From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 335 Demon King
A gentle breeze blows across the Qinglong River, and small boats drift with the waves, enjoying a carefree life.

Xiangling was a meticulous person. After reciting the poem, she took out her pen and ink and copied it into the poetry collection. While blowing on the wind, she said, "When Dugu comes back, let him take a look!"

After finishing all that, Xiangling knew everyone had things to discuss, so she didn't invite them to recite poems. Instead, she snuggled into Meng Yuan's arms, poked her little head out, and kept looking at the flowers and branches.

As night ends and dawn approaches, the stars gradually dim and eventually disappear without a trace.

The river was pitch black, but the Lanruo Temple in the distance was brightly lit.

Li Weizhen was wearing a tattered blue Taoist robe, and the sword she once carried was nowhere to be found.

At this moment, Li Weizhen seemed to be acting normally, as if it was someone else who had just displayed great power.

But upon closer inspection, one can discern the difference. His demeanor remains as amiable as ever, lacking the air of a master, yet his spirit seems to resonate with the universe.

This person seems to encompass the universe, and also seems to be the universe itself.

Moreover, his aura was slightly unstable, as if he had just successfully passed the test. The aura he inadvertently released could calm the river waves and stop the wind and waves.

Meng Yuan realized that if Li Weizhen were to suddenly attack at this moment, he would have no chance to fight back, or even escape.

Even with the help of sparks, the more severely injured one is, the more vitality one will generate, but this person can cut off all one's vitality in the blink of an eye.

Fortunately, they are friends, not enemies.

At this moment, Li Weizhen smiled, as if the incident of destroying the True Buddha's image had never happened. He looked at Ying Rushi and said, "After wandering outside for so long, Uncle-Master's demeanor remains as elegant as ever."

You should smile slightly, but remain silent.

Li Weizhen looked at Meng Yuan again and smiled, "I remember when we first met, you had only recently entered the martial arts world. It's only been a few days, and you've already reached the fifth rank and defeated Master Jiujie."

"Luckily, luckily." Xiangling nestled in Meng Yuan's arms after hearing Li Weizhen's words and looked up at him, but her head was pressed down by a hand. Meng Yuan smiled and replied, "The fire I cultivate happens to be able to restrain his Samsara Dharma Form, which is why I was able to win."

"The Arhat Wusheng is all bark and no bite; his disciple is indeed nothing special." Hua Suzhi had a very low opinion of the Arhat Wusheng and his disciple. She turned her head slightly to look at Meng Yuan and said, "The sparks are faint, yet they contain countless images, and have the meaning of endless and ceaseless life."

She asked, "What kind of celestial secret method is this? None of the celestial secret methods related to 'fire' that I have ever seen are like this."

"Embers of a spark." Meng Yuan didn't explain further.

“It is similar to what my master uncle said earlier about the heavenly fire spreading across the plains.” Li Weizhen was indeed very knowledgeable. “The sparks are weak, but they are immortal and inextinguishable. They are just waiting for a gust of wind to rise, and they will surely spread across the heavens and the earth.”

"This is a great supernatural power that combines great ambition and perseverance, driven by an indomitable spirit." Ying Rushi smiled as she looked at Meng Yuan and said, "The sky is filled with fiery clouds, living in the face of death. Nie Yannian's ability to pick you out truly shows his discerning eye."

Perhaps it was the mention of Nie Yannian that reminded Ying Ru of the past, and she asked Li Weizhen, "Where is Qing Guangzi hiding now?"

“He must have gone to the south, perhaps with the One-Eyed King.” Li Weizhen’s expression became much more serious as he said earnestly, “Although the opportunity for the Arhat Wusheng to attain enlightenment is in line with the Buddhist concept of ‘only the mind is in the heart,’ it is still somewhat opportunistic. The forms of reincarnation may seem countless and endless, but if one force breaks through all laws, he naturally cannot stop it.”

