him.
Once he sorted everything out, Song Yan said, "When we’re at the end of the Tumor Realm, we’ll also need to find a way to hide. After piercing the black heart, we’ll need to quickly escape.
But achieving all this in front of the Insect King and Elephant Emperor won’t be easy. Wife, if you have any techniques, use them now, don’t hide."
Demon Mother Su Yao contemplated for a moment, nodded, and then jumped out of Song Yan’s embrace, saying, "Husband, weren’t you planning to break through to the Late Stage of the Purple Mansion? Then do it quickly here; I’ll protect you."
Song Yan gave her a long look and said, "The Late Stage of the Purple Mansion requires a minor Celestial Tribulation; if it destroys this place, it wouldn’t be good. I need to go outside to endure it."
"With me here, why should husband worry?" Demon Mother Su Yao pouted dejectedly, hurt, "Could it be husband doesn’t trust me?"
The air suddenly became quiet.
In the matte dark frost Secret Realm, both exchanged inscrutable glances, allies yet always plotting against each other.
In a short while...
Song Yan gently appeased her, "Alright, alright, I’ll do as you say."
Demon Mother Su Yao exclaimed happily, "Great, husband. I knew you cared for me."
...
...
Song Yan specifically found a place further from the breach center of the Sea of Suffering and sat cross-legged.
After killing the Insect King and seizing the Changwang Prayer Beads, he finally felt a sense of completeness in both soul and spirit, and simultaneously acquired an opportunity for breakthrough.
During the decades in King Xixiang’s territory, he not only realized Protective Thought but also "My Thought."
The essence of "self" isn’t about separating from the universe, but detaching oneself from all beings, making "self" not the multitude, but an entirely independent identity.
For this, Song Yan originally needed considerable time, but the experiences at the Sea of Suffering’s edge laid solid foundations for him.
Bear in mind that in that hundred-year span, had he failed to maintain his self, his consciousness would have long dissipated at sea, never reaching this point.
Unstable as a monkey’s mind, scattered thoughts like horses, thus requiring restraint of the monkey mind, control over the galloping thoughts, to attain the true outcome.
I say nonsense.
Without desire, it’s beyond salvation.
The seven emotions and six desires make the true self.
When I do good, goodness defines me; when I do evil, evil defines me...
Where is good or evil in this world?
So-called cutting off good and evil, what’s cut is merely the self’s longing for the pursuit of freedom!
Initially, he sought merely to quietly find a normal sect to seriously cultivate immortality, with companions like Xiao Jiu and An Li; even without longevity, even remaining steadfast, he’d be content. Unfortunately, when he transmigrated, he was amidst the deceit and schemes of the Puppet Sect, bound by restraints, ensnared by ties. Has this world ever given him a choice, ever offered freedom?
The impermanence of the world tore him every which way in the universe’s bindings, helplessly making him long for freedom. While he doesn’t know where it lies beyond the borders, he always felt that there must be beautiful blue skies and white clouds, caring for cattle and sheep, leisurely, with a mutual heart till old age. Sadly, the one accompanying him died—a death by his own hands.
Song Yan exhaled deeply, slightly raising his hand, fingers clenched in a bid to grab something.
What does he want?
Simply a touch of freedom he desires to capture.
The universe didn’t offer it, but he doesn’t blame fortune or others; he’ll strive for it himself!
His own Lifebound Secret Technique must exist for the sake of the pursuer’s freedom.
He will summon all power, including this Changwang Melting Furnace and Changwang Prayer Beads, to construct his own Lifebound Secret Technique.
The next moment...
Song Yan spoke, "Wife, I’m about to start comprehending."
Demon Mother Su Yao responded, "Don’t worry husband, I’m here."
And with that, she began anticipating the minor Celestial Tribulation.
She knew Song Yan would fall into weakness afterwards.
However, instead of comprehension, Song Yan started refining the Demon Monk.
Lying has long become a commonplace routine.
Knowing Demon Mother Su Yao was waiting for the minor Celestial Tribulation, he seized the time difference and began refining the Demon Monk.