Starting from the Tiger Demon Yaksha, the demon immortality

Chapter 193, Section 192: I'm Fighting for Real?

Qi's words were icy, filled with a ruthless killing intent.

Li Cunxiao hesitated for a moment.

"Master, do you mean I should use my true form?"

The words just now have been made very clear: there are people in the city who are on the verge of becoming possessed by demons and there is no way to save them, but they are unwilling to die.

Clearly, a large number of outsiders have recently moved into the city to seek refuge, and the city is a mixed bag, with about 80% of them being spies of the Ming Cult.

Li Cunxiao still vividly remembered the last time the Ming Cult abducted children. He recalled that the methods similar to the furnace and the Joyful Zen could be used to vent demonic desires.

"With your master backing you up, what is there to be afraid of?"

Only after Qi Ci said this did Li Cunxiao feel at ease.

“Master, I’m not afraid to take action, but I’m afraid of harming the people in the city. But with you here, that’s not a problem.”

"You sly fellow," the head monk chuckled, but wasn't angry.

Compared to his younger self, this apprentice is clearly more shrewd. However, in such chaotic times, this kind of personality is necessary to go far.

In fact, after years of practice, Qici's own state of mind has also changed significantly.

Back then, he couldn't tolerate injustice. If he saw something unfair, he would immediately take action, otherwise he would feel uneasy and unable to eat.

He still can't tolerate any flaws, but he handles things much more methodically and patiently.

When young and impetuous, one always sees oneself as a savior, wishing one could take the whole world on one's shoulders.
Maturity, in essence, is recognizing the limitations of one's own abilities, being able to pick things up and let them go.

Otherwise, given the current state of the world, where breathing in it is like trying to survive in a sea of ​​excrement, the great monk would probably have suffocated himself long ago.

"Being a little slippery is fine. But you must remember, my disciple, no matter how slippery you are, you must never slip up when it comes to your bottom line."

"A martial artist's training is a struggle against their own inner demons."

"Always moving forward sometimes only guarantees that you'll stay in the same place."

"But if we take a single step back, it will be an irreversible disaster."

Qi Ci's words were profound, and Li Cunxiao immediately straightened his posture, cupped his hands, and expressed his gratitude.

"Nephew, this is the Huang family's file in Beicheng. Take a look at it first."

"After the curfew tonight, the city guards will naturally cooperate with you to raid your home."

Dezheng took out several scrolls, which clearly bore the seals of the government offices. Li Cunxiao immediately understood that this time it was not just Qici's idea, but the government offices were also involved.

After all, the Ming Cult was in rebellion and was irreconcilably opposed to the government.

Huang Chao's army is approaching day by day. As the saying goes, to fight foreign aggression, we must first pacify our own country. How can we allow the enemy's claws and teeth to lurk beside our bed?

"Abbot, the Ming Cult must have recruited more than one organization, right?"

Li Cunxiao was quick-witted; if he made a move at night, he would surely alert the enemy.

If we don't act, we don't act at all; but if we do, we must nip it in the bud.

Otherwise, he himself would be safe under Qi's protection, but Zhang Lishi and his brother Muzha might face retaliation.

"Don't worry, Zheng Changshi and the head of the academy will naturally go to the other places, and none of them will escape."

Dezheng was confident, and seeing this, Li Cunxiao finally felt completely at ease and left the meditation room with the scroll.

“Senior, Li Cunxiao’s ability to kill Yuanjue despite being of a higher level is indeed remarkable. However, a True Form Martial Artist who merges with the demon is, in some ways, no less powerful than a demon of the same level.”

"Isn't tonight's event a bit too early for him? Young people are used to smooth sailing and might not be able to handle the blow of failure."

After Li Cunxiao left, Dezheng couldn't help but speak, which sounded more like a reminder than an admonition.

With Qi Ci present, his personal safety is certainly not an issue; the only concern is that he might cause his newly accepted disciple to lose his composure.

The master and apprentice have only known each other for a short time, and this behavior might hurt their relationship.

"You're overthinking it. Li Cunxiao isn't some delicate flower in a greenhouse."

Qi chuckled, picked up the teacup, and swallowed the water and tea leaves in one gulp.

"Although this is my first time being a mentor, I have done my homework."

"I have carefully inquired about the background of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency and Li Cunxiao's experiences in Chuqiu City."

"If he were the kind of fragile glass that breaks at the slightest touch, he wouldn't have ended up like this today."

"Besides, when he fought Yuanjue, he had only just opened the Nine True Scriptures. Now he is only a little short of reaching the Yellow Court Perfection. Even if he can't win, I think he can at least draw."

"A draw? It seems you have a lot of confidence in him."

Dezheng seemed to be deep in thought, and instead of offering further advice, he said:
"Senior, the Zheng family from Xingyang have been coming to our door every few days lately. What do you think?"

"not see!"

Qi Ci snorted, "The powerful and influential families are the most detestable."

"They exploit the people and suck their marrow dry in ordinary times; but when disaster strikes, they are afraid of death and don't even have the courage to fight back."

