Volume 3, Chapter 112 – Seizing the Method (Two-in-One)

Is it that one?

The moment Bai Xiang saw Daokong in this form, several thoughts flashed through her mind. She asked bluntly, “This tiger demon was seized by you back then, which is why it converted to Buddhism and ended up with this image in the eyes of outsiders?”

She still did not believe a wild demon would willingly embrace the Buddha on its own.

Even though she had learned the truth from Xuan Yi, and knew that Golden Light Temple’s tradition had been founded by the demon Buddha “Golden Light Jewel King Buddha”, just as people were different from people, the kind of “demon” that Golden Light Jewel King Buddha was and the demons of the Ranyan Demon Kingdom clearly could not be called the same species.

“Benefactor is perceptive.” Daokong shifted back into his monk’s appearance and gave Bai Xiang a slight nod, his gaze landing on Feixiang Heaven in her hand.

This sword had been forged by Bai Xiang using the Zhenyuan sword embryo as raw material. She had mixed in the Sword-Student wooden sword that had absorbed her own blood, then cast it again with the essence blood of a millennia-old cicada demon. Although she had shortened it somewhat in length to match her height and arm span, in form it was almost identical to the sword embryo.

“Amitabha…” He chanted the Buddha’s name to Bai Xiang again, his eyes bright as he looked into her pair of golden irises. “May I ask, is the sword in your hand forged from the ‘Zhenyuan’ sword embryo?”

Bai Xiang had still been puzzling over how, if he had also come about through seizure, he could claim he was not Yaosui. At his question, she answered without thinking, “It is.”

And it was not just one sword embryo. She had spent one in the Shenming Ancestral Ground, used another to kill Yao Qingyuan and absorb it, then another when she killed Shi Ling in the Blood Abyss and absorbed it as well… Feixiang Heaven could be said to have gathered the essence of three sword embryos.

“Then this is the kind of scene I could only glimpse in a dream…” Daokong the monk muttered under his breath, “That someone could suppress a Yaosui’s seizure and instead fold the sword embryo into their own Dao. If I had not seen it with my own eyes, even with ‘Daokong’s’ vision it would be hard to believe.”

What does he mean by that?

For a moment Bai Xiang could not quite make sense of the situation.

It sounded like he was genuinely delighted that “the one who came in holding the key is someone like me”?

So that meant he bore her no malice at all.

On the other hand, if the one who had come in was not “someone like me” but the normal case he had expected—the person who had truly been seized by Daokong the Yaosui—would he then not be this pleased, and even move against that person?

What was going on… His stance and attitude were completely the reverse of what she had expected.

Thoughts turning, Bai Xiang asked Daokong in a low voice, “Why don’t you start by explaining what exactly you are…?”

“I am Daokong. I am his true spirit,” Daokong answered at once. “Or you could say I am one of his true spirits. Back then he split it into many pieces in one breath and hid them inside many sword embryos.”

“I know the benefactor is wary. In fact, you are not wrong. From the moment I had my mind clouded by the demon behind the Sacred Emperor of Yu, I split my true spirit into nine, turned them into foul things resembling Yaosui, and attached them to the swords to wait for others to meet their tribulation.”

That tribulation should mean “being seized”.

Bai Xiang’s eyes narrowed slightly. She thought this monk was rather good at dressing up his earlier actions.

“It was just by coincidence that the demon I seized and attached myself to had a kind heart.” Daokong’s true spirit turned to the void and bowed, as if paying respects to the dead tiger demon. “It did not believe in Buddhism, yet it too was an outlier among demons. It defied the Demon King’s decree and fled, only to stumble into my calamity.”

“Seizing a body is like devouring it. You are affected by the host’s original nature.” He sighed. “In that confusion, my true spirit woke up again and regained its own consciousness. After that came the tiger demon follower of the Buddha recorded in those books.”

So that was how it was.

Bai Xiang finally understood.

So this so-called “Ranyan Buddha Patriarch” was no one else but that outlier tiger demon Daokong had seized, whose inner kindness had awakened his true spirit.

This Buddha should never have existed originally. Daokong owed the demon a debt, yet felt sorrow and guilt over having killed it, so he erected this Buddha image to comfort its merit and soul.

She asked Daokong again, “Just now you mentioned the demon behind the Sacred Emperor of Yu… Weren’t you corrupted because you pursued immortality?”

That demon behind the scenes should be the rebel demon clan that had hidden behind generation after generation of Yu emperors.

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“Does the benefactor know the truth of the Northern Border?” Daokong asked her in return.

