Free Web NovelChapter 518: Chapter 12: Chanting the Daoist Ancestor’s Name, Why Fear Punishment?
The Beginning of Ancient Times.
"Hmph! The two Buddhas from the West forbid us from extolling the Daoist Ancestor. This is an act of utter sacrilege!"
The Primordial Fire motioned for the Little Candle Dragon to stand by its side, then huffed angrily,
"What should we do! What should we do!"
Countless Barbaric Creatures looked at each other in confusion.
The young Candle Dragon waved a hand.
"Kill them! Kill them!"
The Barbaric Creatures all came to a realization and roared in unison,
"Kill them! Kill them!"
The crowd was seething with rage.
A great swarm of Barbaric Creatures surged toward the lands of the West, only to be beaten back by a colossal hand. An Enlightened One issued a cold decree:
"If any of you dare to extol that junior who proclaims himself Daoist Ancestor again, you shall all be punished."
The young Candle Dragon blinked furiously. The sun and moon appeared simultaneously, day and night alternated, and the four seasons erupted into chaos. It roared defiantly,
"Brazen wretch! How dare you slander the Daoist Ancestor! I’ll kill you!"
The Yin Yang Great Dao struck, yet it failed to harm the Enlightened One in the slightest.
"Utterly incorrigible."
The Enlightened One shook their head slightly and issued a cold decree:
"Heaven and Earth, hear my command! These Barbaric Creatures shall be barred from Daluo for all eternity."
The Great Curse descended, shackling their very beings.
The Primordial Fire, fated to die, was simply ignored. The Enlightened One pointed another finger, this time at the second-in-command of these Barbaric Creatures.
"Candle Dragon, you are the ringleader. In consideration of you embodying a portion of Heaven and Earth’s laws, I will spare your life, but you will not escape a living torment. You shall be tortured day and night—bones shattered and heart gouged out, scalded by oil and seared by fire, struck by heavenly lightning—until you no longer praise that Daoist Ancestor."
"In your dreams!"
The young Candle Dragon roared defiantly, but the words had barely left its mouth when heavenly lightning coursed through its body, scalding oil flooded its brain, and fierce flames seared its organs, all of which completely bypassed its Innate Physique.
Its bones began to shatter, inch by inch. Its heart was carved into eight pieces. After it regenerated, the torment began anew in an endless cycle.
It writhed on the ground in agony but refused to give up, shouting, "Daoist Ancestor Xuan Sheng!" This continued for ten thousand years until the young Candle Dragon, utterly exhausted, could only whisper, "Daoist Ancestor Xuan Sheng."
Another hundred thousand years passed. Now, barely breathing, it chanted in its mind, ’Daoist Ancestor Xuan Sheng.’
After another million years, the Candle Dragon no longer wailed. It silently endured the agony of oil scalding its brain, heavenly lightning coursing through its body, fire scorching its flesh, bones shattering, and its heart and organs being ripped to shreds.
The Little Candle Dragon muttered to itself,
’Daoist Ancestor Xuan Sheng, praised by Heaven and Earth... It is only a minor punishment. How could I not endure it?’
It gradually got used to it. When you get used to pain, it doesn’t hurt as much.
Although, it was still unbearable.
The Primordial Fire stayed by its side and whispered,
"Don’t chant the Daoist Ancestor’s name anymore. It’s enough to just remember him."
"No, I want to," the Little Candle Dragon said softly. "I’m not afraid of the pain anymore."
"But it still hurts," the Primordial Fire said dejectedly. "Besides, except for me, all of you have been cursed. You can never become Daluo..."
"It’s okay, Emperor Jun," the Little Candle Dragon gasped. As the seasons shifted around it, the scorching oil in its skull trickled out of its nostrils.
"It’ll be alright. It’ll be alright."
Many more years passed.
Taiyi devoured the Golden Crow and slew Emperor Jun.
"I am willing to surrender!" The Candle Dragon lowered its head and spoke with deference.
