Chapter 31: Attaining True Immortal Status, The Deer Demon Gives Birth

The gentle sunlight filtered through the gaps in the ancient tree canopy, casting mottled halos of light that dispelled the darkness.

Xuanyang sat before a cliff face, his burly frame blocking the entrance to the cave behind him like a mountain. His expression was solemn; he dared not show the slightest negligence.

Lush vines climbed the rock wall, vibrant and verdant. Inside the secluded natural cavern, the white-haired old Taoist sat cross-legged, his expression focused. He circulated his inner energy, continuously compressing his mana until it gradually condensed into a vortex.

The vortex grew larger and spun faster, like a long-accumulated tornado. Under Xuanming's guidance, it finally erupted, soaring toward the heavens in the magnificent spectacle of a dragon drawing water.

As the energy surged, the atmosphere trembled and roared. With a majestic and overwhelming force, his entire lower dantian shuddered violently.

The vortex, like a dragon, departed the Guanyuan point, coursing along the Ren and Du meridians. With every revolution, it gathered a layer of Yin and Yang energy. After nine cycles, the mana-dragon returned to the lower dantian.

With the nine-times-nine return to unity, the Yin and Yang energies reverted to their source, synthesizing into Hunyuan qi. The mana-dragon expanded several times over, its power greatly enhanced. With a single, purposeful thrust, it surged toward the middle dantian at the Shanzhong point.

His five internal organs roared, emitting Five-Element lightning, which then stirred with the six viscera to generate Yin-Yang lightning.

The Five Elements merged with Yin and Yang, and Yin and Yang encompassed the Five Elements.

Together, they formed a Great Lightning.

Bolt after bolt of lightning struck the mana-dragon, unceasing and relentless, wearing down the vortex layer by layer like towering mountains obstructing a flood, determined to block its path and leave it nowhere to turn.

At this critical juncture, Xuanming remained calm and composed. With a shift of his will, eight phantom deities manifested within his body.

He had long since mastered the "Eight Truths of the Outer Landscape." After reading the "Jade Scripture of the Yellow Court's Outer Landscape" for the second time, he had gained profound insights from the way the Eight Deities aligned with the Bagua to define the poles of heaven and earth. Through subsequent cultivation, he had brought the Eight Truths technique to completion, allowing him to wield it with great power at will.

The Eight Truths moved in unison, forming a Bagua diagram that descended upon the mana-dragon like a suit of impenetrable armor, shielding it from the thunder.

The thunder fell like rain, while the Bagua stood firm like a mountain—one was unstoppable, the other indestructible.

The Five Elements and Yin and Yang evolved, and the winds and thunder of heaven and earth shimmered in unison. As the forces shifted, water, fire, mountains, and marshes transformed. The two sides were evenly matched, clashing within his body and manifesting various mystical Taoist phenomena. Each time he withstood a bolt of lightning, the underlying principles were etched into his flesh and bones, becoming part of his foundation.

———

Meanwhile, thousands of desires flooded his mind. Xuanming fell into an illusion, unable to distinguish truth from falsehood.

In a magnificent palace, he became a supreme emperor, wielding the power of the world, sleeping on the laps of beauties, his every whim deciding the fate of all.

Within towering, majestic immortal mountains, he became an immortal riding the clouds, roaming the Northern Sea at dawn and the Cangwu mountains at dusk, carefree and unbound, existing outside the Three Realms and the Five Elements.

In a heavenly palace filled with radiant light, he became an immortal god, eternal as heaven and earth, enduring as the sun and moon, worshipped by all deities, looking down upon the common masses.

The scene shifted again. He returned to the modern world, owning hundreds of skyscrapers, thousands of houses, and billions in capital. He was a talent valued by the state, a guest of honor pursued by wealthy merchants—born at the pinnacle.

Wine, lust, wealth, and pride—they came one after another. Wealth, power, fame, and profit—they flowed without end.

Yet, amidst it all, Xuanming’s mind remained clear. He walked through the garden, but not a single petal touched his robes.

A sword of wisdom was born in the mysterious gate, and with a strike, it severed all delusional thoughts.

