Mu Jinyu and Gao Yu descended the mountain, got into a car, and sped towards the headquarters of Dragon King Hall.
Gao Yu was driving the car in front, and since there were hardly any cars on the road now, he didn't need to focus much on driving to avoid an accident. He turned to look at Mu Jinyu several times, hesitating to speak.
Seeing Gao Yu turn to look at him once again, Mu Jinyu couldn't help asking, "Why do you keep staring at me?"
"Dragon Master, are you now... also..." Gao Yu, upon being questioned, hesitantly asked.
Mu Jinyu replied calmly, "Also controlling demons? Yes, you're right."
After speaking candidly, Mu Jinyu also asked, "How did you figure it out? My appearance shouldn't have changed much after controlling the demons, right?"
He felt it shouldn't be noticeable; the Ghost-Faced Demon that he controlled merged with his face as if it were one with his own, making no discernible difference, other than making his originally delicate skin rough and cold.
It wasn't like Wu Shisan or Wang Hu, who were very obvious, making people recognize at a glance that they were not normal people.
Upon receiving Mu Jinyu's precise reply, Gao Yu sighed and said, "Yes, Dragon Master, your appearance hasn't changed much, but your aura has changed a lot.
Your temperament used to be quite gentle—not to the point of being refreshing like a spring breeze, but also not off-putting.
But now, sitting there, you give off a cold vibe, not very approachable, and you even make people feel as if there's a corpse lying there..."
"So that's what it is!" Mu Jinyu nodded in understanding and said nothing more.
He knew this must be the progressively appearing side effects of controlling demons. What it would eventually become? Mu Jinyu didn't want to think about it anymore.
He only hoped that by then, the demons named "Impending Disaster" and "Tide of Chaos" could be successfully imprisoned, and the demons causing chaos around the world could also be largely dealt with.
That way, even if he had to sacrifice himself, it would still be worth it.
Soon.
The car returned to the headquarters of Dragon King Hall.
Mu Jinyu did not rush to hand over the relic to the Arhats.
Instead, while he still held the relic, when he could not lose control and harm others, he went to find Gu Xiyan and the others.
"Jinyu, you..."
Upon entering the office, as Gu Xiyan and the others looked up and saw Mu Jinyu, the happy smiles on their faces froze.
The chilly aura emanating from Mu Jinyu made them feel as if this was not Mu Jinyu but a demon wearing his face.
"It's me. I'm glad you are cautious, but remember to be careful in the future when you see anyone who looks like me now," Mu Jinyu advised.
Listening to Mu Jinyu's familiar tone, Gu Xiyan realized that this was indeed Mu Jinyu. She then understood that, like Wu Shisan, Mu Jinyu must have controlled a demon, which changed him into his current state.
"How did you... suddenly become like this?"
The people in the office asked with even greater concern, despite Mu Jinyu's words.
"It's nothing, just controlling a demon. This way, I can better deal with demons in the future!" Mu Jinyu said with a smile.
"Okay, I'm not in a good state right now. I could hurt someone at any time. I probably won't meet with you much from now on. You all should continue cultivating. For the time being, handle the trivial matters of Dragon King Hall with Aunt Mu. If a major issue arises, come and discuss it with me..."
After giving a few instructions to Gu Xiyan and the others, Mu Jinyu walked towards the door, "That's it, then. I need to hurry and give the relic to the masters making protective talismans. Once the talismans are mass-produced, the safety of the people will be ensured."
After speaking, his figure disappeared at the doorway, turning towards the staircase, heading towards the building where the Arhats resided.
"Jinyu..."
Wen Rou and Gu Xiyan, watching Mu Jinyu leave and recalling his instructions, felt a profound sadness.
Su Zijin's tears welled up in her eyes, on the verge of crying.
It was only recently that he narrowly escaped death, yet now, to protect more people from harm, he was walking down this path of no return.
Although Mu Jinyu did not explicitly say what would happen after controlling demons, Su Zijin could easily see that controlling demons would greatly reduce his lifespan; he simply wouldn't live long.
But she couldn't say much more because he was the Tiance True Dragon of Dragon King Hall.
Even if the Old Dragon King were still alive, upon encountering the current situation, he would definitely decide resolutely to control the demons to deal with this terrifying disaster!
But as a mother, she really did not want Mu Jinyu to risk his life!
...
When Mu Jinyu left the Dragon King's office, he also felt somewhat lost, because he had not completely controlled the two ghost-faced demons, and for safety's sake, he would not meet with his mother and Gu Xiyan in the coming days.
Shaking his head slightly, Mu Jinyu stopped thinking about it, clutched the relic, and went to find the Arhats.
Upon reaching the suite where the Arhats stayed, as they paused from fashioning magic artifacts to greet Mu Jinyu upon his return, they noticed his unusual state and were momentarily stunned.
"Dragon Master, you are..."
The Arhat asked, his face showing a hint of concern.
Mu Jinyu waved his hand and said, "It's nothing. Here's the situation..."
He briefly told them about his experience at the Guang Buddha Temple.
After all, this relic had been forcefully taken; if not explained, the Arhats and Ruyi might still think that he intentionally killed for treasure.
"Ah, to think that the monks of Guang Buddha Temple have fallen to such a state…"
After listening to Mu Jinyu's account, the Arhat did not blame Mu Jinyu for his decisions and actions, given that these were words from Abbot Rushi, and that the heads of the Arhat Hall and Dharma Hall had also controlled demons and transformed into devils, which was beyond his expectation.
"Alright, enough talk, now let's try using this relic to see if we can mass produce the Gold Inlaid with Jade Magical Instruments…"
Mu Jinyu, not wanting to say more, immediately started working, setting up the previously arranged Primordial Gathering Formation, to see if this relic could create a Buddha's Light Shines Everywhere effect, making every magic artifact contain the inviolable Buddha's Light!
...
While Mu Jinyu was attempting to use the relic and the formation to mass produce protective talismans...
In a school in the Capital City.
Countless demons had mysteriously arrived here, chasing something.
Atop one of the buildings.
Two people stood there, one being Le Le, the owner of Paradise Lost, and the other being Li Yaotong, the Omniscient Master.
They watched the scene of a Night Parade of One Hundred Demons below in the schoolyard, a mixture of resentment, despair, and deathly stillness pervading the entire campus, their expressions calm.
"How is it going, how many demons have you controlled?"
Li Yaotong asked.
Le Le's gaze shifted from the Knocking Ghost, Nursery Rhyme Ghost, and other demons, and said lightly, "Ten. I have completely transformed, my whole body now a Divine Body. There's basically no one in this world who can match me now."
"In that case..." Li Yaotong took a deep breath, "let's start contacting the leaders of other organizations now to have them come and die!"
"Mm," Le Le responded.
Li Yaotong then took out his phone and sent messages to the leaders of organizations like Dragon King Hall, Brilliant Divine Authority, Buddha's Light Shines Everywhere, and Way of Nature, informing them of the great terror at Spirit Communicative Ghost School and asking for their support.
"Alright, the messages have been sent. I'll head to the school gate to wait for them to come; you stay here and prepare to catch them all in one go..."
After finishing, Li Yaotong's brow split open, revealing a vertical pupil, then his body floated up, about to fly toward the school gate.
However, Le Le suddenly called out, "Wait, do me one more favor."
"What is it?"
Li Yaotong halted his steps and turned to look at Le Le.
With a mischievous smile on his face, Le Le said, "Give me your Heavenly Eye!"
As he spoke, Le Le's clothes violently tore apart, and then a dry, corpse-spotted ghastly hand extended from his chest, instantly grasping Li Yaotong's throat!