Daoist Cold Light

The brothers Wing Daoist Geng Kun and Feather Daoist Geng Peng were Human-Demon Hybrids, poised somewhere between human and bird. They ordinarily took no human disciples, accepting only half-human, half-demon creatures, hoping to break new ground and establish a school of their own.

Yet nonhuman creatures tended to have poor Spiritual Aptitude for cultivation. Even among humans, most were mediocre, afflicted with all manner of failings such as selfishness, greed, and cruelty. Throughout the ages, those who truly attained immortality were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

Compared with humans, Monsters were worse still. Most were steeped in anger and too ignorant to grasp enlightenment; many also craved flesh and blood, delighting in cruelty and slaughter. Once they learned spells, they would often embark on killing sprees, wreaking boundless havoc. Many fishmen, ottermen, frogmen, and the like used spells to kill wantonly in the sea, savoring the pleasure of slaughter like cats toying with mice.

The sect leader Geng Kun himself had no particularly good disposition. Deeply suspicious and ruthless, he feared his disciples would cause trouble outside, disgrace him, or even drag him down with them. He therefore imposed extremely strict rules, rarely passed down the true teachings of his Spell, and punished any transgression severely.

Feather Daoist Geng Peng had a better disposition than Geng Kun. He never stirred up needless trouble or bullied those unlike himself without cause, and he felt great compassion for nonhuman Monsters. Whenever he encountered such creatures being slaughtered, he would intervene to save them.

Today, when he saw Shi Feiyang, this black Long, just a little short of transforming into a true Long, he was moved to take him as a disciple. The dragon had also mastered Spell and was unlike ordinary nonhuman creatures: his speech was clear and coherent, his Spiritual Aptitude excellent, and his spiritual presence held in check. Geng Peng intended to take him back to Great Roc Bay and teach him properly, helping him shed his old form and transform his body so that he could bring glory to their school.

There was another reason: he and Lady Baoxiang had an old feud. He had nearly succumbed to her beauty and lost the Life-Bound Core he had painstakingly cultivated over many years. Later, he had launched a surprise attack while she was coupling with another man. A fierce battle had ensued, leaving Lady Baoxiang in a wretched state and barely able to flee back to the Central Lands. They had become mortal enemies and agreed to fight again someday.

Today, enemies met on a narrow road. Geng Peng unleashed his full strength in a ferocious assault on Lady Baoxiang. She had just lost her primordial yin, and the Heart-Turning Lock she was refining specifically to counter him was not yet complete. Even with Zhuge Jingwo helping her, she was still outmatched.

After they had fought for some time, Zhuge Jingwo was the first to fall back in defeat. The Twelve Golden Feather Arrows forced him farther and farther away, driving him hundreds of li into the heights of the heavens, where Geng Peng immobilized him from afar with the Lesser Heavens Banning Art.

Lady Baoxiang hastily employed the Thousand-Li Courtyard-in-a-Pouch Shrinking Projection, appearing beside Zhuge Jingwo in an instant. She broke the restraint with the Heart-Turning Lock and fled at speed with him.

Watching the two disappear into the distant sky, Shi Feiyang flew over to thank Geng Peng for saving him.

Geng Peng looked grave, showing none of the joy of victory. Noticing his unusual expression, Shi Feiyang asked what was wrong. Geng Peng said, "During that fight, the Demon Fox struck me with two White-Brow Needles! After all these years, her methods have grown even more formidable. I was on my guard the whole time, yet she still caught me. And that shining lock she used is my very bane. If it already has such power before it is finished, once she completes it, it will surely become a great menace to our sect."

Shi Feiyang was startled. "You were hit by White-Brow Needles too?"

Geng Peng nodded. "I must go to Daoist Cold Light in the North Pole and ask him to draw out the White-Brow Needles with his Star-Absorbing Orb. Come with me. Afterward, I'll take you back to Great Roc Bay."

Shi Feiyang said, "She struck me with three White-Brow Needles too."

Geng Peng said urgently, "The Demon Fox refines her White-Brow Needles from the eyebrows of her original fox body. Once they enter someone's body, they attack the heart's apertures directly. They are vicious things. Only Daoist Cold Light and Ancestor Hollow Space can deal with them. We must not delay. Let's go now."

