Forty Millenniums of Cultivation, page 569
After the shock just now, she was truly intimidated by Li Yao and had no courage to defy him at all. She even thought that, since Elder Bloody Vulture seemed so strong, she might gain a lot of benefits if she truly served as his disciple.
Li Yao looked around and scratched his head somewhat in embarrassment. Naturally, he would not tell Jin Xinyue that the shocking view was only because he had lost control over himself during his training.
Thankfully, there was already a 'mental devil' inside Li Yao's brain, which meant that Li Yao was already in a mentally deranged state.
A man who was mentally deranged could not be mentally deranged again.
Li Yao was very clear that his practice just now nearly destroyed all his cells. In a real battle, there was no way that he could wield such power.
However, demonic energy?
Li Yao sniffed and noticed that there was indeed a new smell on his body. It was feeble and perhaps unperceivable for ordinary people. It was not stinky and felt like a combination of fighting will and the smell of blood.
It's truly demonic energy!
Li Yao was slightly dazed.
In the past, he had only known that the expert demons would release a lot of demonic energy when they were summoning all of their capability, just like Cultivators would release a lot of spiritual waves when they were in their peak state.
Demonic energy was one of the most important features to distinguish a demon.
Li Yao blinked. His telepathic thoughts entered his body and observed internally in search of the origin of the demonic energy. Soon, he traced it back to the mitochondria inside the primeval cells.
So, this is the case. After being strengthened, the mitochondria has an efficiency three to five times higher than normal mitochondria. Such high-intensity functioning naturally brings about a lot of waste.
The waste leaks out of the cell through the membrane and is transported to the body's surface through capillary vessels and the lymph. In the end, it is excreted through the pores.
The so-called 'demonic energy' is actually waste that the primeval cells release when they are functioning at a high speed.
The mitochondria of the Cultivators certainly produces garbage, too, but the Cultivators utilize spiritual energy in a different way from the demons. They never pump the cells with spiritual energy to trigger a mutation. Therefore, the 'waste' that the cells of the Cultivators generate is little to none, and it is barely possible to detect it.
So, this is the mystery of demonic energy!
The finding both startled and baffled Li Yao.
Right now, he had a lot of 'primeval cells' that were similar to 'demonized cells' inside his body. Even if he went through the blood test of the demon race, he would not worry that his real identity of a human being might be found out.
Besides, with a telepathic thought, the mitochondria inside his primeval cells would run crazily, and immense demonic energy would immediately be unleashed. There was no need for a blood test at all. Anybody would respect him as a ferocious demon!
However, with abundant primeval cells inside his body and the fact that he could trigger immense 'demonic energy', was he a 'human being' at all now?
…
Under the moonlight, amid the bamboo, a girl was wearing soft gauze, her feet bare with red paint on her nails that looked like shells. She was dancing like a deity with brilliance of a sword flashing up and down, giving the feeling that she did not belong to this world.
Nobody could possibly have imagined that the girl who looked like a goddess walking on the earth was a demon only a few days ago.
Sitting cross-legged on a giant rock not far away, Li Yao held his chin while he observed Jin Xinyue practicing her technique.
But there was a new clash inside his brain.
The mental devil launched another attack, trying to shake his belief, while he was baffled by his identity.
However, the mental devil did not look hideous and disgusting anymore. Instead, it had put on a vintage robe and looked like a pure gentleman.
Even Li Yao was greatly surprised when he saw its new appearance. He had never thought that he would look so handsome when he was dressing in an ancient style!
"Everything happening here is really interesting." The mental devil smiled mildly. "Imagine that the soul of a human being has crawled into the body of a demon and that the soul of a demon possessed a completely authentic human body. Then, which of the two is a human being and which is a demon?"
Li Yao's belief was not shaken. He replied quickly, "One's mind, or rather, soul, determines whether they are a human being or a demon.
"The Star Glory Federation has granted full human rights for the 'spectral Cultivators', who are legally equal to human beings. Spectral Cultivators are made of the soul of a human being and a metal shell. No matter what they look like, they are human beings!"
The mental devil shook its head. "Not exactly. The thing about 'mind' and 'soul' is that it is too intangible. Who knows what they are exactly?
"Is there really much a difference between the soul of a human being and that of a demon?
"Imagine that, one day, Jin Xinyue betrayed her species and considered herself a human being wholeheartedly for a certain reason, say, realizing her mistakes, or due to her survival instincts.
"Then, is her soul still the soul of a demon? Is she still a demon?"
Li Yao thought quickly. The question bothered him and slightly shook his belief.
The mental devil immediately expanded. The bloody aura around it was like the sunlight at dawn, making the mental devil magnificent and undefeatable.
Li Yao frowned and said, "Maybe, human beings and demons are not different at all.
"I don't know what exactly happened forty thousand years ago that led to the birth of the demon race.
"But with everything I've discovered, it is most certainly not because a reckless Cultivator invented the 'Demon God Virus'.
"Maybe, the demons are body fundamentalists who have Cultivated to the peak?"
Li Yao's eyes suddenly shone as he said that. "Yes. It is a plausible possibility. Demons are human beings that walked on a different path of training. There are no essential differences between them!
