If you don't give up, I'd like to be your adoptive father.

Chapter 1378 The Terrifying Power of Dream Erosion

He Ye is 200 years and 34 years old this year.

He was a Taoist priest at Huangting Temple in Gaoyou.

At the age of thirteen, he was chosen by the master who selected the seedlings of the Dao. He followed the master to Huangting Temple to learn chanting, meditation, and worship of the true saints. Then he cultivated the true method of internal cultivation, including breathing exercises, worship, and silent incantations.

Unfortunately, due to insufficient innate talent and good fortune, he was never able to achieve harmony between water and fire, cultivate both body and mind, and form an immortal golden elixir.

However, after hundreds of years of arduous cultivation, his Taoist skills and supernatural abilities were not low. If he went to Xianyang to participate in the selection of the Celestial Master, he would be selected with ease. He wouldn't even need to be selected; simply by announcing his name, the Imperial Observatory would immediately open its doors to welcome him.

Because of his sufficient cultivation, he received a message from his patriarch two months ago, instructing him to select at least five virtuous cultivators from Huangting Temple to travel south to Kuaiji Mountain together.

They went to the Great Primordial Heaven of the Extreme Mystery to help the patriarch overcome the "Tribulation of Attaining Dao".

Huangting Temple is located in Gaoyou, which is thousands of miles away from Kuaiji Mountain!
However, Master Dong is indeed the ancestor of their "Gaoyou Huangting School".

His master's master was a direct disciple of Master Dong!

He himself had accompanied his teachers to Zhongyuan Immortal Palace several times to listen to the ancestor preach. Now that the ancestor was in trouble, as a disciple, he certainly would not hesitate to step forward. Upon hearing the summons, he immediately led seven fellow disciples to the Jixuan Great Yuan Heaven.

To be honest, Master He Ye only felt excited and expectant about what was about to happen, and was not particularly worried.

First of all, this is not the first time something like this has happened.

Taoist sects often have "exchange students," meaning a sect often has more than one patriarch.

For example, He Ye's grandmaster was a direct disciple of Dong Daxian, but his master had studied the art of talismans under the Five Lights Immortal of Mount Hua.

In that case, isn't the Five Lights Immortal also the ancestor of Daoist He Ye?

Our ancestors were easygoing and never asked the younger generation for help.

However, with so many ancestors, there are bound to be times when disciples need to run errands.

Secondly, neither He Ye Daoist nor his companions were the main force in the tribulation.

They exist merely as nodes in the celestial array.

In short, they are the "flesh and blood" of the formation.

As the flesh formation banners, even if the Heavenly Demon descends, they will not directly confront its attack.

There's not much risk involved, but there are quite a few benefits. For example, will Master Dong have any extra elixirs after successfully refining the Nine-Turn Bone-Changing Pill?

Even if it's just a defective product, it can still benefit a cultivator like him for several lifetimes!
Even if one cannot become an immortal in this life, one's talent and cultivation can be accumulated for the next life.

Even if he didn't get a share of the elixir, this time he helped Master Dong achieve enlightenment and successfully attain the Great Luo Dao. In the future, when he encounters problems and needs help, Master Dong won't need to come forward in person. He only needs to introduce himself: "I am He Ye from Huangting Temple in Gaoyou."

Any knowledgeable cultivator who possessed the "Official Protection Talisman" or "Life Protection Talisman" would immediately realize upon hearing this – it turned out to be a disciple of Master Dong.

Then they bowed with reverence and spoke softly.

What does it mean when someone attains enlightenment and even their relatives and friends benefit? This is it!
The "three essentials" for a Qi cultivator to achieve immortality are immortal affinity, immortal bones, and immortal blessings. Immortal affinity is obtained in this way.

In my past life, I was so-and-so. In my past life, I was friends with the Great Immortal XX. In my past life, I did this and that for the Great Immortal XX. In this life, I deserve to have a connection with the immortals.

For the sake of his ancestor's attainment of the Great Luo realm, for the collective benefit of his fellow Daoists, and for his own future well-being, Daoist He Ye has been conserving his energy and preparing for the great calamity that will arrive on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month since arriving at Zhongyuan Immortal Palace.

On the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, at the second quarter of the hour of Wei (1-3 PM), the external demons officially invaded!

At first, He Ye Daoist only heard a clear, confident, and majestic shout from the inner alchemy room of the Grandmaster Dong Daxian. Then he saw lightning flash and a beam of purple light shot out from the roof of the alchemy room, reaching a height of a hundred feet. The purple light suddenly unfolded, becoming a lightning net covering a radius of twenty miles.

The lightning net did not affect the "material world," but it captured all spacetime dimensions outside the material world.

"This is the great divine power of subduing demons and monsters, 'The Net of Heaven is Vast and Inescapable'!"

He Ye heard his fellow disciple Li from Huangting Temple in Gaoyou exclaim in surprise.

He Ye himself was mesmerized by what he saw.

