Chapter 6: Cultivating Both Dao and Demon Arts
The cold energy surging upwards felt like it was tugging at all the nerves in his head, making Shi Hao feel like his skull was about to explode.
The hot energy flowing downwards created a completely different sensation, as if he was being split in two from his chest, a pain akin to being cut in half at the waist.
Every cell in his upper body felt frozen, while his lower body burned inside and out.
This duality of ice and fire made him feel like he was in hell, every moment an agonizing torment.
He knew this was a life-or-death situation, so he gritted his teeth, not daring to move a muscle.
He didn’t even let out a single groan.
The two energies, converging in his upper and lower dantians, reached their peak and then, like an exploding universe, surged through his meridians, washing over his insides.
He felt like molten lava in a high-pressure furnace, past its critical point, only held back from exploding by their forceful suppression.
This made the pain, the feeling that death would be a welcome relief, even more terrifying and agonizing.
He didn’t know how long this torment lasted; it felt like an eternity.
Finally, the Enchanting Fire Witch’s laughter reached his ears, “Not bad, you’re quite resilient.”
The Holy Jade Immortal’s voice also softened, “Just hold on a little longer, it’s almost over.”
Shi Hao began to feel the excruciating pain gradually subside.
He could sense two spheres of energy, one at the center of his forehead and the other in his lower dantian, rotating continuously but no longer causing him discomfort.
Two mysterious auras guided them, circulating through his meridians.
The Holy Jade Immortal’s voice came again, “Memorize the path and sequence of their flow, and cultivate on your own later.”
Shi Hao silently committed the flow of energy within his body to memory.
Shi Hao sat cross-legged beneath the seemingly sky-piercing stone pillar, his body emitting both scorching heat and chilling cold.
To his side, the Enchanting Fire Witch still had her legs crossed, her crimson skirt swaying with her swinging foot.
The Holy Jade Immortal stood quietly beneath a collapsed eave, where the remnants of a fire-eating beast could still be seen.
Both women stared at Shi Hao, their gazes filled with surprise.
The Enchanting Fire Witch laughed, “I didn’t expect him to actually circulate both the Mysterious Charm Technique and the Immortal Ice Technique simultaneously, unifying Dao and demon arts, achieving something no one has ever done before. Although we each gave him a portion of our foundational essence, his talent is still quite remarkable.”
The Holy Jade Immortal pondered for a moment and nodded… In truth, they had been grasping at straws, and deep down, she hadn’t believed it would work.
After a long while, the young man beneath the towering stone pillar suddenly let out a long howl and leaped into the air, soaring three zhang high. Even he was startled by his own jump. He had inadvertently reached such a height that he was about to fall back down.
The Holy Jade Immortal quickly said, “Focus your energy on your Shenting and Fengchi acupoints, release your true energy outwards, empty yourself, and control your energy with your mind.”
Shi Hao’s energy followed his thoughts, and a cold aura enveloped him. With the help of this icy wind, he slowly floated back down. When he landed, the cold air spread across the ground, forming a thin layer of ice particles.
He asked in astonishment, “What is this…”
The Enchanting Fire Witch, switching the leg she had crossed, kicked her skirt and laughed, “Don’t be so surprised. You received a small portion of our power, although it’s just a tiny fraction, in terms of foundation, you’ve already surpassed most eighth-rank martial artists.
“You could say you’re quite lucky. Normally, we would at most help you establish a basic foundation, assisting you in entering the ninth rank. The rest would be up to you to cultivate and breakthrough. But now, you’ve luckily skipped the ninth rank and reached the eighth rank directly. And because you’re cultivating two normally incompatible techniques simultaneously, your power surpasses that of ordinary eighth-rank martial artists. You’re truly fortunate.
“Of course, if you were unlucky, you’d be a pile of exploded flesh and blood before us right now.”
The Holy Jade Immortal said softly, “You currently only possess the power, not the corresponding martial arts techniques. We will each teach you a set of techniques that complement the Immortal Ice Technique and the Mysterious Charm Technique before sending you out.”
Shi Hao asked in surprise, “We can leave? Then why are you still here?”
Su Mei glanced at the Holy Jade Immortal, snorted, and said, “Working together, we can naturally send you out, but we can’t leave ourselves for the time being.”
Ye Zi Yin said impassively, “You were able to enter this place because we temporarily opened a spatial rift, inadvertently letting you in. Unfortunately, only one person can pass through this rift.