"If so, there is no reason for the Blood Demon Sector and the Heaven's Origin Sector to keep on fighting. The two parties can work together against the Imperium of True Human Beings!"
The mental devil was silent for such a long time that Li Yao suspected that it had sunk into his brain again, but out of nowhere, the mental devil burst into wild laughter.
The gentleness of the mental devil was completely ripped apart as it rolled on the ground holding its belly. He laughed so hard that bloody tears were flowing, and the edges of his mouth almost reached his ears.
Li Yao sensed intense contempt. He asked solemnly, "What are you laughing for?"
"Your childishness, of course!" Wiping his tears, the mental devil laughed hard. "Let's say that human beings and the demon race have the same origin. So what? It's been forty thousand years!
"A hundred thousand years ago, human beings and monkeys shared the same origin, too. But if a monkey came to you, would you think that it is your compatriot?
"Besides, even if it is a 'compatriot' to you, so what?
"You wouldn't be so naïve as to believe that the war between the Heaven's Origin Sector and the Blood Demon Sector is because one party consists of human beings and the other consists of demons, would you?
"Hehe. Forty thousand years ago, there were no 'demons' at all. Was there not such a huge civil war that almost all the Sectors were ruined?
"At present, the Imperium of True Human Beings is governed by human beings, too, but you don't see eye to eye with each other!
"Just admit it! Maybe human beings are just a species born for killing. For resources, for benefits, for feelings, for honor, for all kinds of weird reasons, and sometimes for no reasons at all, you will kill each other!
"Your enemy is the demon race, and you kill them. But would you be merciful if they were human beings?
"Haha. You were worried that human beings would be lustful for killing and wars when the Blood Stripe Virus spread out.
"In my opinion, the Blood Stripe Virus is truly not to blame. Over the past forty thousand years, human beings have not been infected by the Blood Strip Virus, but have they been less lustful for killing and wars?
"Wait. I've suddenly come up with another possibility.
"Say, is it possible that all human beings are infected by something similar to the Blood Stripe Virus when they were born?
"If that is the case, it doesn't matter now that you are infected by me for a second time, does it?"
Chapter 855: Who's Wiping Out Whom? |
Li Yao took a long, deep breath and gradually calmed down his messy mind.
His soul was like a flawless gem, and no matter how the mental devil surveyed it, there was not the tiniest gap through which the mental devil could infiltrate at all. "There's no need for fancy talk. I will find the origin of the demon race. If the demon race and mankind share the same origin and there is no reason for the two parties to attack each other, I will try my best to stop the war that could potentially destroy both worlds!"
"Haha. Hahahaha!"
The mental devil laughed so hard that it could barely catch its breath. "Human beings and demons have fought for forty thousand years. The blood shed during that period is enough to extinguish a burning star. They are literally 'sworn enemies'. How are you going to stop the fire with nobody but yourself?
"Right now, the Blood Demon Sector and the Star Glory Federation are both in the highest state of war, summoning all of their resources available. The war machines are now functioning at full capacity. When a bullet is locked and loaded, you have to shoot it no matter what. Even though your capability is equal to that of the Nascent Soul Stage and demon emperor, so what? You will only be crushed into a sandwich if you choose to stand in the middle of two colliding worlds!
"Besides, your identity is unfavorable on both sides.
"In the Blood Demon Sector, you cannot reveal your identity as a Cultivator, or you will certainly be attacked collectively by all the demons.
"If you return to the Heaven's Origin Sector, how are you going to prove that you are the pure 'Li Yao', not under the influence of the Blood Stripe Virus?
"Yan Xibei could not prove that, nor can you.
"Therefore, nobody is going to believe what you say. The Blood Demon Sector and the Heaven's Origin Sector will not trust each other, either.
"Even if you manage to reach out to the leadership of the Blood Demon Sector, say, Jin Tuyi, the commander-in-chief of the coalition army of the demons, and you persuade the twelve demon emperors of the Pantheon of Demons to abort the plan on attack the Heaven's Origin Sector and end the war, how can they be certain that it is not some plot of the Heaven's Origin Sector? How can they be assured that the Heaven's Origin Sector will choose peace, too, when they stop the war?
"Hehe. Do you feel that human beings are innocent victims who are defending their home and that demons are the evil, aggressive intruders? Do you think that the two worlds will live in peace forever as long as you work in the Blood Demon Sector?
"In fact, deep in your heart, you know that it is not the truth, don't you?
"You know that the Grand Desolate Plateau was home to the demons. Almost a hundred demon kingdoms in which countless demons lived once flourished on the Grand Desolate Plateau. Eventually, the multiple expeditions launched by the Star Glory Federation destroyed all the demon kingdoms and swallowed the Grand Desolate Plateau!
"On your way to the Grand Desolate Plateau, right before the Giant Blade Pass, have you not seen the tower high into the sky in person? Did you not feel proud and hotblooded for the great achievement of the Star Glory Federation's expansion of its territory?
