Chapter 38 - The Land of Sealing Demons, Meritorious Matters
Chapter 38: The Land of Sealing Demons, Meritorious Matters
In the blink of an eye, more than ten years had passed.
Laozi, accompanied by Xuan Qing, stepped out from the compound. Not only they, but Yuan Shi Tian Zun and Tong Tian also followed. The Three Purities gathered and led Xuan Qing deeper into the Land of Demonic Qi.
“Senior, what are we going to do?” Xuan Qing asked, puzzled, uncertain about the intentions of the Three Purities.
Since their arrival in the West, the Three Purities had not joined Duke Dongwang, Emperor Jun, or the others in hunting down the remaining members of the Demon Sect. It seemed they had their purpose for coming to these Western Lands, but Xuan Qing remained in the dark about it.
“Disciple,” Laozi began, “we have been in the West for many years now, relying on the Purification Gourd to cleanse the demonic qi. Tell me—how can we truly purify it completely?”
Xuan Qing answered without hesitation, “Master, I may not be wise, but after staying in the residence all these years, I’ve learned a few things. If we want to eliminate the demonic qi, we must do four things. First, kill the remaining Demon Sect members capable of corrupting the dragon vein. Second, purify the already demonized veins back into pure dragon veins. Third, eliminate all demonic beings and demonic cultivators. And fourth, slowly cleanse the widespread demonic qi. Only then can the flood of demonic qi be fully eradicated.”
“Not bad… Doing all four would indeed disperse the demonic qi. But there is a crucial prerequisite. Without it, all our efforts would be in vain.” Laozi gently stroked his beard, a wistful look in his eyes.
Xuan Qing frowned. “Master, what is that prerequisite?”
“A seal. A special seal against demonic energy. Luo Shuo evolved the demonic path long ago, spawning endless demonic energy. Even your Master Ancestor, Hongjun, found it difficult to erase Luo Shuo’s Devil Dao. He could only seal its erosion and suppress the qi. The source of this demonic corruption is a core, an origin that tainted the dragon veins and allowed the demonic qi to spread. That is the place we must reach. We will perfect the seal upon that core and completely suppress it. Only then can the demonic energy slowly unravel and ultimately be destroyed.” Laozi’s voice was calm, but tinged with emotion.
“So that is how it is. But Master, even with Master Ancestor’s cultivation, the seal still needs improvement?” Xuan Qing asked, still somewhat confused.
“Back during the battle between Dao and Devil, your Master Ancestor was gravely injured and had to retreat quickly to heal. In haste, he constructed the seal, but it was flawed—crippled, even. It has held back the demonic qi all this time, but not entirely. That is why your masters—your senior uncles and I—must now complete what he could not.” Laozi explained with a gentle smile toward his disciple.
Now Xuan Qing understood. The flawed seal created by Hongjun had allowed the demonic qi to continue spreading in the West. Only by perfecting that core seal could the problem be truly resolved.
Tong Tian chuckled, “Little Xuan Qing, helping to perfect the seal will earn great merit, you know.”
“Really? Then I also…” Xuan Qing lit up, but then scratched his cheek awkwardly. “Ah, but Master Ancestor’s seal must be incredibly profound. I could only observe.”
“Haha, just watching your senior uncle refine the seal will still earn you some merit. Perhaps, if you follow him in studying the Dao of Formations, you might gain insight and even lend a hand.” Tong Tian said with a teasing smile.
“Enough, Tong Tian,” Laozi interrupted, “do not distract Xuan Qing with talk of formation Dao. This time, while we refine the seal, Xuan Qing will be sent into a secret realm for training. It is time for the boy to grow.”
Xuan Qing’s expression turned stiff. “Senior, will I be the only one training?”
“Yes. Once we reach the sealing ground, I will send you into a special secret realm to temper yourself through battle and develop a deeper understanding.” Laozi replied seriously.
Xuan Qing was dismayed. “Master, I haven’t transformed into a fighting form for many years. My path is that of alchemy, not combat. My cultivation is not high either…”
“This matter is not up for discussion. Since your transformation, everything has gone too smoothly. That is not good for your cultivation in the long run. You need tempering if you are to grow stronger.” Laozi remained firm.
Xuan Qing was dejected. He truly did not want to go. The world outside was far too dangerous. Though he possessed cultivation, the cautious nature he had carried from Earth still lingered. The Flood Wasteland was perilous—he simply wished to stay at home, safe.
Laozi knew this as well, yet it had to be done. As a master, it was difficult. Teaching cultivation was easy—shaping the heart, the will of a disciple, was not. Especially when it came to Xuan Qing. The child disliked fighting, even though he had learned divine abilities and understood killing intent. He simply did not enjoy battle.
That kind of temperament would not do.
In the blink of an eye, several hundred years had passed.
After flying for centuries, they finally arrived at the western core region.
The demonic qi here was unimaginably dense, infused with lingering will and ancient imprints. Even the Purification Gourd struggled to function in such an environment.
Laozi produced the Xuan Huang Tower to shield Xuan Qing, protecting him within its light. As for the Three Purities, they did not require such protection. The clear qi they emitted formed a shroud of special Qing Yun, warding away the demonic influence.
Soon, they reached the sealing ground.
There were few demonic cultivators in sight, but the place radiated an oppressive terror.
Laozi halted and gazed into the distance. What lay ahead was a vast, blackened land—magma bubbled and hissed. Wailing echoed, and armor and weapons littered the ground. Among the rivers of magma were corpses—some skeletal, some still faintly twitching.
“Hiss… Is this the Land of Sealed Demons?” Xuan Qing’s voice trembled in awe and dread.
“Yes… This is the Sealed Demon Ground. It was once the heart of the Demon Sect. In the great battle long ago, countless rogue cultivators and devil sect disciples perished here. That is why the demonic qi is so thick, the baleful aura so vast, and the corpses without number.” Laozi sighed.
Yuan Shi Tian Zun’s expression was grave. “Even after all these years, I cannot forget the memories etched into this place.”
“That battle was truly a tragedy,” Tong Tian murmured.
“Well,” Laozi finally said, “our task is clear. We must fulfill what our master entrusted to us—perfecting the seal. The pressure of the Devil Dao has persisted too long. Though Hongjun’s seal contains the rhythm of the Dao, making it hard for demonic cultivators to draw near, the seal must be completed. Otherwise, repairing it would be impossible.”
Laozi’s words made Xuan Qing understand: the seal bore remnants of the Devil Dao’s power, creating an oppressive force that few cultivators could withstand. Hongjun’s Dao-infused seal prevented most demonic forces from coming close. Otherwise, this place would have drawn innumerable devil cultivators, and the Three Purities would have had to fight to reclaim it.
Thanks to the Xuan Huang Tower, Xuan Qing was spared that pressure.
After some quiet conversation, Laozi turned to look at Xuan Qing.
Xuan Qing instinctively stepped back, heart torn.
“Disciple… Time is short. I will now send you into the Secret Realm for tempering.” Laozi said softly.
Xuan Qing hesitated, a trace of hope lingering. “Master, must I go?”