The imperial palace collapsed, and the emperor was crushed. The immortal mountains withered, and the immortal god descended into the abyss. The heavenly palace shattered, and the god was extinguished. The world ended, and the tycoon became a beggar.

One desire after another sprouted and was extinguished.

Throughout this process, Xuanming’s resolve to seek the Tao grew firmer, and his heart grew clearer, carrying the air of "washing away the leaden mask to reveal the gold, shedding the vanity to return to one's true essence."

———

Time flowed silently like water.

Three hours later, the setting sun fell, and the moon rose.

As heaven and earth achieved harmony, the sun and moon dispelled the gloom. The Taiyin and Taiyang descended, bestowing their creation, circling Xuanming to form a Yin-Yang pattern. The sun gave off a golden glow, and the Taiyin bloomed with silver light.

Gold and silver intertwined, generating and restraining one another.

Sitting in the center, Xuanming’s hair and beard flew, his Taoist robes billowing; he looked like a holy being holding the sun and moon and plucking the stars.

At the same time, his body trembled slightly, and a roar erupted from within, echoing throughout the cave.

Having endured the trial and tempering of the thunder, the mana-dragon completed its final leap. Carrying a vast amount of mana, it burst open the gates of the middle dantian in one fell swoop. Like parched earth receiving sweet rain, the middle dantian roared to life, filled with vitality, infinite hope, and boundless potential.

It awaited only for its master to cultivate and manage it so that it might gradually transform into a fertile land.

Mana flowed in from the lower dantian and out from the middle, surging into other meridians; the belt meridian was opened, and the thoroughfare meridian was pierced.

Xuanming’s aura surged violently. At this critical moment of breaking through, a mountain breeze suddenly arose, and a vast amount of spiritual energy from heaven and earth poured into the cave.

For a hundred miles, clouds gathered and winds howled; grass and trees grew wildly.

Xuanyang stood straight, a small bronze tripod appearing in his left palm, his right hand gripping his sword. He watched in all directions, listening to every sound, not daring to be the least bit negligent. He was fully devoted to guarding his master, swearing that no living thing would disturb his senior brother’s breakthrough.

A rustling sound emerged, and the bushes shook incessantly. Xuanyang turned solemn, his gaze like lightning.

A roe deer burst out first, its fur stained with blood, covered in wounds, its breathing unsteady and its eyes filled with panic.

It was a doe. A pregnant doe.

Immediately after, a gray wolf lunged out.

It was as large as an ox, baring its fangs and snarling, its face hideous. Its teeth were stained with blood, though there were no wounds on its own body, clearly showing the blood was from the doe it had been hunting.

Xuanyang did not hesitate; he struck first.

Both were demons. Although they had not yet taken human form and their demonic power was weak, he dared not take any risks when his senior brother’s breakthrough was at stake, lest a single moment of carelessness ruin everything.

He swung his sword with his right hand and tossed the tripod with his left.

The tripod grew in the wind, flipping over to trap the doe.

The sword struck down ruthlessly, severing the gray wolf’s head.

Blood splattered, wetting the vegetation, as the wolf fell into a pool of blood, its body and head parted.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

Several more demonic beasts were drawn to the scene.

Xuanyang swung his sword, fighting with all his might. The sword light flashed, trees snapped, and the beasts met their end.

Xuanyang was filled with killing intent; from common beasts to half-transformed demons, any who dared to intrude were left bleeding on the spot.

After slaying the third mountain demon of the fourth realm of essence-refining, no more demons approached for the moment. He turned toward the great tripod.

He reached out to recall his artifact, and just as he raised his sword to slay the doe, his movements suddenly froze, his expression blank.

The doe was giving birth. Her movements were labored, and her wet eyes looked toward Xuanyang, filled with pleading.

The bleating of the deer rang out—full of pain, sorrow, supplication, and despair.

———

The hand holding the sword trembled.

Moved by the doe’s plea, he could not bear to strike.

Even fierce tigers do not devour their cubs, and leopards protect their young with all their might. In all the world, there is no love greater than that of a parent.

This maternal instinct had long since transcended the boundaries of species; this deep, true, and sincere love for one's offspring was undeniable.

Just as he hesitated, two more demons were drawn to the area. Xuanyang breathed a sigh of relief, waved his hand to summon the tripod, which expanded instantly to cover the doe once more.

