Daoist Master of Qing Xuan

Destruction rained down on the plains of Yuan Continent, Within half a year a third of the Daoist Cultivator of Qi with experience in Dao cultivation died, not counting the countless number of demonic spirits in the western wilderness that perished too.

The blood of the living creatures was extracted, forming a pond of blood used to inscribe a sigil. The individuals of the Demonic Order can gain access to any part of heaven or earth through the use of the sigils that correspond with the pond of blood. This significantly expanded the Demonic Order’s power as they mustered their forces for more power and control.

This mythical art of teleportation has existed since time immemorial. Although it was only limited to creatures with special abilities, it was not until Xuan Men thrived, like the other Four Main Daoist sects whos heritage were a profound source, that a celestial school was able to produce many talented people, who would have the ability to dissect this miraculous art. Under Mount Qing Xuan’s extensive supernatural Dao techniques, discoveries led to progress. However, the spiritual materials needed to establish the formation of teleportation were enormous, and at the same time difficult to gather because of its rarity, thus it laid covered in dust within the Taiwei pavillion.

But that was not the case for Yan Xu, to source living creatures’ blood as the base material used to form a pond of blood and inscribing sigils was a problem that has been easily solved. At the same time, this helped the Demonic Order to be more deeply rooted and subsequently made them harder for their foundation to be eliminated.

When pond of blood of the Demonic Order was revealed, it sent the remaining celestial schools and Buddhist sects into a frenzy of terror, because the Demonic Order can now provide support from anywhere without fear of decentralizing its power. Even the leader of the clan, Yan Xu, would be able to reach any place within his influence through the pond of blood. He would also be able to reach other areas anytime with the pond of blood too.

This person would prove to be a nightmare to the remaining Qi cultivators as long as he exists.

One would not be guaranteed safety even if they joined the Demonic Order, as it is always a brutal competition, turning free-spirited Qi cultivators into something less than a mortal, in a constant struggle for their lives. All this to satisfy Yan Xu’s desire for entertainment as if watching ants fighting for survival.

Yuan Zhou was respected by the four main Daoist sects, though the four sects are often indifferent and seldom intervene with the orthodoxies of the other sects. Hence the Qing Dynasty rose with an overbearing and forceful rule, holding an extensive amount of vassals across the land, which left many sects and Qi cultivators disgusted. Until the Demonic Order came, which made the Qing Dynasty look good compared to the Demonic Order in the eyes of the Qi cultivators.

The Demonic Order’s teaching style is exactly the same as Yan Xu, the founder’s philosophies. These philosophies are decisive, fierce and without hesitation. It is unknown how many sects were destroyed, their established teachings and their scriptures are taken away by the Demonic Order.

Even the ancient books and records, where the knowledge and ideas were inscribed and accumulated by the effort of dozens, were taken by the Demonic Order without exception.

Meritorious deeds were encouraged within the clan, and as long as one is loyal to the clan, and were willing to do one’s part, one is praiseworthy. And this gave members of the clan the access into the Demonic Order’s collection of artifacts that can be used complete any tasks given.

But the terror is much more than this, Yan Xu has a measure in place that would surely overturn the entire cultivation community.

Meritorious deeds can not only be used to exchange spiritual objects or powers and techniques, it can even be used to exchange demonic elixir that heightens an individual’s state. Yan Xu’s all-encompassing knowledge, in addition to the mythical demonic magic, enables him to comprehend the sentiments needed for an individual to enter the next state. According to different individual’s cultivation, he would be able to condense required sentiments into an elixir for consumption. After consuming the demonic elixir, individuals can obtain the sentiment required to enter the next state.

There is hardly a thing that can be used to describe such a method.

In order to gain a heightened state of power and ability, certain members of the Demonic Order would further commit themselves into working hard for the Order, in order to obtain meritorious deeds used to exchange for the demonic elixir.

Only the brightest individuals were aware of the drawbacks that came with using the state enhancing demonic elixir. Even if the elixir was not as good as it seems, the truth of it is it is hard for natural cultivators of Qi to not be tempted.

But for the sake of gaining merit, the Demonic Order did not show mercy even to their own kind, because the records of merits can be transferred to another person.

Already in a state of disarray, Yuan Zhou has descended further into chaos.

As countless people were getting more agitated through the massacre and bloodshed, more and more people longed for the peaceful days that have passed.

With the current situation as such, the world’s hopes for a person capable of facing Yan Xu grew stronger.

The phrase ‘What would befall the people if Shen Qing was not brought salvation’ was spread under these circumstances. What is spread cannot be taken back nor controlled, it has become the knowledge of all cultivators of Qi in the world.

Many cultivators of Qi fled the seas to gather outside of Mount Qing Xuan, turning the town of Nan Ke outside the mountain gates into a bustling hub of excitement and activity.

The sincerity of the masses touched Qing Xuan and Shen Jin’s disciple, Chen Jin Chan, personally came forward to appease the practitioners outside the mountain. Thus came this message, Shen Lian had already put out a letter of challenge and invited the Demonic Order leader Yan Xu to a Bier Discourse of Dao on the third day of the third month next year.

The letter of the challenge seemed to have garnered a response from Yan Xu and the Demonic Order’s activity seemed to have lessened significantly thereon.

The undercurrents of Yuen Continent remain hidden and waiting, to see the unparalleled talents of two generations from Qing Xuan, and what the results would be after Mount Bier Fang Cun’s Discourse of Dao.

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…

‘Heroes reverses an overwhelming adverse situation, kings rebuilt the country, the saints could create a religion to continue their thoughts.” Shen Lian said in the bamboo house on Taiyi Peak.

Puzzled, Chen Jin Lu asked him from behind: “does master think the leader of the Demonic Order is a saint?”

Shen Lian was writing on a scroll, with no intention to drop his pen nor to look back, he said: “there is not much difference between being a demon or being a saint, in the end, all they want is to change the minds of people, the real difference lies in the methods used.”

Chen Jin Zhao replied in a heartbeat, “then is master also a saint?”

Shen Lian laughed silently and playfully said: “I am but a human.”

Chen Jinmao said: “I am still confused. They have all said that master has already visited the celestial environment and have discarded the mortal realm. Why does master say you are human?”

Suddenly Shen Lian was struck with inspiration, and his pen fell on paper like snow on the ground, the pen etched without pause and two lines of words were written. He placed the pen down and said: “What do you think is human?”

Instinctively, Chen Jin Chan began to counter with an explanation that a human had to have a head and feet and was capable of walking upright to be considered as such, but immediately realized that was not the context of what was being exchanged, because not only humans but powerful demons too possessed the shape of a human, or were humanoid.

He shook his head and said: “I do not know.”

Shen Lian asked: ‘Then do you think you are “human”?’

Chen Jin Luo replied: “but of course.”

Shen Lian said softly: “Then why would you say you don’t know.”

Chen Jin Luo said: “I do not know where to start.”

Shen Lian casually turned around and said: “the Confucians have a saying that is widely known and used, ‘A steady mind for the world, determination for the people, constantly learning for the sake of sainthood, and peace for all ages’. You should have studied it when you first came.”

Chen Jin Lua nodded his head, he had studied whatever Shen Lian required him to study. Although the knowledge of the Crystal Ball of the Noble Witch was vast, there was still much knowledge left to be desired.

Of course, he did not understand enough, many of the books he studied were compiled by Shen Lian and his combined views of two worlds. The knowledge was not only limited to this world alone.

Shen Lian further explained: “Most words in these four phrases can be disregarded. But, the world phrase ‘determination’ is the essence of it all and the most fundamental part of a ‘human’.”