PDLP Chapter 60 What do you mean I'm about to experience a mental demon tribulation after only one w
Chapter 60 What do you mean I'm about to experience a mental demon tribulation after only one w
Zhou Zheng didn't know how long he had endured it, only that the moment the words "…Level 5" appeared in his mind, he coughed up blood, opened his eyes, pressed his hand to his chest to relieve the phantom pain, and was dumbfounded: "What happened to me? Why is this happening?"
It was like a hallucination, yet not quite. Because even after opening my eyes, I could still see those shadowy figures, and only after focusing my attention for a moment did they completely disappear.
This is strange. Am I possessed? That shouldn't be the case. I've never heard of a cultivator being possessed by an evil spirit. It's more like the evil spirit has possessed a cultivator.
[Blood Burning Spell Level 5]
【5级：1点生命力转化为3点能量。能量上限+20（备注：强力的燃血法，燃血转化上限为12点，每次可转化出36点能量）】
[Introduction: The Blood Burning Technique you cultivated with your life on the line lacks many fundamental attributes due to your eagerness for quick results. Perhaps you can cultivate it back in the future.]
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【Life for Life: Consumes one's own life force to offset the enemy's life force (Note: Requires a certain range, due to the characteristics of noble blood, the offset ratio is 1 point of user's life force to offset 2 points of enemy's life force, the maximum life force exchange is 72 points)】
[It's on fire: Blood possesses combustible properties, making it easier to suppress evil influences]
Without a doubt, they chose the "life for life" trait.
[Has acquired the "Life for Life" trait]
Zhou Zheng stared blankly at the blue spiritual blood that had vanished from the Thunderous Ground.
"Brother Zhou, are you alright? Is there anything I can do for you?"
Xiaoxue ran over and hurriedly knelt down beside the spirit-gathering array, looking at Zhou Zheng with a worried expression.
Zhou Zheng raised his hand and waved it slightly to indicate that he didn't need anything.
"You've encountered a tribulation of inner demons. You're really reckless, trying to suppress them while simultaneously cultivating diligently. Aren't you afraid of killing yourself?"
Sitting on the sofa in the hall, Liu Zhen gave Zhou Zheng a thumbs up, his face full of admiration.
Zhou Zheng was shocked: "Inner demon tribulation? I've only been cultivating for a week, where would I get an inner demon tribulation?" Shouldn't this thing be far away from me?
Liu Zhen was amused: "Didn't you cultivate that Rejuvenation Technique or Rejuvenation Manual to the later stage? Plus, your cultivation speed is amazing, so where do you think the inner demon tribulation came from?"
Zhou Zheng wiped his mouth, then belatedly realized, "...That makes sense."
I've actually become a big shot in the Qi Refining Realm? That fast?
Liu Zhen chuckled: "You accelerated too quickly, your foundation was too weak, your five elements were unbalanced, and your mind wasn't tempered. Plus, with this kind of cultivation technique, it's perfectly normal to encounter inner demon tribulations. But you're ruthless enough to actually finish the technique while enduring the inner demon tribulations. Normal people would stop to deal with inner demon tribulations to avoid going astray."
Zhou Zheng: "...I read in the cultivation guide that the inner demon tribulation happens a long time later, and that in the early stages, you should focus on cultivation and mindfulness and not mess around. I forgot that my cultivation speed is not slow."
The guide said it would happen in twenty or thirty years, so I subconsciously ignored it. Who would have thought I would encounter it on the seventh day of my cultivation?
Damn it! These mediocre guides have ruined my game! Why didn't they show me a couple of guides on what to pay attention to when reaching max level in Qi Refining?!
Liu Zhen raised his chin: "This is just the beginning. You should stop cultivating internal energy recently. Practice external skills or do something unrelated to cultivation to avoid aggravating your inner demons and thoughts." Excessive mental and physical exertion will intensify the power of inner demons.
Xiaoxue helped Zhou Zheng to his feet, surprised: "Does Brother Zhou also have inner demons?"
Liu Zhen: "It's not only those with evil intentions who encounter inner demons. Your brother Zhou... you should ask him yourself. I won't say more."
Great perseverance doesn't appear out of thin air. People with great perseverance have often experienced great hardships that ordinary people don't have. The inner demons that are born from great hardships are the most vicious.
