Small Forest.
Rushing hastily.
Daoist Lingguang concealed his aura as he fled in embarrassment through the mountain forest.
His hair was disheveled, his Long Beard scorched, and his Treasure Robe covered in dust. His Horsetail whisk had been reduced to a Bare section of Stick. With his disheveled and dirty Appearance, how could he still possess the bearing of a Banished Immortal from Before?
Every Magic Treasure on his body had been destroyed, and all the knowledge he had learned in his life had been defeated, Shattered One by one by Que Xin. Even his Dao Heart was Tottering.
“It’s only been ten years. How did he become this Fierce…”
“Master, Master, what Method did you actually teach him?”
Daoist Lingguang covered his chest with one hand, overcome with inexplicable grief, as Scene after Scene from the time he had studied rose in his Heart.
When he was Practicing the Alchemy Dao, Que Xin climbed a tree to raid a bird’s nest; when he was Practicing the Array Dao, Que Xin stuck out his butt to catch grasshoppers; when he was Practicing the Dao of Martial Arts, Que Xin rode a dog and waved a wooden sword, running loudly and boisterously past him.
He even said, “Come on, be Happy. There’s plenty of time anyway.”
He Could not stand it and went to Complain to his Master. His Master said that everyone had their own Karmic Affinity, and that temporary success meant nothing. “Just wait a few more years, and then look at him again.”
Encouraged by his Master, he became even more Diligent in his Cultivation.
Years later, Que Xin had the Alchemy Dao whenever he needed the Alchemy Dao, and the Array Dao whenever he needed the Array Dao. No one could surpass him in Divination, while the Dao of Martial Arts was even Suppressing him and rubbing him into the ground.
Who could tolerate that?
Lingguang certainly could not. In a fit of rage, he stole the Secret Technique of his Sect, traversed Northern Qi and Western Chu, and plunged headfirst into the hundred thousand Mountains of the Southern Border without looking back.
During these ten years, he first cultivated an unparalleled Secret Technique, then acquired the Divine Abilities of the Southern Border Yellow Springs Path, King Demon Hall, and Blood Sea Path. Combining the strengths of all four, he Self-assessed that his Divine Skill had been accomplished. Returning to Northern Qi Benxin Dao, he would be able to Reclaim everything he had lost.
Little did he know that he would be even less capable of fighting him. After fleeing the enemy a thousand miles away in embarrassment, he sought another way out.
“Senior Brother, immortality is not cultivated like this. Eager for success, you have already Entered the demonic path.”
“Stop, stop. This Daoist will send you into Samsara. In your Next life, you can cultivate your True heart again. That would be better than Hesitating without knowing your path in this life.”
“Senior Brother, you have lost your True heart. Do not Stubbornly refuse to repent…”
The voice of Old Daoist Que Xin came from Beside the ear, As if his Pursuer was right behind him. Daoist Lingguang did not respond and secretly groaned in his Heart.
Thousand Mile Soul Chasing, Life-Seeking Vital Energy.
Although this Method was common and Ordinary, and could not be considered Profound, someone in the Innate Realm could Control it with ease. Yet to lock onto him firmly from A thousand miles away meant that he likely would not be able to resolve this peacefully today.
Without outside assistance, he would be unable to escape the Great Calamity.
Daoist Lingguang was not afraid of death. At his Cultivation Realm, at most his Physical Body would perish, and dying was not so simple. What he feared was that Que Xin would use a Secret Technique to refine him until he could neither live nor die, unable even to reincarnate through Samsara.
After another A moment, the voice Beside the ear grew louder and louder. Daoist Lingguang sensed that something was wrong and did not dare delay any longer.
He let out a Growl, and his Body suddenly expanded. Four arms grew from his back, while a head emerged from each of his left and right Shoulders. The three Centers of the Forehead tore open to reveal Vertical Eyes, transforming him into a Three Heads Six Arms figure.
It was not over yet.
With the support of the Divine Abilities of the Yellow Springs Path, King Demon Hall, and Blood Sea Path, numerous Bloodlight Demonic Marks surfaced across his Three Heads Six Arms Body. Blood Qi, Fierce Aura, Death Qi, and Demonic Energy transformed into all kinds of Weapons.
The Demonic Body appeared in the world, its Pressure stretching across Heaven and Earth. Infinite strange phenomena came one after another, and an extraterritorial demonic realm seemed to be Manifesting in response.
The sky was Torn apart, and patches of Space Shattered. Its terror and Pressure were impossible to describe with Words.
“Que Xin, let’s determine who is superior once more!”
His six arms shook, commanding the Mountains to rise and fall. A Great Demon walked out of the extraterritorial demonic realm, its Five fingers Pressing down as though the Sky were collapsing. A scorching Airflow surged forth, As if the apocalypse had arrived.
“Like a demon lord descending from the heavens, and like a Ghost God emerging from the Yellow Springs. Senior Brother, what a magnificent bearing.”
Old Daoist Que Xin arrived as if by teleportation and exclaimed in shock and admiration, “You finally stopped pretending. You’ve completely stopped being human.”
“How presumptuous!”
