On the Path to the Great Dao

On Qianyang Mountain, within an unnamed village where Chen Shi and others had once disguised themselves as porcelain figures, the Evil Bodhisattva sat cross-legged in the village center. It absorbed the vitality of all life within a hundred-mile radius, gathering the energy into its body.

The demonic aura emanating from it polluted the atmosphere, affecting the remaining survivors and malevolent spirits in the Demonic Domain. Most villages had been destroyed, spiritual beasts and mountain spirits turned into porcelain, and only a few humans remained alive. The Evil Bodhisattva sought to completely corrupt the land, cocooning itself in preparation for a grand metamorphosis.

Though its form was that of a demon, its thoughts were rudimentary, driven primarily by instinct. It yearned to absorb all life force and corrupt the land, transforming it into its ideal domain.

This process was not new. Over six thousand years ago, shortly after its birth, it had been captured by a powerful man. That man had sealed it within the porcelain body it now inhabited, fusing it with the material to create a living entity. This forced imprisonment terrified it, as any damage to the porcelain body inflicted equal harm upon itself.

For millennia, it was used as a tool, trapped in the kiln factory as a mere pawn. Yet, as waves of humans intruded into the factory, it slowly grew stronger by consuming their vitality. Recently, the arrival of powerful cultivators—delicious prey—had allowed it to finally break free.

Now, the Evil Bodhisattva prepared for its ultimate transformation. Within a hundred days, it would ascend into a higher, perfected form of life, absorbing the land's life force to fuel this metamorphosis.

It felt the moment approaching and longed for it.

But its reverie was interrupted. The Evil Bodhisattva's four faces opened their eyes, scanning four directions.

From one side approached Xiao Wangsun, his sword Fine Waist hanging at his side, its hilt facing downward.

From another, Madam Sha, holding the Ram-Horn Celestial Lamp, shone a beam of light to suppress the Bodhisattva’s demonic soul and weaken its power. The other two directions brought Jin Hongying, her tall and imposing figure exuding confidence, and Li Jindou, seated in his carriage, his porcelain legs swaying slightly.

The Evil Bodhisattva rose slowly. Its faces displayed joy, anger, sorrow, and bliss, while the eight treasures it wielded—Sun Orb, Moon Orb, Soul-Bell, Demon-Slaying Pestle, Banana Fan, Bow, Arrow, and Golden Brick—began to glow with radiant light. Though these treasures seemed sacred, their golden radiance carried a maddening influence that could corrupt onlookers, driving them into insanity.

Fortunately, Madam Sha's Ram-Horn Celestial Lamp suppressed its demonic aura, protecting the group’s minds. Without it, they wouldn’t even have the chance to fight.

However, the lamp couldn’t prevent porcelainization.

Each of the four combatants felt their wounds itch as the porcelain spread, hardening their blood and skin. Li Jindou, having already turned into a porcelain doll once, felt the process accelerate up his legs. He remained silent, focusing entirely on preparing a killing blow.

The Evil Bodhisattva activated the talismans inscribed on its body, beginning with its eight eyes. The glowing runes coursed along its pathways, lighting up its eight arms and empowering its treasures.

At that moment, a streak of light shot forth—a tiny sword, no more than three to four inches long. It pierced the wrist holding the Sun Orb, severing the talismanic flow and weakening its power.

The tiny sword darted between the arms, striking precisely at key nodes of the talismans, reducing the treasures’ effectiveness to less than a third of their usual power.

Taking the opportunity, Li Jindou unleashed the Six Yin Jade Wheels, six massive spinning sword wheels that flew toward the Evil Bodhisattva. They clashed with the Sun and Moon Orbs, causing bursts of water and fire to erupt violently.

Jin Hongying summoned her towering divine manifestation, combining her Scarlet Demon-Slaying Sword Art with her spiritual energy. A torrent of crimson sword energy slashed down upon the Demon-Slaying Pestle, which cracked under the relentless assault.

Simultaneously, Madam Sha summoned the powers of the eight trigrams—earth, water, fire, thunder, and more—to trap the Evil Bodhisattva in a mire of elemental chaos. The demonic figure struggled to retaliate, but each attempt was thwarted.

Xiao Wangsun's swords, Fine Waist and Brolga, struck at the Bodhisattva’s eyes, blinding it with precise, devastating blows.

“Got it!” the group thought as they watched the Evil Bodhisattva’s massive porcelain body shatter, shards clattering to the ground like broken pottery.

Li Jindou laughed heartily. “My grandson’s plan worked perfectly! That demon is done for!”

Madam Sha and Jin Hongying also breathed sighs of relief, though the battle had nearly exhausted them.

But Xiao Wangsun frowned, his swords hovering near the shattered remains. Something felt wrong.

“The Demonic Domain hasn’t dissipated,” he muttered, wary.

Suddenly, the shards trembled, accompanied by a shrill, bird-like voice.

“You hurt me! It hurts so much!”

A bloody hand emerged from the shards, clutching Fine Waist, while another hand seized Brolga. Xiao Wangsun felt the swords’ spirits wail as the demonic power corroded them.

From the shards rose a smaller but equally terrifying figure—a skinless version of the Evil Bodhisattva. Its porcelain body had been its armor; now, stripped of it, the creature revealed its raw, pulsating form.

An invasive thought entered the minds of the group, warping their perception. The world twisted and contorted as though seen through a fractured lens. Mountains stretched like noodles, and the sky spiraled unnaturally.

Madam Sha stepped forward, her hair white and wild, chanting:

“Crowned by the Seven Stars, bound by Heaven’s Mandate!

The Book of Life guards my years, the Record of Death shields my soul!”

Her voice roared as she struck with all her might, disrupting the Bodhisattva’s mental assault.

The others snapped back to reality, and Xiao Wangsun’s swords freed themselves, though visibly damaged.

But their victory was short-lived. The skinless Bodhisattva began tearing at its own flesh, crying out in anguish as porcelain shards grew anew from its body.

“You’ve ruined my transformation!” it roared. “Now, you’ll all become my nourishment!”

---

Atop Xuan Shan, the serpent watched the scene unfold and sighed. “They are not enough.”

Chen Yindu stepped forward, bowing to the serpent. “Allow me.”

The serpent inclined its head in acknowledgment, its immense form coiling to watch.

As Chen Yindu descended toward the battlefield, his voice rang out, ancient and powerful:

“The Profound Doctrine of Heaven and Earth, the root of all vitality.

Through boundless trials, I prove my divine power.

Among the Three Realms, I stand unmatched!”

His figure glowed, radiant with golden light, as talismans swirled around him.

“Golden light shields my body, unseen and unheard.

Encompassing heaven and earth, nurturing all life.

With a thousand recitations, my body shines brightly!”

The light emanating from him illuminated the Demonic Domain, driving back its oppressive aura.

“The Three Realms stand guard, the Five Emperors bow in reverence.

A thousand spirits assemble, commanding thunder and lightning.

Demons vanish, spirits dissolve, their forms obliterated.

Within, thunder roars, and the gods of lightning rise!”

As he advanced, the golden light summoned countless deities, their radiant forms resembling celestial figures from Chinese mythology. They marched toward the darkness, their brilliance piercing the malevolent fog.

The battle was far from over, but hope returned to those fighting.