Chapter 488: Ji Ping'an, the Devouring Demon Art, and a Request
"The great river flows eastward, sweeping away all the illustrious figures of the ages. Senior, there are still many beautiful sights to see in the future. You mustn't give up so easily."
Sacred Abyss Continent, Grand Thousand Palace Division.
"I understand your intentions," Ji Ping'an said with a faint smile. **"But every person has their destiny. This is mine.
I've lived long enough. Even the Celestial Evil God, who was sealed by the Undying Emperor 50,000 years ago, was nothing more than a child in my eyes.
So there's no need for you to worry about me. Besides, I won't die immediately. At the very least, I still have a few decades left. Before that, I'll compile all the information I've gathered on the Outer Demonic Race over these years and share it with you.
This will help you understand the dynamics between their many clans. If, someday, you manage to drive the Outer Demonic Race out of the Grand Thousand World, bring two bottles of good wine to my grave and tell me the good news."**
Ji Ping'an's words were hearty and light, as if he had already transcended the fear of life and death. Such composure, born of a life spanning a million years, was a quality Xiao Tiance deeply admired.
Even though Xiao Tiance himself had faced death numerous times, especially when surrounded by the top powerhouses of the Outer Demonic Race, he knew that truly accepting death was far more difficult than it seemed.
"Very well, Senior. When that day comes, we will deliver the news to you personally," Lu Tong said, bowing deeply. "But, Senior, we still don't know your name. Would you be willing to share it with us?"
Xiao Tiance also nodded. Referring to the elder only as "Senior" felt impersonal, especially given their growing respect for him.
A Name with Long Faded Peace
Ji Ping'an chuckled. **"A name, huh? After so many years, a name has little meaning. But, I suppose, if I don't tell you, how will you write my epitaph?
My name is Ji Ping'an. My parents hoped I would live a life of peace and safety. But, alas, the name became a lifelong pursuit I could never attain. Even after a million years, the two characters 'Ping'an' peace and safety have yet to grace my life."**
Hearing this, both Xiao Tiance and Lu Tong were filled with a profound sense of melancholy. Names often carried the hopes and aspirations of one's parents, yet for Ji Ping'an, they had become an unattainable dream.
For Xiao Tiance, this moment illuminated the Buddhist concept of life's "eight sufferings": birth, aging, sickness, death, separation from loved ones, association with those one hates, unfulfilled desires, and the suffering born of the five aggregates.
Ji Ping'an's lifelong yearning for peace epitomized the suffering of unfulfilled desires.
"Senior, what you seek is what we all seek," Lu Tong said, bowing once more. **"It is also the very purpose of the Grand Thousand Palace's founding.
Though the Outer Demonic Race holds half of the Grand Thousand World's lands, we believe that someday, justice will triumph over evil.
We will drive the Outer Demonic Race out of our world, ensuring that future generations never suffer their oppression. We hold this belief unwaveringly, even if it costs us our lives. And if we cannot achieve it, there will always be others to carry on the fight."**
Xiao Tiance nodded firmly. "Senior, rest assured. I have a strong premonition that day isn't far away."
Ji Ping'an laughed heartily. **"I believe you.
To be honest, seeing you two has made me regret not returning from the Outer Demonic Race's territory sooner. I could have contributed far more to the resistance than I did. Instead, I spent a million years doing things that now seem insignificant."**
"Senior, you've already done enough," Lu Tong said earnestly. "No one has the right to diminish your contributions."
Xiao Tiance nodded in agreement. Ji Ping'an had sacrificed his entire life to serve the Grand Thousand World, infiltrating the Outer Demonic Race for a million years a feat deserving the utmost respect.
The Devouring Demon Art
"By the way, Senior, if you wish to return to the Grand Thousand World, the demonic energy in your body will need to be purified. Alternatively, if you prefer to stay on the Sacred Abyss Continent, we can arrange a suitable residence for you," Lu Tong offered.
Ji Ping'an nodded, then shook his head. **"There's no rush to purify the demonic energy. I need time to record all I've learned about the Outer Demonic Race's clans.
Over these million years, I've possessed members of nearly every clan. What I know far surpasses what your spies and merchant networks have uncovered. Once I've completed this task, the demonic energy in my body will dissipate naturally when I abandon the Devouring Demon Art."**
"Devouring Demon Art?" Xiao Tiance and Lu Tong were both taken aback.
Ji Ping'an chuckled. **"It's not surprising you haven't heard of it. The 'Devouring Demon Art' is a technique I developed myself part divine art, part supreme technique.
Back when the Outer Demonic Race first invaded, they swept through parts of the Grand Thousand World like an unstoppable tide. I was trapped in one of the conquered regions and feared becoming their prey.
To survive, I spent over 200 years combining techniques, divine arts, and spells from my family's archives. The result was the Devouring Demon Art.
The first time I used it, I was shocked by how effective it was. I successfully possessed a low ranking member of the Outer Demonic Race, unlocking its latent potential and abilities. From there, I used that body to begin my infiltration."**
Ji Ping'an's revelation left Xiao Tiance and Lu Tong deeply impressed. Creating such a technique in the face of certain death and using it to infiltrate the enemy for a million years was a testament to his ingenuity and resilience.
"Senior, your contributions to the Grand Thousand World are immeasurable," Xiao Tiance said. "The information you've gathered will be invaluable in our fight against the Outer Demonic Race."
Ji Ping'an smiled. "I only hope it proves useful. If it helps you reclaim the Grand Thousand World, my efforts will have been worthwhile."
