Father Xu Zhan's demonic-energy-wrapped, painfully struggling phantom was like the cruelest torture, deeply branded in Tang Xiao Qi's eyes and heart. That silent howl had more impact than any sound, instantly shattering all his strength and pretense, leaving only a despairing youth witnessing his loved one's suffering yet helpless to do anything.
"Father—!" He cried out again in blood-choking grief, struggling to crawl up and rush toward the altar, but was firmly pressed to the ground by that vast pressure, unable to move. He could only futilely extend his hand, tears mingling with blood on his face flowing freely.
This sudden dramatic change also shocked everyone present. Mu Qingfeng, Liu Yun, and others looked at that bizarre phantom on the altar, then at the collapsed Xiao Qi, instantly understanding somewhat, their eyes filled with shock and sympathy. Flaming Sun Sect and Mysterious Mechanism Holy Land people were baffled, but that terrifying pressure originating from the altar made them feel fatal crisis—no one dared to act rashly again.
The entire starry sky was deathly silent, with only Xiao Qi's uncontrollable sobbing and heavy breathing.
In this extreme grief and oppression, a voice suddenly and directly resounded deep in every person's mind.
That voice was neither male nor female, neither old nor young, carrying a strange magnetism as if it could stir up the most primal desires in one's heart, yet also like a cold poisonous snake quietly wrapping around the soul.
"Is it painful? Despairing? Watching your loved one suffer, yet helpless..."
This voice seemed to whisper directly to Xiao Qi's heart, filled with "sympathy" and "understanding."
"Look around you... those so-called fellow daoists, when you're immersed in grief, what are they thinking? Are they pitying you? No... their eyes only hold that light, that so-called inheritance! They're weighing, calculating, how to use your pain, how to seize the opportunity that should belong to you!"
The voice like demonic whispers in one's ear quietly magnified the suspicion and greed in everyone's heart. Flaming Sun Sect disciples looking at Xiao Qi and Qingxu Temple indeed grew more unfriendly, even carrying malicious intent of "this kid is connected to the demonic phantom, surely a source of trouble." Even some Mysterious Mechanism Holy Land disciples' eyes flickered uncertainly.
"And them..." the voice turned to Mu Qingfeng, Liu Yun, and others. "Your senior brothers and sisters, do they truly care about you? They protect you perhaps only because you're useful, because you possess a strange treasure that can help them open restrictions and obtain inheritance! Once you lose value, or become too deeply entangled with this 'demonic phantom,' will they still protect you so?"
These divisive words like poisonous thorns ruthlessly pierced into Xiao Qi's heart defense made fragile by grief. He involuntarily looked at Mu Qingfeng and Liu Yun, seeing their eyes indeed filled with worry and anxiety, but... that voice's seduction still made an indescribable chill and wavering arise in his heart.
"Power... look at this altar, this inheritance, containing such great power!" The voice's tone became filled with temptation, turning to everyone. "Obtain it, and you can have everything! Destroying Shadow Snake Pavilion, avenging your father, would be but a snap of fingers! No one would dare bully or humiliate you again! You'll stand at the pinnacle of all beings, controlling your own destiny!"
Yan Feng's breathing instantly became heavy, the fire of greed blazing in his eyes, almost about to break free from the pressure's restraint.
"And you all..." the voice whispered to Flaming Sun Sect and Mysterious Mechanism Holy Land people. "What are you waiting for? Qingxu Temple is deeply connected to this demonic phantom, surely a hidden danger! While they're spiritually compromised, join forces to eliminate them! Then, this supreme inheritance will be yours! Whoever obtains it first, it's theirs!"
"Think of your sects' glory! Think of the taste of power! Kill! Seize! This is the world's truth! The weak are prey to the strong!"
Words filled with instigation and temptation like a plague spread through everyone's mind, magnifying the greed, suspicion, violence, and desire for power deep in their hearts. Some disciples with unsteady wills had eyes beginning to turn red, breathing heavier, veins bulging on their weapon-holding hands, as if about to strike down "companions" beside them the next moment!
Even Mu Qingfeng and Mu Xue felt their minds swaying, having to fully circulate techniques to guard their dao hearts, resisting this pervasive demonic whisper's erosion.
The entire starry sky hall's atmosphere became extremely bizarre and dangerous. The earlier chaos was driven by profit, but now, under this demon head remnant soul's whispering instigation, everyone seemed to have their inner demons triggered. An even more crazy, more indiscriminate mutual slaughter was on the verge of erupting!
Xiao Qi prostrated on the ground, his father's tragic state and the demonic voice's seduction madly interweaving in his mind. Grief, anger, suspicion, desire for power... all sorts of emotions like magma churning, almost completely swallowing his reason. He felt his dao heart shattering inch by inch, as if falling into boundless darkness.
Just as his mind was about to completely fall, the jade pendant at his chest again transmitted heat! This time, the heat carried a trace of urgency and warning, and a stream of pure, peaceful cool breath forcibly injected into his chaotic sea of consciousness!
Simultaneously, the Spirit Concentration Art's formula like instinct floated up again—"External appearances are all illusory, only the true heart is real... Demonic thoughts confuse the heart, maintain stillness..."
The cool breath protected his spiritual platform. The Spirit Concentration Art's essence was like a pillar stabilizing the sea.
Xiao Qi suddenly bit the tip of his tongue. The intense pain made him instantly clear a trace!
"No... that's wrong!" He struggled to lift his head, his bloodshot eyes dead fixed on the altar's top, deep in the twisted void beside that pure light source!
This voice... this whisper full of temptation and erosive power... was absolutely no friend! It was using his father's phantom, using everyone's greed, instigating slaughter! It was the true mastermind behind the scenes!
"It's you... you demon head!!" Xiao Qi used all his strength to let out a hoarse yet hatred-filled roar, his gaze seeming to pierce the void to see the existence hiding behind!
His roar, like thunder, exploded in many cultivators' minds who had been bewitched by the demonic whispers, making them momentarily dazed.
The demon head's whispers also seemed to pause momentarily due to Xiao Qi's sudden, hatred-filled and clear accusation.
The starry sky again fell into brief silence, leaving only countless heavy breaths and that surging, soon-to-erupt destructive storm.