Zhang Chen felt a bit awkward upon hearing this. Xie Lingyun seemed to notice Zhang Chen’s embarrassment, but she jokingly said, "Alright, you kept secrets from me saying you had a technique to suppress the Great Freedom Celestial Demon, yet you didn’t tell me earlier, leaving me worried for nothing. If that Great Freedom Celestial Demon hadn’t come to find you, would you have watched me die without helping?"
She was just teasing and didn’t really suspect that Zhang Chen would watch her die without helping, as they were in the same boat. Zhang Chen was a smart person, and a smart person wouldn’t do something foolish.
Zhang Chen smiled wryly, "How could that be? The Great Freedom Celestial Demon wouldn’t let me go and would never tolerate my continued existence. The reason I didn’t confront it earlier was that I didn’t have a way to restrain the beast. It was only after returning and facing a life-or-death crisis that I gained new insights into Talismanic Technique and came up with some new mystical ideas. But I didn’t know if they would work. At the crucial moment, I used them as a final gambit and luckily subdued this demon."
Soul Hook Skill was his last trump card and couldn’t be revealed to others!
Anyway, no one knew his methods, and no one understood the mysteries of Qi Cultivation for immortality. He could simply attribute the wondrous aspects of his Soul Hook Skill to Talismanic Technique and Qi Cultivation Technique. Who would suspect? There were no other Qi Cultivators in the world besides himself. Who would know if what he said was true or false?
"How would you like me to thank you?" Xie Lingyun’s eyes looked at Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen smiled wryly again, "Being able to survive is already a great fortune. How could I deserve your gratitude?"
In response, Xie Lingyun didn’t mind, "I offered you a position, but you refused. As for gold and jewels, you don’t care for them. In that case... there is a book on Talismanic Technique in the Inspection and Supervision Department, and I can lend it to you for a month."
"Thank you, Lord Xie." Zhang Chen was overjoyed upon hearing this and promptly bowed respectfully to Xie Lingyun.
"No need for formalities. You saved my life, so there’s no need to keep such distance in the future," Xie Lingyun said gently.
If previously Xie Lingyun had been high and mighty, difficult to approach, then now she was approachable, radiating a sense of charm and friendliness.
"Now that your negative thoughts are sealed, what’s next?" Zhang Chen asked, looking at Xie Lingyun, feeling this wasn’t a long-term solution and that they needed to find an answer.
"I find it quite peculiar. It’s a unique state—no malice in my heart, and my cultivation speed seems to be increasing. Tonight, I’ll be able to break through Possession. Within six months, I’ll break through Appearance. Within a year, I’ll definitely reach Possession, and within five years, I’ll confirm the Yin Spirit. I never imagined losing my negative emotions would have such a benefit." Xie Lingyun’s gaze was peculiar, having never imagined that the absence of negative emotions could have such a remarkable advantage.
Hearing Xie Lingyun’s words, Zhang Chen was stunned, his thoughts bouncing around in his mind: "Could it be that Xie Lingyun gained a buff because she lost her negative emotions?"
A cheat code for good deeds rewarded?
"Heavenly Dao is unpredictable and always favors the good." Zhang Chen was inexplicably moved.
Xie Lingyun looked at Zhang Chen with her eyes, then glanced at the jar sealing the Great Freedom Celestial Demon: "I need to go back. I’ll entrust you with the Demon. I’ll come to the Daoist Temple every seven days to visit you. In seven days, I’ll deliver the Talismanic Technique to you."
Xie Lingyun, having survived the ordeal, spoke with uncontainable joy as she headed towards the door.
"Wait, there’s still one more problem. Don’t forget!"
Zhang Chen called out to Xie Lingyun, referring to the vengeful ghost of a wronged woman, which had become formidable due to the Great Freedom Celestial Demon’s energy, equating to its avatar.
However, it should be pointed out that the avatar of the Great Freedom Celestial Demon isn’t the same as Xie Lingyun’s Heart Demon.
A person can only have one Celestial Demon, or one Heart Demon, but the Great Freedom Celestial Demon, vested in all beings, can have countless!
"Leave it to me; a mere little ghost doesn’t pose a threat! Once I destroy the vengeful ghost, the Great Freedom Celestial Demon will lose its foundation, and its demon seed avatar will naturally dissipate," Xie Lingyun’s voice echoed from outside as she disappeared from sight.
Zhang Chen relaxed upon hearing her words, his gaze landing on the jar: "I wonder if I can extract any skills from this Great Freedom Celestial Demon."
The abilities of this Great Freedom Celestial Demon were quite overwhelming. One ability: invincible when anchored in the mind, immortal. Second ability: formless.
No matter which skill he acquired, it would be extraordinary.
Zhang Chen looked at the Great Freedom Celestial Demon in the jar, pondering. The next moment, he unleashed a burst of Golden Light in his hand, casting it towards the barrier of the jar. The Great Freedom Celestial Demon, upon contact with the barrier, grimaced in pain and cried out, "Boy, you’ve already sealed me. Why torture me? You’re mistreating a prisoner. This is too unethical."
The Great Freedom Celestial Demon howled in pain, but Zhang Chen paid it no mind, continuing to apply the Golden Light. After about thirty breaths, the cries grew weaker, and the presence diminished, forcing him to halt: "Strange, no skills have dropped. Where did it go wrong?"
Zhang Chen found it a bit odd. Why hadn’t any skills dropped?
"There’s plenty of time for research later. For now, let’s sleep." Zhang Chen murmured to himself as he headed toward the bed. "If only I could trigger a breakthrough like with the True Dragon Skill, and transform this Great Freedom Celestial Demon into my skill too."