Chapter 799 - 418: Demon Path (2)
Tie Dan was taken aback,
"The Daoist Lord was able to foresee the descent of the Heavenly Demon into the lower realm?"
Lingxu Son shrugged,
"Not exactly something I foresaw, mainly because his family was originally descended from dukes and pillars of the nation, a family of wealth and consequence, being targeted is common, and Heavenly Demons like to pick such wealthy targets. Common folks don’t quite catch their eye.
If we really count it, it’s also because his ancestors had committed a lot of malicious deeds—burning, murdering, looting cities—and eventually heard that I was the number one, thus year after year brought gifts of wealth and treasures to Qingcheng Mountain, even paved the land in front of the mountain gate with gold paint, all for praying for his descendants’ safety and to have a Dao Seed born in the family, hoping to enter the mountain to seek protection and legacy.
I later went to his family to take a look, and that young lad indeed had good root bone and natural talent, a prodigy with remarkable comprehension in Daoist studies, and their family was wealthy beyond measure, easily maneuvering through politics and power.
Unfortunately, I noticed that their family teachings were too lenient, indulgence ran wild, each child and grandchild was scholarly yet militarily inept, raised to be pampered and well-mannered, none held a trace of their ancestors’ demeanor.
That young lad, cherished by his father, mother, and grandmother, grew soft and tender, speaking like a compassionate noble, mingled within women’s quarters from young age, studying arts like music, chess, calligraphy, mountain streams, and at sixteen never even killed a chicken, cried over the death of a flower, you’d understand that the fortune gained by past swords is unlikely to be maintained.
The chaotic times are here; when the world overturns, such fat sheep are destined for calamity sooner or later. Hence, I gave a jade to resolve this karma, and as expected, destiny matched up."
Tie Dan nodded,
"Receiving tribute, saving a life, that’s how it is."
Lingxu Son laughed,
"Who said I saved his life? I only said I preserved his soul, preventing his True Spirit from sleeping. Now that young lad is left with a remnant spirit stored in the jade, the rest was consumed by the Heavenly Demon."
Tie Dan frowned, "Consumed?"
Lingxu Son nodded,
"Consumed, his entire family and household were played to death and devoured by the Heavenly Demon, but fortunately, a few illegitimate daughters raised outside escaped the calamity, now scattered amongst the flower boats of the Imperial Music Bureau, entertaining guests, ensuring the lineage doesn’t end."
Tie Dan gave Lingxu Son a sideways glance,
"...He paved the lands with gold for you, Daoist Lord, and this is how you repay your gratitude?"
Lingxu Son chuckled,
"You’re talking to a mountain man about karma and retribution? Hehe, fine, I’ll share the reasoning I’ve comprehended.
The deeds of ancestors bring consequences for descendants, the actions of forefathers fall to their disciples – this is karma.
No matter how much benefit is taken from the world, how much wealth is gained, sooner or later, the fortune declines and must be returned in kind – this is retribution.
Heavenly materials, treasures of gold and silver, you can seize these as you desire, for weak is prey to strong, this is your ability, this is the worldly rule.
But someday, whether you transform and harmonize with the Dao or perish and disintegrate, what was gained must disperse back to the earth and heavens – this is the principle of nature.
If only intake and no output, only receive and not give, the Dao of heaven lets you walk it to end, Qiankun’s fortune lets you exhaust it, worldly benefits all fall to you.
If the world encounters you only to suffer, never to gain, nobody can catch anything from your hands, everything enters your pouch, and the cycle of nature ceases at you.
This, is called falling into despair, everyone in the world must be against you."
Tie Dan paused, seemingly enlightened.
"Brilliant reasoning! Truly the realization of the premier Daoist Lord!"
The crane beneath praised flatteringly.
Lingxu Son chuckled, handing it another pill.
The crane immediately fell silent, descending from the clouds, arriving in front of the bronze gate of a treasure vault, bending to invite the two to dismount.
Tie Dan glanced at the crane, finding it somewhat familiar, but birds in the world often resemble each other, so paid no further attention, just calmly saying,
"That’s not the demon I was asking about."
Lingxu Son smiled, leading Tie Dan into the treasure vault,
"Little friend Xuantian, as for the Daoist materials I’d approve, there aren’t many in the world, you are the foremost among them.
I see you’ve just formed Nascent Soul, lacking elder guidance by your side, practicing Inner Sect Primordial Spirit Method alone may have confused you.
