Chapter 362: Chapter 144 Guiding Technique and Spiritual Energy! The New Leader of Dafeng!_1
“Younger Brother Su, it’s me.”
The figure in the black robe lifted his head to look at Su Changkong, revealing a face with pronounced features under the hood, it was Hong Zhenxiang!
“Commander Hong… aren’t you…”
Su Changkong also stared in astonishment at the Hong Zhenxiang before him. Wasn’t Hong Zhenxiang almost crippled by his injuries?
Not only that, Su Changkong sensed a breath similar to that of Mo Ying and the man in red from Hong Zhenxiang, yet far more powerful!
“You’ve merged with… a Demon Monster Crystal Core?” Su Changkong wasn’t a fool; he suddenly thought of something and blurted it out.
Hong Zhenxiang’s main energy channels had been shattered, an injury that for an ordinary Martial Artist would be nearly incurable, yet there Hong Zhenxiang stood, unscathed and seemingly stronger than before. How could Su Changkong not guess the reason?
Shattered main energy channels are a crushing blow that is hard to heal for Martial Artists, but for a Demon Monster with an Immortal Body, such injuries are as inconsequential as a cut on the finger.
Being almost crippled, Hong Zhenxiang couldn’t bear the thought of becoming someone who needed to be fed by others, so he chose to embed a Demon Monster Crystal Core into his heart.
This was extremely dangerous; failure would result in death, but Hong Zhenxiang clearly succeeded.
“Yes… I would rather die in battle than live as a cripple and die of old age. Now, I have been reborn! I never imagined that reaching the Innate Realm could be so easily achieved!”
Hong Zhenxiang admitted this, somewhat nostalgically, his eyes glowing faintly red in the darkness.
Hong Zhenxiang was exceptionally gifted; after achieving the Qi Blood Twelve Transformation, he could sense nature’s spiritual energy but, not having an Innate Body nor having opened the Heavenly Pulse, he was unable to refine this Spiritual Energy. He had been stuck at this barrier for years.
It was also because of a battle with Hong Yin, where he forcefully absorbed spiritual energy which turned him into a cripple.
Determined, Hong Zhenxiang resolved to merge with a Demon Monster Crystal Core, enduring agony beyond description, worse than death, but in the end, he succeeded!
Not only did his injury heal with ease, but he also managed to forcibly refine nature’s spiritual energy, stepping into the Innate Realm without needing an Innate Body because he no longer had to fear injury to his body!
Hong Zhenxiang felt as if he had been given a new lease on life, like the person he was before was too insignificant and frail.
Su Changkong fell silent. If their situations were reversed, would he have made the same choice?
To live a lifetime as a cripple or gamble everything on a chance to live a more splendid life, even if it meant becoming a half-human, half-monster?
“After merging with the Demon Monster Crystal Core… I’ve changed a lot,” Hong Zhenxiang murmured to himself. “I feel colder, more bloodthirsty. Facing my old brothers, I even wanted to tear them open, to taste their blood…”
As he spoke, tears of remorse and pain streamed down the corners of Hong Zhenxiang’s eyes. He didn’t know whether his choice was the right one. He had merged with the Demon Monster Crystal Core, regained a healthy body, and even achieved a state he couldn’t reach in over a decade, but at a great cost.
His temperament had drastically changed. Now, when facing old friends and brothers, he constantly had to restrain his newfound, bloodthirsty instincts. Moreover, the things he once wanted to protect now seemed unimportant, and he found himself indifferent to all sorts of matters.
Even Hong Zhenxiang himself didn’t know if he was still the same person he used to be, or if he had become another person, another being entirely!
Su Changkong could feel Hong Zhenxiang’s pain but didn’t know how to console him, knowing well that any comfort he could offer would be useless.
Taking a deep breath, Hong Zhenxiang steadied his emotions and said to Su Changkong, “Younger Brother Su, I’ve come to say goodbye. Your talent and potential exceed mine. I only hope you’ll stick to your path and not end up like me…”
Having merged with the Demon Monster Crystal Core, it was clear that Hong Zhenxiang could no longer stay in Dafeng State City. He feared he wouldn’t be able to control his nature and might harm his former brothers and friends, so he had to leave.
As for where to go, Hong Zhenxiang himself had no destination in mind.
Visiting Su Changkong was also to say farewell, possibly for the last time. Before leaving, Hong Zhenxiang cautioned Su Changkong not to fall into the same state as himself. Whether Hong Zhenxiang regretted his choice, he wasn’t sure.
“Take care on your journey.”
In the end, all Su Changkong could do was wish Hong Zhenxiang well, hoping he would have smooth sailing.
But Su Changkong knew that Hong Zhenxiang, now a half Demon Monster or Monster Warrior, would have to always hide, unable to reveal his identity and attracting the risk of being hunted and troubled.
Moreover, under the influence of the Demon Monster Crystal Core, he might indeed become a heartless and cruel Demon Monster, no longer fit to be called human!
All of this was Hong Zhenxiang’s own choice.
“Take care.”
Hong Zhenxiang left these words behind, not lingering to speak more with Su Changkong. His figure became a gust of wind and disappeared into the estate.
“Demon Monster Crystal Core… it indeed has a fatal attraction!”
With Hong Zhenxiang gone, leaving Dafeng State City behind, Su Changkong felt quite complicated as he pulled out the Demon Monster Crystal Core he had obtained from Mo Ying from his bosom, sighing to himself.
The Demon Monster Crystal Core – once successfully merged, it granted the power of a Demon Monster, a rebirth, an Immortal Body, longer life, and more fearsome talent. How many powerful individuals, when faced with a choice between life and death, could resist such temptation?