Free Web NovelChapter 33: Chapter 25: Outer Demon Dao Art, The Fated Zhong Shenxiu
In his youth, Xuzhuang was devoted to his cultivation. While not a recluse, he never made any close friends. ƒгeewebnovёl.com
After reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection and refining his Magical Power, he traveled the Divine Continent and became quite well-traveled. However, his acquaintances weren’t fellow sect members. Now, he found himself without a single person to consult. Only Han Wang had offered his enthusiastic help, but he too was away from the sect on other important business.
Just then, Xuzhuang froze, recalling Han Wang’s mission: a Demon Cultivator who killed people to refine their techniques had appeared within the Tai Su Sect’s territory. Han Wang had gone personally to handle the matter and bring the Demon Cultivator back to the sect for punishment.
’Demon Cultivator!’ Xuzhuang’s brow twitched. He faintly sensed a clue. With a sudden reach of his hand, a miscellany he had skimmed through before flew into his grasp. The pages rustled as they flipped rapidly, finally stopping at one particular spot. ’Celestial Demon Dao Skill!’
On the Divine Continent, the orthodox Mystic Daoist sects controlled the righteous path. As such, very few heretical demons or fiends ever dared to roam the Donghua Continent, committing atrocities like killing people to refine techniques or poisoning an entire region. This led to many disciples with shallower cultivation and experience not truly understanding what the Demon Dao or other unorthodox paths even were.
But Xuzhuang had once traveled the East Sea and witnessed the power of Demon Cultivators, and through that, he came to know a few things about the Demon Dao.
The Demon Dao was called ’demonic’ because many of its followers did not cultivate merit and virtue, acting unscrupulously and committing all manner of evil deeds. But in truth, there was no concept of cultivating into a ’demon.’ Those of the Demon Dao also sought to achieve a Primordial Spirit, refine their Pure Yang, and attain immortality through the Dao.
Whether it was murder, soul refining, or other atrocities, their methods often involved refining living people, corpses, or resentful spirits into demonic entities, Demon Sect Magical Artifacts, or even Demon Sect Dao skills. Some went so far as to abandon their physical bodies to possess a demon’s form. Naturally, they also risked failing to refine a demon and instead being bewitched, devoured, or possessed by it...
In short, cultivating the Demon Dao was always a path of infinite danger and infinite reward. Meteoric progress and utter ruin were separated by a single thought.
The Celestial Demon Dao Skill was a profound art within the Demon Sect. Legend had it that in the void beyond the heavens, there were countless demons. They were formless and incorporeal, coming and going without a trace, their Divine Techniques bizarre and their varieties endless... The goal of the Celestial Demon Dao Skill was to use various means—be it traveling into the void to capture a Celestial Demon, or luring a demonic entity to the lower realm to be refined—to cultivate the Divine Techniques of the Demon Sect!
Therefore, it could be said that a Demon Sect cultivator who practiced the Celestial Demon Dao Skill was also the foremost expert in dealing with Celestial Demons.
Han Wang was certainly reliable, but a man like Xuzhuang was not one to leave his fate entirely in the hands of others. As he pondered, his gaze grew firm. He had made up his mind. He was determined to set out himself to find a Demon Sect cultivator who practiced the Celestial Demon Dao Skill.
This wasn’t some rash, aimless decision made on a whim. He already had a target in mind.
Over a decade ago, while traveling the East Sea, Xuzhuang had met a man named Daoist Zhang Ji. Daoist Zhang Ji hailed from the Penglai Dharma Lineage of the Three Mountains Immortal Sect, the only major orthodox Immortal Sect in the East Sea. Though not a true successor, he was a formidable figure who had condensed a Middle Grade Golden Core.
Xuzhuang’s acquaintance with Zhang Ji had come about through a series of fortunate coincidences, but that is another story and needs no retelling here.
Zhang Ji held a high position in Pengxuan Pavilion, the treasure-trading arm of the Penglai Dharma Lineage within the Three Mountains Immortal Sect. He was extremely well-connected, with extensive contacts that even included people from the Demon Dao.
Xuzhuang had once asked Zhang Ji why he wasn’t wary of associating with people from the Demon Dao. Zhang Ji had explained that the situation in the East Sea was complex, with nothing being purely black or white. Since he was stationed at Pengxuan Pavilion, it was inevitable that he would interact with people from all walks of life. These weren’t heartfelt friendships, so there was nothing to be taboo about.
But Zhang Ji had also mentioned that he had a true friend from the Demon Dao who cultivated the Celestial Demon Dao Skill. Far from committing any heinous crimes, this friend had actually accumulated external merit by exorcising demons, which was why they could be friends.
This person was the very target Xuzhuang sought.
’It seems if I want to find a solution, I must first make a trip to the East Sea.’
Xuzhuang placed the miscellaneous text back on the shelf. He was lost in thought, having already made up his mind, but before he could make a move, he suddenly paused. His gaze fell downward as he saw a streak of blue light fly up from the second floor. Sensing Xuzhuang’s presence, it changed direction and shot straight toward him.
The遁 light receded, revealing a young man. A golden coronet held his hair in place, though a few strands fell rakishly across his forehead. He was not wearing a Daoist Robe, but rather brocade robes with a floral pattern. His belt buckle was inlaid with gold and silver, and a Jade Pendant hung from its cord.
This attire made him look less like a Mystic Daoist and more like a wealthy young master from the mortal world.
The young man grinned, revealing a row of pearly white teeth, and said in a clear voice, "You must be Junior Brother Xu? You’ve certainly given me quite a search!"
This was the first time Xuzhuang had met a true successor other than Han Wang. Hearing that the man had apparently come looking for him specifically, Xuzhuang said in surprise, "I am Xuzhuang. Might I ask which Senior Brother you are? And for what important reason have you sought me out?"
"My name is Sun Suzhen. You should have seen my name on the jade register," Sun Suzhen said with a smile. "As for why I’m looking for you, Junior Brother... it can indeed be considered an important matter."
He glanced around, then raised a hand to stroke his chin. "I came by rather suddenly. Have I interrupted you in the middle of something important, Junior Brother?"
Xuzhuang pondered for a moment. "I do have other important business, but it is not so urgent. Please speak your mind, Senior Brother."
"Then I won’t beat around the bush," Sun Suzhen said. "Junior Brother Xu, you should know of the ’Myriad Rivers Converging Upstream Skill,’ correct?"
Xuzhuang said, "Is that the ’Myriad Rivers Converging Upstream Skill,’ one of the five branch teachings?"
Although the Tai Su Sect carried the Daoist lineage of the Tai Su Taoist, it held no stubborn, sectarian views. Besides the three great true teachings, the sect also had five other branch teachings, all of which were true methods that pointed directly to the Primordial Spirit Dao. The reason they were not listed as true teachings was because the three great ones were not only the fundamental Dao skills passed down from the sect’s founder, the Tai Su Taoist, but also pointed directly to the Pure Yang Dao. They were Superior Dao Skills that offered a true hope of achieving Immortal Merits.
