Chapter 120: The Transformation of the Blue Wave Painting

Night Nine Demon sank into a deep slumber, and within his dream, he saw a great demon seemingly poised to devour him. Yet, from the sky above came a figure—a man bearing a wooden sword on his back and holding a talisman in his hand—charging forward.

That man... bore a striking resemblance to himself.

Before this man stood a bizarre creature: the body of a sheep with a human face, eyes beneath its armpits, tiger-like teeth, and human hands—a fearsome, demonic visage.

Yet, under the man's gaze, the creature trembled in terror, cowering on the ground, not daring to raise its head even once.

"On the ancient path, I invoke..."

Suddenly, the man began reciting the teachings of Xuan Niang, leaving Night Nine Demon dumbfounded. What unfolded next defied belief, surpassing the limits of human power.

"Mountain and River Order, arise!"

With a sharp command, a colossal demon appeared in the sky. In the man's hand, it instantly shrank to the size of a palm. Upon grasping it, a fierce roar erupted.

"I did not wish to seal you, but you have slaughtered too many lives. If in the future you break free yourself, you may go. But if my descendants capture you, you shall be enslaved!"

With a pointed gesture, the man caused a massive gate to open in the heavens. The void trembled violently as the stars themselves descended, summoned not by mere energy simulation but by supreme power, crashing down upon the great demon.

"Seal!"

The stars plunged into the demon’s body without a ripple, radiating dazzling starlight. At the man's command, characters fluttered forth, transforming into sacred inscriptions that enveloped the demon.

"Eh?"

After the demon was sealed, the man suddenly turned his gaze toward Night Nine Demon, emitting a tone of surprise and suspicion.

"Hahaha... this technique divides into three; three births give rise to all things!"

With a sudden point, a stream of radiant light pierced into Night Nine Demon’s mind.

"Ah!"

Startled awake, Night Nine Demon screamed in agony, his eyes wide with terror.

"Am I dead?" He frantically touched his body, feeling warmth, relief washing over his face.

"Was that a Taotie just now?"

"And who was that man?!"

"What does 'this technique divides into three' mean?"

His mind was a whirlwind of confusion, the vision far too vivid and real.

He felt that the man in the dream, perhaps without even lifting a finger, could extinguish him countless times over—leaving nothing but ashes behind.

Recalling that figure sent chills down Night Nine Demon's spine; the man’s power was simply unfathomable.

...

Soon, Night Nine Demon calmed himself and retrieved the copied manuscript of the "Falling Stars." Yet, as before, he could not commit the text to memory. Puzzled, he entered the Canglang Diagram.

"Xuan Niang..." he called out within the diagram, which remained as grey and misty as before, almost void of any features except for a few scattered spots.

"What has happened to the Canglang Diagram? Could it be that my cultivation is insufficient? Have I exhausted too much of its primordial essence, causing it to become like this?"

Unease grew within him; the diagram’s condition was strange indeed.

"You have returned, my demon child?"

At that moment, Xuan Niang’s voice echoed. From one of the few luminous spots, she emerged gracefully, as beautiful as a celestial being.

"Xuan Niang, this..." Night Nine Demon began.

"The Canglang Diagram has been discovered. You must hurry and cultivate; we will protect you. Now, treat the diagram as a secret realm ripe for exploration, filled with many divine wonders..."

"Each place holds a treasure. I have come to inform you of this. Remember, do not indulge in play or sloth!"

Her face was grave; Night Nine Demon mirrored her resolve.

After the incident with Sun Qigang, he had sensed the arrival of a grand era, and now, with Xuan Niang’s words, it seemed that era was truly at hand.

"Xuan Niang, your demon child understands," he replied solemnly.

"Since you have broken through to the Celestial Realm, you may enter with your physical body. Here, you shall be the absolute foreign sovereign. To uncover its secrets, you must defeat the native inhabitants!"

"Most importantly, guard the secrets of the Canglang Diagram closely. I must depart now. Remember to train diligently!"

With that, her form dissolved into shimmering bubbles, vanishing slowly into the diagram. Night Nine Demon tried to speak but found no chance.

"The grand era... is it truly coming?" he murmured, then stepped forward, eyes gleaming with hope. For the coming of a great era meant the rise of prodigies.

He had been too lonely in this age.

"Ah, invincibility is a kind of solitude," he sighed with reluctant acceptance.

Night Nine Demon withdrew his spirit from the Canglang Diagram and then re-entered—not as a mere consciousness, but fully in body.

"Hmm? Why do I feel something in my mind..."

"Falling Stars!"

He suddenly shouted.

The elusive "Falling Stars" manuscript erupted like a storm. The sky, once a domain of stars, transformed in an instant.

Countless stars condensed, as if forming a meteor shower, then hurtled down with terrifying speed.

True to its name, the Falling Stars seemed to obliterate the earth and ignite the heavens!

"Stop!"

Night Nine Demon halted the stars before they could fall, awestruck by their overwhelming power.

Each star voraciously consumed his internal energy. Had he allowed even one meteor shower to descend, he would have been drained to nothing.

"This Falling Stars technique is powerful, but I must carefully control the amount of energy I transform and solidify. Otherwise, I might be consumed by it."

A look of satisfaction crossed his face.

"Xuan Niang said there would be challenges. Then I shall hone myself here—after all, this is mine to master!"

Gazing upon the unknown lands, a surge of daring excitement stirred within him.

"Very well."

Unwilling to confront the Nine Revered Great Demons’ domain, he chose a more vibrant, less formidable area.

...

Approaching cautiously, Night Nine Demon sensed a force that made his heart race. Yet he did not retreat; instead, he stepped resolutely into a cavern dwelling.

"Roar!"

The moment he entered, a beastly roar echoed. His eyes snapped wide, scanning the source to find a black bear.

But the bear seemed unable to leave its spot. His gaze quickly swept the surroundings until he spotted a stone tablet.

"Challenge the arena!"

Only these two words were inscribed. After a moment’s thought, Night Nine Demon understood.

"So this black bear guards a challenge arena. Defeating it should yield rewards."

He observed the eager bear, knowing such trials were rare opportunities—especially within the Canglang Diagram, surely a masterpiece realm.

With determination, Night Nine Demon stepped forward.