Li Weizhen rubbed Xiangling's head as she spoke, and continued, "Qingguangzi is different. He manipulated many fourth-rank experts. Although he was in a dark cave, his heart was turned towards the light. After he attained enlightenment, his light was stronger than that of the Silent Arhat."

A gentle breeze ripples across the river. The sun has not yet risen, yet its reflection in the distant waters paints the sky with crimson clouds.

Xiangling rubbed against Li Weizhen's big hand, then against Hua Suzhi, but seeing that he didn't reach out to touch her, she shrank back into Meng Yuan's arms.

The sun was hidden in the river. Xiangling had just finished composing her poem about sleeplessness on the river, but now she was starting to doze off and could no longer keep her eyes open.

"I've heard about the upheaval in Songhe Prefecture." Li Weizhen spoke slowly, looking at the red sun hidden in the sky. "Presumably, after Brother Meng finds the object of creation and breaks through to the fourth rank, his path to advancement should lie with Qing Guangzi, right?"

Meng Yuan indeed thought so, and immediately said, "First find Dugu Sheng, then find Qing Guangzi."

“Dugu Sheng is just one step away. Although he is timid, he should not be underestimated.” Li Weizhen looked at Xiang Ling, who was already fast asleep, and said, “His martial arts are like darkness over the world, where no light is seen. This is the exact opposite of your sparkling fire, and the two are mutually restraining.”

"What should we do if we encounter him?" Meng Yuan asked.

“It was too easy for you to kill a fourth-rank Buddhist monk, but a fourth-rank martial artist is different.” Li Weizhen said very seriously, “Dugu Sheng actually has the strength to kill Wusheng Luohan, and he is slightly better than Wang Er and others.”

At this point, Li Weizhen looked at Meng Yuan and said seriously, "If you want to ask questions, then go find Dugu Sheng after you break through to the fourth rank. If you encounter him now—"

Li Weizhen pointed to the red sun breaking through the river in the distance and said, "Go forward without hesitation, live for death, and the mere Dugu Sheng is nothing to worry about."

His voice was calm and composed, without any forceful tone, but his words carried an undeniable air of dominance. Only then did everyone realize that this man had just killed a third-rank Arhat of the Unborn Realm.

"I have learned a lot." Meng Yuan bowed and then asked, "Once you find the object that can be transformed into something, what should you do?"

“You’ll know when you see it,” Li Weizhen said.

“You don’t need to be confused.” Hua Suzhi also had something to say. “The so-called transformation of heaven and man is to understand one’s own way, then seek one’s own way, and finally return to one’s own way, in harmony and unity. This is how one naturally arrives at the fourth rank.”

Hua Suzhi has extensive knowledge. "The things that are transformed may be mountains and rivers, or wind, fire, thunder and lightning. If there is a guide in one's heart, there may only be one place, or there may be thousands of places in the world. These are all opportunities, there must be a chance, there must be a karmic connection."

At this point, Hua Suzhi looked at Li Weizhen and asked, "What does it feel like to open the Heavenly Gate?"

Li Weizhen pondered for a while, and after thinking for a moment, he said, "It is as if I have entrusted everything to heaven and earth, no longer hiding my thoughts and ideas, no longer fearing the road ahead, and no longer regretting the road I came from. At this moment, it is as if I am about to die at any time, but I also have endless power, as if I can destroy the world."

At this point, Li Weizhen became very serious, "It is actually the path of living towards death. One's own power will naturally be enhanced, but how much it can be enhanced depends on the heavenly secrets one cultivates, how well one is in harmony with heaven and earth, as well as perseverance, spirit, and temperament."

Li Weizhen glanced in the direction of Lanruo Temple. "The Arhat Wusheng was all talk and no action. I only managed to kill him easily by borrowing the power of my temporary dragon transformation. But in short, even if he opened the Heavenly Gate, his strength was still far inferior to those at the third level of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, let alone those at the third level of martial arts."

