Five Demons Transform Tribulation

"Only after seeing the foundation of an outside path can we discuss how to make it our own."

Ling Qing did not elaborate on what had happened to him before. He merely shared his own experience with Zhu Guang—the principle of transforming an outside path into one's own path.

"Among all the myriad methods in the world, the Dao stands supreme.

"The root of outside paths lies in the fact that their foundation rests upon outer gods rather than oneself.

"But our Daoist tradition also has methods for borrowing divine power in this way."

"Inviting a god to possess one's body!" Zhu Guang interjected.

"Precisely.

"Some licentious cults and wild gods, like these outer gods, lend their power to others and then collect payment.

"But clearly, they are not as experienced as the outer gods.

"Still, Daoist god-invocation requires a person to first cultivate themselves before inviting a god to descend in spirit.

"In this way, believers gain power to overcome misfortune and escape peril, while the deities gain faith and incense offerings to strengthen themselves.

"It is a win-win arrangement—one level above the outer gods' one-sided exploitation, and far more sustainable."

Ling Qing patted the Life-Purifying Treasure Treasury Scripture in his hand. "What I value most in this scripture is not the light and flames within it.

"It is the idea of refining demons into gods."

"Indeed. Those who cultivate the Dao cannot avoid calamities befalling them." Zhu Guang nodded in agreement.

"Yet some calamities are difficult to perceive. Sometimes disaster is already upon one's head, and one still does not know it.

"If one could transform one's own calamities—even if only a heart-demon tribulation—into demons, place them within one's body, and refine and deliver them day after day, "then one's chances of attaining the Dao would increase greatly."