Gou Zai Xi You Dao Chang Sheng

Li Yan's eyes darted around rapidly, his mind reflecting in a mirror.

Behind the jagged rocks surrounding the crack, at least twenty or thirty ghost-faced owls lurked.

These demons had bloodshot eyes and their bodies were surrounded by surging black energy, unlike ordinary yin energy, and they faintly exuded a sense of madness and chaos.

"Something's not right," Li Yan transmitted telepathically. "These masked owls..."

Before he could finish speaking, Sun Wukong's golden eyes flashed with light:

"That feathered beast, daring to lie in ambush!"

"Junior brother, wait!"

Li Yan tried to stop him, but the monkey had already lost all restraint.

A flash of golden light appeared.

The stick was swung in a circle, turning into an arc of light, and struck the nearest strange rock.

"Hey!"

The three-headed, masked owl pounced, its iron beak opening to spew out a gray-black poisonous mist.

Its claws glowed with a cold, eerie green light as it reached for Sun Wukong's face.

"Well done!"

The golden staff maintained its momentum, only making a light spin in mid-air.

The shadow of the stick splits, one into three, three into nine.

Nine golden staff shadows, like lotus blossoms, struck the three owls!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Three muffled thuds, almost in succession.

The black aura surrounding the three-headed, masked owl dissipated, and it crashed into the stone wall, causing rubble to fall.

However, the ferocity of these monsters has been completely aroused.

Around the cracks, behind the rocks, inside the caves, and in the crevices of the cliff walls, streaks of gray shadow darted out.

In the blink of an eye, they gathered into a dark mass, probably numbering in the hundreds!

"So many?!" Li Yan's heart skipped a beat.

These masked owls varied in strength, with the weaker ones barely having awakened their powers.

The powerful leaders possessed auras comparable to those of Dao-type trees.

Moreover, they disregarded their own lives and rushed towards Sun Wukong one after another.

"Don't worry, senior brother! Watch my skills!"

Sun Wukong laughed loudly, his golden eyes widened in anger, and he brandished his golden cudgel.

Golden light surged, and the shadows of the staffs spread like a sea, engulfing all the approaching ghost-faced owls.

One after another, the masked owls were smashed into the stream, splashing water several feet high.

Or it may have become embedded in the rock face, leaving a deep pit.

Or perhaps they tumble onto the rocky beach, struggling to get up.

However, these monsters disregarded their injuries and, as long as they were not dead, would rise again and pounce.

Even worse, some, with broken wings and claws, still tear and bite with their iron beaks, appearing like madmen.

Li Yan's eyes were fully open, and his mind's mirror reflected the energy of each of the ghost-faced owls.

These demonic entities, in addition to their own Yin-corroding demonic power, were also entwined with a wisp of gray energy.

This energy is neither yin nor yang, neither malevolent nor evil, yet it emanates a strange and unsettling Daoist charm that disturbs the mind.

[Aura of Calamity (weak) - Sign of Madness]

Corroded by the aura of calamity, their minds are clouded, leaving only thoughts of slaughter and deep hostility towards foreign beings.

Li Yan's heart sank.

He had seen this object before on Sun Wukong's pillar of spiritual energy; its four colors intertwined, symbolizing the tribulation destined in his life.

However, such calamity energy is only present in those destined by Heaven, so how could it appear on these ordinary demons?

Furthermore, the nature of this calamity energy is different from the four colors of [calamity, hardship, calamity, and tribulation] that Sun Wukong carries.

It leans more towards chaos and madness.

While pondering.

Sun Wukong was already caught up in the killing frenzy.

Wherever the golden cudgel passed, the ghost-faced owls fell one by one.

This monkey dealt with these monsters as easily as a tiger among sheep.

If it weren't for remembering Li Yan's instructions and holding back seven-tenths of their strength, these masked owls would have been turned into mincemeat long ago.

Even so, in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, hundreds of masked owls had fallen to the ground, wailing and struggling.

No one else could step forward.

Sun Wukong sheathed his staff and stood there, his golden eyes sweeping over the demons scattered on the ground, and he curled his lip in disapproval:

"They're so weak! I only warmed up a bit and they were all down."

Li Yan slowly stepped forward, carefully observing the nearest ghost-faced owl.

This owl is large in size and should be one of the leaders.

At this moment, his sternum collapsed and blood was flowing from his mouth and nose, yet he still tried to stand up.

His bloodshot eyes were filled with nothing but mad killing intent, devoid of any clarity.

