Nearly three thousand ethereal serpents swarmed the dark-eyed star python, but Jiang Wang had no intention of slaying his own Dao Meridian True Spirit. His aim was to expel the inner demon that plagued the Star-Coiling Python and reclaim control over his Dao Meridian True Spirit.

“The Dao Meridian True Spirit has lost control!” Jiang Yan’s voice was grave. “I never imagined your inner demon to be so potent, to have overthrown even the Dao Meridian True Spirit and shattered my White Bone Secret Technique.”

The colossal dark-eyed star python thrashed within the Tongtian Palace, repeatedly flinging off the ethereal serpents, only to have others immediately latch on.

With each serpent dislodged, it would tear away a wisp of dark energy.

This was the power of the inner demon, laced with hatred, resentment, and fury. The Spirit-Devouring Serpents were slowly eroding the inner demon’s strength, but the demonic aura surged endlessly, hindering their progress.

“I have always acted with a clear conscience, never harboring ill intentions, nor indulging in wanton slaughter. I never thought I would nurture such an inner demon,” Jiang Wang stated solemnly. “Do you have any good ideas?”

“Demonic thoughts are often illogical and bear little relation to good or evil. Sometimes, the most virtuous monks, once plagued by inner demons, become the most formidable!” Jiang Yan explained before adding, “Let me assist you!”

As soon as his words faded, the Spirit Flames beneath the Nether Candle erupted.

Half of the dense ethereal serpents covering the dark-eyed star python suddenly ascended, their tails becoming feathers, transforming into fiery vermillion birds!

*Chirp chirp chirp, chirp chirp chirp!*

*Clang clang, zheng zheng, woo woo, bang bang…*

Within the Tongtian Palace, the eight musical tones resonated in unison, grand and majestic.

Even the struggles of the dark-eyed star python paused for a moment, the resounding sound suppressing the demon.

Unbeknownst to Jiang Wang, he had long since replicated the Eight-Tone Firebird with his spiritual power, concealing it until this very moment!

And as the Spirit Flames burst forth, the Nether Candle blazed brighter, its light separating Jiang Wang’s Spirit Flames. Within the candlelight, a phantom image materialized.

Countless grey moths, relentlessly crashing towards the Nether Candle. A poignant illusion of moths drawn to a flame.

As countless Spirit Firebirds dove down, the grey moths emerged from the illusion, solidifying into reality, swarming towards the Spirit Firebirds.

Jiang Wang and Jiang Yan, almost simultaneously, launched their attacks against each other!

After so long spent wary of each other, cooperating, and coexisting, the two finally tore away their masks. Here, in the Demon Cave, at the very moment Jiang Wang escaped a life-or-death crisis!

This was an irreconcilable, unavoidable battle.

Jiang Yan had never harbored good intentions, and Jiang Wang had never trusted him.

The grey moths and Spirit Firebirds were proof of their mutual suspicion.

“Jiang Yan, as I suspected, you harbor malicious intent!”

Jiang Wang rebuked as he began to mobilize the Star River Dao Vortex.

Jiang Yan sneered, “You are no better. You completed these Spirit Firebirds in the deepest recesses of your Inner Mansion? You have gone to great lengths to avoid my detection.”

The exploration of the First Inner Mansion to the three thousandth room provided excellent concealment. Jiang Wang could easily complete his preparations there without alerting Jiang Yan.

This was precisely the crucial prerequisite that allowed him to counterattack today!

“How could I lower my guard against you?” Jiang Wang’s expression was stern, his fingers weaving like threads through a loom.

With each explosion of the Spirit Firebirds, dozens of grey moths were annihilated. However, the Spirit Firebirds were formed from nearly half of Jiang Wang’s spiritual power and were therefore finite. The grey moths, however, seemed limitless.

The struggle between the Spirit-Devouring Serpents and the dark-eyed star python continued in a stalemate. The Spirit-Devouring Serpents had the advantage in numbers, while the inner demon controlling the dark-eyed star python possessed surging demonic energy, allowing it to endure for a long time.

The real predicament lay in the Star River Dao Vortex.

