Ch 22: The Malevolent Monster Just Wants To Farm

However, this technique was quite ruthless, requiring a process of breaking down and then rebuilding. Jiang Lin would need to completely destroy his own bloodline and then, step by step, use the technique to transform his demonic power into the wood-based spiritual power he practiced from the Nine Spirits Art. This process of breaking down and rebuilding, with his own body as the battlefield, would be excruciatingly painful, to say the least.

More importantly, according to the system, this technique was not without risks. For someone like Jiang Lin, whose original body’s life had already ended in his original world, if this method failed, his soul would be severely damaged, possibly leading to his soul being completely destroyed.

In his current situation, Jiang Lin had a demonic identity in every world he visited, and his strength was considerable. With his knowledge of the storylines, he could protect himself and live quite comfortably. Many in his position might choose not to take such a risk.

But as soon as the system proposed the idea, Jiang Lin barely hesitated before agreeing.

While he was indeed powerful now, most of that strength came from the original White Bone Spirit. If he completed his task in this world and moved on to the next, the demonic power he had here would no longer exist. All he would retain was the slow growth of his soul from his time in this world.

Jiang Lin was not satisfied with this; he was desperate to have his own power.

Once he made up his mind, Jiang Lin began preparing for it. Over the years, he quietly searched for spiritual herbs and used his frequent seclusion to gauge the reactions of the other demons.

—Yes, even though the demons of White Tiger Ridge were quite naive and simple, Jiang Lin didn’t fully trust them. He couldn’t be sure that if he successfully rebuilt his spiritual power, during that vulnerable period, these demons who revered strength wouldn’t turn on him.

Now, the time for Sun Wukong’s battle with the White Bone Spirit was drawing near. According to the system, once the White Bone Spirit’s destined calamity passed and Jiang Lin completed his mission, he would soon leave this world.

He couldn’t wait any longer.

In the blink of an eye, twenty years passed.

The once serene valley had now become a forbidden area in White Tiger Ridge. The demons tread carefully when passing by, afraid of disturbing their king’s seclusion.

Qingluo seemed to have grown a little taller but was still a tender, white-skinned little girl. As for Zong Yu, he remained exactly the same, showing no signs of aging.

The demons of White Tiger Ridge privately speculated about Little Lord Zong’s true form, guessing that with such a long and powerful childhood, he might possess the bloodline of a divine beast. But none of them had ever seen Zong Yu in his original form, and the two small, delicate black horns on his head didn’t offer any clues.

No one dared to ask Zong Yu directly.

In truth, Zong Yu himself didn’t know. Great demons typically had inherited memories, but he had none.

He didn’t even have memories of a long period after his birth.

One day, as usual, Zong Yu sat on a tree, idly swinging his legs.

On the mountain where the Old Ape resided, a peach blossom spirit had recently been born. She was stunningly beautiful, with a graceful figure and a gentle temperament. Qingluo adored this pretty elder sister and went to play with her every day.

Zong Yu hadn’t had a decent meal in twenty years, and even teasing Qingluo had lost its appeal. Every day, he just sat on a tree in the valley, staring forlornly at the courtyard gate that hadn’t opened in twenty years.

How long was Jiang Lin going to be in seclusion this time? He was starving.

Zong Yu, frustrated, started banging his head against the tree trunk but suddenly stopped.

He sensed something and straightened up, his eyes fixed on the small courtyard.

The place, which had been quiet for twenty years, suddenly began to surge with spiritual energy.

Was Jiang Lin’s seclusion coming to an end?

Zong Yu’s emotions were no longer calm. He jumped down from the tree and rushed towards the small courtyard.

At the same moment, the accumulated spiritual energy seemed to reach its limit and exploded with a roar.

It was as if an invisible wave of spiritual energy spread out, and within a radius of several miles around the valley, wherever the energy spread, plants grew wildly. Every flower in White Tiger Ridge bloomed all at once, and even out-of-season fruit trees were laden with heavy fruits.

The commotion was so great that the demons couldn’t help but notice.

A brief moment of perception made all the demons turn their attention to the source of the spiritual energy—the small courtyard where their king was in seclusion.

So, this was the work of their king?

The true form of the White Bone Spirit wasn’t a secret in White Tiger Ridge. Some demons scratched their heads in confusion: wasn’t the king a millennium-old bone demon? Why was there such a strong wood-element aura mixed into the spiritual energy?

With their simple minds, the demons couldn’t figure it out.

Since they couldn’t figure it out, they simply stopped thinking about it.

They only knew that their king had finally come out of seclusion!

Judging by the commotion, their king had made significant progress. The stronger their king became, the more stable White Tiger Ridge would be. All in all, this was a great cause for celebration!

Perhaps Little Lord Zong’s bad mood would finally come to an end too.

The demons happily put down their work and rushed to the small courtyard, ready to congratulate Jiang Lin.

So, when Jiang Lin finally came out of seclusion and dispelled the barrier, he was met with the sight of a large group of demons.

Their gazes were warm, joyful, and full of admiration…

He was taken aback. “You all knew I finished my seclusion?”

An old white-haired demon bowed to Jiang Lin and was the first to speak, “My lord, many years ago, you granted me the favor of awakening my intelligence. This time, thanks to your infusion of spiritual energy, I have been able to take human form. I, Yunmu (the old tree that Jiang Lin transplanted in his courtyard), will never forget your grace.”

In that instant when Jiang Lin’s spiritual energy burst out, the grass and wood spirits on White Tiger Ridge benefited the most.

Some, like Yunmu, even gained the opportunity to take on human form.

Jiang Lin looked closely at the old demon before smiling and saying, “So, you are Yunmu. Congratulations on taking human form. But this spiritual infusion… what do you mean?”

He was completely unaware of the commotion he had caused.

And at this critical moment, the system was nowhere to be found.

The demons, seeing that he didn’t know, all began speaking at once, trying to explain. After a while, Jiang Lin finally understood what had happened.

He now scanned the surroundings with his spiritual sense and saw flowers in full bloom and trees heavy with fruit—a magnificent sight.

After a moment, he realized something was wrong—two very familiar people were missing.

Jiang Lin couldn’t help but ask, “Where are Qingluo and Zong Yu?”

Zong Yu slowly walked out from behind the group of demons and looked at Jiang Lin. “I’m right here.”

Jiang Lin looked at him, who was still the same as when he had gone into seclusion, and smiled, “You’re unusually quiet today.”

Zong Yu carefully studied him, clearly wanting to say something but seeming hesitant.

Jiang Lin sent the other demons away, leaving only himself and Zong Yu.

He asked, “What do you want to ask?”

Zong Yu looked up at this demon who, though unchanged in appearance, felt entirely different.

“You’ve changed a lot,” he said.

Jiang Lin remained calm. “How have I changed?”

Zong Yu furrowed his brow, clearly puzzled. “Your aura. The demonic energy around you is completely different from before. Can seclusion change you this much? It’s like you’ve become a completely different demon.”

Jiang Lin thought he had noticed something significant and was about to respond when Zong Yu suddenly relaxed and smiled. “I always felt that the sinister aura around you didn’t match who you are. Now, you seem much more agreeable.”