"He has lost his intelligence and can no longer communicate," Li Yan sighed softly.

The mirror of the mind reflected that the wisp of gray energy was particularly concentrated within the owl's body, entwining the demon core and eroding its soul.

"Senior brother, these hairy beasts cannot be allowed to live."

Sun Wukong frowned. "I see only murderous intent in their eyes. Letting them go will only bring trouble. They'll harm people sooner or later."

Li Yan remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded: "Go ahead and do it, just give me a quick death."

He had already understood after observing for a moment.

These masked owls have been deeply corrupted by the calamity, their souls and spirits damaged beyond repair.

Moreover, if the calamity is not eliminated, they will become like walking corpses, instinctively attacking all foreign creatures until they are exhausted and die.

Rather than letting them struggle in painful madness, it's better to let them go.

Upon hearing this, Sun Wukong no longer hesitated.

With a light tap of the golden staff, rays of soft golden light entered the brows of each ghost-faced owl, shattering its demonic core and annihilating its soul.

The monster's body trembled, then went limp. The crimson in its eyes faded, returning to its original grayish-brown, indicating that it had lost all life.

The gray sable leaped off Li Yan's shoulder and approached the corpse of a ghost-faced owl.

She nudged it with her paws, and seeing no reaction, she chirped excitedly, her silver-gray tail held high.

Li Yan watched as Sun Wukong effortlessly resolved the battle, and felt a sense of admiration.

This monkey's current cultivation level is probably just one step away from the blossoming of its primordial spirit.

Hundreds of masked owls, including many leaders, were not even qualified to let him warm up.

If it weren't for my two lifetimes and the fortuitous opportunity to enter the sect earlier and become this monkey's senior brother...

Thinking about the demon kings whose brains would be smashed by the Golden Cudgel on their journey to the West, Li Yan felt a chill run down his spine.

Fortunately, very fortunate.

While calculating.

Within the mirror of the heart, the energy of destiny pulsed slightly.

[Slay the demon corrupted by the aura of calamity, eliminate the cause of the maddening calamity, and gain +3 +3 +2 +1 to your Affinity Qi...]

In total, I obtained more than eighty strands.

Including the previous surplus, the total exceeds 260.

[Aura of Destiny: 260/160]

However, he felt no joy, but rather a sense of vigilance.

The appearance of calamity often foreshadows even greater changes.

"Senior brother, what are you daydreaming about?"

Sun Wukong leaned closer, his golden eyes blinking.

"Now that we've cleaned up those hairy beasts, shouldn't we get down to business?"

Li Yan snapped out of his daze and nodded.

His gaze fell on the crack.

The crack was deep and dark, where starlight and yin energy intertwined to form a hazy mist.

The mirror of the heart reflected that the aura of the star aperture and earth eye in the stone chamber below was pure and had not been polluted by the calamity energy.

"Let's go down and take a look."

Sun Wukong, carrying the gray sable, was the first to leap into the crevice.

Li Yan followed closely behind.

The distance of three zhang (approximately 10 meters) was covered in an instant.

The stone chamber was small, but it was a hidden paradise.

Stalactites hang from the top, and droplets of water fall to the ground with a crisp echo.

The ground was covered with fine sand, with specks of silver mixed in among the grains—those were fragments of meteorite marrow.

In the center of the stone chamber, a massive, dark rock the size of a millstone emitted a soft starlight.

Starlight, moonlight, and yin energy converge and flow here, forming a stable triangular cycle.

"This is it." Li Yan's eyes gleamed.

The mirror of the heart reflects.

【Star Aperture Earth Eye (Small)】

The residual energy of celestial bodies, the radiance of the moon, and the yin energy of the earth's veins naturally converge to harmonize the violent and nourish the peaceful.

Suitable for cultivating star-attribute and yin-attribute techniques, it can also help temper the soul and solidify the foundation.

[The eye here is relatively small in size, with a moderate concentration of stellar energy, and can sustain this for approximately three hundred years.]

Li Yan sat cross-legged and took out the Dao-carrying tortoise shell, placing it in front of him.

The tortoise shell touches the ground, its surface texture slightly shiny, echoing the mysterious earth eye.

He then took out the tattered piece of spirit tortoise shell from his bosom and placed the two shells side by side.

"Buzz!"

The two tortoise shells trembled, and their patterns seemed to connect.

Although they cannot truly unite due to their incompleteness, their Daoist principles intertwine, forming a complementary relationship.