“We need to combine our powers to open the passage. If one of us leaves first, the other will be trapped here.”
And neither of you is willing to let the other leave while staying behind? Shi Hao thought to himself.
Su Mei smiled, “That’s one reason. The other reason is that we haven’t been able to unravel the secrets of ‘Primordial,’ so we’re not willing to leave just yet.”
Shi Hao asked, “Primordial? What’s that?”
Su Mei said, “This place is called the Primordial Grotto Heaven. Legend says it’s the ‘first Divine Ruin’ of all time, existing outside the three realms and beyond the five elements. We suspect that if we can unlock its secrets, we’ll be able to understand the origins of all the Divine Ruins and the divine crystals they contain.”
She sighed deeply, “Back then, I used the secrets of the Primordial Grotto Heaven as bait to lure the Daoist sects into a trap. But at that time, I thought this Primordial Grotto Heaven was fake. I made it look real, but it was just a trap.
“That woman over there, she also knew this ‘Primordial Grotto Heaven’ was fake. She was simply playing along. But neither of us expected… that it was actually real.”
Ye Zi Yin’s expression remained unchanged, but her tone was laced with regret, “The conflict between Daoists and Demons isn’t a recent development. In the beginning, we were just trying to outsmart each other, to severely weaken the other side. However, after discovering that this Primordial Grotto Heaven was actually real, the situation spiraled out of control. Countless people from both sides died, and in the end, after a fierce battle, we were trapped here.
“Thinking back now, the catastrophe that led to the Central Plains falling to the barbarians could have been avoided… Alas!”
Su Mei winked at Shi Hao and giggled, “But things are different now. Whether it’s an accident or punishment for the catastrophe we caused in the Central Plains martial world, you are now our man, our husband in all but name, and you’ve learned our techniques.
“We need you to do something for us after you leave. It might unravel the secrets of this Primordial Grotto Heaven and release us.”
Shi Hao asked, “What is it?”
Su Mei shook her head, “It’s too early to tell you now. Wait until you reach at least the fourth rank cultivation level.”
She glanced at Ye Zi Yin and giggled, “Now, who will teach him first, you or me? Oh, and should we decide who’s the senior wife? Hee hee!”
As a demonic witch, although she had been forced to lose her virginity, since it couldn’t be undone, she decided to use it to provoke the always-noble Holy Jade Immortal of the Taisu Immortal Pavilion.
Ye Zi Yin, aware of her intentions, refused to be easily provoked. Maintaining a calm demeanor, she said indifferently, “You’re younger than me, so even if we were to choose, you would be the junior wife.”
Su Mei pouted, “Oh my, little sister Zi Yin, such matters aren’t determined by age, but by who came first. Although it was a chaotic mess back then, if I remember correctly, at that time…”
A triumphant smile spread across her pretty face, “It was clearly me first!”
Ye Zi Yin clenched her fists…
Shi Hao followed behind Ye Zi Yin, keeping his eyes on her back.
Her figure was tall and slender, her posture graceful, her movements light and ethereal, radiating an otherworldly beauty, as if she could ascend to the heavens at any moment.
They arrived at a secluded spot with a waterfall cascading from an unseen void, forming a lake amidst the ruins and broken pillars.
Clearly, this was where the Holy Jade Immortal had bathed earlier.
Ye Zi Yin turned to face him, her expression serene, her gaze icy, her demeanor immortal-like and noble beyond words.
Shi Hao didn’t dare to show any disrespect because of their previous encounter. He stepped forward, cupped his hands, and bowed in a gesture of discipleship, “Immortal!”
Ye Zi Yin said softly, “Although I have established the foundation of the Immortal Ice Technique within you, Daoist cultivation is different from unorthodox paths. The scriptures are complex, the rules numerous, and every step is arduous. Initially, the difference between it and other martial arts sects might not be significant, but the longer you cultivate, the stronger your foundation becomes. Even achieving the effects of preserving youth and prolonging life is not uncommon.”
“Generally, orthodox Daoist cultivation focuses on both internal and external refinement. External elixirs are divided into nine ranks, from highest to lowest: Natural Dragon Embryo Elixir, Jade Embryo Nectar Paste, Purple Radiance Essence Pill, Vermilion Light Azure Cloud Pill, Red Radiance Divine Pill, Grand Clarity Golden Elixir, Nine Transformations Frost and Snow Pill, Nine Cauldrons Cloud Essence Pill, and Cloud Light Stone Flow Elixir.”