Taiyi glanced over, intrigued.
"Surrender? You no longer praise that so-called Daoist Ancestor of yours?"
"I stopped that long ago. It has been many years since I last suffered the punishment. As you know, so long as I cease to revere that so-called Daoist Ancestor, the punishment no longer falls upon me."
Hearing this, Taiyi nodded slightly, a faint, unreadable smile on his face.
"Well, let’s be clear. Even if you surrender to me, I will not break the curse for you. You are the embodiment of the sun and moon, Yin and Yang, and the four seasons. If you were to become a Daluo, attaining the Dao Fruit would be far too easy for you compared to others."
"Your Majesty sees clearly. I only wish to pledge my loyalty to you. The Daoist Ancestor? Emperor Jun? To hell with them."
"Then you may follow me."
...
「Current World. Taishan.」
Despair filled Zhuge Shang’s face as he watched the tide of Demon Qi surging to the heavens, crashing against the Killing Array around Taishan until it was on the verge of collapse.
He gritted his teeth.
"Everyone, retreat into the heart of Mount Taishan! Ask Emperor Dongyue for aid!"
The previously vanquished Emperor Dongyue was reborn from within Taishan. In a sense, these Earth Deities were undying and indestructible; Emperor Dongyue would exist forever unless Taishan itself completely collapsed.
However, he was still somewhat weakened.
The pale Emperor Dongyue opened up the mountainside, allowing the Zhuge Lineage and those who had come to visit to enter one by one.
Zhong Xiaoyu supported her parents as she walked into the mountain’s core, trembling slightly. She stared up at the two children in the sky, her voice choked with tears.
"Dad, Mom, they’ll be okay, right...?"
Father and Mother Zhong opened their mouths to speak but hesitated. At that moment, they saw the great tide of Demon Qi break through the Killing Array. As it surged forward, the mountain sealed itself shut, blocking the tide outside.
Everything went dark.
Meanwhile, outside the heart of the mountain, high above the clouds.
Lu Nian’s expression also changed slightly.
"This is bad. A very powerful Demon has arrived..."
But she saw that this pesky little brother of hers was still smiling as ever. He spoke calmly,
"Xiaonian, you just demonstrated four techniques. I’ll show you once how those four techniques should truly be wielded."
"You troublesome kid!" Lu Nian’s expression grew solemn. She activated her Innate Divine Demon Physique, pulled Lu Xuan over to her, and instructed in her sweet, childish voice,
"Still putting on an act... Youngest, you go first. This is a big one. Your big sister will settle the score with you later!"
In the distance, two Great Saints approached. The one in the lead had profound eyes, his body wreathed in the heavy traces of Time. With each step, he exuded an aura surprisingly similar to that of Lishan Old Mother and the Luo Hou Daoist!
Though he was still at the level of the Celestial Realms, he already possessed characteristics similar to the Xuandu Incarnation and Lishan Old Mother.
It was as if he wielded a portion of Heaven and Earth’s authority. In terms of power, he had already surpassed those at the Fifth Level of the Celestial Realms, the "Near-Daluo."
He must be... a Similar to Daluo!
This Great Saint smiled. As he closed his eyes, the sun and moon vanished; as he opened them again, they reappeared.
He strolled forward, yang to his left and yin to his right. The Great Sun and Taiyin were both contained within his eyes, the two principles standing manifest!
"Such deep sibling affection," the Great Saint said with admiration. "Then I must ask you both to accompany me..."
Lu Xuan glanced to the side. His gaze swept over Kunpeng Zi, and his expression flickered. He then turned his attention to this Great Saint who, while clearly not a Daluo, possessed an aura that far surpassed the level of the Celestial Realms.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking this Demon Race Great Saint looked a little familiar. He asked,
"And what is your name?"
The Great Saint chuckled.
"Little one, you’re quite bold... Well then, listen closely."
He paused and cleared his throat.