The imposing and dignified nature of the tortoise shell carrying the Dao, and the prophetic spirituality of the tortoise shell, are aroused even more actively in this place.

"Junior brother, I wish to cultivate here, and I need your protection."

Sun Wukong grinned:

"Don't worry, senior brother! With me here, even if hundreds of more hairy beasts come, they won't be able to bother us!"

He finished speaking.

Holding a stick, he stood at the entrance below the crevice, his golden eyes gleaming, his ears slightly open, taking in all the movements within a hundred feet.

The gray sable curled up beside Li Yan, its silvery-gray fur shimmering with a dreamlike glow under the starlight.

Li Yan closed his eyes and concentrated, and the seed of Dao in his Niwan Palace trembled slightly as he carefully sorted out the general outline and the first thirty-seven methods of the "Star Aperture Hidden Dragon Technique".

This method takes the human body as the universe and opens hidden orifices to correspond with the stars in the celestial sphere.

The first thirty-seven apertures correspond to the nine stars of the Big Dipper and the base of the twenty-eight constellations.

The nine stars of the Big Dipper.

The stars are Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, Yao Guang, and are supported by the two hidden stars Zuo Fu and You Bi.

The Twenty-Eight Mansions consist of seven mansions of the Azure Dragon in the East, seven mansions of the Black Tortoise in the North, seven mansions of the White Tiger in the West, and seven mansions of the Vermilion Bird in the South.

The thirty-seven orifices belong to the four symbols, which correspond to the celestial sphere.

Once one opens a aperture, one can draw a trace of the primordial stellar power of the corresponding star into the body, tempering the physical body and soul, and nourishing the seed of the Dao.

Once all thirty-seven acupoints are opened and stellar power flows freely, a stellar earth seed can be condensed, possessing both the spirit of the stars and the richness of the earth.

When the Dao Tree blossoms, the resulting primordial spirit will be imprinted on the changes of the stars in the heavens, and supernatural powers will arise spontaneously.

"Truly wondrous..." Li Yan thought to himself.

This method is in line with the "Nine Apertures Hidden Dragon Chapter," both emphasizing dormancy and accumulation, but with a larger scope, directly pointing to the Great Dao of the celestial bodies.

The only risk is that when drawing star power into the body, one must withstand the impact of the stellar origin's power.

If the foundation is not solid and the spirit is not firm, at best the acupoints will be damaged, and at worst the foundation of the Dao will collapse.

Fortunately, there is this star-shaped eye.

The Earth Eye harmonizes the violent stellar energy, transforming it into nourishing yin energy, greatly reducing risks.

"Let's start with the Big Dipper's Tian Shu point."

Li Yan calmed his mind and circulated his true energy according to the method.

For cultivators in the Enlightenment stage, true qi is obtained by refining acquired spiritual energy.

Its nature is acquired, and it needs to be transformed into true essence through the Dao seed before it can touch the innate.

Although he had not yet condensed his Dao Seed, his "Guardian of Simplicity" was complete, his foundation was solid, and his true qi was so pure that it was no less than the true essence of ordinary Dao Seed cultivators.

The vital energy circulates along special meridians, slowly converging at a hidden acupoint three inches below the left foot.

This acupoint is not normally accessible to ordinary people; it is one of the hidden acupoints in the human body corresponding to the power of the Tian Shu star.

The power of stars, open the celestial pivot!

The embryo of the Dao seed in the Niwan Palace shone brightly, resonating with the tortoise shell carrying the Dao in front of him.

The flowing patterns on the tortoise shell attract the power of the stars through the earth's eye.

In an instant.

The brilliance of the giant rock surged, and streams of pale blue star power, like thin streams, were absorbed and transformed by the tortoise shell before flowing into Li Yan's body.

The star power enters the body, like an icy spring seeping into the bones, or like silver needles piercing acupoints.

Li Yan's body trembled slightly, but he gritted his teeth to steady his mind and guided the star power to impact the hidden aperture of Tian Shu.

"laugh!"

Cracks appeared in the barrier of the hidden orifice.

The stellar energy surged in, cleansing the acupoints and widening the meridians.

The pain was excruciating, like having one's bones scraped and flesh torn away.

However, Li Yan was resolute. Having lived two lives and been tempered by the "Shouzhuo Jing" (a classic text on maintaining simplicity), his character was already as firm as a rock.

Hold onto the clarity of your mind, visualize the Big Dipper and the Heavenly Pivot star chart, and use the Taoist principles of the star chart to soothe the violent stellar forces.

