"Devil energy?!" blurted Luo Chen in a tone of surprise and doubt. In the next moment, Han Zhan drifted out from the Myriad Soul Banner.

Heavenjade trembled when she saw him and stepped aside, bowing in respect. She and Black King both knew that Luo Chen was accompanied by the soul remnant of a Sage. During those years in the Profound Rock Sea Region, many matters had been handled by Han Zhan whenever Luo Chen was occupied. Han Zhan had even stepped in to save her when she nearly fell into enemy hands, and it was also at his instruction that Black King seized the Demon Emperor's remains. At times, he commanded them in Luo Chen's place.

The aura of a Sage was absolute. Even a soul remnant placed enormous pressure on demonic beasts like them.

His presence was one of many reasons Heavenjade and Black King had often wondered about Luo Chen's background. His mana was pure and his aura dignified, and at a glance, he did not seem like a rogue cultivator. When he directed others, his arrangements were precise and orderly. He gave orders as if he was entirely used to his orders being immediately fulfilled. Moreover, he was accompanied by the lingering soul of a Sage. Taken together, everything about him made him seem like the direct inheritor of a top-tier sect. They even wondered whether Luo Chen might in fact be a disciple of the Primordial Devil Sect.

Luo Chen and Han Zhan naturally paid no attention to Heavenjade's swirling thoughts. Luo Chen's expression shifted with uncertainty. "Is that really devil energy? How does that even work, anyway?"

On the surface of the banner, Han Zhan's aged face flickered faintly. He slowly spoke, "Heaven and earth possess spirit, and from it comes what we call spirit energy. All things between heaven and earth draw in that energy and transform it into their own power. That is how strength is cultivated. But because individuals differ, and cultivation paths differ, the power they develop naturally varies as well.

"For example, we humans transform spirit energy into spirit power and then mana, while those of the demon races convert spirit power into demonic power. Those are the broad categories, but if you look closer, there are many special forms of power. Take, for instance, that so-called Primal Cloak we captured a while back. That's Hidden Dust Sand—neither human nor beast, like stone yet also like a demon. The power it produces resembles both demonic power and human spirit power. Or think of plant spirits. Calling them demonic beasts is obviously not accurate. They're closer to sprites, and the power they produce is pure and perfectly attuned to heaven and earth. Whether for humans or demons, absorbing it only brings benefits. If we narrow it down further, the older medicinal herbs you use for alchemy are also a way of transforming that kind of power. In the Mountain and Sea Realm, there are countless races, and countless kinds of power..." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Han Zhan spoke at length. He did not answer Luo Chen's question directly. Instead, he explained the evolution of different classes of beings, the way they processed spirit energy, and the difference in the power they produced using it. Luo Chen was impatient at first, but as he listened, he unexpectedly gained some insights.

Recently, he had been looking into how to combine human cultivation techniques with demonic ones so that transformed demons could more effectively take in the spirit energy of heaven and earth and turn it into demonic power. Yet there were many obstacles, and even with his vast knowledge from countless books, solving them was quite difficult.

Now, Han Zhan's words resolved some of his doubts. All kinds of power seemed mysterious and their applications were vastly different, yet they all ultimately drew from the energies of heaven and earth. In other words, his path was correct: If demons took human form to cultivate, then they needed to reshape the methods human cultivators used and adapt them for themselves.

In principle, it was like taking some reins designed for horses and adapting them for use on oxen, while the cart they pulled was the same. The analogy might not be entirely accurate, but Luo Chen did not care at the moment. Instead of focusing on the sudden emergence of He Yuan, he became immersed in Han Zhan's explanation.

Han Zhan existed only as a lingering soul, yet the nature of his power remained the same—and that power was close to the peak of the world. Naturally, his knowledge far surpassed Luo Chen's. It was rumored that Sages possessed the ability to glimpse the Dao of Heaven and Earth and the laws of power. A few casual words from him might resolve many doubts in Luo Chen's mind. Luo Chen felt a little more confident about creating a cultivation technique for Heavenjade. He even sensed that if he succeeded, it would benefit him as well.

Whether Han Zhan realized the impact of his words, only he could tell. Perhaps he meant to use the moment to pass on to Luo Chen his understanding of the laws of power. In the end, however, the conversation slowly returned to the original topic. Han Zhan spoke somewhat monotonously, in a solemn and resonant tone.

