(Pleading for votes! The few words that move people the most...) What Feng Zikang desired, of course, was the Ten Directions Demonic Dao Rebirth Secret Scroll. Huo Zhongguang was astute enough, spitting out a crimson bead from his mouth and handing it over obediently.

This place was originally the Sea of Consciousness. The secret scroll had been destroyed by Huo Zhongguang after he read it; now, only the memory within his divine sense was being manifested. Feng Zikang reached out and took it, imprinting it onto his Heavenly Demon Divine Sense to examine it closely.

This Ten Directions Demonic Dao Secret Scroll—the core cultivation method and divine abilities were nothing special. The so-called Demonic Dao Cycle Swallowing Divine Ability was merely a simplified version of the Heavenly Demon Devourment, but it carried greater side effects and achieved far less absorption efficacy.

However, the Ten Directions Demonic Dao was a system created by an ancient, singular genius who had absorbed the strengths of various demonic sects, integrated them, and forged them into one furnace. The preface contained many records detailing the evolution of the Demonic Dao.

A thousand years ago, the Demonic Dao sources were relatively prosperous; now, they were severely withered.

Feng Zikang scanned it briefly, nodded, and smiled, "Senior Brother is indeed perceptive. Since that is the case, I won't make things too difficult. After some time, I will find a suitable cauldron for you. After you are reborn, cultivate the demonic path well—wouldn't that be delightful?"

"Junior Brother, you must not deceive your old brother." Huo Zhongguang could only choose to believe; this was his last straw.

"Naturally. You shall endure a little longer in the Four Symbols Divine Demon Prison. This Ten Directions Demonic Dao Rebirth Mind Technique can be practiced even by your primordial spirit body. Do not slacken; await the opportune moment."

Feng Zikang commanded the four Demon Gods to remove the chains, allowing Huo Zhongguang to cultivate within the formation.

"East Sea?"

Elder Yun idly flipped through the Merit Jade Register, looking at Feng Zikang with surprise. "You are looking for Merit Tasks that lead to the East Sea?"

In half a month, Feng Zikang had pushed his Thousand-Mile Strategy Deciding Victory Calculation Mind Art all the way to the fifteenth layer. Thousand-Mile Flow and the Starlight Great Annihilation Divine Ability had both reached the tenth layer. Silent Spring Breeze had advanced to the third layer realm, offering surprisingly effective rapid healing. His Formless Heavenly Demon Heart Art was at the eighteenth layer, and the Formless Heavenly Demon Incarnation Divine Ability was also at the eighteenth layer. Among disciples at the fifth layer of Qi Induction, he could already be considered an expert based on his surface strength alone.

As for his hidden combat power, if he unleashed all his trump cards, even cultivators at the early Foundation Establishment stage might not be his match.

Neither the Military school nor the Demonic Dao paths could be rapidly advanced by sitting at home. Moreover, the Demon Estate on Dragon Tooth Island held a significant attraction for him. Thus, he came straight to the Merit Hall to seek tasks leading to the East Sea, which would also allow him to explore Dragon Tooth Island for treasures.

After all, Master Wule had never sought him out; he didn't know where he had wandered off to. Little Martial Aunt Wen Lingsu had checked on him a few times, and she was quite satisfied seeing the excellent progress of his Silent Spring Breeze Divine Ability.

"The East Sea has been quiet recently; it's truly dull..."

Elder Yun sighed as he flipped through the Merit Jade Register, finally finding only a small, inconspicuous task categorized under Grade C Merit.

"A colossal sea beast is disturbing the populace off the coast of Qizhou. Slay it, one hundred Merit Points."

The so-called colossal beast was merely immense in stature and immensely powerful; it had not yet transformed into a true demon. Mortals were helpless against it, but for cultivators, it was merely a flick of the wrist.

"I accept!"

Feng Zikang was simply seeking an excuse to go to the East Sea and didn't care about the amount of Merit Points. He had so many techniques to cultivate now that he wasn't in a hurry to accumulate Merit Points.

"Then go ahead..." Elder Yun, finding no interest in such a non-challenging task, listlessly waved the Merit Jade Register. The allocated funds transformed into a cyan Grade C task bead, flying into Feng Zikang's hand.