“Because I have directly instilled the foundation within you, you no longer need to refine the ninth-rank Cloud Light Stone Flow Elixir or the eighth-rank Nine Cauldrons Cloud Essence Pill. Next, you need to continue cultivating the Immortal Ice Technique to its peak, until you condense energy and form an elixir within your body.”
“I will also write down the ingredients and refining method for the seventh-rank Nine Transformations Frost and Snow Pill for you in advance. After you leave, while cultivating your internal elixir, remember to gather these ingredients beforehand. The ‘Nine Ranks Immortal Formula’ is essential for Daoist cultivation, but different sects, combined with different internal elixir cultivation methods, have their own variations of the formula.
“If it were before, if I were outside, such immortal branches, spiritual leaves, profound roots, and wondrous materials could be easily delivered to you. But now, times have changed. You’ll have to gather the ingredients for this seventh-rank Immortal Formula yourself.”
Shi Hao said, “Thank you, Immortal! I understand.”
With the Chongxian Sect controlling the Daoist school with the support of the barbarian court, finding the ingredients for the Daoist Immortal Formula would indeed be troublesome.
But the Holy Jade Immortal, trapped here, couldn’t help him.
As for him, having accidentally become intimate with her and directly skipping the ninth rank to enter the eighth rank, he couldn’t ask for more.
Ye Zi Yin said, “I will also teach you a sword technique called the Six Immortal Lightning Strikes, which can be used in conjunction with the Immortal Ice Technique. Practice the first three strikes with me here, and you can cultivate the remaining three on your own after you leave.”
Thereupon, Ye Zi Yin began to teach him the Daoist scriptures, the art of internal and external elixir cultivation. After he memorized everything, she carved a stone sword and guided him step by step through the first three strikes of the Six Immortal Lightning Strikes: “Ice Crystal Phantom Sword,” “Mysterious Firefly Flying Sword,” and “Ephemeral Sword Radiance.”
After he mastered these three strikes, she taught him the oral formulas and energy channeling methods for the remaining three strikes, along with a brief explanation.
Shi Hao passed through a tilted archway. When he saw the Enchanting Fire Witch Su Mei again, she was sitting on a jade armchair.
The armchair was exquisitely crafted, but one of its legs was broken and had been replaced with a stone.
She wore a light red robe, revealing her jade-like arms and delicate collarbone.
Her skin was clear and radiant, her demeanor relaxed, with water droplets still clinging to her.
Behind her was a ruined palace, with mist emanating from within, its contents unknown.
She reclined languidly in the comfortable jade chair, her hands clasped beneath her breasts, and smiled, “What did your little wife teach you?”
She seemed to relish the idea of being the “senior wife” and the Holy Jade Immortal the “junior wife.”
This made her feel like she had undoubtedly one-upped the Holy Jade Immortal.
Shi Hao answered honestly, “The Six Immortal Lightning Strikes.”
Su Mei chuckled, “It seems she didn’t hold back, teaching you the secret sword technique of the Taisu Immortal Pavilion right away. She must have also explained the Daoist Nine Ranks Immortal Formula and internal elixir cultivation, right?
“Daoist cultivation is extremely troublesome, and their scriptures are incredibly complex and difficult to understand. It requires immense comprehension and is a profound martial art. Our demonic cultivation, on the other hand, is much simpler, requiring only ‘rituals.’”
Shi Hao asked, puzzled, “Rituals?”
Su Mei said, “That’s right, rituals! Do you know about the Demonic Realm?”
Shi Hao shook his head, “I’ve heard the term, but I don’t know much about it.”
Su Mei, reclining in the jade chair, spread her hands, “The Demonic Realm lies beyond the three realms and the five elements. It’s filled with countless Yin Demons, neither living nor dead, an extremely bizarre existence.
“It’s where the world’s negative karma gathers, the destination of the souls of countless cultivators who have succumbed to demonic influence throughout history.
“Since ancient times, countless demonized cultivators, upon death, have had their souls dragged into the Demonic Realm. There, their souls are torn to shreds, then constantly reassembled and reformed, transforming into endless Yin Demons. Of course, some are exceptionally powerful and become Demon Kings within the Demonic Realm.
“The Demonic Realm also contains vast and mysterious powers. Mortals cannot enter the Demonic Realm, but they can obtain these powers through specific rituals. These are the rituals of the demonic sects, simple and direct… and extremely dangerous!”
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