"I am not pitying them," Xuanyang muttered, trying to sound tough while his heart remained soft. "I am merely preventing accidents so they do not disturb my senior brother’s breakthrough."

He looked up at the two approaching demons and cursed. Just as he was about to raise his sword to kill them, a vast pressure erupted from the center of the cave. The two demons of the fourth realm of essence-refining were terrified; before they could flee, they were crushed into a bloody mist.

The powerful aura swept through the mountain forest, causing the trees to sway and bow toward the cave. The crowd of demons that had rushed over, thinking a treasure had been born, turned pale with fright and quickly retreated.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

The sounds of explosions were incessant.

A rain of blood fell, dyeing the earth red. The demons closer by exploded, and those slower to flee perished. Seeing this, the beasts fled, birds scattered, and the other demons scrambled away, terrified of following the same fate and seeing their lives snuffed out.

The pressure came as quickly as it went.

The vines parted automatically, and the white-haired old Taoist slowly walked out of the cave. His back was straight, he walked with his head held high, a long sword on his back and a horsetail whisk in his hand. He had the hair of a crane and the face of a child, and his long beard was like smooth satin.

Even dressed in plain gray cloth robes and simple, unadorned cloth shoes, he could not hide his ethereal and transcendent aura. His wide sleeves fluttered, moving even in the absence of wind.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother, on becoming a True Person."

"From now on, your cultivation will advance greatly, your mana will surge, and your lifespan will extend, allowing you to enjoy two hundred years of spring and autumn."

Xuanyang was thrilled and bowed in salute. A wide, exaggerated arc spread across his honest face, his white teeth reflecting the moonlight.

From this day forward, the Qiuzhen Temple had a True Person!

When he returned, he would offer incense to the ancestors of the past, thanking them for their protection, and perhaps offer a prayer for himself as well.

"Thank you, Junior Brother, for guarding me. I could not have broken through so smoothly without your help."

Xuanyang’s heart bloomed with joy. His smile became even brighter and more exaggerated.

The painful bleating of the deer rang out. Xuanyang remembered and immediately retracted the tripod.

The doe had been attacked by the wolf demon and was severely wounded; due to excessive blood loss and damage to her essence, she was struggling in labor. She lacked the strength to continue; in other words, she was in a difficult labor, and it was highly likely that both mother and child would perish.

Although Xuanming had been in seclusion, he had not been entirely unaware of the outside world, keeping a sliver of his consciousness alert to prevent accidents.

When traveling, caution is the priority.

Thus, he was not surprised by the arrival of the doe.

Watching the doe, he pinched his fingers to divine.

This was a divination technique of the Qiuzhen Temple, not particularly high-level. Xuanming had not used it before because his cultivation was low, and the threshold for entering this path was high—mastering it was even more difficult.

Now that he had achieved the status of a True Person, the moment he broke through, his understanding of all things in heaven and earth had deepened, and his comprehension of past principles had become more thorough. New insights had emerged, and with the accumulation of his efforts, he had naturally entered the gate of divination.

Divining those of his own level might be difficult, but divining a deer demon with shallow cultivation was effortless.

"So that is how it is."

"Heaven and earth are impartial, yet they leave a glimmer of hope."

"You are severely wounded and nearing death, yet you overcame your fear and disregarded the danger. Driven by the instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm, you dragged your wounded body here, seeking a chance for your unborn offspring. A mother’s strength—this situation is truly piteous."

"I will lend you a hand. As for whether you can seize the opportunity to give birth, that will depend on your own will."

Xuanming waved his horsetail whisk, and a stream of mana flowed into the doe. The animal felt as if she had consumed a potent medicine, and in an instant, she found new strength. She looked at Xuanming with gratitude, and bearing the excruciating pain, she focused on her labor.

"Junior Brother, although we are at the border of the two mountains and have not gone deep into the Canglong Mountain, my breakthrough caused quite a commotion. Just now, to intimidate the demons, I stained the forest with blood. It is inevitable that this will draw the attention of powerful demons."

"Go and collect some useful materials. Once the deer gives birth, you and I shall depart."

Xuanyang, who followed Xuanming’s lead in all things, immediately set off to gather the materials.