"Physique cultivators may seem different from qi cultivators like us, but the fortified qi they produce is still just another form of spirit energy. The difference is that it passes through the flesh and focuses on the body rather than the divine soul. In the past, the fortified qi of physique cultivators stood alongside the mana of qi cultivators and the demonic energy of demon cultivators as one of the major power systems. It only declined later.

"But beyond those three systems, there is another just as formidable—devil energy. Now, pay attention: While the name is making it sound rather maleficent, this is in no way the same as the so-called evil paths people usually talk about. Those corrupt heretics are crooked and extreme in their conduct, but the actual power they use is no different from ours. True devil energy only emerges after devil cultivators refine their power to an extreme purity."

Luo Chen frowned slightly. "So you're telling me these devil cultivators are actually a different class altogether?"

Han Zhan nodded. "Right. They're not really evil or anything; it's simply a way of naming things. Just like immortal cultivators, demon cultivators, or physique cultivators. Different places use different terms."

"I see. I was really thinking about it the wrong way." Luo Chen paused, then suddenly realized something. "So that means He Yuan is a true devil cultivator?"

"Exactly," Han Zhan spoke with a hint of nostalgia. "When I first advanced to the Golden Core Realm, I traveled through the thirty-six domains of the Eastern Wilderness with my friend Ice Torrent. Once, we happened to run into an Adept from the Primordial Devil Sect, and I actually remember his aura very clearly. It was somewhat like mana formed when spirit power merges with the divine soul, but also like the rough demonic energy drawn out by demonic beasts. It's a paradoxical power, both refined and crude at the same time. In battle, that power was extremely domineering, far beyond what ordinary cultivators could match."

At this point, Han Zhan glanced at Luo Chen. Luo Chen's eyebrow arched. The mana within him stirred, seemingly eager to test itself. As far as he had been told, the fire-attribute mana of the Heavenly Phoenix Nirvana Scripture was precisely this kind of domineering power. As far as he had found out himself... His full palm strike on Profound Rock Island resulted in the death or severe injury of seven late-stage Demon Kings, including the likes of Golden Pincer and Golden Armor. Even in the battle with the sixth-stage Adept Wu Qi, Luo Chen's strike blasted the man across the sea, and Luo Chen had only reached the third stage at that point. It could be said that Luo Chen could fight above his realm not only because of his vast mana reserves but also because the quality of his mana exceeded that of ordinary cultivators.

I wonder if my mana is stronger or He Yuan's devil energy...

As Luo Chen pondered, his mind suddenly caught a detail from Han Zhan's earlier words. It was not Han Zhan's relationship with Ice Torrent; that was something he already knew. After all, Han Zhan had protected her when she attempted her tribulation to form the Nascent Soul. The crucial point was something else: run into an Adept of the Primordial Devil Sect.

He blurted out, "He Yuan... he's not a remnant of the Primordial Devil Sect, is he?"

It was phrased as a question, but his tone carried certainty. Han Zhan nodded. "As far as I know, only cultivators of the Primordial Devil Sect can cultivate devil energy in the entire Mountain and Sea Realm. And with such purity, he's clearly no ordinary disciple. Only a direct inheritor of the Primordial Devil lineage could have achieved that level."

The realization surprised Luo Chen. Throughout the journey, he had deliberately signaled that he was a cultivator of the Primordial Devil Sect. The Withering-Flourishing Fire, which resembled the Azure Yang Devil Flame, and the Myriad Soul Banner both served to support that false identity. He had never expected to meet a genuine disciple of the Primordial Devil Sect. Wasn't this a case of the fake meeting the real deal? For a moment, Luo Chen's expression grew rather complicated.

"Do you plan to approach him?" Han Zhan asked.

Luo Chen thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Better not. The time isn't right yet."

"The time?"

"I don't know his temperament, his background, or how he conducts himself. Even if his cultivation looks similar to mine and I'm not afraid of him in a fight, rushing to make contact wouldn't be wise. I'll watch him for now. If I can learn more about him through others, then I'll decide later."

It was the most sensible approach, and Han Zhan agreed. After a moment, Luo Chen's lips curved slightly. "Come to think of it, with an expert at my level present, this trip should be much safer. And when we reach Jadecold City, he might even provide a bit of cover for me."