This issue indeed partly falls on me, leveraging the status of a senior predecessor, let me guide you with a few words.
I advise you not to delve too much into the Void Heavenly Demon.
The tales of heavenly demons in this world, nine out of ten are deceptive."
Tie Dan frowned, "Deceptive?"
"Indeed, Void Abyss has some chaotic elements, but the vastness of the void deep sky is immense, even if sacrifices are made constantly, how easily can you initiate contact? Heavenly Demons don’t idle around waiting for your summons.
Although the Taiji Heaven will eventually conclude, it still has two thousand years of fortune, the Outer Heaven Demon is hardly so easy to descend.
Even if by luck you acquire a demon fetus, under the suppression of the great Dao, how can it be our cultivator’s rival?
Thus, in our Mystic Sect, tales about heavenly demons seizing bodies, or being possessed by demons are actually manifestations of heart demons.
Most actually arise from excessive alteration of Inner Sect Primordial Spirit Method, involving sect rules and teachings, with masters concealing the truth for various reasons, leading disciples to struggle alone, practicing incorrectly and causing harm.
Lingxu Son pointed to his head,
"The head, as the chief of Six Yang, we mountain men have countless divine skills, able to transform in myriad ways, but regardless of form, a head and face must appear, because in this chief’s Primordial Spirit path, it doesn’t match with the Divine Sect’s depth.
I’ve witnessed many Mystic Sect predecessors, continuously sitting mountain-side, overthinking closed in seclusion, practicing until possessed, damaging the brain, presenting all sorts of symptoms.
Some damage the right brain, suddenly unable to see things on the left side, failing to notice, even tripping over when walking, becoming a lifelong flaw.
Others damage the top of the head, believing their soul scattered, body deceased, turning into a walking corpse-like shell.
Still others experience severe delusions, unable to discern faces of Daoist companions and friends around, convinced they’ve been impersonated.
Some have completely contrary symptoms, believing everyone seen has the same face, always present everywhere, stalking to harm.
Such diverse effects, bizarre and numerous.
So, your friend’s condition might as well be examined, perhaps I’ve encountered similar cases."
Tie Dan remained silent.
Actually, he had considered that the scenes of Outer Heaven, dreams, even the Kun he saw might simply have been created by brain hallucinations due to improper training.
After all, the Shi Family indeed had this illness...
Yet, to avoid that one percent chance leading to direct harm and wasting days, Tie Dan finally chose not to disclose about Faceless Immortal, only stating,
"My friend’s brain isn’t diseased..."
Lingxu Son chuckled,
"Don’t avoid illness out of fear, if it’s just a damaged brain it’s treatable, I can prescribe soothing and refining elixir soup, using soul-suppressing and sleep-friendly talismans to ease the condition.
Whereas if you truly refer to the Void Heavenly Demon, I have absolutely no remedy.
Again, prohibiting disciples from reckless practices of Primordial Spirit Method is for a reason, the Nascent Souls refined by the Mystic Sect are often intensely nourishing to many demon gods. Seek a solitary spot, cover with heavenly mechanisms, consume one to experience its wonders.
Therefore, Nascent Soul emergence, Divine Traveling Void, is like donning a lavish robe walking in the night, once encountering misfortune, the Daoist Body is miles away, unable to return. Actively provoking Void Heavenly Demon is purely courting peril.
With these words, Lingxu Son ceased babbling to avoid annoyance, fetching a Stone Box from the treasury, breaking the talisman seal, then offering a Jade Pendant over.
Tie Dan thanked, accepting, focused on examining, seeing that this pendant is a Longevity Ruyi Pendant, crafted in bat shape, symbolizing ’fortune’ from ’bat’ sound, ’longevity’ akin ’beast’, a protective amulet for children. The jade is Kunlun Cold Jade, smooth as solidified fat, color like azure sky, intermingled with green and white, resembling frozen fog and frost, cool to the touch.
The front of the pendant has engraved eight characters, carved centrally, stating, ’Unstained, untainted, everlasting Daoist heart.’
The reverse side has three rows of small characters, finely inscribed in yin script, saying, ’One to break mundane dust, two to sever delusion root, three to certify eternal life.’
"My friend has lingered long within the jade, bewildered endlessly unable to let go, hoping little friend seizes the moment, swiftly integrates and banishes the heart demon."
Raising his head, Tie Dan saw Lingxu Son already waving his sleeves, gracefully departing, off to refine elixirs for the bustling oxen and horses.