Chapter 530 - 527: Xiao Zhang’s Good Fortune

Elder Ku Mu was a true drunkard, the kind who couldn’t live without wine.

There was a time when he was never without a drink, constantly in a state between tipsy and sober.

Perhaps it was due to the Cultivation Technique he practiced, or maybe some past experience, but he loved the hazy, dizzying feeling of being drunk.

But as his Cultivation grew higher and his power stronger, fewer and fewer wines could get him drunk.

Strong spirits that others found incomparably fragrant and potent were no different from plain water in his eyes.

To continue chasing that wonderful drunken sensation, he devoted nearly all his time and energy to searching for fine wines.

It reached the point where he even kidnapped Alchemy Masters from the Immortal Realm Divine Master Valley and robbed the treasuries of the Five Great Holy Lands, all for the purpose of forcing those Alchemy Masters to switch professions and brew wine for him.

Unsurprisingly, Elder Ku Mu became a wanted man, hunted by the Immortal Domain Holy Lands.

If not for his powerful Cultivation and formidable strength, the fact that he was a loner with no ties, and the Five Great Holy Lands’ fear that he would act like a cornered beast and cause irreparable damage, he would have been killed countless times over.

A mysterious faction once took an interest in Elder Ku Mu’s status as an Independent Cultivator and tried to recruit him. But after joining, all he did was drink and do no work, so he was kicked out before long.

He became a pariah, shunned by everyone despite his great power.

Until one day, he met a quirky and clever little girl.

And then, he lost a bet. Not only did he have to abstain from alcohol for fifty thousand years, but he also had to do three things for that little girl.

Elder Ku Mu loved wine more than life itself and would risk anything for a drink, provided it didn’t cross his bottom line.

And his bottom line was keeping his word.

So, he miserably abstained from alcohol for a full fifty thousand years!

So much time had passed, and he had slumbered in the Desperate Mountain Range for over thirty thousand years. If he hadn’t smelled the aroma of wine, he might have forgotten all about it.

Now, spurred on by the lingering fragrance of Mo Qi’s brewing, the craving that had lain dormant in Elder Ku Mu for over fifty thousand years erupted like an unstoppable beast escaping its cage.

No matter how high his Cultivation was, at this moment, he could hardly suppress the yearning in his heart.

’Wine, wine, wine!’

His throat was parched, and a fire seemed to burn in his chest!

If not for the last shred of sanity holding him back, and the fact that Mo Qi’s wine wasn’t finished yet, he would have revealed himself and desperately chugged the half-finished product.

"Hmm?" Mo Qi frowned, sensing an unusual fluctuation.

But the fluctuation came and went in a flash. Before he could lock onto it, it vanished.

Four hours later, Mo Qi had completed all the steps. Now, all that was left was to wait for the final product.

During this process, the semi-finished wine could not be disturbed in the slightest. Otherwise, it would turn sour, and all his efforts would be for naught.

And until the Purple Sky Wine was completely finished, Mo Qi couldn’t be sure of the true effects of the Second of the Eight Transformations of Creation.

So now, all he could do was wait.

While waiting, Mo Qi glanced at Xiao Zhang and pondered for a moment.

He took the Black Treasure Pearl out from his Sea of Consciousness.

The moment the Black Treasure Pearl appeared, a powerful gravitational force emanated from Xiao Zhang’s chest.

The Treasure Pearl broke free from Mo Qi’s grasp, flew toward Xiao Zhang, and burrowed into his chest.

The motionless Xiao Zhang suddenly reacted. A thumb-sized black dot appeared over his heart.

Worm-like black lines spread out from the spot over his heart, crawling across his entire body.

"AHHH!"

Xiao Zhang let out a pained roar. He fell to his knees, using his hands to keep himself from collapsing.

BOOM!

An incredibly dense black aura, so thick it seemed tangible, poured out from his eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, creating an exceptionally bizarre scene.

"What’s happening?" Mo Qi frowned.

Fortunately, he had set up several layers of Arrays to protect the Purple Sky Wine; otherwise, the entire batch would have been ruined.