Bai Xiang thought for a few seconds. “If you mean the part involving the Illusory Realm passageway…”

“Exactly.” The true spirit spoke quickly. “If ‘Daokong’ could seal the passageway alone with a single sword, do you think he would be so desperate for that vague immortality?”

It really did not add up.

From what he was saying, Daokong the monk had already known the truth of the Void Tribulation back then. When he drew his sword to suppress that catastrophe, he knew what he was suppressing was not some Demon Kingdom but the passageway leading to countless Illusory Realm spaces beyond.

So why would he only seek immortality after the suppression?

There were many ancient alien races and ancient mighty beings in the Illusory Realms. Their methods and traditions could certainly be studied and referenced. If Daokong had truly been someone who would do anything “to seek the Dao”, he would not have needed to go all-out to suppress them at all. He could simply have let them return.

“‘Daokong’ did inscribe Nine Dividing Methods onto nine swords with the intent of opening a new path.” The true spirit continued. “But at the start it was not to split his soul and enter, to commit that heaven-defying act of seizing bodies. He wanted to pass all he had learned to those who came after, hoping they could complete that new path.”

Is that really so.

Bai Xiang’s gaze flickered. If so, how did he explain that the methods in the swords did not resemble righteous paths at all?

The three sword embryos Feixiang Heaven had digested corresponded to three methods: the Cicada-Shedding Method, the Soul-Refining Method, and the Blood-Transforming Method.

The Cicada-Shedding Method was still acceptable. Just from their names, the latter two were steeped in the bizarre. And their texts and doctrines were very complete. They clearly were not something later generations had tampered in. They had been set down that way from the very beginning.

Perhaps Daokong truly had not intended to split his soul into the swords, and only did so under the bewitchment and control of the great demon hiding behind the Sacred Emperor of Yu.

But he was absolutely not—as noble as this true spirit was painting him.

It was not that she was baselessly suspicious of Daokong. It was that the Soul-Refining Method and the Blood-Transforming Method simply did not look like methods that could have been created by Great Yu’s native human race.

Since the founding of human Sword Dao, they had never been able to fundamentally resolve the problem of demonic power polluting the soul and body. That alone showed how shallow human attainment on the path of the soul was. Forget comparing them to the immortals and Buddhas of myth. Even compared to Bai Xiang herself, they were like toddlers learning to walk.

In Bai Xiang’s estimation, these two methods were very likely from beyond the passageway.

After all, Daokong had once suppressed that earth-shattering demon chaos. The records in the histories were vague, but thinking about it now, that chaos had not been some Demon Kingdom revival. It had been that the Illusory Realm passageway had loosened, and many Illusory Realm forces had sent their power into the main world.

They had simply been unlucky to run into Daokong, that monstrous prodigy.

Bai Xiang felt quite sure Daokong had not been as overwhelmingly strong at the start as the histories claimed. He had most likely cut his way up, killing the envoys that descended from those realms and snatching many alien methods from them. By absorbing their essential ideas he had grown further and further, until he truly could dominate an era with a single sword.

If so, it made perfect sense that he had left behind the Soul-Refining Method and the Blood-Transforming Method.

Her current goal, the Meridian-Connecting Method, was also very likely something he had distilled from Illusory Realm cultivation methods.

So she did not relax her guard one bit because of what the true spirit had said.

On the surface she looked more at ease, but inside she was taut as a drawn bow.

She wanted to see what tricks this thing was planning to play.

“Amitabha…” Daokong’s true spirit bowed to her again. “For the benefactor to break the calamity of ‘Daokong’ shows you are born with a tremendously powerful soul. To have the karmic chance to find this place is a blessing ‘Daokong’ shares with you.”

He lifted his head and said sincerely, “What I meant to do was wait until the other split souls came in, then suppress and kill them, just as I have sealed this Demon Kingdom, so they could no longer stir up trouble.”

“But since the benefactor has come, I naturally will not treat you that way.”

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With that, he reached out and made a grasping motion in the void. A Buddha scripture shining with golden light fell into his palm. The three large characters “Meridian-Connecting Method” on the cover gleamed brilliantly, its appearance extremely fine.

“On the contrary, I intend to pass all that ‘Daokong’ has learned to the benefactor.” The true spirit looked at Bai Xiang with a solemn expression. “I wonder if the benefactor is willing to take on this karma?”

Bai Xiang studied the Meridian-Connecting Method for a moment, then turned back and met the true spirit’s eyes. “What do you mean by karma?”