"Besides, the Heaven's Origin Sector has its own plan to conquer the Blood Demon Sector, too. Wasn't the 'Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit' designed for such a plan? When millions of federal soldiers are all equipped with the Mystic Skeleton Battlesuit, the iron heels of the Star Glory Federation will soon stomp on the entire Blood Demon Sector!
"Therefore, how are you going to convince the leadership of the Blood Demon Sector that your so-called 'ceasefire' is not an evil plan of the Heaven's Origin Sector to make them give up resistance?
"By the same logic, even if you persuaded the twelve demons, how are you going to convince the primed soldiers, the ambitious generals, and the Speaker of Parliament, who has great plans for the future, that peace will embrace them as soon as they stop the war? Why will they believe that it is not a scheme of the Blood Demon Sector and that you haven't turned against your own species and become a spy for the Blood Demon Sector?
"Right. I'm sorry. I was mistaken."
The mental devil giggled and said, "Look at yourself. There are 'demonized cells' everywhere inside your body. With a telepathic thought, you can unleash intense demonic energy. I'm afraid that you are not even qualified to be a spy for the Blood Demon Sector!"
Li Yao was rendered speechless. He could not do anything except stand by his beliefs.
The mental devil smiled casually. "It suddenly occurs to me that the Blood Demon Sector and the Heaven's Origin Sector are now in a standard dark forest situation.
"I think that the smartest individuals of the two worlds who clearly know the capabilities of the two worlds can certainly reach the conclusion, after careful calculations, that the Heaven's Origin Sector and the Blood Demon Sector will perish together in a strategical final war since they are on par with each other. Nobody will be a winner!
"But why have the smartest individuals not tried to cease the war when they realized that the war will bring neither party any good?
"Because they can't.
"In a modern war, for two forces that are on par with each other, the side that orders a general mobilization and enter the highest warring state first will get more resources and soldiers in the war, and they will have the advantage in the war.
"Stopping the mobilization means suicide.
"The warring state cannot last forever. It is like a balloon that is being blown nonstop. There will certainly be a point where it explodes.
"Therefore, the two worlds cannot trust the sincerity of the peace offer from each other, nor can they stop their general mobilization. So, a final war is inevitable. They can only expect to swallow the enemy before their own economy collapses and then heal their wounds slowly.
"Even if one of the two parties wishes peace sincerely, how can they be sure that the other party wants peace sincerely, too? Two people are each pointing a gun at each other's forehead, and their fingers are both placed on the triggers, slightly exerting strength. Which of the two is willing to lay down their gun first?
"Hehe. This is a chain of suspicion. This is… the dark forest!"
After a moment of silence, Li Yao's somewhat dimmed soul shone again as he said softly, "As I have said before, even if the universe is truly nothing more than a cold, dark forest, I will burn it to the ground with my soul as the fuel!"
"Excellent. I very much look forward to it. But it appears to me that you won't have any help this time. You are destined to fight the war all by yourself."
The bloody demon paused for a moment and smiled. "Just like Yan Xibei in the old days. An idealist who plans to change the world alone.
"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. It sounds so great and admirable. It's a pity that Yan Xibei failed in the end. Let me see. Whom exactly was he defeated by in the end?"
Li Yao sniffed and realized what the mental devil was trying to say.
Fighting a world alone was doomed to be a lost cause.
Besides, it was not one but two worlds that he was going to fight right now.
However, the mental devil did not pursue any further aggressively. Instead, it sighed and retracted the eye-catching bloody mist, turning into a crimson statue.
Li Yao found it odd. "Are you not going to attack me?"
"Your belief is still firm at present," the mental devil replied lazily. "Even if I keep on attacking you, it's not like that I can wipe you out completely. Why should I waste my strength?"
"Wipe me out?"
Li Yao was startled by the mental devil's choice of words.
"Exactly," the mental devil replied casually. "From your point of view, I am just an insignificant mental devil, but from my point of view, I think that I am the real Li Yao, the one who has seen through the truth of the cold universe and the ideology of the dark forest.
"And you, you are nothing more than a mental devil that is enveloped in the decayed concepts of mercy, smugness, and hypocrisy.
"You are trying to wipe out the mental devil, and I am trying to wipe out the mental devil. Let's see which of us wipes out the other in the end!"
While talking, clever brilliance suddenly beamed out of the eyes of the mental devil, who grinned and said, "In fact, I almost can't bear to wipe you out so quickly. Why don't we make a bet?
"I bet that there is no way that you will stop the final war between the Heaven's Origin Sector and the Blood Demon Sector. The war will most certainly break out, with both worlds shattered, and will not stop until one world is completely ruined!
"Hehe. You should know what the 'wager' is, right?"
Li Yao was silent, not giving any response to the gamble game, because he knew that it was not something that he could refuse.
Accept it or not, the game had already begun.
He firmly claimed that he would find an approach to resolve the dilemma of the dark forest. It was his belief right now.
If he tried his best and still failed to stop the Heaven's Origin Sector and the Blood Demon Sector from perishing together, his belief would certainly be shaken.
By then, the mental devil would perform a full attack and occupy his body, and a 'dark' Li Yao would be born and establish a new reign in the two battered worlds.
"Excellent!"
Li Yao smiled. Either way, he had found a way to wipe out the mental devil.