"Every ten thousand years, I would possess a new body from the Outer Demonic Race," Ji Ping'an continued, his voice calm but filled with weight. "This allowed me to grow stronger quickly. Each body I took over granted me access to valuable resources and secret information that outsiders could never obtain."
He paused, noticing how intently Xiao Tiance and Lu Tong were listening. Giving them a moment to absorb his words, Ji Ping'an continued after their respectful bow and expression of gratitude.
"Senior Ji, the sacrifices you've made for the billions of lives in the Grand Thousand World are something every one of us should remember forever," Xiao Tiance said earnestly.
Ji Ping'an waved dismissively, his tone carrying both humility and regret. **"I overestimated myself and underestimated the Outer Demonic Race. With each possession, my soul weakened, and the process became increasingly difficult.
But now, as my life approaches its end, at least I've returned to the Grand Thousand World. That, in itself, brings me some closure."**
Hearing this, Xiao Tiance respectfully asked, "Senior, how exactly were you discovered by the Outer Demonic Race? Even now, your body bears no trace of human origins. How could they have found out?"
Lu Tong, equally curious, turned his attention to Ji Ping'an. After all, they wouldn't have even known he was captured if the Outer Demonic Race hadn't deliberately leaked the news months ago.
"Sigh..." Ji Ping'an let out a heavy breath, a faint, bitter smile forming on his lips. "It was because of Nine Heavens Corpse Emperor."
"Nine Heavens Corpse Emperor?" Xiao Tiance and Lu Tong exchanged confused glances.
Even for someone as powerful as the Corpse Emperor, detecting Ji Ping'an's possession ability seemed improbable.
"You may not know this, but I was the reason the Nine Heavens Corpse Emperor was sealed in the first place," Ji Ping'an explained. **"When he discovered I had betrayed him, he managed to leave a soul imprint on me just before his sealing.
Although I later used methods from the Corpse Clan to remove it, it seems I underestimated its lingering effects. Years ago, after the Nine Heavens Corpse Emperor escaped his seal, he began visiting every major clan of the Outer Demonic Race.
It was only when he reached the Devourer Clan that he discovered my existence. Teaming up with Sacred Heaven Demon Emperor, they captured me and had Dark Heaven Demon Emperor probe my memories.
Although I fought back, I couldn't resist Dark Heaven Demon Emperor's search under such circumstances. They learned everything they needed and prepared to execute me."**
At this, Ji Ping'an turned to Xiao Tiance with a smile. "In the end, I owe my survival to you, Xiao Tiance."
"Me?" Xiao Tiance asked, taken aback.
**"That's right. When Dark Heaven Demon Emperor and Nine Heavens Corpse Emperor uncovered my memories, Sacred Heaven Demon Emperor wasn't present.
The two discovered I had assisted you in slaying two early stage Demon Emperors Shishan and Shihai on Haiyue Continent. They devised a plan to use me as bait to set a trap for you.
But you didn't follow the script they wrote. Instead of rushing into their ambush, you struck unpredictably, targeting human factions that had surrendered to the Outer Demonic Race.
To stop your counterattacks, they had no choice but to exile me into a spatial rift. That exile is what gave me the chance to survive and return here."** Ji Ping'an explained with a knowing smile.
Xiao Tiance, guilt washing over him, bowed deeply. **"I owe you an apology, Senior Ji. At the time, Qin Tian and I had no other choice.
We reached the prison in the Sacred City where you were held, but with three late stage Demon Emperors stationed there, it was clearly a trap. For our own safety, we had to change tactics, focusing instead on purging the human factions that had betrayed us.
Looking back now, it seems we were naïve. If the Outer Demonic Race had killed you in retaliation, it would have been our fault."**
"Haha, no need to apologize," Ji Ping'an laughed. **"You made the right decision. If I were in your position, I would have done the same.
The Outer Demonic Race's domain is a death trap, where the smallest misstep leads to eternal damnation. You chose wisely, and your actions against the traitorous human factions were in line with my own wishes."**
"Senior Ji, do you harbor such hatred for those factions?" Lu Tong asked, puzzled by the intensity of Ji Ping'an's earlier words.
While he had heard rumors, he had never witnessed the horrors of human factions aligning with the Outer Demonic Race.
"Hatred? 'Hatred' isn't a strong enough word," Ji Ping'an said, his tone darkening as an unrestrained killing intent filled the room. **"In the territories controlled by the Outer Demonic Race, the greatest threat to humans isn't the demons themselves. It's those human factions who've betrayed their own kind.
Each of these factions has dungeons where they torture rebels and those who oppose the Outer Demonic Race.
Only in those places will you understand what true hell is where the living envy the dead, and survival is worse than annihilation. These people have abandoned their humanity entirely."**
Both Xiao Tiance and Lu Tong shuddered at the sheer hatred radiating from Ji Ping'an, a hatred born of centuries of witnessing unspeakable atrocities.
After a long pause, Ji Ping'an regained his composure, suppressing his killing intent. His voice, though steady, carried a steely resolve. **"I've seen the Outer Demonic Race's cruelty, but compared to those human factions, their brutality is nothing.
That's why I have a request."**
"Senior Ji, please don't use the word 'request.' Anything you need, just say the word, and we'll do our utmost to fulfill it," Lu Tong said, bowing respectfully.
"Indeed, Senior," Xiao Tiance added. "Speak, and it shall be done."
"Very well," Ji Ping'an said. **"If, one day, you succeed in driving the Outer Demonic Race out of the Grand Thousand World, I ask that you show no mercy to the human factions who betrayed us.
They are no better than beasts. Even if you kill ten and accidentally include an innocent bystander, it's a price worth paying. These people must be eradicated completely."**
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