The Heaven-Destroying Demonic Qi Is Laughing
The Pacheon-magi was laughing right now.
Inside the dantian, the noisy mix of Buddhist and Daoist pure internal energy was, to the Pacheon-magi, nothing more than fleeting mortal things destined to perish. The Pacheon-magi was the essence of Angra Mainyu, of Ahriman. It was the God of Destruction spoken of in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the predetermined apocalypse that would one day drop a massive star to annihilate everything so the world could be reborn.
Therefore, the Pacheon-magi simply sat still and observed with lofty detachment. No matter how wildly these mortal beings’ true qi rampaged about, once their flesh died, it would all scatter and return to nature. And in the end, the qi that remained—the strongest true qi—would become the immortal Pacheon-magi that endured until that fated future.
The Pacheon-magi was merely taking a brief rest to humor these short-lived creatures, watching their antics the way one might watch children playing……
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Today as well, the Joyful True Qi that had been firmly hammering away at the hideous demonic energy stuck in a corner of the dantian suddenly tilted its head.
What the hell? This bastard’s laughing?
The Pacheon-magi was an utterly alien and bizarre demonic energy. Ordinary demonic qi carried extremely wicked imagery that constantly whispered to its host to be cruel, lewd, and merciless. But the Pacheon-magi contained only the image of destruction. If one peeked inside while it was being diligently beaten and split apart, it held a pure destruction that even embraced a sacred longing for new birth.
The Joyful True Qi, which had been pounding on the Pacheon-magi that was as hard as a rock for quite some time, ultimately found no particular fun in it today either. So it abruptly turned its gaze elsewhere to find some entertainment—and saw the demonic energies under the command of the Self-Revolving Demonic Qi that had been pretending not to watch while crouching in the corner, now stealthily creeping toward the exit of the dantian.
That crazy true qi is going to come chasing after us while beating us again.
The Joyful True Qi simply watched them in silence, as if to say, If you want to run, then run.
Then it suddenly stomped its foot with a loud thump!
The startled demonic energies all kicked open the dantian gate at once—only to get violently smacked by the door that flew open inward instead, sending them tumbling across the dantian floor.
And then, riding atop a tray held up by a dragon and an elephant, a new family member made its entrance!
The dragon and elephant were considered the most auspicious beasts in Indian Buddhism, which was why golden dragons and golden elephants that gleamed brilliantly appeared so often in Indian Buddhist art.
The Great Clarity Pure Qi narrowed its eyes, looking somewhat suspicious. The aura certainly felt like a Buddhist family member, but why did it arrive covered in such flashy, worldly dust?
However, the Muscle Changing Bone Forging Qi, originally created from the teachings of India, sensed the familiar scent of its homeland. So when the Muscle Changing Bone Forging Qi dramatically embraced its long-lost compatriot, only then did the Daoist true qis watch the reunion with warm fatherly/motherly smiles.
At that, the Self-Revolving Demonic Qi spat out, “Fuck, I can’t take this anymore. I can’t watch this shit anymore,” and stormed out of the dantian. The other demonic energies quickly followed after it.
And the mold stuck to the wall—the Pacheon-magi—simply continued to laugh.
For some reason, tears were flowing, but still…
The Pacheon-magi was laughing……
The Pacheon-magi is laughing.
It is shedding tears, yet it continues to laugh.
Cheong had thought she should have a proper talk once Gongson Yoye showed up, but according to Dang Nan-a’s testimony, she seemed quite busy participating in family events.
“She shows up at every banquet but stands there with this look like she has no idea what she’s supposed to do. Well, with the Ten Great Clans’ empty seat, either the Gongson Clan or the Sima Clan will take it, so this is probably the time when she’s running around paying respects to everyone.”
“Hmm. I see. Ah. Right. Nan-a. If someone uses up their Innate Qi, can it be replenished with something else?”
“What?!” Dang Nan-a’s eyes widened. “After ending up in that state, you’re saying you’re going to use Innate Qi too? If you do that, I swear I won’t look at you anymore. I really won’t.”
“No, I’m not saying I’m going to use it. Wait, what do you mean ‘that state’? What did I—”
“What do you mean, what? You already had bruises, then got more bruises, and then got beaten again, and of all things it had to be the Heavy Hands Technique? Ha! Your entire energy channels are ruptured! Why don’t you just get hit on both sides to balance it out, or maybe stick a sweet potato on your flat chest! Can’t I even say that? I’m so frustrated I could die.”