"They throw their own children into different factions, not putting all their eggs in one basket. They're just a bunch of spineless cowards!"

"As the head of the Zheng family of Xingyang, Zheng Lang is at least a grandmaster. Can't his Ruyi Purple Gold Hammer, passed down through generations, even contend with the demonic cultists?"

Upon hearing this, Dezheng said no more, as he had only meant to pass on a casual message.

He also knew the limits of his own power; even with Qi Ci present, he could at most protect Songzhou City.

The Zheng family of Xingyang feared both the fall of Songzhou and Huang Chao's sneak attack via Caozhou. How could they be so sure of success?

"Let's not talk about that. Speaking of which, won't you shave Li Cunxiao's head, senior?"

"The previous covert tests were one thing, but now that his status has been officially established, he is, after all, a member of the Buddhist order."

"Nephew," Qi suddenly interrupted Dezheng.

"Do you think monks alone can save the world?"

"The Huang family of Huaiyuan Ward in the north of the city, headed by Huang Hai, cultivates the Horse-Headed Rakshasa Technique. Ten years ago, he broke through to the True Form stage in a battle with someone, and then went into seclusion, rarely showing his face."

Inside the study, Li Cunxiao flipped through the files. After a quarter of an hour, he closed the two scrolls and fell into deep thought.

The Huang family in the north of the city has a relatively short history. They were the first to rally local militia to respond when Guo Jing recovered the two capitals and launched a counterattack on the four towns in Hebei, thus earning merit.

Later, as the imperial family declined, the Li clan gradually fell into poverty, and many county and prefectural princesses set prices and married into commoner families.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Huang family emptied their coffers to acquire a county magistrate, gaining access to powerful connections and beginning to seize commercial interests. At the same time, they collected martial arts techniques, which eventually led to someone breaking through to the True Form Realm and becoming the number one figure in the prefecture city.

"These True Form martial artists who have no sect to rely on are in a truly awkward position."

"If one breaks through to the true form, one must fight against demons every day and go into seclusion every few days; one careless move and one will fall into demonic possession."

"But if we don't break through, we won't have to worry, but if other families have the true form while we don't, it will bring about the destruction of our entire family."

"Breaking through is not an option, nor is not breaking through. No wonder the Ming Cult was able to succeed; they really hit these people where it hurts."

Thinking of this, Li Cunxiao couldn't help but recall the various matters he had inquired about regarding the True Form Realm from Qi Ci a few days ago.

The true form is in three stages: entering meditation, abiding in meditation, and exiting meditation.

To first merge with the demon and become one with it, and then break free without losing oneself, is the most perilous hurdle in martial arts. Those who succeed live, those who fail become demons themselves. Therefore, martial artists at this level seem to be the fewest in number, almost as if they have vanished.

The cultivation of the Three Fixations is the cultivation of the mind, a battle within the consciousness.

The state of entering samadhi is called the joy of detachment, which means leaving behind the states that sentient beings like.

Martial artists at this level can quickly enter a meditative state, where they are at peace, neither entering nor exiting, neither coming nor going.

This is actually a preliminary balance with the demonic entity within the body, allowing one to maintain their individuality while unleashing demonic power to the fullest extent.

But because this balance is so fragile, it can only transform into a demon for a short time; if it goes on for too long, there is a risk of losing control.

The state of abiding in concentration is called the joy and bliss arising from concentration. It is when awareness and perception cease, and both inner and outer purity are achieved, that joy naturally arises.

In other words, the outside world cannot disturb the inner self in the slightest. When the demon and the self merge and one is completely immersed in the inner world, happiness will naturally arise, just like Li Cunxiao's Flame Demon True Qi. Cultivation itself can be addictive.

But precisely because the demon and the self are united and closer, martial artists may develop the illusion that they are always clear-headed and in control of all changes, and sometimes their true nature and heart have been corrupted by demonic nature without their knowledge.

Some martial artists even become so engrossed in it that they refuse to revert to human form and continue to appear in demonic form.

Therefore, the state of stillness has always been the most dangerous and longest-lasting hurdle for the true form.

If you cannot break through your demonic barriers and recognize your own limitations, you will continue to sink into depravity.

But once one emerges from meditation, one experiences "the bliss of detachment from joy," relinquishing the joy of the second dhyana and dwelling only in bliss.

Entering the demonic realm and emerging from it, distinguishing between the demonic self and the demonic self, using the human body to wield the power of the demon, keeping one's original heart untainted by worldly dust, from then until the entrance to the gate, the risk of losing control due to demonic possession will be greatly reduced.

Generally speaking, because of the existence of the Flame Demon True Qi, Li Cunxiao should have been in greater danger than ordinary martial artists at this level.

But with the Vajra in existence, no obstacle is worth mentioning.

He even suspected that once he broke through to the true form, he might directly skip the three realms and achieve perfection.

"That would be terrifying."

Li Cunxiao meditated and saw the deity seated cross-legged beneath the vajra, with a silver wheel behind him and coiled dragons and snakes below.

