Redemption of a Born Demon

Chapter 327 - 246: In a Time of Cultivation, How Can 1 Person Stand Alone at the Top? (Part 2)

「Northern Desert. The Kunlun Remnant Vein.」

A quaint and serene Nameless Ancient Temple stood nestled among the mountains, faintly veiled in a rosy glow.

In the temple’s rear courtyard, a quiet plaza was filled with numerous monks sitting cross-legged on the ground, vaguely forming a peculiar array.

And in the center of the plaza sat a single person.

He had messy hair, wore no monk’s robes, and had a decadent look on his face, a stark contrast to the tranquil surroundings of the ancient temple.

"Abbot, are we really going to use the entire temple’s power to help this renegade enter the Sumeru Realm?" a bald, elderly monk whispered to the Abbot of the Nameless Temple.

"He may be heretical, but his talent is truly unparalleled. It is said that one must endure worldly tribulations to achieve great enlightenment. His heresy is merely his trial. Since ancient times, has it not been so for saints, Immortals, and Buddhas? They experience the demonic path before returning to righteousness, and in doing so, their achievements become even greater."

"This may be an opportunity. If you and I cannot guide him, then let the enlightened Buddhas of the Sumeru Realm guide him back to the righteous path."

"If this is accomplished, you and I will both gain immense merit," the Abbot of the Nameless Temple said softly.

"But..."

The bald, elderly monk still wanted to say more.

"Enough. Return to your position."

The Abbot of the Nameless Temple waved his hand, cutting the old monk off.

The old monk nodded slightly, turned, and returned to his spot, sitting cross-legged like the other monks.

"Ding Huiyuan, today we will help you enter the Sumeru Realm to pay respects to the Buddha Master. We hope you will return to the righteous path and achieve enlightenment!"

The Abbot of the Nameless Temple also sat down cross-legged.

MA!!

Suddenly, a thunderous sound exploded from within his body. It was like the celestial tone at the dawn of creation, echoing even beyond the Nameless Temple and reverberating through the mountains.

Scriptures coiled around the Abbot’s body as brilliant light burst forth. His single True Word was like a signal, and the monks of the Nameless Temple seated around the plaza all began to chant their own.

BUZZZZ!!

Countless sound waves, thoughts, and magnetic fields converged on a single point. The entire plaza began to vibrate, creating a sense of distortion.

From the outside, auspicious clouds formed above the Nameless Temple, with faint wisps of propitious light and rosy mist soaring into the sky.

The monks chanted in unison, knocking upon the gate to the True Realm!

Ding Huiyuan, at the very center of the plaza, felt the most intense effects. The space around him warped, and the flowing light seemed to reflect the wondrous scenery of another world.

The Sumeru Realm.

All who follow the Buddhist Dharma believe in its existence. Over thousands of years, the accumulation of their thoughts has shaped its form and endowed it with a Divine Format. It is a manifestation of collective will, hidden untouchably within the unseen Void, and only a devout faith can summon it into existence.

By sensing it with one’s mind, one can reach the True Realm and pay homage to the Buddhas.

’Now is the time!’

Ding Huiyuan’s heart stirred. He used his own will to connect with the strange phenomenon, linking it to his Life Magnetic Field.

The scenery before him changed, and he found himself in an unknown land.

Golden clouds filled the sky, and the very air seemed to shimmer with a golden halo. Golden Lotuses grew upon the ground, and before him stood a colossal golden mountain that towered into the heavens, connecting sky and earth in a display of unparalleled majesty.

Om mani padme hum!

The Sound of Truth echoed through the Void, carrying an indescribable rhythm and influence that calmed the mind and inspired a powerful sense of reverence, compelling one to kneel in worship and convert with a pure heart, free of all other thoughts.

’Is this Sumeru Mountain?’

Ding Huiyuan gazed at the golden mountain before him, a smile playing on his lips, showing not a trace of reverence or desire to convert.

THUD!! THUD!!

Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently. The golden mist shrouding the mountain’s entrance billowed open, and a Divine General appeared from within. It wore white armor, stood at least twenty meters tall, and held a giant pipa. With a wrathful glare, it looked down upon Ding Huiyuan below.

The sheer majesty and pressure it exuded would have terrified even a Saint Expert.

"Who comes to pay respects to Ling Mountain?!"

The Divine General spoke in a True Word. Though it was not any existing language, its meaning was perfectly clear to Ding Huiyuan.

"Pay respects? Hahaha, why don’t you take a look at what I’m really here for!"

Ding Huiyuan roared with laughter.

BOOM!!

Suddenly, a brilliant light erupted from his body as the Power of Truth surged.

However, his True Words Scripture was reversed—heretical and utterly out of place in this True Realm.

"So, it is a renegade!"

Seeing this, the Divine General’s glare intensified, and its body seemed to burst into flames.

"Sun Wukong once raised hell in the Lingxiao Palace! Today, we’ll see if I, Ding Huiyuan, can storm the gates of the Great Leiyin Temple and debate the Dharma with the Buddha Master himself!"

The smile remained on Ding Huiyuan’s face, showing no hint of fear.

「Mount Emei.」

Zhou Qingchen wore a white Daoist Robe. She possessed a serene, elegant, and otherworldly grace.

Holding her phone, she was scrolling through online discussions and news.

Much of it was related to Yi Beidou.

’One man against a nation... You succeeded, so I can’t fall behind either.’

Zhou Qingchen stood up. Though her aura was clear and light, her eyes burned with a fervent battle intent that seemed at odds with her disposition.

She glanced at the time, rose to her feet, pushed open the door, and walked toward the Golden Summit of Mount Emei.

The Golden Summit at this moment was a dreamlike scene.

The sky was on the cusp of dawn, the sun yet to rise. A streak of red twilight cast its glow upon the Golden Summit, which radiated a brilliant light.

Zhou Qingchen walked into the Golden Summit and saw several old men and women already waiting there.

"Qingchen, with the sun rising in the east and the purple qi coming from the east, now is the perfect time for Crossing the Tribulation," one of the old men said, looking at her.

"Although you’ve already made your decision, now that the moment is here, this old woman must still offer a word of caution: think thrice before you act," an old woman in antiquated clothes said.

"Granny Ma, my will is as firm as iron."

Zhou Qingchen sat down in the room.

The elders exchanged a glance and nodded slightly. The leading old man reached into his robes and took out a Talisman.

"This is a protective talisman passed down through the generations on Mount Emei. It will keep your physical body safe. We will also act as your Protectors here to prevent any external evils from invading," the old man said. With a flick of his finger, the Talisman flashed with light and attached itself to Zhou Qingchen’s back.

"You may begin now. You should have made some gains from your research into the Yang Spirit Technique these past days," the old man said to Zhou Qingchen.

Zhou Qingchen nodded slightly and closed her eyes.

BOOM!!

The Qi and blood in her body surged. Pure Qi transformed into a green aura that enveloped her, and her presence became as sharp as a sword.

Her body even began to take on a jade-like state, similar to when she had used the Ascension Technique.

She pushed her magnetic field abilities to their absolute limit.

Suddenly, with a flash of light, an unbelievable scene unfolded.

An illusory figure composed of brilliant light emerged from Zhou Qingchen’s physical shell. Its form and appearance were identical to hers.

This state was remarkably similar to when the Elder Celestial Master’s Dharma Body manifested during his Transformation Dao. However, the brilliance of Zhou Qingchen’s illusory body could not yet compare to the Elder Celestial Master’s at that time.

The Yang Spirit Technique.

The Taoist School speaks of the Yang Spirit and the Yin Spirit.

In the physical world, a Saint Expert can perceive everything within a several-hundred-meter radius with a mere sweep of their consciousness. An expert who can generate their own light can even mold a magnetic field to exit their body, which is no different from the legendary Yin Spirit.

