Chapter Thirty-Two: The Departed Are Gone, the Living Move Forward

The most astonishing thing was that Zhu Chao's voice actually came from that bizarre head; could it be that this head, like his own Bronze-armored Corpse, could merge as one? Zhang Xiao could not help but speculate. In fact, Zhang Xiao’s suspicion was correct: once the Twin Heaven-and-Earth Skulls merged, they could bend together like the Bronze-armored Corpse. Even more marvelously, unlike the Maoshan method, which required fusing with a flying Yaksha to freely wield one’s own Daoist magic, the Twin Heaven-and-Earth Skulls of the Myriad Demons Sect, after merging, could unleash the twin-skull sorcery without hindering the practitioner’s own Daoist arts.

At that moment, the strange head soared into the air. Its upper mouth spat flames, the lower unleashed icy blasts, and from the center of the brows a firm third eye opened, shooting dozens of black rays.

Zhang Xiao used his Divine Footwork, his form flickering rapidly to evade, but the head transformed by Chen Chao was like a super cannon, sweeping the entire dueling platform with fire, ice, and black rays in a wild barrage. Everywhere Zhang Xiao dodged, the ground behind him was shattered to rubble. Were it not for his Divine Footwork, he’d have been overwhelmed already.

Seated above the dueling platform, Demon Patriarch watched with glee and called out, “Ha ha, Daoist Kongxuan, the secret arts of my Myriad Demons Sect are not part of your Maoshan tradition, are they?”

Kongxuan, with his profound cultivation, could certainly see the formidable power of Zhu Chao’s secret method, but also discerned its flaws.

He chuckled, “Hehehe, when the Old Master Five Hearts founded the Myriad Demons Sect, the Five Hearts Heavenly Demon Art was indeed unmatched. Though what Zhu Chao practices isn’t the Five Hearts Heavenly Demon Art itself, it must be a simplified version.”

The Demon Patriarch noticed that Kongxuan seemed untroubled for Zhang Xiao and was instead chatting about the origin of the technique. Curious at Kongxuan’s confidence, he nonetheless replied, “Indeed, this Twin Heaven-and-Earth Demon Art is derived from the Five Hearts Heavenly Demon Art.” Kongxuan nodded, “Then I am not mistaken. I recall the Five Hearts Heavenly Demon Art contains a secret move named the Five Hearts Five Sons Heavenly Demon Secret, which can summon the Five Elemental Demons. According to the mutual generation of the five elements, their combined power is unrivaled. Yet, Zhu Chao has only displayed the Fire and Water Demons. The power is impressive, especially bolstered by his own Daoist arts, but water and fire ultimately oppose each other. With Chen Chao as the mediator, over time he will inevitably suffer injury from their clash. So the greatest flaw in this secret art is duration. For Zhu Chao’s level, I wager he can last no more than half a stick of incense. What do you think, Daoist Wan?”

A sly glint appeared in the Demon Patriarch’s eyes. He smiled, “Correct, Daoist, your insight is sharp—Zhu Chao’s cultivation can barely last half a stick of incense. But, there are always exceptions. To be frank, Zhu Chao’s physique is unique: he possesses the Body of Ice and Fire, so this Twin Demon Art not only doesn’t burden him, it greatly enhances him.”

Kongxuan arched his brow. In the arena, Zhu Chao’s power grew ever more ferocious; flame and ice blades fell from the sky like an endless storm. With a thunderous boom, dozens of stone spears erupted from the ground toward Zhu Chao, but his third eye fired black rays, shattering them instantly. The Bronze-armored Corpse’s stone spears were formidable against ordinary disciples, but against a top disciple like Zhu Chao, they were inadequate.

Yet, at the instant Zhu Chao destroyed the spears, Zhang Xiao had somehow appeared behind him. His fist, shimmering as if coated in gold, crashed down upon Zhu Chao’s transformed head.

Zhang Xiao, unable to fly, had directed the Bronze-armored Corpse to continually summon stone spears. In the moment Zhu Chao let his guard down, Zhang Xiao used his Divine Footwork to leap from spear to spear, vaulting into the air.

With a resounding crash, Zhang Xiao’s fist, encircled by Buddhist radiance, struck. The head Zhu Chao had become was swept by the light and instantly shattered. Buddhist arts naturally counter evil, and Zhang Xiao’s cultivation far surpassed Zhu Chao’s. With a single punch, Zhu Chao’s secret technique was broken, and the Buddhist aura wounded him, forcing him back to his true form.

Seeing Zhu Chao revealed, Zhang Xiao showed no mercy, bringing his palm down hard on Zhu Chao’s chest, collapsing it inward. Zhu Chao, his strength drained, plummeted from the sky.

“Brother Zhang, your strength is supreme; I concede defeat.” He struggled to his feet, looking at Zhang Xiao with a complex expression. He had always considered himself one of the Myriad Demons Sect’s top experts, but today Zhang Xiao had shattered his demonic form with a single punch, and left him unable to fight on. Clearly, he had overestimated himself.

