Free Web NovelChapter 255: Chapter 202: Burning and Killing Demon Forms, Pointers on Fire Arts
Jiang Yi fell into a contemplative silence. He had heard from True Master Xuanmiao that when a Daoist of the Ancestral Sect ascended, they were required to sever their past and erase their karma. freewebnoveℓ.com
This process was divided into two steps. First, their life lamp would burn eternally, cleansing their worldly roots so they were no longer bound by their former background.
Second, they had to cut all worldly ties and eliminate old traces, exterminating all who had schemed against or been in conflict with them to prevent future complications.
The existence of this tradition was not without reason.
The four great Daoist Lineages of the Yanfu Vast Land had always had a habit of poaching each other’s talents, with the Buddhist Dao of the Ximizhou Continent being the most flagrant.
Those bald donkeys often divined the promising prospects discovered by the Immortal Dao and Demon Dao, then deliberately created an incarnation to form a karmic bond with those "Daoists" and "True Inheritances."
Sometimes as parents or relatives in a certain life, or as siblings, lovers, or sworn enemies.
From these bonds, they would spin endless old grievances and loves, new sorrows and partings, until the karma became so entangled it was inseparable. Ultimately, they would guide the target into the Buddhist fold to take refuge in the World Honored One.
If not for this reason, the Immortal and Demon paths would never have joined forces later on, nor would they have allowed the Sword Dao, the most lethal path of cultivation, to emerge.
Nor would it have been possible for four Great Power Daoist Monarchs to successively attain their positions in just a few epochs, precipitating the great war of Daoist Lineages to march west and annihilate the Buddhas!
Even now, Buddhist Dao Cultivators who leave the Ximizhou Continent are unwelcome elsewhere.
Moreover, the Demon Dao later imitated this tactic several times, luring away many of the Immortal Dao’s top talents.
The two sides went back and forth, competing with each other, a trend that continued for a thousand years. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be all these convoluted rules.
Jiang Yi reined in his stray thoughts and asked with a calm expression:
"The Zhao You Sect has been demoted to an Inner Sect. What will be done with the Qianji Sect?"
Feng Yuan answered truthfully:
"The Qianji Sect was originally sold to the Dao Race’s Kang Clan, and both parties signed a golden contract. Now that Kang Congyun has been executed, his entire clan, young and old, has been sentenced to penal servitude, tasked with building the Dragon and Tiger Profound Altars in the north and south."
"Sect Leader Liu Huan has reclaimed the Talisman Decree, but the ultimate fate of the Qianji Sect is entirely for the Daoist to decide."
’So with a single thought, I am to decide the life, death, and future of a High Cultivator who was once a Sect Leader?’
Jiang Yi gave a soft, ambiguous reply:
"Do what must be done."
’Since I’m severing my past, I naturally can’t have any more entanglements.’
The Zhao You Sect was stripped of all its foundations and lost the support of the Kang Clan, its Dao Race backer. Its prestige was bound to plummet.
As for the Qianji Sect, with Liu Huan, a Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer Cultivator, overseeing the sect, it wouldn’t fall into chaos.
Before he had firmly secured his position as the Daoist of the Innate Sect, any other support or assistance would be an unnecessary move.
"Understood." Feng Yuan said no more.
Jiang Yi said warmly, "Thank you for making this trip down the mountain, Senior Brother Feng."
This True Inheritance disciple of Lifeng Peak was not like He Shouzheng, an ordinary Cultivator with no hope of Foundation Establishment, forced to live out his days in the Lower Courtyard.
His Cultivation was no less than that of Xuan Chanzi from the Zhongyi Sect, estimated to be around the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment. Furthermore, his Daoist Techniques in two elements had already reached Perfection.
If he could achieve Perfection in four techniques, he would be a genuine candidate for True Monarch.
"With the Daoist before me, I, Feng, am truly unworthy of the title ’Senior Brother.’"
Feng Yuan was, after all, a True Inheritance disciple, and he possessed the bearing of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He did not prostrate himself like He Shouzheng, merely stating calmly:
"It is only right for the Hall of Rectification to assist the Daoist."
The Second-Grade Qi Cultivation Spiritual Object in Jiang Yi’s sleeve instantly dissolved into nothingness.
After about half an hour.
A thread of golden light surfaced in the depths of his eyes, followed by a dense flurry of dancing, tadpole-like characters.
"If the Daoist has no other commands, then please forgive me for taking my leave."
Jiang Yi had a rough understanding of this True Inheritance disciple’s temperament. He suddenly smiled and said:
"I have long heard of Brother Feng’s mastery of fire techniques, having cultivated a supreme Fire Life and condensed the ’Sanmei True Fire Dao Body.’ I wonder if you might offer me some instruction?"
Feng Yuan looked slightly surprised.
’This Daoist is remarkably well-informed.’