"The first venerable one under the East Emperor, the first general before the Demon Ancestor, the second demon of the Beginning of Ancient Times... My name is Candle Dragon."
Lu Xuan frowned. ’Candle Dragon?’
’The Beginning of Ancient Times?’
He was lost in thought when he heard Zhuge Shang, the only one still standing on Taishan, shout:
"Be careful! That is a demon from the Beginning of Ancient Times! He wields Yin and Yang, commands the sun and moon, and controls the four seasons! Though he is in the Celestial Realms, he is also a Similar to Daluo!"
Beside them, Lu Nian was so anxious her childish voice began to crack.
"Alright, Youngest, hurry up and leave! This guy is no joke! He won’t go easy on you like I do! I’ll hold him off first!"
Lu Xuan composed himself and glanced at his precious daughter, his gaze gentle.
"If I leave, what will you do?"
"What do you know!"
Lu Nian lifted her head proudly, her nose pointed at Lu Xuan.
"Your big sister is your big sister, after all. I am of Innate Invincibility and Innate Invulnerability! Even if someone stronger than a Daluo showed up, they still couldn’t kill me!"
Lu Xuan froze. ’Innate Invincibility, Innate Invulnerability?’
’Xiaonian is the symbol of that Path?’
He was genuinely stunned. A Dao of this caliber was, in a sense, on par with his Three Masters, wasn’t it?
’One is the destination, and the other is a journey that can never end...’
In the distance, the Candle Dragon walked forward slowly, a smile on his face.
"Leave? You two little ones will both be taking a trip with me..."
Before he could finish, he saw the young child in the Daoist Robe glance to the side.
"Alright, Xiaonian. I will only teach you this once. Watch closely and see how the four forms you just used are meant to be wielded."
He paused, then chuckled.
"And now... Heaven and Earth Inversion."
As he spoke, the young child raised a palm. It seemed to grasp the sun and moon, to encompass the Celestial Realms themselves. Accompanied by a Transcendence Light Spot, it flipped over and descended.
DONG!
The Candle Dragon—that being who commanded day and night, Yin and Yang, and the four seasons, comparable to the Luo Hou Daoist and Lishan Old Mother—was struck, its face changing abruptly as it was forced back nine steps!
"You little..."
The Candle Dragon narrowed its eyes.
Lu Xuan paid it no mind, turning to the bewildered Lu Nian to continue.
"Now, for Immortal Slaughtering Form One."
As his voice fell,
An incomparably magnificent wave of Sword Qi surged forth. Within it seemed to lie the Innate Infinite Blood Sea, accompanied by the sight of wailing Immortals and gods, and shrouded in an imperceptible Transcendence Light Spot!
The Candle Dragon’s expression changed. "Interesting... I seem to have underestimated you."
It opened and closed its eyes, causing day and night to alternate. With a single breath, all four seasons arrived at once!
The splendid light of the Great Sun and Taiyin appeared simultaneously, weaving together to collide with the Immortal Slaying Sword Qi!
"Next is Immortal Slaying Form One."
The young Daoist child nodded. Before Lu Nian’s dumbfounded gaze, a Sword Qi thousands, even tens of thousands of times larger than the one she had just conjured, appeared.
The true meaning of Slaying was contained entirely within it. As it surged forth, it created the magnificent scene of immortals falling like rain!
The Slaying and Slaughtering Sword Qi merged, their power increasing more than tenfold.
Caught off guard, the sword light tore through time and instantly appeared above the Candle Dragon’s head!
It frowned, trying to intercept or dodge, but it was already too late. The magnificent Sword Qi slammed into its forehead, cracking its skull with a fine fissure!
"Hm?"
Lu Xuan narrowed his eyes. ’This Demon Race Great Saint’s Physique alone is probably comparable to a Daluo...’
The Candle Dragon’s expression also changed drastically. The gash on its head vanished in a flash as it exclaimed in astonishment,
"Since the day I submitted to the East Emperor’s throne, you are the first to have ever injured this one. Impressive, truly impressive..."