Within the Tongtian Palace, there were nine Star River Dao Vortexes, each three forming a Minor Three Talents of Sun, Moon, and Stars. The three Three Talents arrays collectively represented the Major Three Talents of Heaven, Earth, and Man.

They were the source of Dao Essence, the manifestation of Zhou Tian, and the foundation of Tongtian. Controlling them meant controlling the power source of the Tongtian Palace!

After initiating the decisive battle against Jiang Yan, Jiang Wang chose to activate the Star River Dao Vortexes at the first instance, precisely for this reason.

However, he now realized that he could not control all of the Star River Dao Vortexes!

The Tongtian Palace was originally his home ground, his advantage that had always prevented Jiang Yan from acting rashly. However, the Dao Meridian True Spirit was born at the same time as the Dao Meridian was opened and was also the core of the Tongtian Palace.

Jiang Yan had utilized the power of the inner demon to occupy the Star-Coiling Python, thus gaining the advantage of the home ground in return.

At least within the Tongtian Palace, he now possessed equal authority with Jiang Wang!

Therefore, Jiang Yan and Jiang Wang each controlled four of the nine Star River Dao Vortexes, while the remaining one could not be decisively claimed by either side and could not be used by either.

This was a carefully planned scheme.

As early as the Maple Forest Death Domain, Jiang Yan had exploited Jiang Wang’s desire to return to his old home, inciting his hatred. He had used his obsession with Dong A to incite Jiang Wang’s journey to Wangjiang City.

On the surface, it was Jiang Wang’s hatred for Dong A that suppressed his moral integrity. In reality, Jiang Yan had used this hatred and obsession to shake Jiang Wang’s belief, causing him to have self-doubt and guilt, thereby creating an opportunity for the birth of the inner demon.

Afterwards, he constantly and subtly provoked his killing intent, culminating in the assassination of Dong A in Xin’an at night.

The death of Dong A was also the birth of the inner demon.

Dong A’s death caused Jiang Wang’s mind to completely lose control, and the inner demon emerged.

On that rainy night in Xin’an City, Jiang Yan pretended to faint during the battle to make Jiang Wang lose his vigilance. When he fled Xin’an City with a shaken mind, he decisively launched a full-scale invasion with the help of the inner demon!

In the midst of prolonged hatred and obsession, Jiang Wang fainted on the spot and fell into the rainy night.

If it hadn’t been for the Manjusri Eight-Syllable Mantra left by that bald donkey from the Hanging Temple, if it hadn’t been for the Long-Cherished Sword protecting its master, if it hadn’t been for the Scorching Fire Bone Lotus, if it hadn’t been for Jiang Wang’s own firm resolve…

If any of these four were missing, Jiang Yan would have already succeeded!

Even with all of these, he was already close to succeeding.

If it hadn’t been for Du Ruhui’s sudden appearance…

But it wasn’t too late now.

At this moment, Zhuang Gaozhen, Du Ruhui, and Song Hengjiang had all left. No one would disturb him in this abandoned ancient Demon Cave. It was the perfect time for him to reap his rewards.

Jiang Wang’s reaction had indeed taken him by surprise, but… it was time for him to let Jiang Wang know what true difference meant.

The true difference!

His past helplessness and cooperation with Jiang Wang were nothing more than a hypocritical game.

Now was not the most perfect time, but he could not wait any longer.

The Nether Candle emitted a faint light, and Jiang Yan’s voice floated ethereally: “Jiang Wang, you are truly excellent. Thanks to your nourishment, these Hate-Eating Moths have become so strong. Today’s Spirit Firebirds are even more admirable. I also want to see what other surprises you, as another me, can bring me!”

So, these grey moths were called Hate-Eaters, and they grew by devouring hatred?

If I want to destroy these grey moths… Jiang Wang extinguished the thought that had just arisen. There was no way he could forgive Zhuang Gaozhen and Du Ruhui!

His left hand, having already formed a hand seal, bloomed like a lotus, unleashing Dao techniques.

In the eyes of those Hate-Eating Grey Moths, flames suddenly arose, dyed in blood.

From hatred comes jealousy!

A sudden surge of Jealous Fire!