He bowed slightly, clasped his fists, and said respectfully:
"The Daoist was able to have two Daoist Scriptures choose you of their own accord; your Dao Wisdom is already ranked first on the Southern Dipper List. I have merely lived more years and possess some meager Cultivation. How could I presume to offer ’instruction’?"
Jiang Yi stepped down from the dais and said with a smile:
"To be honest, Brother Feng, I also cultivate Fire Element techniques. I have combined Bing and Ding Fire to forge an ’Innate Fire Virtue Body.’"
Feng Yuan raised an eyebrow, his expression finally showing a clear ripple of emotion.
If these words hadn’t come from the mouth of the Innate Daoist, he would never have believed that a mere Qi Cultivation Junior Cultivator could combine the supreme yang Bing Fire with the yin Ding Fire.
The harmonization, coordination, and precise control required were something that even a Foundation Establishment True Master might not necessarily be able to grasp.
Let alone forging the most supreme of the thirty-seven types of Fire Life Dao Bodies—the "Innate Fire Virtue Body."
’The Ancestral Master’s judgment is truly extraordinary!’
Feng Yuan mused to himself, his estimation of this Daoist Jiang rising a notch.
He immediately replied with solemnity:
"Since the Daoist has invited me, how could I dare refuse?"
Jiang Yi walked closer. In the past, what right did a Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer Cultivator have to look a Foundation Establishment True Master in the eye as an equal?
But he was now the Innate Daoist, and many rules naturally no longer applied in the same way.
He gave a carefree smile and said:
"The Ever-Bright Celestial Lake is a gateway to the cosmos, where thousands of demon-forms often roam, plundering the Spiritual Truth of heaven and earth. Why don’t the two of us use these demon-forms to demonstrate our techniques? What do you say?"
Feng Yuan nodded.
"I will follow the Daoist’s arrangements."
In his heart, he was also genuinely curious to see just how much real skill this Daoist Jiang—who claimed to have combined Bing and Ding Fire and forged an Innate Fire Virtue Body—truly possessed.
...
...
The azure sky was as clear as if washed, vast and boundless.
Jiang Yi rode a ray of Profound Light straight into the clouds. In the past, if he had used a cloud-soaring spell, he could have never reached such a height.
Now that his True Qi had transformed into Magical Power, he urged it through his meridians, causing his entire body to rumble as a fiery glow surged like rosy clouds and smoke.
The Profound Light erupting from the crown of his head seemed to condense into a solid form, scattering the sharp, gusting astral winds.
"What pure Profound Light."
A look of surprise flashed through Feng Yuan’s eyes. To be able to fly through the sky relying solely on his Cultivation, without the aid of any Magical Artifacts...
It was clear that not only was this Daoist Jiang’s Magical Power immense, but his Profound Light was also incomparably penetrating—capable of melting gold, refining iron, and destroying anything in its path.
He too summoned his Profound Light and stood amidst the clouds, speaking slowly:
"I have long heard that the Ever-Bright Celestial Lake is an Innate hub connecting to the myriad heavens of the cosmos. Seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation."
Looking down, the vast, boundless ocean-like lake reflected the constellations, and infinite Spiritual Energy surged like a tide. The sight was simply magnificent.
"Legend says that the demon-forms are muddled and witless, possessing no spirit or intelligence, and are a manifestation of the Dao path of a certain Ancestral Master of our Dao."
Jiang Yi looked into the distance and saw thousands of smoky pillars spiraling upward, most of them black or gray.
Those were the "demon-forms."
They could be called the "Locust Swarm of the Great Dao." They coveted the Spiritual Truth of heaven and earth, the Essence Qi of flesh and blood, and the life force of all things, viewing them as things to gorge on. Yet they were insatiable, almost never satisfied.
Wherever they passed, not a blade of grass would be left. They were once a great calamity that made the Cultivators of the myriad heavens pale at the mere mention.
However, how could the many Daoist Monarchs and Great Powers of the Yanfu Vast Land allow such a budding threat to remain? During a conference to survey the heavens and stabilize the world, they had them all annihilated, preventing them from ever breaking into this realm.
But out of consideration for that one Demon Dao Ancestral Master, they deliberately left a sliver of "kindling" outside the heavens. Over tens of millions of years, it multiplied and proliferated.
"Brother Feng, please demonstrate the marvels of your Daoist Techniques."
Expectation showed in Jiang Yi’s eyes. He had never personally witnessed a Foundation Establishment True Master use Daoist Techniques, especially not a True Inheritance disciple from the Ancestral Sect like Feng Yuan.
"Then I shall make a humble display."
Feng Yuan did not stand on ceremony. His eyes narrowed slightly as he brought two fingers together, placed them on his glabella, and plucked a wisp of flame from between his brows.
When the wind blew, the flame rippled and swayed, moving as if it were flowing water.
Fueled by Magical Power, it instantly heated the air to a scorching temperature, spreading for thousands of feet.
Feng Yuan formed a hand seal and pointed. The azure sky turned crimson as a torrential flood of flames poured down like a vast ocean!