After an incense stick's time, the hidden aperture of Tian Shu was fully opened.

Within the acupoint, a wisp of pale blue starlight condensed and slowly rotated, resembling a miniature star.

Star power flows in through this orifice, tempering the surrounding flesh and bones, and then nourishing the seed bud.

A star-shaped pattern appears on the surface of the germ.

[The Heavenly Pivot Acupoint has opened, the Stellar Power has tempered the body, and the Dao Seed condensation progress is 100%]

Things will fall into place naturally.

The Niwan Palace trembled.

The Dao seed embryo, the size of a pigeon egg, solidified completely, its surface interwoven with Dao patterns, radiating brilliant light.

The Star Earth Seed is formed.

Once the seed of the Dao is formed, the true energy within the body begins to transform spontaneously.

The acquired returns to the innate, and true qi transforms into true essence.

True essence is formed from the primordial energy, possessing a pure and spiritual nature, and capable of sensing the laws of heaven and earth.

The essential difference between the enlightenment stage and the seed stage lies in this.

The former uses true qi to activate techniques and minor supernatural powers, borrowing acquired strength.

The latter uses true essence to wield great supernatural powers, drawing upon the might of the primordial.

Li Yan exhaled slowly, feeling the surging true energy within his body, flowing like a river, endlessly regenerating.

"The seed of the Dao has been formed; it is time to open the second aperture."

He continued to practice the "Star Aperture Hidden Dragon Technique".

With the Tian Shu acupoint opened, the flow of stellar energy becomes smoother.

The nine orifices of the Big Dipper correspond to the Nine Palaces, echoing each other.

With the support of the Earth Eye Star Power and the guidance of the Dao-carrying Tortoise Shell, Li Yan's enlightenment speed was extremely fast.

In three days, all nine orifices of the Big Dipper were opened.

At the same time, the embryo splits open, and a tender yellow sprout emerges, growing rapidly in the wind.

Its roots spread and penetrated into the limbs and bones, completely connecting with the nine orifices.

After his nine orifices opened, Li Yan rested for a day to consolidate his cultivation and comprehend the mysteries of stellar power.

Then, the acupoints of the Twenty-Eight Mansions were opened.

The Azure Dragon of the East, belonging to the Wood element, governs vitality and corresponds to the Liver Meridian.

Li Yan first started with the Horn Constellation Aperture.

The Horn constellation is the horn of the Azure Dragon, with sharp star power, and is responsible for breaking through obstacles and opening the mind.

With the Big Dipper's nine orifices as a foundation, the flow of stellar energy has already formed a small cycle, making the opening of these orifices much smoother.

In seven days, all seven constellations of the Azure Dragon will be open.

Above the Dao tree, the seven stars in the east lit up, faintly outlining the image of a coiled azure dragon.

The Azure Dragon belongs to the element of wood, and wood generates fire.

Li Yan took advantage of the situation to open the seven constellations of the Vermilion Bird in the south.

The Vermilion Bird belongs to the element of fire, which governs upward movement and corresponds to the Heart Sutra.

However, this time we encountered some obstacles.

The fire element is violent and the star energy is scorching, causing waves of burning pain when it impacts the acupoints.

Fortunately, there is the earth's eye to harmonize the yin energy, and there are the insights into thunder magic tempering from "A Brief Explanation of Wind and Thunder".

Li Yan steadied himself and overcame each obstacle one by one.

Seven days later, all seven constellations of the Vermilion Bird were in full bloom.

To the south of the Dao Tree, seven points of starlight shone like fire, faintly resembling the shape of a Vermilion Bird flapping its wings.

Fire generates earth, and earth generates metal.

Li Yan turned to open the seven constellations of the White Tiger in the west.

The White Tiger belongs to the metal element, which governs killing and corresponds to the lung meridian.

Metal is sharp and piercing, its power like a knife; when it opens up, it feels like being slowly tortured.

However, Li Yan was determined and persevered.

Seven days later, and then another seven days, the White Tiger's seven constellations are fully open.

To the west of the Dao tree, seven sharp starlight points appeared, hinting at the pouncing of a white tiger.

Metal generates water, and water generates wood.

Finally, the seven constellations of the Northern Black Tortoise will be revealed.

Xuanwu belongs to the water element, which governs downward flow and corresponds to the kidney meridian.

The water flows endlessly, and the starlight surges like a tide, its impact continuous and consuming the mind most intensely.

