The Demonic Fetus

Although he wreaked havoc in the Dragon Palace and stole treasures from the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas, committing grave offenses, he ultimately did not take any lives. A sliver of good intention remained, so it would be best to try and guide him first.

Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion pondered, "Since the Divine Thunder Jade Mansion has already ordered my Department of the Mortal Realm to enlighten the demon monkey, I wonder who should be sent?"

True Lord Xuandu and True Lord Wenshi exchanged a glance. True Lord Xuandu said, "More than half of the Eight Immortals have been lost, and the remaining four have already gone to Spirit Platform Mountain. Although my Department of the Mortal Realm manages affairs of immortals and gods in the mortal world, there is currently no suitable candidate to send."

True Lord Wenshi added, "Aside from the Eight Immortals of the Upper Cave, the Dao Cultivation of the other Immortal Officials in the Department of the Mortal Realm is still shallow, making it difficult to convert this demon. Why don't one of us three go down to the mortal realm?"

Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion remained silent for a long time before saying, "We each have important duties and cannot be away for long. Enlightening the demon monkey is not a task that can be accomplished in a day."

While they were discussing, True Person Siming Xuji Chongying rose and reported, "Your subject has a plan."

"Speak quickly," Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion urged.

Xuji Chongying offered his strategy: "There is no need to send a True Immortal down to the mortal realm. We can reduce the demon monkey's lifespan and have Yin officials escort his soul to the underworld to witness the horrors of the Eighteen Levels of Hell. When he returns to life, he will surely repent and turn to good."

True Lord Xuandu and True Lord Wenshi praised in unison, "This method is excellent! Seeing it with one's own eyes is better than a thousand words."

Emperor Shaoyang of the Purple Mansion nodded and smiled, "This matter will be left to you, True Person, to handle. Ensure all arrangements are thorough."

Within the city of Guangci Prefecture, Vanguard Hu and Chi Ling were on patrol as ordered. The two had just learned the Yin-Yang Fetal Observation Technique and discovered a pregnant woman in a civilian residence whose fetus was sitting with its back to the yin, clearly a demonic fetus.

"Report this quickly," Vanguard Hu said.

Inside the Lingtai Divine Manor, Zhuang Yan was enjoying tea with Tieguai Li and three other immortals at the Eight Immortals Tower. Upon receiving the message, his expression changed drastically.

He Xiangu asked upon seeing this, "Prefect, has something happened?"

Zhuang Yan put away the message and explained the situation with the demonic fetus to the four True Lords in detail.

He Xiangu asked worriedly, "How should these demonic fetuses be dealt with? We can't... abort them, can we?"

Tieguai Li chimed in, "With so many demonic fetuses, if we were to abort them all, the sin would be immense."

Zhuang Yan smiled, "Abortion is a last resort, so naturally, we won't resort to it. Actually, the solution is very simple. We just need to find the corresponding [item] for each demonic fetus and destroy it. The demonic energy will naturally dissipate, and the demonic fetus will return to normal."

Upon hearing this, He Xiangu's expression immediately relaxed.

Zhongli Quan suggested, "If that's the case, we can't stand idly by. We should assist in investigating the demonic fetuses and saving those unborn children."

"Exactly," Lü Dongbin nodded. "We joked about eating and drinking for free earlier, but we shouldn't truly do nothing. It's always good to do more good deeds before the tribulation arrives."

The four of them rose and said to Zhuang Yan, "Prefect, the demonic fetus matter is of great importance. Please teach us the Yin-Yang Fetal Observation Method so that we can also contribute."

Zhuang Yan smiled, "No need to rush, finish your tea first. Later, I will issue an edict, and I will trouble the four True Lords to convey it to the gods of Guangci Prefecture on my behalf."

The four exchanged glances and sat down again.

After tea, Zhuang Yan brought them back to the Divine Manor, first teaching them the Yin-Yang Fetal Observation Method, and then issuing an imperial decree in the name of the Lingtai Divine Manor regarding the handling of demonic fetuses, entrusting the four True Lords to deliver it.

Zhuang Yan did not obstruct the four True Lords' desire to do good deeds before the tribulation, letting nature take its course. Currently, with Moluo descending upon the world, it was a time of tribulation between Buddhas and demons, and he had important matters to attend to.

After seeing off the four True Lords, Zhuang Yan summoned the Fire Spirit True Immortal and instructed, "From now on, you will temporarily take my place overseeing the Lingtai Divine Manor."

The Fire Spirit True Immortal quickly asked, "Where are you going, Prefect?"

Zhuang Yan smiled faintly, "Do not ask."