“But you said it would go back to normal once the swelling goes down. It’ll all heal with time anyway—”
“What?! Then should we just cut off your arms and legs once in a while and reattach them? If you cut them off cleanly and reattach them properly, they’ll be fine, right?”
Dang Nan-a glared with fierce, axe-like eyes.
“……Sorry.”
“Anyway, stop getting hurt.”
“Okay.”
Cheong obediently nodded.
“So, about Innate Qi. Why? Did you pick up something like the Thousand Year Cold Lotus again?”
“No. I’m just saying, hypothetically, if there was a martial art like that.”
“Ah. That kind? Well, it depends on the martial art, but usually you mix a little Innate Qi into your true qi. That makes the flow of energy explosively faster. Of course, your energy channels will get a bit wrecked too. Your blood vessels will burst and swell up like someone’s tits.”
It seemed some resentment still lingered.
“I said I was sorry. Then if I rest a lot or take spiritual medicine, will my Innate Qi get replenished? Like a Great Recovery Pill or something.”
“You don’t even need something on the level of a Great Recovery Pill. A well-made spiritual elixir does have the effect of supplementing Innate Qi. But the act of taking it out and using it in the first place… how should I put this? Ah, right……”
Innate Qi was never meant to be taken out and used. It was the fuel itself that naturally sustained a person’s life, like a beating heart or breathing lungs. That was why it coiled at the center of the body, near the heart, and was also called the Middle Dantian.
But if you kept taking it out and using it, the power that kept the Middle Dantian from leaking—metaphorically speaking, the door—would grow loose.
“A brand-new, perfectly fitted door doesn’t let in even a single draft. But if you keep opening and closing it, it can get a little warped, the paper screen can get small scratches, and holes can even form.”
“Can’t the door be fixed?”
“You should consider it unfixable. Maybe once during Body Reconstruction? Or when you reach the Profound Realm. From the Profound Realm onward, the body automatically repairs broken parts and grows new flesh on an aged form.”
It was a phenomenon known as reversing aging and returning to youth.
“Hmm. That sounds really bad.”
“You call that bad? It’s still better than dying, but don’t even think about learning any technique like that. People tend to use what they have, you know. So rather than learning any martial art, just take one Thousand Year Cold Lotus. Ah. Right. Here, take this.”
Dang Nan-a, who had been firing off words rapidly, suddenly pulled out a small wooden box from her robes.
“It’s the Explosive Qi Tendon Strengthening Pill. It only lasts for about two hours, so use it to run away when you’re in danger.”
“Oh. Thanks. I keep receiving things from you.”
“Hmm? Umm. Hehe. If you’re grateful, don’t just say it with words…… Tch, of all times to be injured. I thought it was an external wound. I’ll collect everything later.”
“External wound? And what are you collecting? Aren’t I the Tang Clan’s benefactor? That’s just how people say it. It’s not like you’re running a business.”
“Ugh.”
Dang Nan-a frowned in frustration.
“I’m joking. I’m always grateful. You always take care of me.”
Cheong said this with a bashful expression and gave her a gentle, eye-smiling laugh.
At that, Dang Nan-a’s face went blank for a moment, her mouth falling open in a dazed “Heh……”
“Agh. I’m going crazy……”
“Huh?”
“Nothing! Um, I, I’m going? I just remembered something urgent. Yeah. I think I left a decoction on the fire. See you next time!”
And with that, she vanished in a flash, perfectly bathed in the crimson glow of the setting sun.
Cheong awkwardly scratched at the empty air with the hand she had reached out to stop her.
“Hmm. I was going to ask if she wanted to go to Mumyeong Temple together……”
Well, nothing to be done. She’d have to go alone.
Cheong walked out with a clinking, clanking gait.
She was heading to Mumyeong Temple to deliver the Yeorae Shinjang manual.
Mumyeong Temple had originally been called Cheonjeongsa, one of the Four Great Temples of the Northern Song Dynasty, and had been incredibly famous. The fact that they had even erected a towering nine-story sarira pagoda was enough to guess at its former glory.
Unfortunately, it had been completely swept away by a flood.
This was the fundamental reason temples and Taoist sanctuaries were built high in the mountains. Soil would accumulate, another temple would be built on top, only to be swept away by another flood. Soil would pile up again…… After this repeated over and over, only the top three stories of the original nine-story pagoda remained. After several temples were buried layer upon layer beneath it, the site was deemed an ominous plot of land and left abandoned for a long time.