Feng Zikang cheerfully tucked it away. "Grand Martial Uncle, are there any private commissions this time..."

"No, no!"

Elder Yun, fearing he would be extorted again, hurriedly ushered him out of the Merit Hall doors.

"You little bastard, get lost far away from me!"

Feng Zikang laughed heartily and strode away.

He returned to the small bamboo grove, shoved the little fox and the two celestial horses into the Rouge Box in one go, packed some things, and was about to leave when Gu Ya came running up, his face etched with worry.

"Senior Brother! Senior Brother!"

For the past few days, this young man had been pondering the inside story of his master, the Heavenly Mystery Feather Scholar, suddenly emerging from seclusion and secretly conferring with the Sect Master. Unfortunately, after the Feather Scholar returned to the Star Gazing Abode that night, he once again sealed himself away from outsiders. Feng Zikang had also inquired discreetly with Wen Lingsu, but even she knew nothing.

"Why such panic? You found out about your master coming out of seclusion?"

Seeing his flustered, running-and-shouting appearance, Feng Zikang's first reaction was indeed this.

Gu Ya shook his head like a rattle drum. "It's not about that! It’s about me observing the celestial phenomena late last night..."

It turned out that although Gu Ya's cultivation was shallow, his talent was extraordinary, and he could occasionally enter the state of Heaven-Man Resonance spontaneously. When observing the constellations in that state, he possessed a unique insight.

"What did you see?"

Feng Zikang appeared nonchalant but was quite curious.

"The Star of Calamity moves violently, a grand catastrophe for Heaven and Earth!" Gu Ya cried out, his face flushed, gesticulating wildly. "I saw the Heaven and Earth inverted, the cosmos turning into a sea of blood, the paradise on earth transforming into the Asura Hell!"

"Oh?"

Whether the mortal world turned into an Asura Hell was something Feng Zikang didn't particularly care about, but Gu Ya's words indirectly corroborated Master Wule’s earlier pronouncements about the impending grand catastrophe.

"You are planning to leave?"

Seeing such a severe prognosis, yet his Senior Brother remained calm and composed, Gu Ya couldn't help but feel deflated, and a bit ashamed. He noticed Feng Zikang packing things and was startled again.

"Senior Brother, you absolutely must not go south this time! In my celestial observation, the flames are chaotic, indicating unrest in the south."

"I am going to the East Sea this time; it should be fine..."

Whether it was chaotic or not, Feng Zikang didn't mind. Neither the Military nor the Demonic paths carried any doctrine of avoiding fortune or seeking shelter from misfortune; they only valued the courage to press forward. If he had originally intended to go south, he would absolutely not have changed his mind because of Gu Ya's words.

"That’s good..."

Gu Ya breathed a sigh of relief. Watching him leave, he felt reluctant to part, wishing desperately that his own abilities would improve instantly so he could also claim a task from the Merit Hall and travel with his Senior Brother.

Having grown up in the mountains, he had yet to witness the splendor of the world, and his words revealed a deep longing.

It was then that Gu Ya remembered the impending grand catastrophe, and his expression shifted back to alarm. "I say, Senior Brother, if the grand catastrophe is coming soon, shouldn't we think of a solution? If everything is truly destroyed, and we can't find any fun places to visit afterward, what then? I haven't even experienced the mortal world yet—that would be too great a pity, wouldn't it?"

Feng Zikang laughed silently. "What are you afraid of? There are so many powerful predecessors around. If you can see the grand catastrophe, can't they see it too? Our cultivation is low, and we are powerless; how could they not be thinking of solutions?"

"That's right!" Gu Ya slapped the back of his own head. Only then did he recall this point, realizing he was quite foolish. Perhaps his master's emergence from seclusion was precisely for this matter. His venerable elder was omnipotent; how could this mere grand catastrophe stump him?

He instantly beamed, casting the terrifying vision from his mind.

Feng Zikang smiled without speaking, knowing that what he had said might not necessarily be the case.

If all those powerful predecessors were themselves among those destined to fall in the calamity, then who would be left to stop this disaster?

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