Slaying Great Demons

Possession is a very mystical experience.

Mo Chuan could clearly feel that the body he possessed did not belong to him.

That constant sense of separation and rejection, like a cage, made him want to break free!

What was most unbearable was that this body, which wasn't his own, was instinctively feeding sensory information back to his soul's core!

At this moment, Mo Chuan, possessing the Great Five-Armored Demon, was enduring the impact of this sensory information.

— He had to contend with the Great Five-Armored Demon's will for control, and also endure the headless ghost's decapitation pain.

And yet, he couldn't stop.

Because he knew that if he was in pain, the Great Five-Armored Demon was in even more pain.

If he could sever the head, he could leave at any time, but the Great Five-Armored Demon would be finished.

It was strange, really. Logically, this fierce ghost, having cultivated for three hundred years, should have refined its sun soul and cleansed its moon essence.

Even if it couldn't precisely temper its Xian body, its Xian body should still be decent, right?

However, in reality, this Great Five-Armored Demon was no match for Mo Chuan. If it weren't for the advantage of its body, it would have been defeated long ago.

Even so, it was only a stone's throw away from death and annihilation.

"I have a method called the Art of Soldier's Release, which can cultivate a ghost body. If you let go, I am willing to give up a hundred years of my cultivation to reshape your soul body for you!"

The Great Five-Armored Demon was scared.

At a certain moment, it shamelessly offered a generous gift to seek peace.

Mo Chuan remained silent, concentrating his energy on seizing the ghost body.

Hmph, does he think I'm an idiot?

If I seize your ghost body, I'll immediately become the Great Five-Armored Demon. Why would I need to reshape my soul body?

"This method is called the "Great Yellow Record Fast." Listen closely, honored sir... Cloud seals in the vast void, at the beginning of the great tribulation. Suddenly far, suddenly near, sometimes sinking, sometimes floating. Carve the cloud seals, draw upon heavenly Qi..."

The Great Five-Armored Demon hardened its heart and directly began reciting the core text of the cultivation method, attempting to attract Mo Chuan's attention and buy time!

Unexpectedly, Mo Chuan remained silent, not listening at all!

— Does he really think I'm stupid? Who knows if the cultivation method you're talking about is real or fake? If it's mixed with falsehoods, wouldn't it be worse than poison?

"...Guide the eastern green Qi through the nose into the liver; the southern red Qi into the heart; the western white Qi into the lungs; the northern dark Qi into the kidneys... The soul body's organs rely on visualization..."

After reciting the cultivation method, the Great Five-Armored Demon completely panicked. He could feel his body gradually losing control.

Especially his lower half, which had completely lost sensation, as if it no longer belonged to him.

"Stop! Stop! Esteemed immortal, please stop! I, I Lu Fengbei, am willing to pledge allegiance to you, esteemed immortal! I beg you to show mercy!"

In the face of death, there is great terror.

In the face of this great terror, Lu Fengbei could no longer maintain his dignity. He begged for mercy and offered his submission, attempting to muddle through.

However, his pleas, like his previous actions, were met only with silence and even more frantic attempts to seize control!

"You're forcing me to do this!"

"If you can achieve the Xian body, so can I!"

Lu Fengbei, enraged, suddenly unleashed a demonic technique he had been afraid to use.

He formed his index and middle fingers into a sword and slashed at his own neck in the void. A dark emerald sword energy erupted from his fingertips.

Instantly, the headless ghost was sliced in two!

And his head was severed!

Three hundred years of cultivation shattered with a roar, and countless vital energies surged forth.

Freed from the constraints of his physical form, Mo Chuan rose with the surging vital energies.

He casually held a bronze seal in his hand, ready to use it as a brick to strike the Great Five-Armored Demon's Xian body at any moment.

However, as his gaze swept around, where was any Xian body to be seen?

Beneath its physical form, the Great Five-Armored Demon, whose head had been severed, had completely disintegrated along with its collapsing body.

"That's... dead?"

Mo Chuan looked at the rapidly dissipating soul body with a bewildered expression.

"Huh! What is this?"

Suddenly, within the shattered soul body, several items tumbled out with the surging vital energies, about to scatter into the mortal world.

Mo Chuan's eyes flashed, and he drew them into the Sacrificial Dao Furnace.

Just then, a dazzling and scorching beam of light, like a corrosive venom, landed on him, nearly causing his Xian body to collapse.