Li Yan rested and recuperated for three days before finally beginning his work.

This took the longest time, a full ten days, to fully open all seven constellations of Xuanwu.

At this point, all nine orifices of the Big Dipper and the orifices of the twenty-eight constellations were opened.

next moment.

Thirty-seven stars lit up simultaneously, connecting with each other to form a celestial map.

As it flows, it subtly resonates with the stars in the heavens.

At the same time, within the ancestral aperture, branches and leaves unfurled, imprinted with star patterns, and emitted a radiant glow.

A strange tree, three feet tall, took shape.

The tree trunk is pale yellow like jade, the branches and leaves shimmer with a pale blue starlight, the leaves are shaped like stars, and the veins resemble a flowing star river.

Its roots run deep, connecting it to the earth's bounty; its canopy spreads out, echoing the stars in the sky.

Sun Wukong glanced over from the side from time to time, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"Senior brother's technique is quite rare. It draws star power into the body and opens hidden acupoints to respond to the stars. This is the first time I've ever seen it."

It scratched its head, curious.

The sables, on the other hand, benefited greatly.

It once consumed meteorite marrow and has an affinity for stellar energy.

At this moment, Li Yan was cultivating, and his star power was overflowing. It lay beside him, breathing in and out, its silver-gray fur becoming increasingly lustrous, showing signs of a breakthrough.

I don't know how much time passed.

As the tree grew, it grew from three feet to over ten feet, its trunk becoming thicker and its branches and leaves more lush.

The leaves are covered with star-like patterns, and the veins resemble a galaxy.

The tree roots run deep, drawing nourishment from the earth.

The tree canopy spreads out, drawing in the celestial energy.

His cultivation level was completely solidified at the level of the Dao Tree.

Li Yan opened his eyes, his pupils shimmering with starlight, as if a galaxy were rising and falling within them.

A faint starlight emanated from her body, and starlight seemed to flow beneath her skin, making her temperament even more profound.

"Congratulations on breaking through to the next realm, Senior Brother!"

Sun Wukong somersaulted over, his golden eyes gleaming, and looked him up and down.

"Tsk tsk, Senior Brother's tree is quite unique! It sparkles with starlight, even more beautiful than my glass tree!"

Li Yan smiled:

"This success is largely thanks to your support, junior brother. You've protected me these past few days, haven't you? You haven't hindered your cultivation, have you?"

"Hehe, no big deal!"

Sun Wukong scratched his head, golden lines swirling between his forehead, seemingly radiating an irrepressible light.

"These past few days, I've seen you practicing so diligently, and I've been itching to try it myself, so I've also put in a lot of effort in my spare time!"

Look, there's just a hint of new life.

Before he finished speaking, a brilliant light shone from the ancestral aperture between his eyebrows.

A phantom image of a Dao tree appeared behind him.

The tree trunk is as clear as crystal, while its branches and leaves are like gold and jade, shining brightly.

At the top of that tree, a pale golden flower had already bloomed, with a total of nine petals.

Each piece is naturally imprinted with a mysterious Taoist pattern.

A glittering golden light is gathering at the flower's stamen, faintly revealing the nascent shape of the fruit.

"The Dao tree blossoms, and the primordial spirit is conceived!"

Li Yan's gaze sharpened, and he sincerely praised...

"Congratulations, Junior Brother, you've actually entered the Nascent Soul Realm! Your progress is truly astounding."

Sun Wukong grinned and scratched his cheek: "Senior brother, you flatter me. I'm just feeling my way across the river."

"I've only just begun to understand the mysteries of the Primordial Spirit Realm, and I have many insights to share. I might as well share them with you, senior brother, so we can have a discussion."

Li Yan nodded happily and sat down on the stone bench: "I was just about to ask my junior brother for guidance."

I only know that the primordial spirit is nurtured by the Dao flower, but I know little about the details.

Sun Wukong also sat down cross-legged and said earnestly, "I only understood this after receiving guidance from the Patriarch and through my own insights."

Our previous practices of opening the mind and refining qi, and cultivating the Dao seed and transforming it into essence, were all aimed at laying a solid foundation.

Once the Dao Tree blossoms, one has one foot in the Primordial Spirit Realm.

This flower can be considered the flower of the primordial spirit, a manifestation of the fusion of one's own Daoist essence and divine soul.

He pointed to the golden flower on his head:

"After the flower blooms, it needs to be nurtured with one's own cultivation to allow the Dao patterns on the petals to completely merge with the soul."

