The First Demon of the Chan Sect
Chapter 343 - 31 Sudden Change in the Situation

Chapter 343: Chapter 31 Sudden Change in the Situation

Fu Xi Calendar Year 122, Human Clan Chen Capital, Human Emperor’s Holy Palace.

This holy land of the Human Clan, through years of meticulous crafting and polishing, has already become vastly different from the time when Fu Xi ascended as the Human Emperor.

The Holy Hall is made of golden glazed tiles that are crystal clear, shimmering and dazzling, both real and illusive. The jade steps on the ground flow with radiant colors, not a trace of yin energy present; all objects were finely and exquisitely carved.

Fu Xi, wearing a robe of Yin Yang Eight Diagrams adorned with traces of grey, sat in the center of the Eight Diagrams Heavenly Plate in the side hall.

Inside the side hall, there was only one huge Eight Diagrams Heavenly Plate, its shiny walls branded with countless golden runes. Sitting atop the Taiji Eight Trigrams Sky Plate and looking upwards, one could clearly see the myriad of stars through the open-air roof as endless moonlight cascaded down like a clear spring, with subtle strands of the Cycle of Stars piercing through one’s heart and spleen.

The whole Eight Diagrams Heavenly Plate appeared as though it was directly embedded into the ground, with the clear divisions of the symbols of Qian, Dui, Li, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Gen, Kun, and other trigrams branded around the plate. The black and white Yin Yang Fish spun wildly, causing Fu Xi’s figure to continually rotate as well. Eventually, only a phantom of blending Yin and Yang colors remained.

After a long while, the Eight Diagrams Heavenly Plate stopped spinning. Fu Xi stood up from the plate with a solemn expression and said: "Luo He, come in!"

"Yes, Master!" Following a clear and bright voice, a young Daoist walked in from outside the main hall. He was about eight feet tall and wore a moon-white robe with a sparkling jade crown, adding a touch of ethereal transcendence to his handsome and spirited face.

Looking at the disciple he had accepted twenty years ago, Fu Xi felt a surge of emotions.

"Master, may I ask why you have summoned your disciple?" Luo He respectfully saluted Fu Xi and said.

"In recent days, your master has been observing the stars at night. I’ve noticed that several stars in the Western Extreme Firmament have become dim and lackluster, covered in tainted energy! Do you know of anything that has happened recently in West Niu Hezhou?" Fu Xi pinched the center of his eyebrows and spoke.

Luo He bowed his head and pondered for a moment, then replied: "Master, West Niu Hezhou is close to the lands of the Buddhist Sect. Could it be that the Buddhist Disciples are stirring the wind and rain again, deluding people’s hearts?"

As both a Demon and a Human in his past lives, Fu Xi had always harbored deep caution towards the Western Buddha Sect. Although the Western Buddha Sect had previously made great efforts to show goodwill toward Fu Xi, Zhunti’s actions in the last lifetime had completely antagonized him. It would be a long and difficult journey before he could view the Buddha Sect differently.

"Here is what we’ll do: you and your senior brother Ling Chen will go to West Niu Hezhou together, and you must thoroughly investigate all that has happened there recently, then come back and report to me! This matter is of great importance, remember not to draw attention to it!" Fu Xi remarked with some gravity as he looked towards the chaotic stars at the western border of the sky.

"Your disciple shall heed Master’s command!" Luo He took the order and went to find Ling Chen to head to West Niu Hezhou.

...

"Luo He, you rascal! You definitely had to drag me into this, disrupting my peaceful dreams. How will you compensate me?" High above West Niu Hezhou, a young-looking Daoist stomped his feet and roared at Luo He.

With a helpless wry smile, Luo He said: "Senior brother Ling Chen, you’re not unaware of Master’s temperament! If you have the guts, go back now!"

The young man paused, letting out a disheartened sigh, saying: "Alas, why is my life so full of hardship!"

"Boom!"

Suddenly, a deafening explosion echoed from the forest below, stretching over ten thousand miles. Following that, endless black light flickered as immeasurable Spiritual Energy was voraciously devoured.

Hearing this noise, Ling Chen’s spirit soared, and he said, "Junior brother, there must be a Spiritual Treasure appearing! Let’s go down and take a look!"

"Senior brother, Master wanted us to keep a low profile. If we rashly go treasure hunting now, wouldn’t we reveal our whereabouts?" Luo He hurriedly grabbed Ling Chen in concern.

"Go!" Ling Chen shook off Luo He’s hand and said: "What’s with all the rules! I am your senior brother, you listen to me!"

After saying this, Ling Chen leapt down from the auspicious cloud. Luo He, unable to do anything, shook his head and quickly followed after him.

The mountains below stretched on for tens of thousands of miles and due to the sudden eruption of black light, it was pitch-dark, as if one could not see their own fingers.

But for the two who had reached the realm of the Profound Immortals, even if it was as dark as ink, it was as bright as day.

"Junior brother, do you see that dense black light at the center of the mountain range? I am certain that the Spiritual Treasure has just appeared and hasn’t been claimed by anyone yet. Let’s hurry to claim the treasure, and then we can carefully investigate West Niu Hezhou. Isn’t that alright?" Ling Chen’s eyes gleamed as he stared at the space several hundred miles ahead, practically bursting with anticipation.

"Alright, senior brother, you must keep your word!" Luo He knew all too well about Ling Chen’s fickle nature. Once this moment passed, it would be forgotten.

"Swoosh!" As soon as Luo He’s words hit the ground, Ling Chen bolted like an arrow towards the dense black light at the center of the mountain range.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, another earth-shattering vibration shook the heavens, and an Ancient Scroll flew out from the black light, suspending in midair, directly covering both the Firmament and the Earth.

