Chunibyo in Cultivation World

Inside the Grand Hall, no one paid attention to Zhang Linyuan’s condition. At that moment, they too were deeply shaken—just like him.

“This aptitude is already beyond human. Does the Pure Yang Heavenly Root possess such capability?”

“The strength of the divine soul is real. This was indeed what Lan Yu experienced.”

In the Grand Hall, several elders in the Out-of-Body Realm were the first to regain their composure, as if a decision had already formed in their minds.

“I find it normal. Strange phenomena have been occurring frequently these days. The disciples of our Sacred Land of Lingxu have shown aptitudes far surpassing those of the past thousand years. The other Sacred Lands are witnessing the same.”

“In the past, a Heavenly Root would not appear even once in a millennium, but now, our Sacred Land of Lingxu alone has seven such individuals. The other Sacred Lands and the Demonic Sect Territories are even more abundant, sprouting like fountains one after another.”

“Perhaps the world itself is attempting to save its own kind, and Li Tianwei might be the foremost among them. In the future, there might appear someone even greater than him.”

“Whether he is the reincarnation of a mighty being or the rebirth of an Immortal remains to be investigated.”

After a round of discussion, these elders and Peak Masters had already reached a decision concerning Li Tianwei’s situation.

However, before proceeding, they still needed to test him once more to determine the extent of resources and support he should receive.

While these elders deliberated, Zhang Linyuan—seeing the situation—began to use his ability as one born of the same origin as the evil demons, secretly connecting with the demons hidden within the Sacred Land of Lingxu, stirring up discord against Li Tianwei.

At present, the rumors surrounding Li Tianwei within the Sacred Land of Lingxu were growing increasingly intense. Their rapid spread owed much to the demons’ subtle instigation.

As beings capable of invading cultivators’ bodies, the demons naturally understood the nature of humans well. Human thoughts were too complex—Dao Hearts, minds, and emotions all affected their very selves.

Compared to demons, humans thought far too much.

Hence, before the elders in the Grand Hall could finalize their decisions about Li Tianwei, Zhang Linyuan intended to use this opportunity to influence him.

Undoubtedly, the rumors of Li Tianwei’s massacre in the Demonic Sect Territory at Panshan City were the perfect excuse.

“Hahaha, I have found the perfect point of entry.”

Soon, Zhang Linyuan located the key person capable of provoking conflict against Li Tianwei.

At that very moment, on Yuanhong Peak—

After mobilizing the energy of the entire Sacred Land of Lingxu, messages swiftly reached a particular person’s ears.

This person was precisely the one Zhang Linyuan believed could trigger strife involving Li Tianwei, stirring up his conflict with the Sacred Land.

Back then, after Bai Muxu established Heaven’s Gate Peak, he had accepted two disciples. Aside from Liu Muyu, who possessed the supreme Metal Spiritual Root, the other was one with a Heavenly Spiritual Root.

That person was extraordinary—less than ten years of cultivation had led him to form a Golden Core, and now, he had already reached the Nascent Soul Realm.

His name was Qing Changyu, bearer of the Ice-Origin Heavenly Spiritual Root.

However, because he had not achieved the Hundred-Day Foundation, he was not accepted as Bai Muxu’s personal disciple.

Speaking of his Foundation Establishment, it had been a frustrating affair—he completed it just one day late, taking one hundred and one days instead of a hundred.

Because of that single day, he failed to form the supreme Dao Foundation. For that reason alone, Bai Muxu did not take him under his personal tutelage.

Bai Muxu had said, “Hundred-Day Foundation must be completed within a hundred days—one day more is unacceptable.”

Thus, Qing Changyu descended the mountain and joined another peak, devoting himself desperately to cultivation, hoping to make Bai Muxu regret his decision.

But how could Bai Muxu ever glance at him again? Ten years to reach the Golden Core Realm was indeed fast, but Bai Muxu had achieved Golden Core in three years and Nascent Soul in ten. The gap between Qing Changyu and him remained insurmountable.

As a demon, Zhang Linyuan and his kin were especially attuned to emotional fluctuations—jealousy, rage, inferiority—all these human feelings were crystal clear to them.

Qing Changyu’s jealousy, anger, and self-loathing were vividly visible to the demonic senses.

Thus, he had long been listed as a target for demonic invasion.

Nevertheless, Qing Changyu was still a Heaven-Defying Genius. Though heavily struck by failure, his inner turmoil and resentment were immense, making him a slow but promising target for corruption.

Even so, through his emotional instability and mental distortion, Zhang Linyuan—using his shared demonic connection—could easily tug on that thread and influence him.

Therefore, under Zhang Linyuan’s manipulation, Qing Changyu began hearing news not only of Li Tianwei’s slaughter but also slanderous rumors of how Li Tianwei belittled and looked down upon him.

Especially with Li Tianwei’s Hundred-Day Foundation and his rumored battle against Nascent Soul cultivators, Qing Changyu’s jealousy surged violently.

Zhang Linyuan then stirred Qing Changyu’s emotions further. Before long, within his consciousness, all of Li Tianwei’s deeds and fame became provocations directed at him—personal insults meant to humiliate him.

Anger, jealousy, and resentment—all were ignited.

“Damn it! That despicable Li Tianwei, such shameless demonic filth!”

Qing Changyu failed to notice that he had already fallen under influence.

At that very moment, Zhang Linyuan arranged for a group of disciples under demonic control from Yuanhong Peak to approach Qing Changyu, flattering him while speaking ill of Li Tianwei.

Thus, this individual, already on the demons’ list of invasion targets, was so easily provoked.

Such was the eerie nature of demons—omnipresent yet undetectable.

It was precisely this insidious ability that enabled demons to suppress cultivators even in the Spirit Transformation Realm.

If the Sacred Land of Lingxu was already so compromised, what of other places? They were likely riddled with demonic infiltration like a sieve.

“Come! Follow me to Heaven’s Gate Peak! Let us purge evil and defend the Dao!”

Fueled by the demons’ whispers, Qing Changyu suddenly stood up, shouting in righteous fury.

“Senior Brother Qing, you are truly righteous!”

“That Li Tianwei must be a demonic cultivator! He must have deceived Elder Bai to gain entry into Heaven’s Gate Peak!”

“His so-called Hundred-Day Foundation must have been achieved by absorbing other cultivators! Such an evil cultivator must be punished!”

The demon-corrupted disciples fanned the flames further.

Especially now, with most elders and Peak Masters summoned by Lan Yu to the main peak, and some attending Bai Muxu’s breakthrough as protectors, Zhang Linyuan seized this opportunity—the perfect moment to strike at Li Tianwei.

If not for his need to stall the elders at the main peak, he would have personally taken action to suppress Li Tianwei.

Soon, a mass of people surged down from Yuanhong Peak.

Zhang Linyuan also directed other demon-tainted disciples across the Sacred Land of Lingxu to gather groups of “righteous” cultivators, all heading toward Heaven’s Gate Peak together.

Meanwhile, on Heaven’s Gate Peak, Li Tianwei—who had just comprehended a divine ability—remained unaware that the demons’ scheme against him was already unfolding.

Even if he had known, he likely would not have cared.

Perhaps, he might even have sighed, thinking—wasn’t this exactly the treatment he should expect?

Within the Grand Hall of the main peak, the elders continued their discussion.

Zhang Linyuan, meanwhile, desperately delayed them. With his peak Out-of-Body Realm cultivation, he had the authority to speak freely.

None of the other elders noticed anything strange about him.

Such was the horror of demons—they could perfectly mimic a cultivator once they had taken possession, leaving no trace of their true nature.