A look of apprehension appeared in its eyes.
Lu Xuan mentally reached out to the Heaven-Opening Banner, ready to summon it at a moment’s notice. He then focused his mind and said,
"Xiaonian. Now, for the Path of Cause and Effect."
The Candle Dragon had clearly gotten serious now. It manifested its true form, stretching across the sky as day and night and the seasons of the Human World began to rapidly alternate.
In a single instant, spring, summer, autumn, and winter cycled one hundred and eight thousand times!
The spring breeze, the summer sun, the autumn chill, and the winter snow all appeared at once, blanketing the entire Great Heaven and Earth!
In all directions, ancient Immortals and gods who had lived through primordial years frowned, their faces filled with shock.
"It’s the Candle Dragon! It’s truly enraged! Something terrible is about to happen!"
In the Western Buddha Land, the Victorious Fighting Buddha, who was sitting cross-legged in the ashes of Sumeru Mountain, shot to his feet, his expression changing abruptly. He muttered,
"How did that person end up fighting the Candle Dragon? This is trouble. With the blessing of Heaven and Earth and the Great Dao itself, that primeval demon, the Candle Dragon, can contend even with a Daluo..."
He tightened his grip on the Stabilizing Needle, knowing that the Candle Dragon was one of the trump cards the Demon Ancestor and Taiyi had for entering the Current World. With it revealed now, the Supreme Profound Clarity might be in peril!
And just as the situation drew attention from all corners of the world...
Above Taishan.
In a single instant, the seasons had cycled 108,000 times and day and night had alternated 360,000 times. And there are sixty-five instants in the flick of a finger.
In other words, in the blink of an eye, tens of millions of seasonal and diurnal cycles occurred simultaneously, resonating with Heaven and Earth, and transforming into a Slaughter Technique that slashed toward Lu Xuan!
He frowned, sensing that this Demon was no weaker than Senior Brother Xuandu. He didn’t dare be careless and pulled the stunned Little Lu Nian behind him.
Then.
A Primordial Dharma Aspect, ten, no, a hundred times larger than Lu Nian’s, rose above Lu Xuan’s head, filling the entire Celestial Vault.
At that instant, his Primordial Body, now approaching the Great Success Level, began to glow. Bolstered by flecks of Transcendent Dao Rhyme and Transcendence Light Spots,
Lu Xuan himself seemed to become the Cause of All Fruits, as if he stood above everything!
And the Slaughter Technique, which had cycled the seasons and day and night millions of times, suddenly became a river without a source.
For that moment, Lu Xuan had become the cause of all things.
The very cause of the Candle Dragon’s attack was transformed into the cause for Lu Xuan’s attack!
The Slaughter Technique reversed, surging back toward the Candle Dragon like a torrential flood!
DONG!!
The Candle Dragon was shattered by its own full-power attack, its body covered in cracks like a fragile piece of porcelain.
The next second.
Boiling oil trickled from its head, heavenly lightning spilled from its organs, fierce fire erupted from its shattering bones, and torn pieces of its heart kept falling out.
A look of despair flashed across the Candle Dragon’s shattered face. It had all happened too suddenly. It hadn’t had time to shield its thoughts and was still praising the Daoist Ancestor in its heart.
With the punishment now manifesting externally, Taiyi and the Demon Ancestor would surely perceive it... All its efforts had been for nothing.
The Candle Dragon let out a blood-curdling howl as the boiling oil that was cooking its brain flowed over its entire body.
Lu Xuan was stunned for a moment. Empowered by the Transcendence Light Spots and having briefly become the Cause of All Fruits, he, too, saw the reason for it all.
With a single glance, his vision traced back to the Beginning of Ancient Times. He saw the curse and the punishment that came from a Dao Fruit, and he saw the young Candle Dragon that had wailed in agony for countless years.
He was lost in a daze, muttering to himself,
"So that’s how it is."
A fiery rage ignited within him.
(Chapter 3 around 10:30?)
