CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: HEART DEMON ENTERS THE BODY

"What... what’s happening? My condition... isn’t right!" Xu Ping gritted his teeth, doing his utmost to suppress the surging impulse within him.

"I need to get out of here..."

He forced himself with immense willpower to turn around, taking steps forward.

Not knowing how long he walked, the screams at his ears gradually faded, and the pungent smell of blood no longer lingered at the tip of his nose.

Only then did he feel that the impulse in his heart slowly weakened and eventually vanished without a trace.

"Huff... huff..."

He took deep breaths, his entire body drenched in sweat, as if he’d just been pulled out of the water.

"What on earth happened to me just now!?" Xu Ping’s eyes revealed a hint of panic.

A moment ago, dominated by intense emotions, he seemed on the verge of turning into someone else.

He had a premonition in his heart that if he hadn’t suppressed that impulse and went up with his sword to kill, some unexpected changes might have occurred to him.

And they would most likely be unfavorable changes.

"No way, I must find out why I felt this way just now." Xu Ping took a deep breath, suppressing the panic in his heart.

...

...

"You said you saw a rogue cultivator killing, and then felt a surge of murderous impulse within yourself?" Zhang Chenyu asked seriously, his face solemn.

"Yes." Xu Ping nodded with a wry smile, "That impulse was so strong, it was almost uncontrollable."

"This situation... sounds oddly familiar..." Zhang Chenyu hesitated, reflecting confusion on his face.

"Zhang Daoist friend, do you know what’s happening to me?" Xu Ping asked excitedly upon seeing Zhang Chenyu’s expression.

"It seems similar, but I’m not sure..." Zhang Chenyu hesitated.

"Zhang Daoist friend, enough with the suspense!" Xu Ping urged impatiently.

"Alright, alright... I’ll tell you. Your condition seems like Heart Demon possession." Zhang Chenyu finally began speaking.

"But according to the books, Heart Demon possession usually occurs to Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and you’re a Qi Cultivator showing such symptoms, it’s truly baffling."

"That’s why I’m not certain about it being the case."

"Heart Demon possession?"

Xu Ping froze, completely unfamiliar with the concept and could only seek Zhang Chenyu’s help, "Zhang Daoist friend, is there any way to resolve this?"

"There is a way."

"Your symptoms don’t seem to have penetrated deeply as of now, I’ll teach you a Spell."

"The Spell is named ’Taihang Nourishing God Skill,’ which helps in gathering one’s mind, calming the spirit and thoughts..."

Zhang Chenyu spoke while taking out a Scroll from his storage bag.

"Practice ’Taihang Nourishing God Skill’ well, and this issue should be resolved in no time."

Xu Ping received the Scroll with excitement, "Zhang Daoist friend, I cannot thank you enough."

He truly did not expect Zhang Chenyu to have such profound knowledge despite his not-so-high cultivation level.

"How many Spirit Stones for this Spell, I’ll buy it with Spirit Stones," Xu Ping earnestly said.

Zhang Chenyu not only helped him resolve the problem but provided a Spell; benefiting like this without compensation felt unjust.

"What are Spirit Stones between us, besides it’s just a Spell, not worth much," Zhang Chenyu waved his hand.

Xu Ping remained insistent on giving, Zhang Chenyu stubbornly refused.

Left with no choice, Xu Ping abandoned the idea of giving Spirit Stones, silently remembering this favor in his heart.

...

...

Returning home, Xu Ping impatiently began practicing the ’Taihang Nourishing God Skill’.

[Taihang Nourishing God, slashing thoughts, eliminating chaos, calming the soul...]

He silently recited the Skill a few times, sitting cross-legged, calming his mind and spirit.

The passage of time was unknown, but Xu Ping seemed to find himself amidst a tranquil lake, the surface like a mirror, undisturbed.

His entire being relaxed from the inside out.

His myriad distracting thoughts dispersed like passing clouds, leaving only clarity and peace within.

...

One night of meditation.

The next day, the morning sunlight gently filtered through the window grilles, illuminating his face, warm and bright.

Xu Ping slowly opened his eyes, his soul feeling cleansed, clear and transparent, full of vitality.

"This effect... is simply amazing!" He thought jubilantly, eagerly checking the panel.

[Taihang Nourishing God Skill Entry Level: 22/100]

"I gained twenty-two proficiency points overnight!" Xu Ping was incredibly surprised.

"At this rate, within a few days, I’ll break through the proficiency layer, and the problem of Heart Demon possession should be completely resolved."

He thought joyfully, the shadow in his heart finally dissipating completely.

The taste of Heart Demon possession was truly terrifying, he didn’t want to experience it again.

For the next few days, Xu Ping devoted himself wholeheartedly to practicing the ’Taihang Nourishing God Skill’.

With the rising proficiency, the accumulated vexation and irritability in his heart gradually weakened, until they disappeared completely upon ’Taihang Nourishing God Skill’ breakthrough.

Moreover, he found that after practicing this Skill, his efficiency in both drawing talismans and cultivation dramatically improved.

What thrilled him further was the proficiency in his Flowing Cloud Sword beginning to increase as well.

A delightful surprise indeed!!

He finally understood why the proficiency in the Flowing Cloud Sword hadn’t been increasing.

Damn it, it was all the Heart Demon’s fault.

...

...

Four days later.

Xu Ping carefully lifted the wine jar from the earthen hole and placed it on the table.

Originally, after twenty days, this newly brewed Hundred Flowers Brew would have been ready to drink.

But the Heart Demon possession delayed things a bit.

Xu Ping opened the lid of the jar.

As he opened the lid, a rich fragrance of wine permeated his nostrils, with pungent fumes filling his lungs.

"This wine is potent!" Xu Ping exclaimed slightly.

Such potency, an ordinary person might get drunk merely by smelling it.

Xu Ping poured himself a cup and took a sip.

The spicy vigor of the wine burned on his tongue, as if he swallowed magma into his stomach.

"This wine... is really powerful!"

Despite his current physique, Xu Ping felt his entire body heating up, drenched in sweat.

He quickly stripped off his clothes and jumped into a wooden tub filled with green liquid, immediately running the Entry Level Spell of the ’Nourishing Life Skill’, guiding the medicinal liquid throughout his body.

At this moment, the vigor of the wine raged like a wildfire within him, like a ferocious dragon, crashing into every muscle and vein.

Xu Ping’s face gradually twisted, beads of sweat forming densely on his forehead, as the pain surged like tidal waves.

After a while that felt unending, the pain gradually faded, replaced by a cooling sensation circulating within.

Xu Ping opened his eyes, his gaze immediately falling on the proficiency panel.

[Nourishing Life Skill Second Level: 33/100]

"One point increase!" Xu Ping’s face broke into a smile.

Though not as much as before, gaining even one point a day was still excellent.

He suddenly felt the pain and the spend on Spirit Stones were very worthwhile.

Briefly calculating in his mind, at this rate, in about two months, he could break through to the third level of the Nourishing Life Skill.

Once the breakthrough happens, his capabilities could further surge dramatically.