“Heh, Brother Zhu, you flatter me.” Since Zhu Chao had admitted defeat, Zhang Xiao did not press further. He recalled the Bronze-armored Corpse and left the dueling platform with Zhu Chao. The moment they stepped down, Zhu Chao’s injuries completely healed.

Zhu Chao approached the Demon Patriarch. “Master, your disciple was outmatched and has brought you shame.” The Demon Patriarch’s heart ached for the lost demon crystal silver, and he replied without even glancing at Zhu Chao, “Go, meditate in seclusion at the rear mountain for three years.”

Zhu Chao’s face fell; clearly the rear mountain was not a good place. But since the Patriarch had spoken, Zhu Chao dared not disobey and quickly withdrew.

Kongxuan smiled, holding the thumb-sized demon crystal silver in his hand. “Haha! Two taels of demon crystal silver. Many thanks, Daoist Wan.”

The Demon Patriarch scrutinized Zhang Xiao, then said, “Very well. When I last saw you at Maoshan, I noticed the Buddhist aura around you, but I did not expect your Buddhist arts to be so formidable. Hmph! I hope you will continue to surprise me—come with me.” With that, the Patriarch rose and departed.

Kongxuan and Zhang Xiao followed closely. Wherever the Demon Patriarch passed, disciples made way. The architecture of the Myriad Demons Sect was a feast for Zhang Xiao’s eyes; unlike the casual structures of Maoshan, these buildings were grand and imposing, with high walls and an unmistakable air of dominance.

The Demon Patriarch led them toward the rear mountain. There, dark clouds roared and poisonous creatures crawled everywhere. Now Zhang Xiao understood why Zhu Chao’s face had changed so readily.

However, the cultivations of the Demon Patriarch and Kongxuan ensured that the venomous creatures scattered far away.

The Patriarch stopped at the base of a small mountain and smiled, “Here is the second trial. Simply ascend this stone staircase to the summit and you will pass.”

Climb to the summit? The hill was small, with only a hundred or so steps. Using Divine Footwork, Zhang Xiao could reach the top in a blink.

But could it really be so simple? Zhang Xiao did not believe that someone as shrewd as the Demon Patriarch would offer such an easy challenge.

The sect leader Kongxuan quietly sent a message to Zhang Xiao: “Be careful. This is the Path of the Heart. If you can pass, it will benefit you greatly.”

The Path of the Heart? Zhang Xiao studied the steps before him but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

“Let’s go wait for him at the top,” said the Demon Patriarch. He and Kongxuan transformed into streaks of light and vanished.

Zhang Xiao gazed at the hundred or so steps ahead. “The Path of the Heart? Hmph! My mind is already as clear as a mirror. With the help of the Prajna Sutra, ordinary illusions cannot affect me.”

As he set foot on the stone steps, wailing ghosts and howling voices echoed around him, yet he saw no phantoms. Unfazed, Zhang Xiao strode forward, climbing a dozen steps in an instant.

Suddenly, the scenery shifted. Countless beautiful women appeared before him, disrobed. Zhang Xiao silently recited a Buddhist verse, and his radiance swept the women away, transforming them into heaps of withered bones. With a wave of his palm, the bones turned to dust. “Such paltry illusions cannot trouble me.”

Only half the steps remained. Zhang Xiao, unwilling to waste more time, tried to use Divine Footwork to pass directly. Yet, no matter how he exerted himself, he could only ascend one step at a time.

So, Divine Footwork was useless here. Fine, let’s see just how strange this Path of the Heart is. He pressed forward, and illusions flashed before his eyes like a lantern show.

“What’s this?” Zhang Xiao’s expression changed. Before him was his own room, his own home. “Zhang Xiao! Look what Mama has made for you!” A graceful woman entered, holding a bowl of steamed egg custard. The creamy dish, sprinkled with scallions, looked mouthwatering.

“Mom!” This woman was his mother, and the egg custard was his favorite food. She sat beside him, gently stroking his hair.

Zhang Xiao lay quietly in her embrace, basking in the warmth of a mother’s love. Ever since his parents died in a car accident, he had dreamed of such moments countless times, but never had they seemed so real.

His mother scooped a spoonful of custard, blew on it, and brought it to his lips. “Zhang Xiao, eat up, then rest for a while. Come, open your mouth.”

Tears welled in Zhang Xiao’s eyes as he whispered, “Thank you.”

His mother paused, “Silly child, I’m your mother—what’s there to thank?”

A glint of clarity flashed in Zhang Xiao’s eyes. He gently pushed the woman aside. “My mother never called me by my full name, only by my childhood nickname. I thank you for letting me feel motherly love again, but you are not real.”

The woman’s face twisted in anger. “Why break the illusion? Isn’t it good here? Don’t you miss your mother?”

“I do miss her. But the dead are gone and the living must go on. I learned to let go long ago, and I will not lose myself in your illusion.”

With these words, the room exploded into fragments, and the woman vanished like a spring breeze.

Standing on the cold stone steps, Zhang Xiao’s heart ached for his mother. Who would not want to feel a mother’s embrace again? But none of it was real. The dead are gone, and the living must live on. The departed live in one’s heart, but the living must live even better.

Ahead, only five steps remained. Zhang Xiao strode forward and ascended again.