That was why this place was now called Mumyeong Temple, and the remaining three-story sarira pagoda was one of Kaifeng’s two towers—the Beon Tower.
But why is everyone staring? Is there something to see?
Of course there was. The now-famous veiled beauty—whose nicknames varied wildly from person to person—was walking by, gently swaying her enormous buttocks that far surpassed the Central Plains average.
Once it entered a man’s field of vision, it was impossible to look away. They could only stare, entranced, at that strange, alluring backside.
If this wasn’t a spectacle, there wasn’t much left in the world that could be called one.
From somewhere came the sound of wooden clappers, and the clink of silver coins. And so, along the path Cheong walked, only men remained—frozen in place, unable to advance or retreat, suddenly chanting sutras.
When Cheong had first arrived in Kaifeng, she had come to see the famous two towers. Back then it had been a desolate, eerie ruin, but after the Shaolin warrior monks roughly repaired it and burned incense, it somehow gave off the proper appearance and scent of a temple.
The moment Cheong set foot inside Mumyeong Temple, an old monk wearing Shaolin’s yellow-orange kasaya smoothly appeared from somewhere and greeted her.
“Amitabha. So it is Benefactor Seomun.”
“Yes. Is Abbot Muhak inside?”
“He said you would probably come looking in three or four days. Even the Abbot is occasionally wrong. He is currently watching over his disciples in the Main Hall.”
“Ah. I see. Then……”
“One moment. Hmm. Right now the Arhats are in the middle of training in the Main Hall. If they see you, Benefactor, they may become possessed by a demon. Would you wait in that room over there? I will call you shortly. Have you completed the manual?”
“Yes. Ah. Should I hand it over now? If Abbot Muhak is busy, there’s no need for me to personally deliver it and take up his time, right?”
The old monk smiled gently.
“How could we do that? How could a mere nameless monk send away a guest who has brought such an important text? Go and wait inside.”
Since the nameless monk said so, Cheong obediently followed.
And the nameless monk—Shaolin’s Abbot, Master Wolhyeon—who saw Cheong’s retreating figure, was shocked.
Just what is that walking posture? If the Arhats saw it, the night flowers would be in full bloom by tomorrow morning.
Anyway, Cheong didn’t have to wait long. Upon hearing the news, Abbot Muhak had ditched all the Arhat monks and appeared in a flash.
Muhak wore a rather sour expression.
“Eh? You finished the entire manual in one day? I clearly told you it would be passed down for generations, so write each character with utmost care and beauty, didn’t I?”
“Aww, I wrote it really beautifully. You’ll be shocked when you see my handwriting. Even the Imperial Academy’s lecturer scholar couldn’t stop admiring it.”
“Hmph. You just scribbled it down in one day. Let me see.”
The moment Abbot Muhak picked up the book, his words abruptly cut off.
He hadn’t even opened it. Just seeing the four characters written on the cover—Yeorae Shinjang—had frozen him solid.
What was this?! These strokes that stretched out with such majestic spirit, like Mount Tai itself! They were truly the greatest calligraphy under heaven, a masterpiece that everyone would fight over even if it cost a thousand gold!
Shaolin’s state of mind was immovable and steadfast, like Mount Tai. Therefore, Shaolin’s calligraphy had always strived to resemble Mount Tai.
But now he realized that the pride of Mount Tai he had felt from every plaque in Shaolin had all been in vain. There existed a calligraphy that was Mount Tai itself. They had simply been looking at a hill behind the temple and arrogantly calling it lofty.
If they replaced every plaque in Shaolin with calligraphy like this, it would truly be worthy of the name “Mount Tai, Northern Dipper” for Shaolin……
“Hup! Amitabha! Hehe……”
“Ah. What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing. Hoo. My head is spinning. I thought I had already cut off all worldly desires. It seems I am still truly far from that, nothing more than an ordinary sentient being……”
Having realized his own greed, Abbot Muhak muttered in dejection.
Calligraphy so exquisite that it could tempt even the greatest monk of the greatest temple under heaven.
“Is this really your handwriting?”
“Yes. I wrote it well, didn’t I?”
“Well? Indeed. Hmm. You filled it with this level of calligraphy in just one day? Hmph. The inside must be scribbled then.”
Abbot Muhak, who had been flipping through the pages, suddenly froze again.