“Passing on the method is the cause. Practicing it is the effect,” the true spirit answered at once. “‘Daokong’ is someone who should have died long ago. He should no longer meddle in the turmoil of the world. By passing the method to the benefactor, he entrusts his heart’s wish to you. That wish is the effect.”

“You want me to walk the path to immortality in your place?”

“Amitabha, no.”

“Then you want me to kill the great demons in court for you, to avenge your former self?”

“Amitabha, no.”

“What do you want, then?”

“To kill or to show mercy, it is entirely up to the benefactor’s one thought,” the true spirit said, gaze very earnest. “Once you accept this karma, the seed will have been planted. On the road ahead ‘Daokong’ will not interfere. The benefactor may choose as you will.”

What a neat bit of karma dressed up in “Zen”.

Her wariness deep inside did not show on Bai Xiang’s face. She only put on an expression of sudden understanding. “If that’s the case, then please hand me the treasured scripture, Master.”

“That is simple.” The true spirit’s smile suddenly brightened. He moved closer to Bai Xiang, but instead of directly handing her the scripture, he clenched it into a ball of golden light and made as if to press it toward the space between her brows.

“Transmission by imprinting on the heart. Benefactor, remember not to resist.”

His movements were very cautious. Even with his tone and expression perfectly in place, he still watched Bai Xiang’s face and moved very slowly, not hastily closing the distance.

“Then I’ll trouble Master.” Bai Xiang gave him a look, suddenly smiled, and stood where she was, closing her eyes.

Her action actually stunned the true spirit.

He hesitated for a moment, then perhaps afraid Bai Xiang would change her mind, he quickly pushed the ball of light forward, sending it straight into the space between her brows.

Bai Xiang immediately felt the change. It was similar to the soul-communication she had done with the great meteorite. She felt passages of scripture flow into her inner body-scape, turning into one golden character after another that formed pages of scripture on their own. Every character’s meaning was clear to her.

The goods were real.

After only a few seconds of contemplation, she knew this Meridian-Connecting Method was not something the true spirit had thrown out just to fob her off.

The Meridian-Connecting Method clearly recorded a hidden meridian and a hidden orifice: the “Heavenly Pillar Meridian” that ran along the great dragon of the spine, and the “Hidden Heart Orifice” that strengthened the liver’s blood-making function.

Beyond that, the Meridian-Connecting Method emphasized how many hidden meridians and hidden orifices the human body contained. The principle did in fact come from the many powers behind the Illusory Realms. It was something they had realized through the Void Tribulation.

The main world was solid, the Void Tribulation empty. The substance of the main world was like the surface meridians and orifices. Only by imitating the empty tribulation and cutting it open, peeking at the truth of the void, could one dig out the life-truth hidden within.

This method was the most detailed and meticulous of all the Nine Tribulation methods Bai Xiang had obtained so far. It not only had Daokong’s own explanations, but also included original annotations he had copied from what were clearly reference methods.

According to its description, the hidden meridians and orifices in the human body were called “void meridians” and “void orifices”. The excavation and cultivation of these meridians and orifices had been mastered by many great clans since ancient times. Many methods required that one first excavate the corresponding void meridian and void orifice in order to even get started. In Illusory Realm forces, this was considered extremely advanced body-tempering.

If this was true, then the number of meridians and orifices that needed excavating was no small thing.

There were twelve surface channels in the human body, and as many as three hundred and sixty-five surface acupoints. If every channel and acupoint corresponded to a void meridian and void orifice, then trying to temper the entire body would be an almost impossible task.

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Daokong himself had written in the annotations that most alien methods only opened three, four, or five of these orifices. That already counted as a top-grade method. Methods that opened more than ten had never even been heard of. At least none of the envoys he had slain had known such secrets.

And he had only derived the “Heavenly Pillar Meridian” and “Hidden Heart Orifice” after exhausting research and repeated interrogations and verifications of those envoys.

The other orifices he had been unable to find no matter what, and there was no record of them in the Meridian-Connecting Method.

If so, Daokong’s strength was likely beyond the common understanding of a Sword Lord’s realm.

Chu Weiping had inherited the Taishang Slaying-Emotions Life-Preserving Scripture, stumbled his way through picking the great medicine, and did not even know which orifices he had opened. That was how he became the most unusual “Qingping Sword Lord” among all the Daos.

Daokong the monk, by the time he wrote the Meridian-Connecting Method, already knew of one void meridian and one void orifice. The great medicine he could pick from the human body and the life potential he could tap were at least several times Chu Weiping’s. His strength naturally would far surpass Chu Weiping’s.

Those strong men who rose by Sword Dao alone really were like ants in front of a Sword Lord on this kind of path. No wonder he could suppress an era with a single sword.