He can use the "Heavenly Net" technique, but it requires him to chant incantations and perform hand gestures for about half an incense stick's time, like holding back a bowel movement, and it only covers an area of ​​ten zhang in radius. It can only be used to set traps and ambush demons and monsters.

Moreover, the patriarch's "The net of heaven is vast" directly attracted the power of the Great Dao, and he could even "see" the Great Dao.

"This Heavenly Demon is definitely a novice!" he sneered inwardly. "He hasn't even started his Pill Tribulation yet, and without the power of the Heavenly Tribulation to bless him, he's already exposed himself. How foolish!"

Then he heard a shrill "heh heh" laugh.

The moment the demonic sound entered his ears, his forehead felt like it was about to split open.

It was as if the sound had become a physical chisel, drilling into his head, into his heart, into his magic, and into his soul. Heaven help him, before today, he had no idea that he had so many "holes" in his body that could be drilled into by external demons.

Truly ubiquitous!

His physical body, magical power, spirit, and Dao heart were all corrupted by the demonic sound.

The demonic sound burrowed into his body, like a little mouse scurrying around under his skin.

The demonic sound caused his magic to surge uncontrollably, and he ran around with the "little mouse." Oh, no, the little mouse that ran around was his out-of-control magic.

His Yin spirit was twisting and deforming, and his Dao heart was like a large piece of glass being struck with a small hammer, causing tiny cracks to appear.

"Ahhh, this is the voice of the Heavenly Demon! How can it be so ferocious~~~"

Daoist He Ye heard Senior Brother Li's miserable screams.

—As expected of the senior brother who has the potential to form a core, his cultivation level is beyond my reach.

I was in so much pain that I could only scream, but he could make a sound.

Uh, He Ye was also shouting, but his shouts were hysterical and incoherent.

Senior Brother Li screamed terribly, but he was clearly still rational.

"Quickly, everyone, circulate your profound energy to fight against the demonic sound."

Sure enough, Senior Brother Li called out, even managing to speak with difficulty to remind them.

Unfortunately, ordinary voices couldn't wake up the fellow disciples who were trapped in their demonic state.

Until the patriarch, Master Su, gave a sharp rebuke, "Discard all distracting thoughts and circulate the 'Mind-Calming Mantra'!"

The voice was like a bucket of ice-cold water poured over He Ye Dao Ren's head.

The demonic sounds and thoughts within him were extinguished immediately, like a candle flame in a downpour.

He Ye not only instantly regained consciousness, but also immediately quelled the riotous magic and spirit.

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately recited the "Meditation Mantra".

The Taiyi Xuanmen has existed for so many years, and has long since developed countless methods for subduing demons.

Their "Huangting lineage" alone possesses eighteen divine incantations for subduing internal evils and external demons. Once the calming incantation is recited, the demonic sounds still echo in the ears, yet they grow ever more distant.

It was as if glass walls had been built between him and the demonic sound.

—That demonic sound was terrifying! That must have been a demon specializing in "sound attacks," perhaps the legendary "Eight Sounds of the Demon"?
Hehe, you have the Heavenly Demon Eight Sounds, and I have the Tranquilizing Mantra. In the end, good will always triumph over evil!
As He Ye thought smugly, he instinctively chanted the divine incantation: "Supreme Star, ever-changing and unstoppable. Expel evil and bind demons, protect life and safeguard the body."

—Sure enough, the demonic sound was completely dispelled, and it can't be heard at all now.

—Almost two hours have passed; the demon should be completely gone by now. Should we still recite the "Meditation Mantra"?

Well, since Master Su didn't say to stop, I'll continue reciting.

—Isn't it already the Lantern Festival? Master Dong's elixir is almost ready!

—Wow, what's that smell? It's so fragrant and sweet! Just smelling it makes me feel energized.
Daoist He Ye opened his eyes and looked in the direction from which the scent was coming. "Oh my, this is the Golden Lotus Emerging from the Earth! The medicinal fragrance emanating from the alchemy room is so rich in spiritual energy that it has transformed into a golden lotus."

"Don't look around!" Master Su suddenly shouted. "The Nine-Turn Bone-Changing Pill is about to be produced. Its fragrance will surely attract all kinds of evil spirits."

Not only are there celestial demons, but also heretical evil spirits!

They either wanted to ruin the patriarch's chance to attain enlightenment, or they simply wanted to seize the elixir of immortality.

We cannot let them have their way.

"Take your positions, guard your minds with the meditation mantra, and prepare to activate the 'Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Array'."

Daoist He Ye immediately returned to his seat, his expression solemn. Obeying the Great Immortal's command, he continued to chant the calming mantra, his hands forming hand seals, his entire body's magical power ready to be unleashed, and the demon-subduing formation could be activated at any time.

