Chương 112: The Greedy Wolf Star Lord

Sixth Realm. Dharma Manifestation. Typically, cultivators observe the deities within their Dao Field to comprehend the divine power and laws they embody, then project those divine images between heaven and earth, forming a Dharma Manifestation that reflects their inner realm. The Dharma Manifestation helps cultivators better perceive the natural laws of the world. It also connects them to heaven and earth, allowing them to draw upon the power of the Dao, making their combat abilities far more formidable.

The strength of the Dharma Manifestation changes with the deity enshrined in the Dao Field. If a cultivator has invited an Emperor-level deity into their Dao Field, their manifestation will rise accordingly, becoming mightier and more overbearing. For demonic cultivators, however, they advance by devouring living beings. With no divine presence to anchor their Dao Field, their manifestations are wild and unpredictable. Some are bizarre and grotesque. For instance, Zhao Lian'er's was a lotus.

Abara's was a black goat. Some are even more extreme, wreathed in billowing black smoke with heads and limbs made of writhing maggots. Those who manifest such forms usually subsist entirely on worms and filth, having consumed little else. But do not mock them. These maggot-eating demons possess remarkable willpower. If they were ordinary cultivators, they would have starved long ago without ever forming a Dharma Manifestation. What Fang Cheng had just manifested was unmistakably a demonic Dharma Manifestation.

But he was a righteous cultivator. How could he let a demon become his manifestation? So he summoned a Star Lord from his Dao Field. He wasn't quite sure how he did it, but he did it nonetheless. Listen! A silent thunder seemed to erupt from the void of his Dao Field, a wordless roar that echoed from the deepest recesses of his soul. Look! In the endless void, a statuesque figure of a handsome young man stood silently.

Suddenly, its eyes slowly opened, and the stone shell covering its body began to crack and peel away. He stepped forward in a single stride, ascending to the nine heavens, and manifested his Dharma Manifestation. He was a figure of serene majesty, the embodiment of celestial authority and mortal compassion intertwined. His features were fair and noble, with sharp brows that swept like distant mountain ridges and eyes that sparkled like twin pools of starlight.

A jade crown rested upon his head, and his flowing purple robes were embroidered with silver thread that traced the patterns of constellations and cloud dragons, rippling like a river of night sky given form. A longsword hung at his waist, its scabbard etched with ancient runes that pulsed with a faint, rhythmic glow. Slung behind him was a delicate golden gourd, its mouth pointing skyward, and from within, the faint rumble of thunder could be heard, as if a storm were trapped inside.

He held a horsetail whisk in one hand, its bristles white as fresh snow, and carried himself with the quiet dignity of a judge before the heavenly court. He was the Heavenly Authority Yangming Greedy Wolf Combat Star Lord. This Star Lord ruled over mortal slaughter and judgment. His body radiated an overwhelming aura of blood and war, so dense that even a single glance from him could make all living things tremble.

The sheer terror of his presence warped the very space around him, twisting the air as if the world itself might be swallowed whole. The Star Lord looked down at the horned Dharma Manifestation that Fang Cheng had manifested and spoke. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Even a demon may achieve immortality." With that, he drew his sword and gently smoothed away the horns atop Fang Cheng's manifestation. Then the Star Lord turned his gaze toward Abara and spoke again.

"A demon must be slain." As the words left his mouth, he thrust his sword forward. The blade pierced through the void, leaving trails of black cracks in its wake. Pfft! Abara's throat was pierced. Crimson blood sprayed out in a torrent.

"Who... who are you?" Abara stared at Fang Cheng, letting out one final, desperate cry. He raised his hands to his throat, trying to hold in the life that was swiftly draining away, but it was no use. Boom! His body shattered into motes of starlight and scattered into the wind. The great Abara was dead. The Star Lord withdrew his sword and turned his gaze to Zhao Lian'er. He stood in silence for a long moment, then murmured:"Greedy Wolf was once a greedy sheep. You and I are both greedy creatures.