"As you command," the Fire Spirit True Immortal replied with a bow.

Zhuang Yan then said, "Come closer."

As the Fire Spirit True Immortal approached, Zhuang Yan continued, "Extend your hands."

Seeing the Fire Spirit True Immortal extend one hand, Zhuang Yan added, "Extend both hands."

Zhuang Yan channeled his magic power, writing on his left palm and his right palm.

The Fire Spirit True Immortal looked at the shimmering immortal light characters on his palms and exclaimed, "Prefect, this is?"

Zhuang Yan explained, "This is my divine ability, temporarily lent to you. Use it to attack enemies, use it to heal wounds. Do you understand?"

The Fire Spirit True Immortal joyfully thanked him, "Thank you, Prefect, for bestowing this art. Your subordinate will remember it."

"The Divine Manor is in your care," Zhuang Yan said, then his figure flashed and disappeared.

Moluo stared at the earthen jar, his brow furrowed. This avatar of his had used all the divine abilities and spells he could, but he was still unable to break the earthen jar.

Moluo impatiently questioned, "What kind of seal is this?"

Trapped inside the earthen jar was "Lian'er." She herself was not a threat, but the fetus in her womb was the manifested form of the Buddha-Demon. Only when the manifested form descended and merged with the "Primal Golden Body" could the foundation in the mortal realm be stabilized.

However, Lian'er was trapped in the earthen jar. If the manifested form could not appear as scheduled, it would be easy for the Buddhist sect to resolve the Buddha-Demon tribulation.

Just as Moluo was deep in thought, his expression suddenly changed, as if he sensed something.

"They actually managed to see through the demonic fetuses?" he exclaimed in shock and anger. He had just sensed the annihilation of a large number of demonic fetuses, all caused by the prior dissipation of their golden bodies. The demonic fetuses in Guangci Prefecture were eliminated the fastest, clearly indicating that the monks in this area had mastered the art of identifying and eliminating demonic fetuses.

"The Buddhist sect's actions are surprisingly swift!" Moluo felt the urgency of the situation. "I cannot wait for ten months of pregnancy." He immediately formed hand seals, and demonic light flashed between his brows. Pregnant women in various locations also had a faint glow appear on their foreheads.

His gaze fell back to the earthen jar, and Moluo remembered the imprisoned Cundi Bodhisattva. "Perhaps these people can break the seal?" He transformed into the manifested form of Cundi Bodhisattva and, carrying the earthen jar, quickly returned to the Tianren Temple's dojo.

The moment he stepped into the meditation hall, the earthen jar in his hand suddenly became illusory, slipping through his fingers and falling to the ground. Moluo abruptly bent down, seeing the earthen jar flicker between substance and illusion. He could not move it in the slightest, no matter how he urged it with his demonic power.

"Moluo, why have you returned?" Cundi Bodhisattva opened his eyes, caught sight of his astonished expression, and followed his gaze, unable to help but chuckle. "You dare to provoke him?"

"Who?" Moluo asked urgently.

Cundi Bodhisattva gazed at the earthen jar. "The owner of this item."

"The Mountain God of Lingtai?"

"He should be called the Lord of Lingtai Dongming now."

Moluo scoffed, "A mere Seventh-Rank Earth Immortal, hardly worth mentioning!"

Cundi Bodhisattva countered, "Then have you broken the seal?"

"I was just about to borrow your power," Moluo narrowed his eyes. "If you assist me, I can spare your life."

"Wishful thinking," Cundi Bodhisattva chuckled lightly. "This seal is not something I can break—including the Seventh-Rank Immortal Official you look down upon, the Lord of Lingtai Dongming."

Moluo's expression shifted drastically, then he adamantly denied it: Absurd! I can imprison even a Bodhisattva, how could I be unable to deal with an Earth Immortal's seal?

He stated with certainty: This seal was definitely not made by the Prefect of Lingtai.

Cundi Bodhisattva asked, "Where did you obtain this item?"

"From the Lingtai Divine Manor, within the Mountain God Hall," Moluo replied.

Cundi Bodhisattva shook his head, "Since you took it from the Lingtai Divine Manor, yet you don't believe the Prefect set it, it's truly perplexing."

Moluo sneered, "Stop playing dumb. There is another expert in Lingtai Mountain."

"Are you referring to the one on Mount Fangcun?" Cundi Bodhisattva asked.

"Precisely," Moluo asserted. "This seal must have come from that person's hand."

Cundi Bodhisattva chuckled, "Moluo, you're twisting words."

