In the main hall's depths, the Buddha-demon halo violently oscillated from being triggered by the murals' true meaning. That glass-like golden heart wrapped in black threads and that suspected Buddha head's dark skull appeared briefly, and the shock had yet to subside when an even more sinister and treacherous danger had already quietly descended.
Just as Xiao Qi and Zhao Tiezhu were fully focused, their minds immersed in those profound and ancient "Indestructible Diamond Body" body refining charts and formulas on the walls, an extremely hidden, cold and slippery will, like a venomous snake lurking in shadows, quietly wound up along the divine consciousness and qi and blood fluctuations they emitted while observing the murals, trying to invade their minds!
This demonic thought wasn't a physical attack or powerful energy impact, but pointed directly at the Dao heart, amplifying desires, distorting cognition!
For Zhao Tiezhu, the "Earth Diamond Form" chart he was struggling to understand and memorize in his mind suddenly became "clear"! The method in the mural for drawing earth vein power to strengthen oneself, in his "eyes," abruptly became extremely simple and direct—why painstakingly sense earth veins and draw that meager power? Devour! Directly devour this Golden Sand ancient city's power beneath his feet! This entire city was forged from Buddhist power golden sand, containing infinite energy. If devoured, one could immediately attain a holy body with boundless strength!
A temptation-filled whisper sounded in his heart: "Devour it! Devour this city! You'll possess invincible power! Never need to follow behind others again, never need to watch your brother bear risks alone! You'll become the strongest body cultivator!"
Zhao Tiezhu's eyes instantly became somewhat dazed, his breathing heavy. The pale golden qi and blood light on his body surface faintly rose with an abnormal dark red. His fists unconsciously clenched tight. An aura of violence and greed began emanating from him. The golden sand ground beneath his feet even began trembling slightly, as if truly about to be triggered and devoured by his will.
Simultaneously, the interference Xiao Qi encountered was even more strange and dangerous. He was observing the "Wrathful Wisdom King Seal," originally simulating when Buddha subdued demons, combining boundless anger with compassion, turning into a supremely powerful strike that surged forward and suppressed evil. However, that demonic thought quietly twisted his understanding of "anger" and "power."
In his "eyes," that Wisdom King Seal no longer needed a compassionate heart as foundation. Pure anger, extreme killing intent—that was power's true source! Guardian? Why guard others? Self-power, sweeping everything, was the greatest guardian! Crushing all obstacles, all enemies, using their blood and fear to forge one's own invincible golden body!
Bloody, violent scenes flashed in his mind: he held the Red Flame Sword, cutting down all who wouldn't submit; he channeled Southern Ming Li Fire, burning all so-called righteous sects; he stood atop mountains of corpses and seas of blood, with thousands of cultivators prostrate at his feet, himself supreme!
An icy, domineering, supreme-over-all will began impacting his guardian sword heart, trying to twist that inclusive, firm guardian intent into an extremely self-centered "obey me and prosper, oppose me and perish" demonic heart! His whole body's aura also became sharp and dangerous. At his fingertips, uncontrolled Red Flame sword intent faintly flickered, as if he might erupt to harm someone at any moment.
"Squeak—!"
The rabbit spirit keenly detected the drastic change in both their auras, especially that extremely loathsome cold demonic thought. It issued a sharp, anxious screech, forcefully scratching Xiao Qi's collar, trying to wake him.
However, that demonic thought eroded without form, pointing directly at the heart's deepest desires and weaknesses—extremely difficult to guard against.
Just as Zhao Tiezhu was almost unable to control himself, truly about to try devouring the golden sand beneath his feet, and a struggling crimson also flashed in Xiao Qi's eyes, his guardian sword heart teetering—
In the depths of Xiao Qi's dantian, that always-silent "Dao Seed" obtained from the Heavenly Dao Palace patriarch's lecture, and the jade pendant on his chest, both simultaneously trembled!
The Dao Seed emitted a cool, peaceful aura, like dew sprinkling down, instantly cleansing those bloody, violent illusions in his mind, making his chaotic mind clear! The jade pendant flowed with gentle Purification Source, like the most loyal guardian, wrapping, purifying, and driving away the demonic thought invading his mind strand by strand!
"Not right!" Xiao Qi was instantly alerted, cold sweat soaking his back instantly. That was close! This demonic thought was so strange—it could amplify the desire for power when observing body refining techniques and twist it toward extremes and the demonic path!
He immediately restrained all his mind and spirit. His guardian sword heart, like tempered refined steel, became even more firm and pure, thoroughly cutting off the remaining demonic thought. He turned to look at Zhao Tiezhu—seeing his eyes faintly red, his aura violent, the golden sand beneath his feet trembling—clearly already deep in the demonic thought!
"Tiezhu! Wake up!" Xiao Qi's tongue burst with spring thunder. A shout containing pure spiritual power and guardian will, like a thunderclap, exploded beside Zhao Tiezhu's ear!
Simultaneously, he extended two fingers like a sword. A thread of condensed, peaceful Purification Source pointed at Zhao Tiezhu's brow from a distance!
Zhao Tiezhu's whole body shook violently, like being doused with cold water. The blood color in his eyes rapidly receded, and his violent aura also instantly dissipated. He blankly looked at his tightly clenched fists, then at the slightly trembling sand beneath his feet, recalling that crazy thought of devouring everything in his mind just now. He was instantly scared pale, cold sweat pouring.
"Brother Qi... I... I just..." He was still shaken, unable to speak clearly.
"It's the residual demonic thought at work, amplifying your desire for power, enticing you toward extremes." Xiao Qi explained with a grave expression, "Observing these murals requires guarding the original heart, distinguishing right from wrong. Remember not to be impatient for quick success, and definitely don't be confused by power itself."
He looked again at those profound patterns on the wall, his eyes carrying twelve points of vigilance. This "Indestructible Diamond Body" transmission was indeed not so easily obtained. Not only was there the core secret of Buddha-demon power confrontation, even this peripheral observation and comprehension came with such dangerous heart-demon trials.
This ancient Buddhist temple, after ages of ruin and silence, still contained crises that could kill people without a trace!
After this danger, neither dared to easily immerse their minds completely in the murals anymore. Instead, they were even more careful and cautious, examining and defending as they continued memorizing and pondering those remaining charts and formulas. Simultaneously, they devoted more than half their minds to guarding against that omnipresent demonic thought interference.
The transmission was right before their eyes, yet every step held hidden killing intent. To truly obtain this "Indestructible Diamond Body," they first had to defeat this demonic thought erosion from ages past.