Sheng Tian hesitated upon hearing Chen Tian's words. The probability of him being possessed and fully integrating was low, leaving Sheng Tian unsure of his choice. He looked at Qing Yao, then met Chen Tian's gaze, a look of facing death with resolve in his eyes, and said, "Chen Tian, I want to try."
"Alas!"
Chen Tian understood Sheng Tian's thoughts. Who wouldn't desire great power? That extra bit of strength represented an additional burden and a price. Chen Tian couldn't stop Sheng Tian. He formed hand seals, but these were entirely different from the ones used to summon Bi Yao. The seals were quickly completed, and a black mark detached from Chen Tian's hands. Two black beams of light merged and intersected, opening a portal. The black light shot straight into the hall.
"Hahaha, this Emperor is finally out! Chen Tian, I want you dead! I want you dead!"
As soon as the Demon God of Extermination appeared, he roared furiously, his voice shaking the heavens. The entire hall was engulfed in demonic energy. To prevent the demonic energy from affecting the disciples of the Divine Spirit Sect, Chen Tian swept his arms, creating a barrier that enveloped the entire Sect Master's Hall. A prohibition appeared on the main door, and the surging demonic energy was unable to escape, not even through the smallest crack.
Normally, a single crack would suffice for anything to enter or exit freely. However, Chen Tian had set up a prohibition throughout the entire hall, imprisoning the demonic energy within.
The Demon God of Extermination's core essence and soul were incomplete. His appearance was identical to before, but his aura was incredibly weak, not even reaching three percent of his former strength. However, even one percent of his power was something that cultivators in the immortal cultivation world could not withstand. In a single encounter, the Demon God of Extermination could kill any of them.
The Demon God of Extermination looked at the young man and woman before him. When his gaze fell upon Qing Yao, he roared, "The aura of Bi Yao! You are his successor! You must die! And Chen Tian, I am out now. When the time comes, I will ensure his death is his burial ground."
"Oh? What did you just say?"
A familiar voice echoed in the Demon God of Extermination's ear. He froze for a moment, then turned to look at the harmless-looking young man. His face instantly broke into a smile. "I didn't say anything? Divine Lord, you must have misheard. I would absolutely never dare to seek revenge against you."
His subservient posture stunned all three of them. Was this still the same Demon God of Extermination from before? He was so respectful now. Where had his arrogant demeanor gone?
The Demon God of Extermination had no choice but to act subservient. He was no match for Chen Tian in his current state, with only a sliver of his core essence and soul remaining. Even in his prime, he wouldn't have been able to defeat Chen Tian, let alone now. Being humiliated was better than losing his life.
"Extermination, I released you because I wanted you to fully integrate with him," Chen Tian said calmly. "However, don't even think about playing any tricks. Otherwise, I don't mind eradicating your last trace of existence."
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."
The Demon God of Extermination still feared Chen Tian. He wasn't a match for him now, so he chose to feign weakness, waiting to settle the score once he recovered his strength.
The Demon God of Extermination looked at Sheng Tian, disdainfully. "Same core essence, same soul. Why are you so weak? Why don't you give me your body so I can be fully resurrected? Hiss..."
The Demon God's words were filled with a demonic charm, and Sheng Tian was directly affected. He nodded, his eyes vacant and devoid of spirit.
As the Demon God was about to enter Sheng Tian's body, Chen Tian slapped him away and said, "Wake up."
With that single command, Sheng Tian regained his senses and his rationality. The Demon God of Extermination roared in fury, "Divine Lord! You're interfering with my business again! Damn it, damn it!"
"Do you think I don't know what you're trying to do? I told you not to play any tricks. Otherwise, I don't mind making you completely disappear. Do you understand?"
"Why can't you just let me go? How can these lowly humans be worthy of integrating with me? I am a Demon God! Even if I'm not at my peak, I'm not someone a mere human can integrate with. I want to be resurrected, I want revenge!"
His eyes blazing with fury, the Demon God of Extermination refused to listen to Chen Tian. The flames of vengeance were deeply rooted in his heart.
Chen Tian sighed, "If you hadn't betrayed the Divine Spirit Realm back then, would you be in this state? When I became the Divine Lord, I even set aside a portion of the land for your demon race to use. It was your ambition that led you to defect to the Evil Spirit race when they attacked, and to lead the entire demon race to ruin. Leaving you with your life was a kindness. Sealing you in the Endless Black Domain was so you could reflect. You're even worse now than before."
"Shut up! Shut up! Why can't our demon race rule the world? Why must we live under pity?"
"Why? Because of strength! Let me tell you, I, alone, suppressed your entire demon race back then. Have you forgotten? I didn't exterminate your race completely because I wanted you to contribute when the Evil Spirit race attacked. You betrayed the Divine Spirit Realm, and can only blame yourself for leading the demon race to annihilation."
This was a piece of history. In the Divine Spirit Realm, there were many races, and the demon race was one of them. The demon race was powerful back then, plundering city after city, their demonic energy reaching the heavens. For thousands of years, the Divine Spirit Realm was unstable because of the demon race. When Chen Tian became the Divine Lord, he personally took action to suppress the entire demon race, after which the wars between demons and humans decreased.
Chen Tian had initially granted a region for the demon race to inhabit. However, the Demon God of Extermination was deeply unwilling. He wanted more territory; he wanted to be the ruler of the world. Chen Tian suppressed him, and he could do nothing. When the Evil Spirit race launched their attack on the Divine Spirit Realm, the Demon God of Extermination led the demon race to defect to them, and the human-demon war, which had been peaceful for centuries, reignited.