Only when all the essence has returned to its original state, the petals have fallen, and all the vital energy has been poured into the heart of the flower, can the fruit truly ripen.

"I see," Li Yan said thoughtfully. "So, the Flower of the Primordial Spirit is also divided into several levels?"

The monkey said, "That's right. The primordial spirit itself varies in its achievements due to differences in foundation and comprehension."

I roughly divide them into three categories.

The lowest grade has a primordial spirit that is like an infant, extremely fragile, and needs to rely on the physical body for nourishment at all times.

It risks dissipating even after being removed from the body for a short time.

"A mid-grade primordial spirit, shaped like a young boy, much more solid, capable of leaving the body for short periods of time to travel in spirit."

The power of spells and magical artifacts is far greater than before.

As for the superior primordial spirit…”

"That's incredible! The primordial spirit's appearance is no different from that of an adult, and it's so refined that it's almost tangible."

Not only can it exist independently between heaven and earth for a long time, but it can also comprehend deeper laws.

It is said that when one cultivates to the highest level, even if the physical body is destroyed, the primordial spirit can seize another body and be reborn, or transform into a wandering immortal.

Li Yan then asked, "Is there a distinction between the Nascent Soul stage and the Dao Seed stage?"

The monkey scratched its head and explained, "Opening the orifices refines true qi, the seed of the Dao transforms into true essence, and the primordial spirit generates magical power."

This magical power is formed by the fusion of true essence and divine soul, combined with a trace of understanding of the laws, making it extremely profound.

It can only be understood intuitively, not explained in words.

Li Yan was deeply moved, and many previously vague understandings suddenly became clear.

He couldn't help but say solemnly, "Thank you for clearing up my doubts, Junior Brother!"

Li Yan understood that Sun Wukong possessed extraordinary talent and great fortune, so his cultivation speed was naturally exceptional.

I will inevitably need his guidance in the future.

However, Li Yan also knew that cultivation was ultimately a personal matter, and that his current progress was already due to great fortune, and he could not force comparisons.

He composed himself and turned to introspection.

The tree is about ten feet tall, and starlight flows around it, but it still needs to accumulate before it can bloom.

Although the thirty-six apertures of the "Star Aperture Hidden Dragon Technique" have been opened, the star power in each aperture is still shallow and needs to be nurtured daily. Only when the star power is full and overflows, it can nourish the Dao Tree and give it the opportunity to bloom.

"No rush. The stronger the foundation, the higher the quality of the primordial spirit after it blossoms," Li Yan decided in his heart.

At this moment, the gray sable suddenly whimpered and pointed its front paws upwards at the crack.

Li Yan slightly opened his eyes and looked through the crack to see that it was already dark outside and the sky was full of stars.

"How long have we been cultivating here?"

"About a month," Sun Wukong said. "I remember the dates."

"It's time to go back to the mountain."

Once the cultivation is complete, most of the star power in the Star Aperture and Earth Eye has been absorbed, so it is not advisable to leave it there for a while.

Furthermore, the matter of the calamity in Shattered Star Gorge must be reported to the Ancestral Master.

Li Yan put away the two pieces of tortoise shell and, together with Sun Wukong and the gray sable, leaped out of the crack.

Returning to the bottom of the ravine, one sees the corpses of ghost-faced owls scattered all over the ground, already rotting and emitting a faint, fishy stench.

"These corpses..."

Li Yan frowned.

If the corpse of a demon is not dealt with, it can easily breed miasma and attract other ferocious creatures.

Sun Wukong grinned: "Watch this."

It opened its mouth and spat out a stream of crimson flame, which landed on the pile of corpses.

The flames ignite upon contact with the corpse, but only burn the demon's body, leaving the surrounding vegetation and rocks unharmed.

In a short while, hundreds of corpses turned to ashes and scattered with the wind.

"Primordial Spirit True Fire?" Li Yan asked in surprise.

"Hehe, just a little trick, I just figured it out," Sun Wukong said smugly.

Li Yan shook his head and chuckled.

This monkey's talent is truly terrifying.

The three of them did not linger and returned along the same route.

After leaving the Shattered Star Gorge, climb the back mountain and return to the main peak area of ​​Fangcun Mountain.

As Li Yan traveled along, he vaguely sensed that something was amiss in the atmosphere of the mountains.

The disciples coming and going had solemn expressions, and when they occasionally spoke in hushed tones, they all carried a sorrowful air.

Li Yan's heart sank.