All these thoughts and currents formed in an extremely short span of time. It looked like she had considered a great many things, but in reality only a few seconds had passed.

Over those few seconds, Daokong’s true spirit stared fixedly at Bai Xiang, not even missing the tremor of her eyelashes. His expression was extremely tense, faintly tinged with expectation and excitement.

The fact that she had been able to shatter the erosion of his other split souls meant her soul was extraordinarily powerful, far beyond the usual so-called “Innate soul brimming full”.

Even in legend, such a perfect vessel had never been heard of. To have Heaven’s favor and encounter one today—how could he possibly remain unmoved?

He simply could not act rashly.

If she had broken free once, she could break free a second time. He knew nothing of her true depths. That was precisely why the true spirit had first passed the Meridian-Connecting Method to Bai Xiang—to distract her, to keep her soul power from fully concentrating.

The more profound the Meridian-Connecting Method, the more thought and spirit it would take to understand.

Only then would he have a chance to “take one more step” and escape this world.

So Daokong’s true spirit waited a few seconds like that. Seeing Bai Xiang stand there motionless, he could hardly suppress his desire.

What he had given her was real. Judging by her state, she should already be engrossed, with most of her mind sunk into it.

And she had refined his sword embryos besides. This really was a Heaven-sent opportunity.

If he missed this chance, who knew how long it would be until he found a better vessel.

No more waiting.

Do it.

Hardening his heart and gritting his teeth, the true spirit turned into a streak of golden light and, just like the earlier light sphere, shot into the space between Bai Xiang’s brows.

But just as he slipped in, Bai Xiang snapped her eyes open.

Two dazzling golden beams lit up in the tree-hollow space, far brighter and more blinding than the golden light Daokong’s true spirit had turned into.

At the same time, before the ever-rotating Core on the path of qi in Bai Xiang’s inner body-scape, the tiny golden monk condensed from concentrated light narrowed his eyes sharply. He was stunned to see, on the road ahead, a tiny Bai Xiang appear, holding a sword reversed in her hand as she bowed to him.

“Master, you’ve worked hard.”

“Just in time. I happen to have some questions about the annotations to this treasured scripture.”

“I’ll have to trouble Master to give of yourself and help me.”

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The true spirit’s face twitched, and he forced a smile. “The benefactor jests. It is this poor monk’s wish to clear the benefactor’s doubts. Why force the poor monk so…”

Before he could finish, his figure blew apart, shredded by a razor-sharp sword-Qi.

Countless golden lights scattered through the inner body-scape. One thread in particular was unusually bright, its “head” barely carved into the true spirit’s face. It fled frantically around the inner space, a look of venom twisting its features.

He had walked right into her trap.

But how had she done it?

It was one thing for her to be wary of him. How could she still draw on soul power of this level to guard against him while simultaneously comprehending the Meridian-Connecting Method?

What kind of “soul brimming full” was this supposed to be?

What kind of monster have I run into?

Run.

Get out first. Then he could rely on the Demon Kingdom’s resources to tangle with her.

Could he get away…

Cold-eyed, Bai Xiang watched that streak of darting golden light. With a thought, her inner body-scape compressed, forming a prison of twisted void that trapped it inside.

With another thought, the Core on the path of qi naturally sent out countless strands of sword-Qi. One strand after another chased down the scattered golden lights, shredding them in an instant and turning them into the purest mental force to replenish Bai Xiang.

With a gesture, the small Bai Xiang called over the chunk of void that held the largest piece of golden light, shrinking it bit by bit into her hand.

“Spare me, High Immortal!”

Daokong’s face surfaced in the golden light, full of misery as he begged for mercy.

“This little monk only wanted to help the High Immortal comprehend the method. This little monk swears—ah!!!!”

His scream was cut off as the tiny Bai Xiang clenched her fist and crushed him.

All the golden light in her palm was absorbed completely. In an instant, a flood of jumbled memories and information poured in along with a surge of extremely pure mental force.

Years of experience…

His insights into the Meridian-Connecting Method…

His methods of sealing and refining the Ranyan Demon Kingdom and turning it into nourishment…

The little figure stood in the inner body-scape, silent for a long time. As time passed, her body gradually faded and vanished.

Correspondingly, the golden light in Bai Xiang’s eyes in the outer world dimmed.

Her face no longer looked so solemn and Buddha-like. She had come back from her state of contemplation.

Suddenly, she looked toward the tree-hollow’s entrance ahead.

Someone stepped through—a gloomy monk with a ring of burned-in scars on the top of his head.