"Hahaha!" Moluo burst into laughter, saying contemptuously, "Every word I speak is true. As for you, Bodhisattva, you are the one whose life hangs by a thread now."

Before his laughter faded, Moluo suddenly felt something was off—there was an echo in the cave. He abruptly stopped speaking, only to find another laugh still echoing.

Moluo turned back in horror. He saw the newcomer surrounded by divine light, wearing the robes of a Seventh-Rank Immortal Official, his jade belt shining, and his face exceptionally handsome...

"The Prefect of Lingtai?!" Moluo roared, immediately unleashing the Art of All Illusory Delusions.

Zhuang Yan's figure flickered and vanished, leaving behind only lingering illusions that quickly dissipated.

Moluo was greatly alarmed and frantically looked around. When he finally locked onto Zhuang Yan's figure again, the latter was already standing ten paces away, holding the earthen jar high and shouting:

Instantly, the world spun. When Moluo regained his sight, he found himself in endless darkness.

He suddenly realized—he had been trapped inside the earthen jar! Without time to ponder how an Earth Immortal possessed such divine power, Moluo immediately revealed his true form and unleashed his monstrous demonic power to bombard the jar's walls.

However, no matter how he struggled, the earthen jar remained completely still, not even a scratch left on it.

Outside, Zhuang Yan put away the two jars and walked up to Cundi Bodhisattva, cupping his hands with a smile. "Bodhisattva, what a pleasant pastime, meditating here?"

Cundi Bodhisattva said helplessly, "Prefect, please don't mock me. Please help this poor monk escape this predicament."

"I shall gladly assist," Zhuang Yan said, then raised his hand to remove the technique Cundi Bodhisattva was subjected to.

The confinement dissolved instantly. Cundi Bodhisattva's body erupted with Buddhist light, cleansing away the residual demonic energy.

She bowed solemnly, "Thank you, Prefect, for saving my life."

Zhuang Yan smiled, "Bodhisattva is too kind. Just give me a few more Suoluo Immortal Fruits, and that will be thanks enough."

Cundi Bodhisattva smiled, "When the immortal fruits ripen next time, I will let the Prefect taste them to his heart's content."

Cundi Bodhisattva gazed at Zhuang Yan, her voice filled with amazement, "Prefect, how many more abilities are you hiding?"

She was indeed shocked. Zhuang Yan had managed to follow Moluo into her dojo without being detected, demonstrating his profound stealth skills. What surprised her even more was that, despite being at the same Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, Zhuang Yan could easily break the restrictions set by Moluo; such skill was extraordinary.

If one were to disregard cultivation realms, based on these two abilities alone, he would be worthy of the rank of Bodhisattva within the Buddhist sect. Yet, this young man before her was merely a Seventh-Rank Immortal Official of the Heavenly Court. This thought flashed through her mind, but she quickly suppressed it. After all, Zhuang Yan was recommended by Grand Supreme Elder Lao and personally appointed by the Jade Emperor as the "Lord of Lingtai Dongming," so he could not be easily recruited.

Zhuang Yan smiled calmly, "Not many left. I've used almost all of them."

Cundi Bodhisattva nodded slightly and then asked, "Why did the Prefect come here?"

"I had been tracking this demon for a long time. Seeing him heading towards Tianren Temple, I followed him all the way," Zhuang Yan explained. "I didn't expect that by chance, I would be able to help the Bodhisattva escape." He then showed a look of confusion, "With the Bodhisattva's cultivation, how could you be captured by this demon?"

Cundi Bodhisattva sighed softly, "This demon is an incarnation of a Buddha-Demon, born from a Buddha Heart. He is the most difficult for us Buddhist cultivators to guard against; a moment's carelessness and you fall into his trap."

"So that's how it is," Zhuang Yan suddenly understood. "So, Buddha-Demons specifically target Buddhist cultivators?"

"Not quite a nemesis yet, but as the Dharma-Ending Age approaches, their harm will become increasingly severe," Cundi Bodhisattva replied.

Zhuang Yan nodded and cupped his hands, "Since that is the case, I shall take my leave."

Cundi Bodhisattva solemnly returned the bow, "I am greatly indebted to the Prefect for saving me. After I report this matter to the World-Honored One, I will certainly visit to express my gratitude."

"Bodhisattva is too kind, it was merely a small effort." Before he finished speaking, Zhuang Yan had already transformed into a wisp of immortal energy and floated away.

After leaving the dojo, Zhuang Yan took out the earthen jar that sealed Moluo. He saw that Moluo inside had exhausted his magical power, yet he hadn't left even the slightest mark on the jar's walls.