In the trial grounds behind Qingxu Temple, a three-zhang-tall bronze device hummed with a low drone. Complex runes covered its surface, the Spiritual Energy Gathering Array on the left side glowed with pure blue light, while the Demon Sealing Array on the right side emanated a faint black glow. Most eye-catching was the chaotic core at the device's center, constantly rotating—originally violent demonic energy and docile spiritual energy merged perfectly there, transforming into pure neutral energy that flowed outward.
"We did it! We finally did it!" Second Senior Brother Luo Feng danced with excitement, his bloodshot eyes sparkling with wild joy. For this moment, he had worked sleeplessly for three whole months.
The representatives from various sects watching outside the trial grounds were all stunned. They could clearly sense that the energy output from the device was both pure and stable, fully capable of replacing spirit stones to power various arrays.
"The output power equals one hundred superior-grade spirit stones, and it can run continuously." Luo Feng pointed at the monitoring formation on the device. "Most importantly, it can convert demonic energy into harmless energy, fundamentally solving the problem of demonic energy pollution."
Xiao Qi stepped forward, pressing his palm against the device's surface to carefully sense its operation. Indeed, the device ran extremely smoothly, completely lacking the dangerous feeling of imminent explosion that previous prototypes had.
"How was the stability problem solved?" he asked.
Luo Feng explained excitedly: "It was thanks to the Soul-Stabilizing Jade from overseas. This jade can stabilize energy fluctuations. I used it in the outer layer of the chaotic core, and that finally solved the problem of energy runaways."
He pointed to several key parts of the device: "The Spiritual Energy Gathering Array uses the latest overseas design, improving efficiency by thirty percent; the Demon Sealing Array integrates traditional mainland runes, doubling its strength; the core conversion formation, I redesigned based on theories from the 'World Purification Classic'..."
Xiao Qi nodded with satisfaction: "Begin mass production immediately. The first batch will priority-supply the most severely affected areas."
After the order was issued, the entire cultivation world sprang into action. Artifact refiners worked day and night crafting Spirit-Demon Engine components, formation masters busied themselves laying receiving arrays across various regions, and even overseas sent technical support teams.
Three months later, the first practical Spirit-Demon Engine was installed in the Frost Wolf Tribe of the Northern Wasteland. When the engine started, a soft energy curtain enveloped the entire tribe. The tribe members who had been shivering in the cold wind finally felt warmth in the harsh winter. More amazingly, the demonic energy around the tribe dissipated visibly, and the polluted snowfields turned white again.
"A miracle! This is a miracle!" The elderly tribal elder knelt and wept. They had been preparing to abandon this land their ancestors had lived on for generations; now they finally saw hope.
News spread, and everywhere demanded Spirit-Demon Engine installations. Xiao Qi ordered priority installation in areas severely polluted by demonic energy, while simultaneously beginning to replace traditional spirit stone power sources with Spirit-Demon Engines.
The changes were staggering. Mountain protection arrays that originally consumed large amounts of spirit stones now needed only one medium-sized Spirit-Demon Engine for continuous operation; spiritual fields abandoned in the past due to insufficient spiritual energy regained vitality under the engine's nourishment; even alchemy and artifact refining efficiency improved greatly.
"At this rate, reconstruction work that originally would take fifty years can be completed within ten." Mu Qingfeng read reports from various places, barely containing his excitement.
But Xiao Qi's attention was on another aspect: "How effective is the Spirit-Demon Engine's purification of demonic energy?"
"Even better than expected." The disciple responsible for monitoring reported. "In areas where engines are installed, demonic energy concentration has decreased by an average of seventy percent. Moreover, the energy fluctuations generated during engine operation have a natural effect on demons."
This discovery excited everyone. This meant the Spirit-Demon Engine was not just an energy device but a weapon against demonic energy.
Overseas cultivators also praised this technology highly. After Xuanji True Person personally inspected it, he immediately requested to introduce this technology.
"We can exchange Void Spirit Stone and Deep Sea Mysterious Iron for it." he offered. "Some overseas islands suffer from rampant demonic energy and need such devices."
Xiao Qi gladly agreed. This would not only exchange desperately needed resources for the mainland but would also extend the front against demonic energy to overseas.
However, just as the Spirit-Demon Engine was being rolled out on a large scale, some discordant phenomena also began to appear.
"Alliance leader, some sects are privately researching military applications of the Spirit-Demon Engine." Liu Yun reported. "They want to transform it into an offensive magical artifact."
Xiao Qi's expression darkened: "Immediately stop this behavior. The Spirit-Demon Engine is meant to save all beings, not to slaughter each other."
He ordered all core technologies of the Spirit-Demon Engine to be managed directly by the Alliance, strictly prohibiting any private modifications. At the same time, he strengthened supervision to ensure this technology was only used for righteous purposes.
But what was even more concerning was that, as the Spirit-Demon Engine was used on a large scale, spiritual energy balances in some areas began to show abnormalities.
"Alliance leader, several spiritual veins in the Southern Wasteland are showing signs of exhaustion." The geology expert reported with worry. "Preliminary judgment indicates it's caused by the Spirit-Demon Engine excessively drawing spiritual energy."
Xiao Qi personally went to investigate and found the situation was indeed worrying. The Spirit-Demon Engine, while converting demonic energy, also absorbed surrounding spiritual energy. If installed too densely, it could indeed affect local spiritual energy balance.
"Immediately adjust the deployment plan." he ordered. "Reduce engine numbers in areas with weak spiritual veins, while researching how to make the engines self-sustaining."
This problem made Luo Feng fall into deep thought. After repeated experiments, he finally devised an ingenious solution: installing an external "Spiritual Energy Feedback Array" on the engines, returning part of the converted energy back to the earth. This design not only solved the spiritual vein exhaustion problem but could also accelerate the recovery of damaged spiritual veins.
When the improved Spirit-Demon Engines were put into use, the results were immediate. Spiritual plants in the Southern Wasteland that had begun to wither regained vigor, and even the underground spiritual veins became more active than before.
"Wonderful!" Luo Feng watched the monitoring data, tears of excitement in his eyes. "This truly achieves sustainable development."
Xiao Qi patted him on the shoulder: "You've worked hard. This invention alone is enough to secure your name in history."
But Luo Feng shook his head: "Fame isn't important. What matters is being able to help everyone."
Looking at this Second Senior Brother who neglected his appearance yet had such a pure heart, Xiao Qi felt deeply moved. It was precisely because people like him were silently contributing that the three realms could get back on the path of reconstruction so quickly after the demonic tribulation.
However, while everyone celebrated the success of the Spirit-Demon Engine, Xiao Qi felt an inexplicable unease. He sensed that the changes brought by this technology were too immense, possibly triggering unexpected consequences.
Especially during one late-night meditation, he distinctly felt that the demonic energy purified by the Spirit-Demon Engine did not completely disappear but existed in some way he could not understand...
This discovery made him vigilant. Perhaps the Spirit-Demon Engine was not as perfect as it appeared. Behind the light might lie shadows unknown to all.