Chen Tian and the Demon God of Extermination clashed again. Chen Tian, enraged, slew the Demon God of Extermination and sealed his core essence and soul in the Endless Black Domain.
To this day, the Demon God of Extermination still shows no remorse. Chen Tian coldly reprimanded, "Whether you integrate or not, your core essence and soul won't last long in this world. Soon, they will completely dissipate. This is not the Divine Spirit Realm. The world rejects you, it will destroy you."
"Do I have any other choice?"
A black light flickered in the Demon God of Extermination's eyes. He could only submit for now. After the integration, he would possess the young man. With the same core essence as Sheng Tian, his strength would be restored directly after possession, and then it would be Chen Tian's turn to die.
Chen Tian nodded to Sheng Tian. Sheng Tian sat down cross-legged. Chen Tian knew the Demon God of Extermination would not comply willingly, but the rest depended on Sheng Tian alone.
The Demon God of Extermination's body exploded, and black mist coiled around Sheng Tian, entering his skin and forehead. In Sheng Tian's mind, the Demon God's voice echoed, "Kid, do you want to be a subordinate forever? Don't you want to be a ruler?"
"Give me your body, and I will fulfill this wish for you. How about it?"
"You think you can tempt me? I will completely integrate with you. I will absolutely not be possessed by you. This is Chen Tian's trust in me."
"Kid, won't you reconsider?"
"No, I refuse."
"Then don't blame me for forcibly possessing you."
The Demon God of Extermination looked possessed. His entire soul clashed with Sheng Tian's soul. For a time, Sheng Tian's soul was constantly being shattered. In the Sect Master's Hall, Sheng Tian's aura exuded demonic energy, his eyes turned black, black fangs grew from his lips, and his hair slowly changed.
A voice spoke from Sheng Tian's lips, but it was not Sheng Tian's voice; it was the Demon God of Extermination's voice.
"Divine Lord, after I possess him, I will definitely kill you and avenge my demon race."
"Hahaha!"
"Even if you succeed in forcibly possessing him, how much strength will you have? Don't brag."
Disdain was evident in Chen Tian's eyes. He knew the Demon God of Extermination's current condition. Forcible possession required the complete eradication of the other person's soul, occupying the center of the soul, and connecting with the nervous system in the brain. Only then could one truly control the body.
If Sheng Tian's soul completely dissipated, it would mean death, and his cultivation realm would also vanish. After the Demon God of Extermination occupied the body, his strength would only be equivalent to the strength of his core essence and soul. He could only increase his power when his core essence and soul recovered.
With only a sliver of core essence and soul, how strong could he be? Chen Tian didn't take him seriously. He had already killed the Demon God of Extermination in his prime.
"Ahhh! Kid, you, you, you!"
The Demon God of Extermination's expression suddenly turned grim. Qing Yao, standing beside him, was extremely nervous, wondering if Sheng Tian could suppress him.
The Demon God of Extermination's expression gradually worsened. In his mind, Sheng Tian's spirit suddenly surged, and waves of spiritual power shattered the Demon God's spiritual consciousness, then began to integrate.
The Demon God of Extermination couldn't believe it. How could such a tiny human achieve this?
Relying on that will, the unyielding will of humanity, the spirit of never giving up, Sheng Tian shattered the Demon God's spiritual power bit by bit.
Sheng Tian's body began to transform. Demonic wings unfurled from his back, his left eye became entirely black, a black Yellow Spring Lotus mark was etched on his forehead, and sharp black claws emerged from his hands.
His aura ascended steadily, reaching the ninth level of the Emperor Tomb Realm. Sheng Tian opened his eyes, and two different colored auras diffused outwards.
The power of a cultivator and the power of the demon race. At this moment, Sheng Tian was no longer human; he was in a half-human, half-demon state.
Chen Tian nodded in approval. "Not bad. You haven't disappointed me. You now wield the power of the demon race. When we arrive in the Divine Spirit Realm, I will bestow upon you a divine position. Then you will be both divine and demonic, and your strength will be even more formidable."
Sheng Tian asked, "Chen Tian, if I want to revert to this state, how do I do it?"
"Just calm your mind and ponder. Currently, the power of the demon race has not fully adapted to your body. Your body is now in a half-demon state. Once you adapt, you will be able to revert with a single thought."
"However, don't reveal this form in front of others. You know that cultivators in the immortal cultivation world are wary of demon-human hybrids. If you appear in this state, you will be hunted by cultivators from the immortal cultivation world."
In the immortal cultivation world, demons were taboo. The appearance of demons or cultivators who practiced magic would bring disaster to the immortal cultivation world. The immortal cultivation world always did its utmost to eradicate such individuals.
Chen Tian was certain that if Sheng Tian appeared in this state, the entire Divine Spirit Sect, including Sheng Tian himself, would be hunted by all cultivators in the immortal cultivation world, who would then attempt to kill Sheng Tian.
Chen Tian did not wish for such a outcome and thus warned Sheng Tian.
Sheng Tian replied, "Don't worry, Chen Tian. Once I get used to it, I will leave the Sect Master's Hall. After I adapt, we will depart together and destroy the Han Ying Gate."
Qing Yao and Sheng Tian's eyes held no trace of their killing intent. Their fallen disciples could finally rest in peace.