Chu Weiyang remained calm.
Over the years, he had endured countless hardships.
If he couldn't bear even a bit of mockery, with such a fiery temper, Chu Weiyang would have long angered himself to death.
But letting the Stable Master continue barking incessantly was also not an option.
Chu Weiyang didn't want to really argue with the Stable Master, for that might just play into the latter's hands.
Oh, he had nothing left to play into.
Everything had rotted under the giant rock, turning into mud.
Setting aside the flesh in his hands, the young man took two steps forward, standing beside the basket, bowing his head to gaze down at the Stable Master who was still laughing eerily.
In this world, not all expressions suited everyone.
For example, a smile.
Some people could convey a myriad of emotions with just a slight curl of their lips, while others could reveal the hardships of life with a slight parting of their lips.
But some, when they smiled, might appear sinister, greasy, or distorted.
The Stable Master continued his eerie laughter.
Perhaps in his mind, this smile was mocking, insane, and cruel.
But he had forgotten, the dusty gray mixed with dark crimson blood caking his plump face, upon closer inspection, resembled a pig's head, making it impossible to discern any human features.
This smile only made Chu Weiyang subconsciously notice the layers of his squeezed chin and the slightly yellowed tooth.
Truly unsightly.
With a cold face, Chu Weiyang raised his hand, pinching the Stable Master's neck, pressing on the Twelve Towers.
Immediately, his divine power condensed in his palm, then forcefully surged into the Stable Master's Ren and Du meridians.
Divine power was meant to nourish a person's spiritual essence throughout their body.
Such actions were usually a last resort to save a life in a crisis.
But with Chu Weiyang's divine power eroded by malevolent energy, at this moment, it only made the Stable Master feel indescribable agony!
Just like the years Chu Weiyang had often experienced.
The eerie laughter abruptly ceased, and the Stable Master's eyes widened suddenly.
He opened his mouth, subconsciously seeming to want to scream in pain.
However, upon seeing the mocking expression fleeting in Chu Weiyang's hollow eyes, the Stable Master forcibly held back, restraining the urge to scream, only trembling violently.
After a moment, Chu Weiyang withdrew his palm.
After all, using divine power in such a manner inflicted the same pain on Chu Weiyang himself.
Unless necessary, he was not one to enjoy tasting pain and embracing it willingly.
Then, Chu Weiyang's hoarse voice rang out.
"Stable Master, there's no benefit in provoking me. You've only lost two legs, oh no, three... but three legs lost. I doubt you'll truly go insane. There's no need to feign madness. In the Demon-Sealing Cave, I've seen all kinds of lunatics. Don't think that I'll end your suffering with a sword once I'm enraged. We have many scores to settle slowly! You shouldn't invite trouble upon yourself. With me around, even if you wish for a swift death, it won't come easy. What do you say?"
Chu Weiyang's calm and hoarse voice seemed to contain a mysterious power akin to thunder, causing the now composed Stable Master to shiver involuntarily, appearing at a loss for words, half in despair and half in pain, closing his eyes.
Chu Weiyang's voice continued.
"No! Don't close your eyes! Stable Master, when I speak such words, even if it's just the two of us, the wisest action at this moment is to do nothing, to simply stay there quietly, like a piece of rotten meat, to endure the least suffering and quickly dispel the resentment in another person's heart... Stable Master, this is the principle you once taught us! It's effective! Now, I'll teach it to you!"
With that, Chu Weiyang's hand once again fell on the Stable Master's neck.
Suddenly, goosebumps rose.
The Stable Master quickly opened his eyes, looking at Chu Weiyang like an old dog, almost crying when he spoke.
"I didn't expect... I really didn't expect... spare me... spare me... grant me a swift death..."
As he spoke, the Stable Master lowered his head, truly weeping.
"Please, I beg of you, I beg of you..."
Even though the Stable Master didn't look up, Chu Weiyang coldly shook his head, then without hesitation, pressed his palm on the Twelve Towers.
Divine power rose, divine power fell.
Sweat beads the size of beans mixed the dust and blood on the Stable Master's face.
With his head lowered, the Stable Master could only moan weakly with a faint voice...
At this moment, in Chu Weiyang's eyes, the Stable Master finally bore a somewhat demonic and sinister appearance.
Satisfied, the young man slowly straightened up.
"Being able to serve as the Stable Master in the Demon-Sealing Cave, you should be a clever person. Stable Master, tell me, are you a clever person?"
In the basket, the Stable Master continued to moan.
Chu Weiyang's hoarse voice grew louder, sounding more tearing.
"Speak!"
Almost instinctively, the Stable Master shuddered.
He regained his senses but seemed unable to speak due to a damaged throat, only managing to nod towards Chu Weiyang with difficulty.
"So, Stable Master, tell me, is there any hope for someone like me? What methods should be used for salvation? Don't think of playing tricks. Since you're a clever person, you should know I have many means, many of the methods you once taught us..."
Chu Weiyang then crouched down again, tilting his head, carefully listening to the hoarse voice coming from the Stable Master's throat.
"Those tainted by malevolent energy have no hope. Otherwise, why would it be called the Demon-Sealing Cave? For cultivators below the Foundation Establishment realm, without talismans to protect them, entering the Demon-Sealing Cave means only death, it's just a matter of time..."
"I taught you to refine malevolent essence daily, just to expedite this process..."
"And our sect's sword techniques, at higher levels, require tempering the sword embryo, sword intent, and sword qi with malevolent essence..."
"Moreover, today, when the Earth Dragon stirred, a massive surge of malevolent energy erupted from an entire vein... I'm already surprised you didn't die in the stone cave..."
"That's an immense amount of malevolent energy, washing over your body, cleansing every corner of your being..."
"Not just in your divine power, but even in the faintest parts of malevolent energy within your body, the purest ones, those condensed and sublimated, lurk in your flesh and blood, your organs, your essence..."
"Even if you continue to cultivate techniques and refine divine power, what do you think will happen?"
"Do you believe you've escaped from the Demon-Sealing Cave?"
"No! From now on, your standing ground, your body, will be your own Demon-Sealing Cave!"
"Do you think I pretended to go mad and provoke you just now?"
"No, it's because I know, sooner or later, you will go insane, you will go mad due to the inevitable pain you can't escape. I must seek a swift end before that..."
"But..."
Many books are now hard to find, so cherish what you have.