“Senior Brother, you misunderstand. This Daoist is worried about you. Just look at yourself—you’re neither human nor ghost, and your Life and death are disconnected. This Physical Body likely won’t hold out for long.”
“You dare say that!”
The time it takes to drink a cup of tea later.
Small Forest, rushing hastily.
Daoist Lingguang’s Physical Body collapsed, and his Nascent Soul fled like a Stray dog, heading straight north under the pursuit of Old Daoist Que Xin.
Old Daoist Que Xin drifted through the air as casually as if taking a stroll. Every step he took seemed to shorten the distance, bringing him closer and closer to Daoist Lingguang.
At that moment, a point of Lingguang shot over and transformed into a simple and ancient Magic Treasure mirror, blocking the way before Old Daoist Que Xin from afar.
This mirror was neither gold nor jade, neither bronze nor iron. Its form was ancient and unadorned, its material pure and clean, simple and without luster, without carvings or decorations. The mirror surface was pale yellow, resembling aged wood.
Though the mirror was small, it was as heavy as a Mountain, making Old Daoist Que Xin’s Expression extremely solemn.
“Yellow Springs Ancient Mirror. In the end, it has still made its move…”
At the same time, rays of light illuminated the surrounding Heaven and Earth. More than a hundred Gazes shot over, and more than ten of them were almost tangible. The Important Figures represented behind each of those gazes required him to Be in battle formation, ready for action.
Sensing that Daoist Lingguang’s Nascent Soul had disappeared without a trace, Old Daoist Que Xin sighed. “It is said that the Yellow Springs Path possesses a Yellow Springs Ancient Mirror that illuminates all Life and death, reflects the Netherworld in its entirety, and Implicates the Karma of life and death, possessing immense Divine Power. Having seen it today, it truly is extraordinary.”
“Very well. Today, This Daoist will merely teach Senior Brother a lesson. I’ll seek him out again another day.”
Seeing him admit defeat, the Yellow Springs Ancient Mirror paused in midair for A moment. Only after Daoist Lingguang could no longer be found did it conceal itself in the Void and disappear.
The surrounding Gaze disappeared One by one, accompanied by many dissatisfied voices Cursing and grumbling, As if they were quite disappointed that they had not witnessed both sides fighting to the death.
Old Daoist Que Xin sighed repeatedly. “Alas, with Senior Brother gone, he is like a beast breaking free of its Shackles or a trapped dragon returning to the deep sea. With Heaven and Earth so vast, where should This Daoist go to find him? What a headache…”
“What a headache!”
Little Morality Temple.
Xiang Yuan sat cross-legged on the ground and circulated his qi several times. The drowsy feeling gradually dispersed.
He opened his eyes and looked outside through the Ruined Rooftop. Heaven and Earth were completely dark, and dense drizzle drifted down. He agonized over whether he should go out and continue patrolling the Mountains.
The Cold wind blew over, and the chill entered his body. He could not help shivering.
Could there really be a ghost?
For example, the deceased Lin Baoyi.
“No, it may be small, but this is the Morality Temple. A ghost haunting the Dojo of Dao De Tianzun would be far too ridiculous…”
“But the Dojo has no Master Stationed here… Hmm. A Gentleman does not stand beneath a dangerous wall. This place is not suitable to Stay long.”
Xiang Yuan rose with a solemn Expression. While comforting himself, he secretly quickened his steps toward the Main Gate of the Taoist Temple.
Suddenly, a Gale swept over and blew him into the very center of the Taoist Temple. His feet tripped over a Ruined Meditation Cushion, and he fell Buttocks-first onto it.
There’s a ghost!!
Xiang Yuan was horrified. His vision went black as dense black mist mixed with Bloodlight and Demonic Energy surged in through his mouth, nose, ears, and eyes, occupying the position at the Center of the Forehead.
A mass of Black smoke surfaced on Xiang Yuan’s face, transforming into the Appearance Daoist Lingguang had possessed upon Entering Demonic State: a red face, Fangs, savage features, a Vertical Eye growing from his brow, and sinister pupils filled with Fierce Aura, more terrifying than an Evil Ghost.
Daoist Lingguang’s Physical Body had been destroyed, and his Nascent Soul severely injured. Knowing that the Southern Border was filled with jackals and wolves, with All Demons surrounding him in addition to Old Daoist Que Xin, he did not dare Stay long and drove his Secret Technique to flee all the way here.
When one is sleepy, a pillow appears. He had encountered a fresh, young Physical Body.
He proclaimed that Heaven had not cut off every path, that the Heavenly Mandate was on his side, and even offered his thanks to Dao De Tianzun, the Master of this place.
Kid, I choose you!
“Little Constable, being chosen by This Seat is the Blessing you have accumulated over ten lifetimes. Hand your Physical Body over to This Seat, and This Seat will ensure your name spreads throughout the world. Then neither of us will owe the other anything!”
Facing a tiny Qi Refining Stage cultivator whom he could annihilate with a wave of his hand, Daoist Lingguang—no, Old Demon Lingguang—stopped pretending entirely. Putting on the airs of the Yellow Springs Path Left Emissary, he laughed loudly and presumptuously.
“Jie Jie Jie Jie————”