But sending out the Yang Spirit is far more terrifying and perilous.

It is a method that allows the body’s Life Magnetic Field to temporarily exist outside its physical form.

If the Yin Spirit is injured, the physical body might suffer only minor harm. But if the Yang Spirit is injured, a single misstep could lead to the death of the physical body.

The Yang Spirit is dangerous and fragile. Its power is less than that of the main body, and it has various other shortcomings.

For example, when the Life Magnetic Field separates, all the body’s vital functions cease, including the heartbeat. It enters a state of suspended animation, and if this lasts too long, it will result in true death.

Furthermore, when the Yang Spirit is out, the physical body is completely defenseless and extremely susceptible to invasion by "external evils"—abnormal external magnetic fields—which can lead to all sorts of unknowable consequences. This is why it often requires Protectors to stand guard nearby.

Therefore, the use of the Yang Spirit Technique has gradually declined to the point of being nearly lost. Typically, only a Saint can use it.

This is especially true in modern society, where the operation of various electronic devices creates chaotic magnetic fields, making it even more dangerous.

But Zhou Qingchen’s Cultivation had to go through this step.

SWISH!!

Zhou Qingchen’s Yang Spirit exited her body and, with a light push, flew out of the Golden Summit.

Outside, the morning sun was just rising. The dawn broke, and its brilliant light spilled across the horizon.

Purple qi formed in Zhou Qingchen’s eyes. She looked up at the Sky and could see a wondrous sight invisible to ordinary people.

To ordinary eyes, the Sky was empty, filled only with the morning glow and clouds. But in Zhou Qingchen’s eyes, the higher she looked, the more it was filled with kaleidoscopic, blade-like colors.

This was the so-called "Gang Wind."

It was condensed from magnetic fields and True Qi. The higher one went, closer to outer space, the more intense the Gang Wind became.

A physical body could naturally withstand it unharmed, but to a Yang Spirit, this Gang Wind was no different from being buffeted by ten million sharp blades, capable of stripping away everything from the spirit.

Even back when the Elder Celestial Master underwent the Transformation Dao, his Dharma Body turned into a rainbow and flew only a certain distance before being completely dissipated by the celestial Gang Wind, vanishing from sight.

The heavens have Thirty-Three Layers, and the Gang Wind also has Thirty-Three Layers. Legend says that if one can pass through the winds of the Thirty-Three Layers of Heaven as a Yang Spirit and emerge unscathed, one can ascend to become an Immortal and achieve Ascension.

This is the essence of the so-called "Thirty-Third Heaven Gang Tribulation."

But in reality, no one in ancient times had ever been able to do it. Most past Saints only faced a similar tribulation during their Transformation Dao, like the Elder Celestial Master who turned into a rainbow and ascended to challenge the legend.

And now, Zhou Qingchen was about to challenge this very tribulation.

It was a trial with only a slim chance of survival.

But without knowing death, how could one know life?

They, the people of this generation, were living in an unprecedented era. Naturally, they had to challenge unprecedented feats.

With Yi Beidou’s example before her, how could she be content to fall behind?

Zhou Qingchen pushed off with her foot, and her Yang Spirit instantly shot into the sky, plunging headfirst into the celestial Gang Wind.

Inside the Golden Summit, the elders looked at each other, speechless.

They knew that in the current era, with its chaotic magnetic fields, this tribulation would only be more perilous. They had no idea what the outcome would be.

However, Zhou Qingchen didn’t intend to pass through all the tribulations in one go. She was treating this as a form of Cultivation, so there should be a chance of survival.

’An era of great contention!’

They couldn’t help but sigh internally. The incident in Japan was too shocking; even reclusive old masters like them had heard about it.

It wasn’t just Devi, Ding Huiyuan, and Zhou Qingchen. After learning what Yi Beidou had done in Japan, many other Saints had immediately begun to challenge themselves, to challenge the legends.

’This is a time for Cultivation. How can we let one person take all the glory?’