“A new world can be found in the most desperate places; this is the only path a martial artist can take.” Hua Suzhi looked at Meng Yuan and asked, “Where is your transformed object?” There was no point in hiding it; everyone on the ship was an old comrade, an old superior, and a friend’s godmother. Meng Yuan simply replied, “I have a feeling that it is in the southwest.”

“I also happen to be heading to the endless mountains in the south. I can scout ahead for you.” Li Weizhen smiled and nodded, saying, “I’m going to the endless mountains in the south to take a look. I can also help you ask around.”

Upon hearing this, Ying Rushi looked curiously at Li Weizhen, and then at Hua Suzhi.

"He has already accepted Miaoyin's invitation," Hua Suzhi said calmly.

Seeing that Ying Ru remained silent, Li Weizhen said, "Uncle-Master, I have kept my promise to Elder Miaoyin and will be going to the Southern Demon Kingdom again."

"What are you going to the Demon Kingdom for?" Ying Rushi looked at Hua Suzhi, who was staring at Xiangling, and asked, "Elder Hua, has something happened to the One-Eyed King?"

The One-Eyed King dwells deep within the endless mountains. He is the leader of all demons in the demon kingdom and is revered by all demons. No one knows how long he has lived or how many splendors he has witnessed.

It is rumored that the One-Eyed King has already entered the second rank of demon cultivation and is seeking a way to break through to the first rank. Although the One-Eyed King has not shown his power outside for a long time, throughout history, whether it is recorded in books or passed down by word of mouth, the One-Eyed King has always been an extremely powerful existence.

After all, demon cultivators are quite different. Their cultivation levels advance very slowly, but once they break through, their physical bodies become even stronger, and the techniques they cultivate also reach a higher level.

Such a second-rank demon cultivator has a long lifespan and power that is no less than, and may even surpass, that of a second-rank Confucian, Buddhist, or Taoist cultivator.

The One-Eyed King was a tiger from the mountains who cultivated himself. Legend has it that his left eye was injured by a Taoist sage in the past, which is why he only has one eye.

There is also a rumor that the One-Eyed King was born with three eyes, but he always keeps two eyes open, never opening the third. If he were to open the third eye, the world would surely change color, and only a martial artist could withstand it.

At this moment, Meng Yuan also came to see Hua Suzhi out of curiosity, hoping to hear some secrets.

Hua Suzhi pondered for a long time before saying, "The king has gone mad."

Upon hearing this, the three people on the boat were stunned, exchanging bewildered glances, unsure of what to say.

It's actually quite common for people to go mad from practicing Taoism. Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism each have their own doctrines, and those who have achieved mastery in all three are undoubtedly great masters. Studying too many classics and becoming obsessed with them can indeed lead to a change in one's character.

The saying goes, "No madness, no life." Only by being obsessed with something can one move forward.

Demon cultivators absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth without relying on any doctrines to restrain themselves, nor do they need to pursue any ideologies. Moreover, the deeper their cultivation, the more insightful and wise they become, and the more they can see through the essence of things. How could such a person go mad?

"I'm not sure either, I just have a guess." Hua Suzhi said when she saw the three looking at her with curiosity, "We elders of the demon kingdom can only hear his voice, but we can't see him. The king is extremely fast and has a heavy aura. He can injure or kill people with a single glance. In addition, he has many supernatural powers. He often uses the wonderful method of the Changlong to control other people's minds and patrol the endless mountains on their behalf."

“I have heard of this method.” Ying Rushi, who was very knowledgeable, said, “This Changlong method is the secret technique of the One-Eyed King. Only by killing the person first can one be trapped in the Changlong. Then, one’s thoughts and ideas will be controlled by the Chang Master, and one will no longer have a free body. It will be difficult to escape in this life. It is even stronger than the Buddhist method of controlling people by planting thoughts.”

“Exactly. It’s common for Your Majesty to take in some useful people. In the past, Your Majesty liked to capture monks to serve, saying that monks had no wives or descendants and no attachments, so killing them would not diminish your merit.” Hua Suzhi nodded slightly. “However, in recent years, Your Majesty has had too many accomplices and accomplices.”

