Chapter 223: The Three Souls and Seven Spirits
Ding Rou asked in mild surprise, “A heart demon?”
“That’s right,” Li Yanchu nodded slightly. “The Buddhist and Daoist traditions, and even different Daoist sects, all have different understandings of the heart demon. Ordinary people have three souls and seven spirits. The three souls are Fetal Light, Bright Spirit, and Hidden Spirit[1].”
“Fetal Light governs serenity and harmony, it is the qi of pure yang. Bright Spirit governs the yin aspect. It gives rise to a mind of planning and scheming, drives one to exhaust the spirit in pursuit of all things. Hidden Spirit urges mixture with others; it governs lust, desire, and leads to impure and chaotic thoughts.”
“There is an unknown presence in this Blissful Land of Mount Jinting. It can stir the three souls and seven spirits, causing one to fall into the Demonic Dao.”
Ding Rou’s expression changed slightly, her voice tinged with emotion. “It can stir the three souls and seven spirits?”
Such a method was too unbelievable.
Li Yanchu went on, “Exactly. The three souls are stored within the human body in a state of balance. Normally, none can completely dominate, but here in this Blissful Land, this presence, let’s call it the heart demon for now, can upset that balance.”
“The heart demon strengthens a particular soul or spirit, allowing it to dominate the mind, pushing a person to let go of restraint and plunge headlong into the Demonic Dao.
“Zhu Fugui had his Bright Spirit stirred, and his scheming and desire to seize opportunity overwhelmed him. He went so far as to destroy years of cultivation for a shot at immortality.”
“Gongshu Peiyu had his Hidden Spirit stirred. His lustful desires awakened, so with just a glimpse of you, he harbored evil intent. As for you just now, what was stirred was the fourth of the seven spirits, the Thief Swallower, which corresponds to the emotion of fear among the seven emotions.”
“That fear you felt arose because of all the deadly encounters you’ve faced since entering this cave heaven, it was only natural to feel dread. But in doing so, you gave the heart demon an opening.”
Ding Rou fell silent, and she didn’t speak for a long time.