Free Web NovelChapter 342: Chapter 245: Pray Tell, Who Under Heaven Is a Stranger to the Demonic?
True Master Xuanmiao swaggered into the main hall of the Everbright Heavenly Pond, its paws clasped behind its back.
While Xiao Jiang was in secluded cultivation, it was the "Grand Steward" of the place, wielding great power and projecting an imposing aura.
With nothing better to do each day, True Master Xuanmiao would go to the Pill Division where He Shouzheng was to demand some snacks.
Then it would have that pair of sisters, the Twin Lotus, fan it and feed it while it took a long, comfortable nap.
Only when Xiao Jiang’s seclusion was about to end would it start putting on a show of being busy.
’My fortune is truly extraordinary. Once Xiao Jiang ascends to the position of Shao Yang and merges with the fortune of the Eight Sects...’
True Master Xuanmiao’s whiskers twitched as it chuckled slyly.
"When that time comes, I’ll be able to return home in glory and let that bunch of ’compatriots’ from the Beiju Continent see for themselves that I, this True Master, have made a comeback!"
The Beiju Continent was ruled by the Demon Dao, where status was determined by the nobility of one’s bloodline, creating a distinct and extremely strict hierarchy.
This deeply entrenched set of antiquated rules originated from the Original Scripture of the Celestial Demon.
It clearly recorded that the Demon Lord sacrificed itself, transforming into all things in the world.
This act created the Five Insects and the Hundred Forms.
According to the Original Scripture of the Celestial Demon, the Five Insects were the Demon Lord’s cranium, brain, mouth, and tongue.
Therefore, they controlled all sorts of Divine Techniques and principles of law, making them the most noble.
However, their descendants were few, and procreation was difficult.
The Hundred Forms, on the other hand, were its limbs. The arms were kings, the legs were authority. They were codependent, establishing many demon kingdoms and propagating for generations.
Beneath them were the lowest of the low, the "half-demons," who could only serve as manual laborers and menial servants.
True Master Xuanmiao was not born and raised in the Beiju Continent; it had met the first Shao Yang in the Nanzhan Continent.
Later, for various reasons, Yu Shenxiu traveled to the distant Beiju Continent. There, he grew close with a host of dragon descendants and was treated as a guest of honor.
Riding on his coattails, True Master Xuanmiao was finally able to hold its head high. It met many Demon Kings belonging to the Five Insects and even became sworn brothers with several of them.
Unfortunately, in his search for an Opportunity for the Great Dao, Yu Shenxiu had to travel to the Dongsheng Continent.
After that, by skillfully navigating and maneuvering through various situations, he finally succeeded in attaining the Shao Yang.
During those days, wherever True Master Xuanmiao went, it only needed to say, "Show me some respect."
Any Daoist Lineage that had heard the title "True Monarch Shao Yang Huiyuan" would, for the most part, show it some courtesy.
But the good times didn’t last.
The ascension of a Shao Yang obstructed the Tai Yang.
It soon attracted the attention of White Jade City. The three Great True Masters conspired to lay a trap, forcing Yu Shenxiu to challenge White Jade City, which led to his tragic end: his soul was scattered and his Golden Position shattered.
True Master Xuanmiao, in turn, got a taste of the world’s fickleness. If the Demon Dao hadn’t taken it in, it would likely have become homeless and destitute.
’Back when I fell on hard times, I asked a few of my old compatriots to lend me some Spiritual Objects and Spiritual Resources, but those bastards made all sorts of excuses or just ignored me completely.’
True Master Xuanmiao bared its teeth. Now its seals were undone, and it was the "teacher" of the Innate Sect’s Daoist!
"For three hundred years the river flows east, for three hundred years it flows west! Don’t you dare bully a poor cat... AH!"
Just as True Master Xuanmiao, feeling its future was limitlessly bright, crossed the threshold, it was sent flying by an indescribably immense Qi Mechanism before it could even steady itself.
"MEOW!"
True Master Xuanmiao lay sprawled on the ground, its amber eyes wide as saucers.
’Has Xiao Jiang... figured out a Foundation Establishment method?’
It saw Jiang Yi seated at the head of the hall. The crown of his head vibrated, like an invisible void flickering in and out of existence. It devoured a massive amount of Spiritual Energy from all directions, which faintly coalesced into the black and white fish of Yin and Yang, locked in an embrace.
Then, the energy took the form of a Dragon and a Tiger, the Essence of Kan and Li, converging and diverging, gathering and scattering in endless transformations.
This scene left True Master Xuanmiao stunned.
Having passed through the Flying Foundation Establishment Realm itself, it naturally understood what was happening.
This was a sign of the union of Life Essence!
As the saying goes: subdue the Dragon and Tiger, capture Kan to fill Li. With Life and Essence complete, one is free from illness and disaster.
’Is Xiao Jiang taking the final step beyond the Qi Cultivation Realm to forge his Dao Foundation?’
’He can finally achieve Foundation Establishment!’
True Master Xuanmiao was overcome with excitement.
Reaching the Flying Foundation Establishment Realm would allow him to open the Yang Qi Taiyin Heaven.
Inside, aside from mountains of rare treasures and Spiritual Materials and Resources, was the True Skill inheritance for the Shao Yang path.
There were also his former master’s handwritten Daoist secrets on how to cultivate the "bounty of five lifetimes" and pluck the Dao Fruit of Perfection.
If Xiao Jiang obtained them, it would be like adding wings to a tiger!
Attaining the Golden Position within sixty years wouldn’t be entirely impossible!
’To command the transformations of the heavens’ Circulation, revering only myself as king.’
’This Dao Foundation borrows the Emperor’s Life to enact dominion.’
Jiang Yi hadn’t noticed True Master Xuanmiao; he was completely absorbed in contemplating this method.
He channeled his Magical Power slightly, and a One Element’s worth of supreme-grade True Qi swirled and transformed, gradually filling the vast main hall. It resembled an auspicious cloud, projecting an extraordinary presence.
However, no matter how he tried to circulate and transform it, this auspicious cloud could never fully form.
After a moment, Jiang Yi knew the time was not yet right. With a soft sigh, he withdrew his True Qi and dispelled his Magical Power.
While circulating his energy just now, he had clearly sensed a solid barrier blocking his path, one as immovable as a mountain of bronze or a wall of iron.
’That must be the "shell barrier."’
’If I try to wear down this ’shell’ with brute force, it could take seventy or eighty years.’
’No wonder Cat Master said I must use the ’Meridian Fire’ to burn it away completely. That will allow my True Qi and Magical Power to achieve Sympathy with heaven and earth, comprehend the heart of heaven, and smoothly complete my Foundation Establishment...’
Jiang Yi closed his eyes again, carefully contemplating the "Dao Foundation" that the Celestial Book had deduced.
Day and night flew by like a weaver’s shuttle.
He only emerged from his state of meditative stillness when the morning light filtered into the main hall.
The moment he opened his eyes, a calico cat entered his vision.
"Xiao Jiang, cultivating is hard work. You must be thirsty."
True Master Xuanmiao held up a Jade Bowl with its two front paws, presenting to him a precious liquid refined from the Five Essences.
Jiang Yi took the Jade Bowl and asked with a grin,
"Cat Master, being so attentive for no reason means you’re up to no good."
True Master Xuanmiao asked obsequiously,
"Xiao Jiang, were you attempting to forge your Dao Foundation yesterday?"