There was nothing unusual about it; as far as the eye could see, white sails were hung everywhere around the mountain gate.

"This is..." Li Yan paused.

Sun Wukong's golden eyes darted around, and he sensed something was wrong: "Has a disciple fallen?"

Li Yan strode towards the nearest disciple.

Just as he was about to ask, the man looked up and revealed a familiar face.

"Senior Brother Zhou?"

However, at this moment, Zhou Ming's left sleeve was empty, indicating that he had lost an arm!

He wore a white headscarf, looked haggard, and had bloodshot eyes.

Upon seeing that it was Li Yan, Zhou Ming was taken aback at first, then hurriedly said, "Senior Brother Li!"

Senior Brother Sun! Where have you all been this past year? Something terrible has happened at Fangcun Mountain!

"What is it?" Li Yan asked in a deep voice.

Zhou Ming's eyes were slightly red, and his voice choked with emotion:

"Senior Brother Zhao Yuanqing... has fallen."

a year ago?

Zhao Yuanqing?

That True Yangzi, the master of the Weapon Pavilion, with a platinum sword shadow between his brows and an arrogant demeanor?

"What happened?" Li Yan pressed.

Zhou Ming calmed himself down and began to speak slowly.

A year ago, the Weapon Pavilion organized a Weapon Forging Conference, inviting like-minded individuals to showcase the wonders of weapon forging at Fangcun Mountain.

As the head of the true disciples of the Artifact Pavilion, Zhao Yuanqing was responsible for coordinating some of the rare materials.

However, on the eve of the crafting competition, a disciple discovered that the quantities of several core materials for refining natal flying swords in the storeroom did not match.

The investigation, conducted in secret, led to clues pointing to Zhao Yuanqing.

Upon hearing the news, the patriarch personally inquired about it.

Zhao Yuanqing did not refute, but readily admitted it.

He said that he had reached a critical point in the forging of his natal flying sword, which required one line each of three precious materials: Taibai Refined Gold, Star Iron, and Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Jade, in order to achieve a superior grade.

Although there is stock in the warehouse, the equipment required is too large, and if he applies, it will definitely not be approved.

Therefore, he took a risk and secretly took the money, intending to find an opportunity to replace it later.

Li Yan frowned.

Such behavior violates the rules of the organization.

After listening, the patriarch remained silent for a long time before finally making his decision.

Zhao Yuanqing was stripped of his position as the true disciple and banished from the mountain, never to return to Fangcun Mountain.

Zhao Yuanqing kowtowed and apologized, but did not ask for forgiveness.

Before leaving the mountain, he returned all the spiritual materials, spiritual shells, pills, and talismans in his storage bag to Fangcun Mountain.

He only brought his natal sword.

That flying sword, forged from precious materials of greed, is not yet fully completed.

"We went to see our senior brother off on the day he left the mountain."

He only said one sentence.

"The Great Way is before me, yet I have strayed from the right path, failing my ancestor and the Fangcun Mountain."

"On this journey home, if fate allows, we may be reborn in the next life."

"And then?" Li Yan asked.

"Then……"

Zhou Ming closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face.

"Three days ago, a messenger from the city at the foot of the mountain came to report."

On his way home, Zhao Yuanqing passed through a mortal city in the Southern Continent.

Just then, a demon wreaked havoc. It was a black wind demon at the Nascent Soul Realm who led his minions to slaughter the city in an attempt to refine the Myriad Soul Banner.

The city's inhabitants fled in panic, resulting in countless deaths and injuries.

Zhao Yuanqing could have taken a detour.

After all, with his Dao Seed stage strength and his natal sword not yet fully formed, he was no match for the Black Wind Demon.

But he stopped.

Holding the unfinished natal sword, he stood before the city gate.

"To fight a Dao Seed against a Primordial Spirit is tantamount to courting death."

Zhou Ming gave a bitter laugh.

"Senior Brother Zhao fought that old demon for half an hour."

The sword broke, the man was wounded, yet he did not retreat a single step.

"At the last moment, he burned his Dao Seed and used his life's cultivation to unleash the forbidden technique Golden Light Rifting the Sky, severely injuring the Black Wind Demon and forcing him to retreat."

"The city was saved, and tens of thousands of people were rescued."

"As for Senior Brother Zhao... his Dao seed burned out, his soul dissipated, and he died and his Dao vanished."

Zhou Ming took out a jade slip from his pocket as a backup and handed it to Li Yan.

"These are Senior Brother Zhao's last words, as well as his various insights into cultivating the Golden Element Flying Sword."