Sure enough, only a short while later, "Hehehehe~~~"

The "Heavenly Demon Eight Sounds" has returned, not only shrieking menacingly and wantonly, but also calling out to its friends, "Fellow Daoist Bewitching Mind, Fellow Daoist Devouring Soul, if you don't make your move now, when will you?"

—Strange, why does the demon still address me as "fellow Daoist"?
A fleeting thought crossed He Ye Daoist's mind, but he quickly cleared it away as several more demonic figures descended from the sky.

"Activate the grand formation!" Master Su exclaimed.

Daoist He Ye immediately exerted all his strength, pouring all his magical power and soul power into the great formation.

The war begins!
The battle was extremely fierce. Not only were there demons blocking the patriarch from attaining enlightenment, but also many heretical sects infiltrated the Great Yuan Heaven to seize the Nine-Turn Bone-Changing Pill.

He Ye Daoren, however, remained relatively calm.

As the old saying goes, this isn't the first time he's experienced something like this.

As before, these disciples were merely living battle flags.

They only maintain the outer perimeter of the formation and don't need to participate in the main battle.

"The Heavenly Demon is still using the same old tricks. He can only forcibly awaken the demonic thoughts in our hearts and corrupt our Dao heart. He doesn't dare to show himself or compete with divine powers and magic."

In comparison, the strange and unusual people and those with unorthodox methods who rushed to the scene after hearing the news were even more troublesome.

Killing them would taint them with karma, amplify the calamity, and make the celestial demons even more rampant and powerful.

"If we don't kill them, they've mastered all sorts of strange and mysterious techniques, even the patriarch is having a headache."

Daoist He Ye was multitasking, chanting incantations to protect his Dao heart while simultaneously unleashing his full power to maintain the operation of the magic array, and also observing the great battle above the alchemy room.

"However, the energy expenditure from today's demon-subduing formation seems to be even greater. In just this short time, I already feel somewhat exhausted."

Although his magical power was greatly depleted and his mind was somewhat dazed, Master He Ye did not relax. He continued to do his best to maintain the supply of magical power and mental energy until a sharp shout faintly drifted into his ears.

"Nine Heavens respond to the Origin, thunder resounds universally! Shatter your illusions, restore my true self! By imperial decree!"

The rumbling thunder seemed to come from another world, making He Ye Zhenren feel somewhat dazed, and the world before his eyes began to shake.

"What's happening here?"

He was a little confused.

"The Great Dao is boundless, embrace the primordial and guard the One. The spirit returns to the Purple Palace, and demonic thoughts extinguish themselves~~" The voice became more urgent and majestic. Master He Ye couldn't help but chant along. Then, the world before his eyes became more and more blurry and illusory.

"The profound origin of heaven and earth, the root of all energies within and beyond the three realms, is solely revered by the Dao. My body is enveloped in golden light!"

Another majestic voice joined in, chanting the "Golden Light Evil-Repelling and Body-Protecting Mantra".

Master He Ye's body was enveloped in golden light, and the blurry, illusory world before his eyes, like a soap bubble under the sunlight, burst completely.

"Ahhh~~~" Master He Ye clutched his chest, letting out a weak and confused howl of pain.

To be honest, his body wasn't in excruciating pain, but rather felt an emptiness and fear as if he had lost something important.

The urgent chanting of the patriarch continued to reach my ears.

One divine incantation after another was cast upon him, and Master He Ye felt slightly better.

His condition wasn't good, but at least he was conscious.

He saw that he was still sitting cross-legged at the center of the formation, while his fellow disciples around him were all listless and groaning softly, as if in pain, or more like fear and confusion.

"What happened?" Master He Ye turned to look in the direction of the alchemy room.

There were no golden lotuses emerging from the earth, no celestial demons descending, no evil spirits seizing the elixir, and no great battle taking place.

He woke up with a start, "Was that all a hallucination? I, I~~~"

He sensed the state of his body and cried out in anguish, "My magic power, my heart, how come a piece of me is missing?!"

It was as if some monster had gnawed a hole in his chest without him even realizing it.

A hole the size of a bowl, open from front to back, with a large chunk missing in the middle.

Of course, this only applies to his magical power and soul; his physical body is intact, or rather, not completely intact. His hair was originally jet black, but now there are more white hairs at his temples and on the top of his head.

"Don't panic, don't cry out, calm your mind, and recite the calming mantra without stopping for a moment!" Master Su shouted sternly.

"Master, I have been reciting the calming mantra."

Just as Master He was about to argue, Senior Brother Li shouted out.

Master Su said, "No, you think you are chanting incantations, but you have actually been affected by the evil magic of the Heavenly Demon. Your consciousness has fallen into an illusion, and you have stopped chanting incantations."

Do not get distracted, and do not have any other thoughts.

If you are half-hearted, chanting incantations while thinking of other things, the Heavenly Demon will find a weakness.

In his daze, Master He Ye saw a look of terror flash across Master Su's face.

—Could it be that even Master Su has fallen victim to this? Master Su is a powerful Golden Immortal!
(End of this chapter)