After visiting the Huang family tonight and gaining enough malevolent energy, I will first perfect the Fiery Hell Spear, and then master the Immovable Black Dragon Sword.

"Then there will be two dragons and one snake. I have quite a connection with dragons."

A deep voice drifted through the room as the young man sat cross-legged, waiting for night to fall.

As the sun set in the west and the moon rose in the east, the curfew drums sounded from the south of the city to the north.

In most markets, the gates were closed after the drumbeats were heard, and most of the shops closed as dusk fell.

Only a few market districts in the East and West markets, especially those areas with a high concentration of brothels and gambling dens, remained bustling with business.

After all, closing the gates only allowed entry but not exit; business continued within the market, operating all night long until the gates reopened in the morning.

The more chaotic the times, the more popular those decadent and extravagant dens of debauchery become.

However, the markets in the north of the city were mostly quiet after the curfew due to Bai Xiangshan's strict management, with only the occasional sounds of music and dance coming from a few mansions.

The Huang family in Huaiyuanfang was like this; after nightfall, the entire house became quiet.

At least, that's how it appears on the surface.

"An eighteen-year-old bride and an eighty-year-old groom, white hair against red makeup."

"A pair of lovers under the quilt at night, a pear tree in full bloom overshadowing a crabapple."

"Third brother, shut up!"

Outside a secret room in the Huang family's residence, two men with strikingly similar appearances stood outside the door.

The former looked to be in his forties, with anger and fear on his face, while the latter appeared to be in his early thirties, remaining nonchalant even as his brother scolded him, and even smiling as he said:
"Why are you in such a hurry, brother? Father is nearly eighty years old and still has the mood to enjoy himself. This just shows that he is in his prime, which is a good thing. Why are you angry?"

"I...sigh."

The older man, though furious, calmed down and sighed.

"Third brother, I know you harbor resentment towards Father because of Yun'er."

"Brother, so you knew it was because of Yun'er?"

The younger man's expression instantly turned ferocious, his eyes revealing a deep-seated hatred:
"You know all this, but doesn't that old beast know?!"

"Third brother, shut up! Do you want to die?"

The older man's expression changed drastically as he tried to stop his younger brother from speaking, but it was too late.

The door to the secret room was flung open, and a lewd stench wafted out, making one want to vomit.

The spacious room had a soft carpet on the floor, and naked boys and girls lay everywhere. The two had seen some of them during the ancestral worship ceremony last year.

But now, these people are either staring blankly with flushed faces, or they have stopped breathing and have strange smiles on their faces.

Amidst the reclining jade-like body, a gigantic figure, standing a full ten feet tall, strode out.

Its inhuman physique, with bulging muscles, dark red and oily, was even more terrifying. It was almost like a horse or mule, completely naked, ferocious and horrifying.

"Third son, do you have a problem with what your father did?"

The deep voice, like a bellows, had a strange, hollow quality.

"Father, my third brother was just confused for a moment; he didn't mean it."

The older man immediately knelt down and reached out to pull his younger brother away, but the younger one struggled free.
"I'm not confused, you're the one who's confused! You listened to those sorcerers of the Ming Cult and started this evil practice of using virgin boys and girls."

"You think this is saving the Huang family? You're wrong, you're pushing our entire clan into a fire pit!"

"Huang Hai, if you still consider yourself the head of the family, you might as well die now and stop causing trouble for your descendants!"

The harsh words were like swords, slashing at the elderly man standing nearby until his face turned deathly pale.

He struggled to straighten up, still trying to salvage the situation, but suddenly heard a strange laugh coming from the horse's mouth.

"You're still laughing? Do you know that the family business has started to go bankrupt because we've been trying to find children for you and to concoct those strange medicines?"

"Father, have you really gone mad?!"

"I'm not crazy," Huang Hai's laughter gradually subsided, but his eyes were not on the person in front of him. Instead, they seemed to penetrate the wall and see the stars in the night sky, completely captivated.

"I am in a very good state now. I can feel that I have already taken control of the demon. I will soon break through the Heavenly Ladder and master the power of heaven and earth."

“Eldest brother, Third brother, your cultivation is not high enough to see these things. It’s a matter of perspective. I don’t blame you.”

"Whether it's wealth or offspring, as long as you have the power, you can have as much as you want."

"Only when you two work diligently can I go into seclusion with peace of mind. Only when my sons and I work together can the Huang family rise again, right?"

The words were plain, as if stating a self-evident fact, but upon hearing them, the two brothers felt their hearts sink to the bottom, revealing expressions of despair.

Only at this moment did they believe that their father had indeed gone mad.

"Father, you're beyond saving, but the Huang family can still be saved, and Yun'er can still be saved."

A resolute glint flashed in Huang Jiasanlang's eyes. Suddenly, he channeled his inner energy and unleashed a deafening roar:

"Huang Hai has colluded with the Ming Cult heretics, a crime deserving of death! We implore the officials of the government and the Tiangu Temple to take action and swiftly kill this fiend!"

(End of this chapter)