The demon invasion of the cultivation world this time began with the leakage from the Demon Sealing Cave of Bai Gu Sect in Ying Shan Kingdom, affecting the Ying Shan Kingdom and Lu Kingdom, which were engaged in battle at the time.
Several surrounding countries were also affected to varying degrees.
For demons, such a public menace to humanity, major sects, regardless of their alignment, began strict investigations.
Upon discovering cultivators possessed by demon seeds, they were all killed and burned, regardless of their closeness or distance.
Some quick-thinking cultivators found artifacts that could detect demon seeds and tested themselves. If truly possessed, they could still live for a few more years by escaping to a deserted place.
In fact, even cultivators could not face death calmly.
Therefore, during this period, artifacts capable of detecting demon seeds were priced at exorbitant rates, and even with spirit stones, they were difficult to obtain.
...
Above a stone forest, a cultivator from Chi Yang Sect fled desperately, his expression ferocious and disheveled.
Behind him, a man of similar attire from Chi Yang Sect, burly and with a scar on his face, pursued relentlessly.
"Ji Wudi, after so many years as fellow disciples, do you truly intend to kill me?"
This scar-faced man was Ji Wudi, who had crossed paths with Xiao Fei twice before. He had now cultivated to the Golden Core realm.
"Zhou Ying, it's not that I don't cherish our past friendship, but you have been possessed by a demon seed and are doomed to die. In the future, you will become an enemy of humanity."
"I implore Senior Brother Zhou to consider the greater good."
As Ji Wudi spoke, he unleashed a great saber artifact towards Zhou Ying. Zhou Ying dared not meet the attack and could only flee desperately.
"Ji Wudi, listen to me. I heard there is a 'Ghost Doctor' in the cultivation world who can treat demon seeds within the body."
Zhou Ying explained to Ji Wudi as he fled. He had originally intended to seek out this Ghost Doctor, but Ji Wudi had caught up to him.
"You believe such nonsense from a charlatan? They only seek to swindle wealth."
Ji Wudi scoffed at this. The cultivation world was filled with countless powerful individuals, yet none could resolve demon seeds. How could they be so easily treated?
"Ji Wudi, give me a chance. Let me try this desperate measure.
What if it works?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Wudi pondered for a moment and then nodded.
"Alright! I will accompany you on this journey."
If it could truly be cured, not only would Zhou Ying be saved, but Chi Yang Sect would also suffer less loss, and it would be a blessing to the cultivation world.
...
On a secluded street in Xing Yue City, an inconspicuous small shop stood. A wooden board, salvaged from a table, was placed at the entrance, with four large characters written in charcoal.
"Detect Demon Seeds! We Guarantee Secrecy!"
Currently, artifacts capable of detecting demon seeds were extremely scarce in the cultivation world, and most cultivators could not afford them.
Even if they managed to acquire one, cultivators below the Golden Core realm lacked sufficient spiritual power to use it themselves, requiring assistance from others.
This led to the emergence of many similar shops specializing in helping people detect demon seeds within their bodies.
At this moment, in a secret room within this shop, a horse-faced cultivator, his face drawn, reluctantly paid ten thousand spirit stones and placed his hand on a jade disk.
Just then, a red dot the size of an egg appeared on the jade disk.
"This... is your jade disk broken!" the horse-faced man asked incredulously.
In truth, he already had his own answer.
His personality had changed drastically recently, and he had long sensed something was amiss.
"Heh heh! Unfortunately, whether you believe it or not is not up to you. You are free not to believe."
At this moment, Xiao Fei, sitting in a corner, stood up with a chuckle, revealing his Golden Core aura.
A large net immediately descended, capturing the horse-faced cultivator. He was then lifted and carried towards a small door at the back.
Zhu Yu and Huang Feifei then stepped forward, taking the horse-faced cultivator from Xiao Fei's grasp.
"Another little fish that walked right into our net."
After they had identified and imprisoned all the hidden demons within their sect on an unnamed peak, their sect's mission was considered complete.
Leaving nine Foundation Establishment cultivators to guard the unnamed peak, the three of them came to Xing Yue City for sting operations.
With a small sign at the entrance, several customers would arrive almost every day, though most were normal.
The few possessed cultivators were apprehended on the spot without any effort.
Xiao Fei did not kill these apprehended cultivators directly. People were born of parents, and as long as there was no enmity, he did not wish to cause unnecessary bloodshed.
These cultivators were secretly imprisoned by him, forcibly treated with lightning spiritual energy, and charged a treatment fee.
For those who lacked sufficient wealth, Xiao Fei thoughtfully provided an accounting service, allowing them to repay the spirit stones later when they earned them.
As for defaulting on payment, Xiao Fei would treat their primordial spirits with lightning spiritual energy daily. Without leaving any contingencies, no one would believe him.
...
Almost simultaneously, Zhou Ying and Ji Wudi appeared in a secret room.
A white-haired cultivator placed a jade disk before them. Zhou Ying placed his palm on it, and a red mass larger than a rice bowl appeared on the disk.
"Oh dear! Your condition is very serious, already in the late stages. If you don't seek treatment promptly, you likely only have a month to live."
The white-haired old man sighed with a look of urgency.
The two frowned. They had tested just two days prior, and the red dot reflected by Zhou Ying should have only been the size of a mung bean. How had it grown so quickly?
"Esteemed Daoist, you should get tested as well. Our establishment is different from those black-hearted shops. A single test costs only 100 spirit stones, and you get one free with a purchase."
The white-haired old man urged Ji Wudi to get tested, as they had been together for a long time and might have been affected.
Ji Wudi felt a bit suspicious, so he followed suit and placed his palm on it. He discovered a red mass larger than his fist appearing on the jade disk once more.
"See! Fortunately, you got tested too, otherwise, you might be replaced by a demon without even knowing it."
"Your conditions are both incurable in the cultivation world. You should know this yourselves, there's no need for me to elaborate."
The white-haired elder spoke with a swaying head, appearing profound and unfathomable.
"However, you are both extremely fortunate to have encountered me here."
"My ancestors possessed a secret formula that could cure demon seeds parasitizing the body, but ancestral teachings forbade its external transmission."
"However, I have always been kind-hearted. In this time of crisis for the cultivation world, I have made a decision that goes against my ancestors."
"I have made a great vow to save the lives of all cultivators possessed by demon seeds in the world."