The Ancient Scroll, embroidered with mountains and rivers spanning thousands of miles, appeared so majestic and bizarre, as though they were real. Inside, it contained everything under Heaven and Earth, holding the power to suppress and refine all things!

"What? Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map?" Luo He exclaimed in disbelief.

Hearing this, Ling Chen did not stop but asked with confusion: "Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map? What is that? I’ve never heard of it."

Luo He, a bit helplessly, shrugged and said: "Senior brother, every time Master teaches, you’re always slacking off and napping, you never pay attention to what Master speaks of!"

"Oh?" Ling Chen laughed out loud without any embarrassment and said, "Hahaha, then tell me, what’s the deal with this Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map?"

"This Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map is a legendary Spiritual Treasure, said to be born from the Human Clan’s Qi Fortune, a supreme treasure of the Human Dao. Whoever obtains it will gain control over the territories of the Human Clan in the Huaxia Divine Land. The entire Human Clan will be under their command," Luo He blinked his dry eyes and continued, "But legends are, after all, legends, not to be taken as truth! I once asked my Master about it, and he told me that this map is actually nurtured from the long river of the Human Clan’s Qi Fortune. Obtaining it grants one’s control over one percent of the entire Human Clan’s Qi Fortune; as long as the Human Clan is immortal, the master of the Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map will not perish!"

"Damn, is it that powerful?" Ling Chen’s eyes shone green as he rubbed his palms together and said, "Then getting it would mean one’s cultivation could increase even while sleeping all day long? Not bad, not bad!"

Luo He couldn’t help but roll his eyes and sighed inwardly, "So in my senior brother’s eyes, this Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map is just a tool for sleeping!"

"Hahaha, junior brother, you must help me snatch this Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map!" Ling Chen made up his mind and laughed heartily.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, the Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map shone brilliantly, and a giant ancient dragon emerged from within, unleashing a high-pitched dragon chant that seemed to pierce through the past, present, and future.

The giant dragon swallowed the Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map whole and broke through space, attempting to flee.

"Not good, the Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers Map is trying to escape!" Luo He’s face changed, and with a wave of his hand, he threw out a flawless silk ribbon that flew straight towards the giant dragon.

Meanwhile, Ling Chen, not to be outdone, took out a Yellow Gourd and hastily drank something from it, then floated towards the dragon in the sky with a buoyant step.

Holding the Qinghong Longsword in his hand, the elusive Taiqing Energy spurred sharp streaks of Sword Qi that shot directly at the giant dragon.

"Boom!"

Suddenly, nature’s spiritual energy erupted violently, and the hundred-zhang-long dragon’s body flashed with lightning. A fierce dragon breath blasted towards the two men’s faces.

The two were startled and swiftly dodged. It was no joke—if the dragon breath hit them, even if they didn’t die, they would be badly injured.

"Hisss!"

The horrifying dragon breath, with its devastating Yin Pole Power, razed a patch of mountains to the ground, turning it into a barren wasteland shrouded in dust and smoke.

"Aooo!" The giant dragon howled to the heavens, its pitch-black scale armor shining brightly, frighteningly splendid.

"Bang!"

Luo He gathered all his True Yuan and poured it into the ribbon in his hand, tearing open the heavens with his bare hands and creating a space crack several dozen zhang long, blocking the giant dragon’s retreat.

The young Ling Chen took out an Array Diagram imbued with a rampant Killing Aura from his chest. It was the gift from Duobao of Jie Sect when Fu Xi became the Human Emperor.

The diagram contained thousands of Execution Immortal Sword Qi, and once unfolded, even a Daluo Golden Immortal entering it would perish on the spot.

"Array Diagram, go!" Ling Chen spurred the diagram with his Taiqing True Essence, casting it straight towards the giant dragon in mid-air.

The palm-sized diagram swelled upon exposure to the wind, quickly expanding beyond five hundred zhang, and directly engulfing the giant dragon.

The dragon let out a reluctant roar, with nowhere to retreat, it could only watch helplessly as the diagram loomed over its head.

"Boom!"

Just then, a heavenly black light streaked from the southwest, piercing through heaven and earth, and in an instant reached below the hundred-zhang diagram. As the diagram descended, it enveloped the giant dragon inside, vanishing without a trace.

Just as the treasure was within reach, it was intercepted by a black light on its way, filling Ling Chen and Luo He with both shock and rage.

"Despicable rats, how dare you bully us like this?" Ling Chen, furious, stepped onto a longsword and shot towards the southwest like a streak of light.

"Hmph!" An icy-cold voice sounded in Ling Chen’s ear. At the same time, a huge black hand, as if covering the sky, suddenly appeared. Like a streak of light, it spread its five fingers, and five thick black pillars of light shot out, evolving into a large, mountain-sized black fan in the void, directly fanning down at Ling Chen.

"Sssh!"

Staring at the Five-Finger Mountain infused with an endless aura of destruction, Luo He, who was not far away, sucked in a breath of cold air. What tremendous power it was to manifest such might! And that power similar to the Yin Pole Power also seemed to contain some kind of vitality.

Luo He gritted his teeth and threw out the River Map given to him by Fu Xi before departing, protecting Ling Chen.

"Boom!"

Even with the protection of the River Map, Ling Chen was sent flying like a shooting star by the great hand.

Luo He, fighting back the rage in his heart, roared, "May I ask who the elder is?"

After a long silence, a distant, ethereal voice came from the southwest, "Tell Fu Xi that from henceforth, West Niu Hezhou is no longer under the Human Emperor’s jurisdiction! As for who I am? Hmph, I am the Yin Yang Saint Master, Li Qianqiu!"(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote with recommendation tickets, monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)