Neither of us is a lotus in a pond. Your path is a dead end." With a sigh, he reached out his right hand. Buzz! In an instant, starlight burst forth. Behind Zhao Lian'er, her black lotus Dharma Manifestation materialized involuntarily. But now, a massive hand from the heavens seized it, and no matter how fiercely it struggled, it could not break free.

"Ah!" A piercing scream tore from Zhao Lian'er's throat as she fought desperately to free her manifestation. But it was futile. Vast, spiderweb-like formations appeared across the celestial hand, wrapping around the black lotus and squeezing tighter. The formations contracted rapidly, and soon the lotus could no longer withstand the pressure. With a shattering crack, it broke apart into countless black fragments that dissolved into the void.

With her Dharma Manifestation destroyed, Zhao Lian'er's body crumpled to the ground. Her face was deathly pale, drained of all color. She looked up at the Star Lord in the heavens, her eyes blank, her face a mask of confusion and terror. At the same time, her aura plummeted. The powerful cultivation she had built up vanished in an instant.

"Those marked by the Greedy Wolf are cursed by heaven, burdened with countless tribulations. I grant you the path of the Greedy Wolf, to dispel these afflictions. From this day forward, you shall protect the balance of good and evil, slay demons, and uphold justice." With those words, the Star Lord reached out and gently pressed his finger to Zhao Lian'er's forehead. Boom! A surge of starfire, wreathed in endless black flames, rushed into Zhao Lian'er's mind. In that moment, she felt her very soul ignite.

"No! I will not be your slave!" Zhao Lian'er screamed, fighting with all her might against the invading celestial power.

"Yes, yes! She's my delicacy! I don't want her to be a slave!" Fang Cheng chimed in from the side. Zhao Lian'er paused. She would rather be a slave than a meal on a plate. So she let go. She surrendered completely, opening herself to the raging torrent of starlight. In an instant, the celestial fire spread through her body like a wildfire, searing every cell, every organ, every meridian, every blood vessel. It was agony beyond description, as if a million venomous insects were gnawing at her from within.

She nearly blacked out. But it was necessary. Because she had devoured too many living beings, and her mind was clouded with their lingering thoughts. The purifying flames had to burn away those impurities, cleanse her vessel, and refine her true Dao.

"Ahhh!" With a final, agonized scream, Zhao Lian'er's cultivation surged. Behind her, a new Dharma Manifestation appeared, first taking the gentle form of the Greedy Wolf Star Lord himself, then twisting into Fang Cheng's grotesque, distorted face, before finally settling into her own likeness, pure and radiant as a blooming white lotus. Buzz! Ninth Realm. Sacred Manifestation. With the Greedy Wolf Star Lord's blessing, Zhao Lian'er had reached the pinnacle of mortal cultivation.

Only one step remained: to ascend and become a celestial immortal. Truly, it was maddening to compare. Compared to the Greedy Wolf Star Lord's generosity, the Literary Star Lord who had passed his legacy to Li Shuyan was a miser through and through. Zhao Lian'er looked at the surging power within her, then at her Dharma Manifestation behind her. Though it bore her own face, if one looked closely, traces of Fang Cheng's features lingered in its expression.

"Sigh." She let out a sigh, her expression complicated. But still, she clasped her hands and bowed before the Greedy Wolf Star Lord.

"Disciple pays respects to the Star Lord."

"Virtue." The Star Lord nodded, then dissolved into a beam of starlight and returned to Fang Cheng's Dao Field.

"Sigh." Fang Cheng sighed as well, wiping the drool from his mouth. What a waste. His delicious prey had turned into a little sister. But then he patted his full, bulging belly and decided not to dwell on it. He had eaten well enough today. Hahahaha...

"Mother Abara, I will always remember you. Without your generous gift, I would not have a full belly. Baa, baa, baa. I'm a little lamb. Come on, Lian'er, my little sister, baa with me! And Old Six, you too! Baa, baa, baa! Hahahaha..." Zhao Lian'er: "..." Zhu Old Six: "..."