He said it was buried on the back of Fangcun Mountain, under the whetstone.

Each disciple on the mountain has a copy of this item.

Li Yan took the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense.

The jade slip begins with a photograph.

Zhao Yuanqing, his robes stained with blood, sat leaning against the ruined city wall, his face pale and his breath weak.

He gazed in the direction of Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Regret, shame, and resentment eventually turned into acceptance.

"Master, I was wrong."

"When greed arose, I knew it was wrong. But as the flying sword was about to be completed, inner demons arose, and in the end, I could not resist."

"This disciple has failed your teachings and has failed the Daoist title of Zhenyangzi."

"But in this final battle... I think I understand."

"The way of metal is not about being aggressive or arrogant."

"True sharpness lies in the edge that vanquishes demons and monsters."

True pride lies in being a pillar that protects all living beings.

"In my life, I went astray in the early part, but in the later part... well, at least I didn't cultivate this path in vain."

The photo, taken here, gradually becomes blurry.

Then came dense text and diagrams.

It records in detail Zhao Yuanqing's lifelong experience in cultivating the Golden Flying Sword.

From how to cultivate sword energy during the Enlightenment stage to how to condense sword intent during the Dao Seed stage.

Then there's the method of forging the natal flying sword, the secrets of nurturing it, and practical combat techniques...

He imparted all his knowledge, no matter how small.

The last line of small print:

"If those who come after me read this letter, I hope they will take it as a warning."

The path is long and arduous; a righteous heart makes for a righteous sword, while an evil heart makes for an evil sword.

This is Shinyoko's last writing.

Li Yan slowly withdrew his divine sense and remained silent for a long time.

Sun Wukong, standing to the side, scratched his head and muttered:

"This Senior Brother Zhao... he's quite a man."

Zhou Ming wiped away his tears and whispered:

"When the news of Senior Brother Zhao's passing was sent back, the Ancestral Master went into seclusion for three days."

After leaving the pass, he ordered the entire mountain to be draped in white sails for seven days as a sign of mourning.

"The elders of the Weapon Pavilion recorded Senior Brother Zhao's embezzlement and his final act of defending the city, and presented them to the Ancestral Master."

The patriarch only said one sentence:

No one is perfect; everyone makes mistakes. The greatest virtue is to correct one's mistakes.

In the end, Yuan Qing took on the responsibility of upholding the title of "True Yang."

Li Yan sighed softly.

Zhao Yuanqing is a complex and difficult person to judge.

He was arrogant and looked down on disciples with mediocre talents; he could also be selfish in his actions.

Could he be described as a great villain?

Not really.

To say he bullies the weak?

It doesn't really count.

At most, he is a selfish and arrogant practitioner.

Does such a person deserve to cultivate Taoism?

Can someone like that enter Fangcun Mountain to cultivate?

Do we deserve guidance from the patriarch?

Li Yan recalled the criteria his master used to accept disciples: being able to come to the gate of Fangcun Mountain meant one had a predestined connection.

It's not necessary to be a perfect person.

The teaching process is merely guiding the other person in the right direction.

Instead of creating a perfect puppet according to one's own wishes.

Zhao Yuanqing had flaws, but he eventually found his own path.

He lived up to the Taoist name Zhenyangzi with his life.

As the sun rises, its gentle light shines upon all things.

True Yang is not the scorching sun.

It is not light, but light that dispels darkness.

Zhao Yuanqing took a wrong turn in the first half of his life.

In the second half, things finally turned around.

"Perhaps, this is the way of education of our ancestors."

Li Yan murmured.

Allow your disciples to make mistakes and take detours, and only offer guidance at crucial points.

Ultimately, the disciple was allowed to find the answer himself.

Such education might produce tragedies like Zhao Yuanqing.

Only in this way can a disciple truly be himself.

Rather, it is not a copy of the founder.

"Senior brother, what are you thinking about?" Sun Wukong asked.

Li Yan shook his head: "It's nothing."

I just feel that those who cultivate the Tao are, in the end, still human.

Humans have seven emotions and six desires, and they have strengths and weaknesses.

"That's not human, it's a clay statue of a god, flawless and perfect."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ming seemed to be deep in thought.

He suddenly said, "Senior Brother Li, among Senior Brother Zhao's belongings, there is one that is quite strange. The elder of the Artifact Pavilion can't figure it out, so he asked me to pass it on to you."

As he spoke, he took something out of his pocket.