— This was clearly the brilliant light of the Golden Crow!

In a fleeting glimpse, he saw that the oppressive black clouds had, at some unknown time, collapsed and shattered, allowing rays of sunlight to stream into the ravaged city.

Looking out, it was as if the dark sky had cracked open, and imperial nectar was being spilled.

The black tornado that had swept across the entire city, vast and mighty, also vanished into thin air.

Yi Qian's residence remained as it was!

The entire courtyard, filled with yellow-robed Daoists and Buddhist disciples, was still there.

Mo Chuan hovered in the air, looking down with lowered eyes, a smile on his lips. With his hands clasped, he made a graceful bow of farewell.

"Fellow Daoists, until we meet again!"

As his lingering voice faded, a soft light fell upon his body, much like heavenly rain dusting motes of dust, cleansing his lingering form and erasing his final traces.

The sunlight, now unobstructed, descended upon the earth, bathing Chong Xuzi's face. Faintly, a shimmer of moisture could be seen.

"Farewell, Daoist Yan Zhen!"

Chong Xuzi knelt down, performing the grand kowtow of three bows and nine prostrations!

Seeing this, the yellow-robed Daoists and Buddhist disciples in the courtyard were deeply moved. They all bent their knees and performed the kowtow.

An indescribable shock reverberated through the courtyard.

Especially those who had previously mocked him felt utterly ashamed, unable to find a place to hide their disgrace.

If they had any conscience, this shame would surely become a heart demon, either hindering their cultivation or propelling them to greater heights!

"Daoist Yan Zhen's righteousness is a blessing to the Daoist path! I wish to establish a temple and sect on Xinghuan Mountain, and next to the Bodhisattva Hall, I will set up a hall for incense offerings for Daoist Yan Zhen, named Yan Zhen Hall, to venerate the Righteous Spirit!" Daoist Yi Qian announced loudly, looking at Yan Zhen's remains.

Everyone was astonished by this declaration.

Establishing a hall to venerate him was equivalent to making him an ancestor!

For a yellow-robed Daoist, this was a lifelong pursuit.

In a way, by establishing a sect and temple, Old Daoist Yi Qian was seeking precisely this kind of honor for his lineage.

Of course, by setting up a hall for Yan Zhen, Old Daoist Yi Qian was also leveraging Yan Zhen's brilliance.

It was foreseeable that as the story of Old Daoist Yan Zhen's "sacrifice for righteousness and suppression of the demon" spread, he would become a legend of his time!

It was highly possible that the common people would spontaneously create clay statues and golden effigies of him.

By inviting him into the Daoist temple, Yi Qian was essentially capturing this incense offering, a situation that benefited both parties.

"Daoist Yan Zhen's actions moved heaven and earth. This old monk wishes to establish a memorial tablet for him in the Great Treasure Hall of Tianbao Temple, to chant scriptures and pray for Daoist Yan Zhen, wishing him rebirth in a good realm and passage to the Pure Land!" Abbot Tianbao announced, following suit.

He had to make this announcement. When Old Daoist Yi Qian mentioned the Bodhisattva Hall, he was deliberately provoking him!

This was not only to bless Yan Zhen but also to expand the influence of the Daoist path and counteract the influence of the Bodhisattva Hall.

—It turned out that one of the conditions agreed upon by the two yesterday was that Yi Qian would establish a Bodhisattva Hall within the Daoist temple.

"Venerable Daoists, would you permit Luo to fulfill the Immortal Master's promise?"

At this moment, Luo Feibai, the escort leader Luo, whose presence had been almost negligible, spoke up.

He intended to take Yan Zhen's remains to Yunji Temple of Xishan City. This was the duty of the escort agency for the money they received, and also a matter of righteousness among martial men.

Daoist Yi Qian heard this and cupped his hands with a solemn expression. "Daoist Yan Zhen's remains will be entrusted to Escort Leader Luo."

Escort Leader Luo tucked his cane under his arm and returned the salute with cupped hands. "It is my duty."

Daoist Yi Qian then said, "Escort Leader Luo, please rest assured regarding the matter of your son's body. This humble Daoist will do his utmost to assist."

Escort Leader Luo's eyes welled up. His lips moved, wanting to speak in reply, but he was overcome with grief. He could only respond with a clasped fist, expressing his gratitude.