He waved a hand and employed the Greater Heavens Escape Art, then used the wings on his back to raise a wind and lend it force. He traveled a thousand li in an instant, his speed astonishing. In moments, he crossed countless icy seas, reached a snow-covered ice field, and finally landed before a glacier.

There was an ice cave here. Geng Peng said, "This cave is meant for humans to live in. Even I have to fold my wings to get inside. You'll have to shrink before you can enter."

Shi Feiyang knew no shrinking Spell, so Geng Peng opened his hand and told him to come onto his palm. Shi Feiyang flew up toward it, but that little palm seemed to lie unimaginably far away. Even flying at full speed, he took quite some time to land on it.

His body had not shrunk, nor had Geng Peng's palm grown larger, yet relative to Geng Peng's hand, he was now only as thick as a chopstick.

Amazed by the marvel of this Spell, Shi Feiyang crawled about on his palm, looking around. Geng Kun didn't seem all that impressive in the original novel. I don't remember him having a younger brother, either. How could he possess such extraordinary powers?

Geng Peng smiled. "This is one of the Twelve Great Heavens Banning Arts, from the Chiyou Threefold Scripture. Would you like to learn it?"

Shi Feiyang nodded. He truly did want to learn. Sitting on Geng Peng's hand now, he was like Sun Wukong in the palm of the Buddha. He was unsure whether flying outward with all his strength would let him escape the Spell's range, or whether attacking the palm with the full power of his inner cores could inflict any damage. But whether he could or not, he was filled with awe and envy at the Spell's mysteries.

"So you want to learn? Then I'll take you back to Great Roc Bay in the Eastern Sea afterward. Become my disciple, and I'll teach you. As long as you work hard and earnestly, with your Spiritual Aptitude, you'll be able to use it once you've passed your final tribulation, shed your old form, and become a true Long!"

As he spoke, he sent word into the cave. Soon, a young Daoist came out to welcome them, his manner exceedingly respectful.

Geng Peng introduced him to Shi Feiyang. "This is Chichengzi, Daoist Cold Light's disciple."

Once inside, they met an elderly Daoist in a Lan cloth robe, with Bai beard, eyebrows, and hair. Geng Peng said, "This is my fellow Daoist Cold Light. You should address him as senior martial uncle."

Daoist Cold Light looked at the little black Long in his palm. "You only just left. Why have you come back already?"

Geng Peng recounted what had happened, and Daoist Cold Light took out a jewel as large as the mouth of a bowl. It was crystal clear, with countless suns, moons, and stars circling within, while nebulae surged ceaselessly like mist.

Holding the Star-Absorbing Orb in his left hand, he infused it with true essence, then formed a hand seal with his left hand and pointed at the place on Geng Peng's wing where a needle had struck. The orb emitted a stream of starlight that fell upon the puncture. A short while later, a White-Brow Needle was drawn out.

Next, he drew out the other needle, then those inside Shi Feiyang's body.

All five White-Brow Needles were extracted. They were merely the old fox's eyebrow hairs, a little over an inch long, harder and tougher than pig bristles, and stained with blood.

Still seething, Geng Peng took out a gourd and put the hairs inside. "That damned Demon Fox! Once I have my hands free, I must kill her, lest she keep bewitching people and wreaking endless havoc!"

Daoist Cold Light, however, was very mild-tempered. As he invited Geng Peng to drink tea, he said, "Your feud with Lady Baoxiang..."

"The Demon Fox!" Geng Peng corrected him in all seriousness.

"Very well. According to my calculations, your feud with the Demon Fox bodes very ill for you. You must be careful."

Geng Peng's expression grew grave at this, and he nodded slowly. "This time, I saw her use a magical treasure that counters many of my Spells. It was extremely powerful. Fortunately, she hasn't finished refining it yet. Otherwise, I fear my prospects would have been grim indeed."

Daoist Cold Light suggested, "You and your elder brother possess the Ancient Times secret text, the Chiyou Threefold Scripture. It also contains methods for refining all manner of powerful magical treasures. Why not make a few to counter hers in turn?"

Geng Peng sighed and shook his head repeatedly. "I can't refine them. I can't!"