Zhou Zheng grimaced slightly, feeling Xiaoxue's soft hand massaging his chest to ease the mental anguish: "I had some tough times before, but I insisted on being a good person. The result... the result wasn't good. The inner demon I just experienced most likely originated from that period. It kept questioning me repeatedly, asking why I helped others, why, why, why... until the resentment subsided a bit and then disappeared."
Helping others doesn't always end well. Some people are born to pretend to be victims, to be evil spirits masquerading as the weak. They deserve to live in hell their entire lives, never given a glimmer of light, forever unable to climb out, tormented by the sins they themselves have created, life after life.
How could I not hate myself? I hate that I saw the outcome clearly yet hesitated and fell into the trap, only to end up severely wounded and emotionally scarred. I hate those who are unaware of their own predicament, and I hate that I knew the ending yet still chose to try and change it.
But in the end, what I hate is that I couldn't change this terrible world, and I couldn't change the terrible situation.
However, he managed to climb out of that desperate situation, and he emerged with the resilience he had honed through that ordeal.
Good fortune and misfortune are intertwined, and their outcomes are unpredictable.
It's just that when I was mentally exhausted, in the past it was just emotional interference, but today it manifested as inner demons. There is no essential difference, only a difference in intensity.
Xiaoxue's eyes reddened, and small tears streamed down her face. "I'm sorry, Brother Zhou, I don't know if I've dragged you down, I...I...Waaah..."
She was flustered, her eyes red from crying, choking back sobs, afraid of becoming a burden to Zhou Zheng, and also afraid of losing the steadfast warmth she had finally found.
Love is heartache, love is fear, love is the pain of not being able to let go.
Zhou Zheng gently wiped away the tears on Xiaoxue's face: "Why are you crying? This is just the lingering pain of my past. I'm helping you, I'm also fulfilling myself, and I'm also working hard to help everyone."
To help oneself, to help others, and to help all living beings.
I am one of the common people, and I need to help others.
Xiaoxue is a member of the common people and needs to be saved.
All living beings are sentient beings and need to be saved.
I'll do as much as I can; I won't regret it.
Doing good deeds without asking for reward.
Saving all living beings is never just empty talk, but something we can do right now.
Seeing her crying uncontrollably out of heartache, Zhou Zheng was both amused and exasperated. He pulled her to sit on the living room sofa, wiping away her tears with tissues while comforting her, "Overcoming your inner demons isn't difficult; you just need to cultivate great virtue. And great virtue isn't as difficult as ordinary people imagine. You need to know one thing:
Imagine an elderly woman needs help crossing the street. Even if a legendary sage like Yao, Shun, or Yu were here, all they could do was help her walk across. Ordinary people like you and me, choosing to help, at that moment, possess the same virtue as Yao, Shun, and Yu.
Liu Zhen nearly got killed by the water in his glass, quickly swallowed it, and looked at Zhou Zheng with gleaming eyes: This kid is a talent, both insightful and cunning. He's definitely the chosen one of the Thunder Department's punishment masters!
He has a thorough understanding of great virtues, and at the same time, he is proficient in the art of flattery.
While it's true that one can understand "great virtue" in this way, cultivating true virtue requires a different standard.
But at this moment, it's enough to coax a girl.
Xuan Yizi interjected, "Actually, it's not that difficult. Master Zhou is just overworked and mentally exhausted from cultivation. He can recover after eating and drinking his fill and getting a good night's sleep." Doing this will prevent the inner demons from becoming more prominent, but it won't cure them completely, though it will be enough for the time being.
Zhou Zheng held Xiaoxue's hand: "Don't cry. How about you come with me to eat and drink? If you're willing, you can coax me to sleep. I'll feel better after a good night's sleep."
"Okay, I'll go with you. I'll do whatever you want, I'll always be there for you." Xiaoxue said crisply, her eyes red, as she held Zhou Zheng's hand tightly.
Zhou Zheng: "...Baby, I know you love me. Can you loosen your grip a little? I just refined your power last night."
Normally, Zhou Zheng doesn't like to call someone "baby".
But now my hand is being squeezed so hard it hurts—my girlfriend, a rich and beautiful woman with a Strength talisman that grants +20 Strength, has a really strong grip; it's more than enough to fight ordinary evil spirits.
"sorry!"
Zhou Zheng shook his hand, smiled slightly, and pondered what he should do to get through the tribulation of inner demons, or perhaps improve his resistance to them.
Ah, the troubles of geniuses: once they get a little serious, they end up working on the later stages.