At this point, Hua Suzhi added, "Qingque also became a changgui (a type of ghost in Chinese mythology)."

Meng Yuan had naturally heard of Qingque's reputation and had inquired about him from many people.

Qingque is one of the eight elders of the Demon Kingdom, a fourth-rank demon cultivator. He contributed to the Qingguangzi incident by starting an uprising on the border of the Qing Kingdom, which attracted the attention of many experts.

Yet this renowned fourth-rank demon cultivator was pinned down by the One-Eyed King, no longer free, and had become a vengeful ghost!
If the demon king's leader did such a thing, the lesser demons might not be so bad, but powerful demons like Hua Suzhi and Elder Miaoyin must be terrified.

The One-Eyed King, who has been a demon king for so many years, has actually harmed his elders; there must be another reason for this.

“Qingque prefers quiet and dislikes conflict and social interaction. She doesn’t interact with the other elders often either, and is only familiar with me.” As Hua Suzhi spoke, she reached out and touched Xiangling’s head. “The reason I’m away from home all year round is because I’m afraid the King will harm me.”

Upon hearing this, everyone looked horrified.

"Why would he do this? The One-Eyed King is a demon cultivator with an extremely high cultivation level. Even if the Free Buddha himself came, he probably wouldn't be able to do anything to him. Why would he do this? What is he seeking?" Yingru clearly knew about the One-Eyed King.

Hua Suzhi shook her head slightly, and then said, "Perhaps his lifespan is nearing its end, or perhaps he has other desires."

"Is Elder Miaoyin also concerned about this matter?" Ying asked.

Hua Suzhi nodded slightly and said, "Miaoyin is most afraid of death. When autumn comes, it will be the day she meets with the One-Eyed King to report on local affairs."

The demon kingdom was ruled by the One-Eyed King, but since it was located in the endless mountains, it could not establish as many official positions as in the human world.

Therefore, the Demon Kingdom practices a system of enfeoffment. The elders of the Demon Kingdom each have their own territory, and they also fight among themselves from time to time. After the territories are divided and reported to the One-Eyed King, the One-Eyed King usually grants an elder title. Moreover, the One-Eyed King has never participated in the Demon Kingdom's disputes and internal strife, only requiring the elders from various places to come to pay homage on time.

Moreover, the One-Eyed King rarely made demands on the elders of the Demon Kingdom. Instead, he would occasionally capture Confucian, Buddhist, Taoist, and martial arts masters outside the kingdom and have them spread their teachings to the demons.

As a result, although the Demon Kingdom is now vast, many fully formed demons no longer follow the path of demon cultivation. Instead, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism are flourishing, and more people are taking the path of martial arts.

Elder Miaoyin is also a local lord in the demon kingdom, and is considered enlightened among the elders of the demon race. She has many interactions with the human race and rarely does anything harmful. However, some of her fox descendants often run into the human world to gain experience, and they are particularly fond of fair-skinned scholars.

"You plan to send Li Weizhen to kill the One-Eyed King?" Ying Ru was stunned. She knew that Li Weizhen was extraordinary and that it was a tradition for martial artists to kill enemies of higher ranks, but how could the One-Eyed King be compared to an Arhat without birth?
"We're just going to take a look." Hua Suzhi smiled. "Since we elders are going together, we need a witness. Li Weizhen is a martial artist, so he wouldn't be a bad witness."

As she spoke, Hua Suzhi took out a wine gourd and tossed it to Meng Yuan, saying, "The journey is long and arduous. If you encounter any troubles when you go south, this wine gourd might be of some help."

The rising sun over the river casts a crimson glow over the sky and earth.

Hua Suzhi stood up, and Li Weizhen also stood up. The two bowed to Meng Ying and the other two, said no more, and immediately stepped into the red sunlight on the riverbank, disappearing without a trace.

(End of this chapter)