"Don’t worry, this isn’t a bad thing for him." The Pig Emperor stared at Xiao Zhang, its gaze never leaving him.

’Looks like the Pig Emperor knows something,’ Mo Qi thought.

Sensing Mo Qi’s questioning gaze, the Pig Emperor said, "This Emperor only knows that this is Demonic Energy. That boy has an incredibly powerful Demon inside him, so this isn’t a bad thing for him. But as for the specific details, this Emperor is not clear either."

Demon?

Mo Qi vaguely felt that his earlier decision to reject the power of the word "Demon" was correct, but he didn’t know if giving the Treasure Pearl to Xiao Zhang was a good or bad thing.

He had given it to him because Xiao Zhang had said from the very beginning that he wanted to become the Demon Venerable.

’Perhaps it was fate,’ he mused.

"ROAR!"

Amidst the black Demonic Energy, Xiao Zhang suddenly bellowed, "Demon Body, possess me!"

In the next second, Xiao Zhang’s body suddenly shot up and expanded. His skin turned as black as ink, two horns sprouted from his head, and fangs grew from his mouth as his aura became increasingly powerful.

Void Realm... Void... Divine Sea Demi-Immortal... Immortal!

Just as Xiao Zhang took on a gigantic form, his height exceeding a thousand feet and his Cultivation on the verge of breaking through to the Immortal realm, his constantly climbing aura came to a halt.

Immediately after, Xiao Zhang let out a long breath, dispersed the Demonic Energy, and his body shrank back to its normal size.

He suppressed his inner ecstasy and prostrated himself before Mo Qi.

"This disciple kowtows to thank Master for the grace of this rebirth!"

As he spoke, Xiao Zhang slammed his head against the ground with a series of THUDS, cracking the earth beneath him.

Mo Qi didn’t stop him. He took a deep look at Xiao Zhang, surprised to find that he couldn’t see through Xiao Zhang’s Cultivation.

One moment it seemed he was in the Void Realm, the next he was at the Void level, and then he was a Divine Sea Demi-Immortal.

"What is your Cultivation now?" Mo Qi asked.

Xiao Zhang stopped kowtowing, his expression one of utmost respect. "Reporting to Master, this disciple is already at the Peak of the Divine Sea Semi-Immortal Realm and can cross the Immortal Tribulation to become an Immortal at any time."

"However, Crossing the Immortal Tribulation is no small matter. This disciple dares not attempt it rashly and must return to the Demon Sect to prepare meticulously."

Although he had already suspected it, Mo Qi was still astonished to hear that Xiao Zhang had leaped directly from the Void Realm to the Peak of the Semi-Immortal Realm and could attempt his Immortal Tribulation at any moment.

’It seems my previous guess was right. If I had allowed the power of the word "Demon" to infuse my body, I would be the one at the Peak of the Semi-Immortal Realm now,’ Mo Qi thought.

But Mo Qi had no regrets. The Demon path was not for him; he had his own road to walk.

"Get up. With your current Cultivation, it’s no longer appropriate for you to call me Master," Mo Qi said.

Xiao Zhang did not rise. His expression was earnest as he said, "A teacher for a day is a father for life. This disciple’s good fortune today is all thanks to Master’s gift!"

"Master may not know this, but you are not only my, Xiao Zhang’s, benefactor—you are the great benefactor of our entire Demon Sect!"

Mo Qi was taken aback. "What do you mean by that?"

Just as Xiao Zhang was about to explain, Mo Qi raised a hand to stop him.

"They got here pretty fast. Let’s see if they know what’s good for them!"

Xiao Zhang was confused, but in the next moment, his expression changed drastically.

In his perception, beyond the Array and a hundred li away, a large group of powerful Immortals was rapidly approaching.

Their numbers already surpassed those of his Demon Sect.

’Even if it means starting a war between regions, I must ensure Master’s safety!’ Xiao Zhang thought, his eyes narrowing as a cold light glinted within them.

Without any hesitation, he used a summoning command to issue an order to the members of the Demon Sect.

"Everyone, assemble! Prepare for battle!"