Chapter 103: Not Through Innumerable Kalpas, Attaining the Dharmakaya

The moonlight was like gauze.

A broad-shouldered figure stood atop the roof tiles, silently watching over a hundred and odd demonic horses march out of Qingzhou City in perfect formation.

“Someone actually followed him out of the city.”

Jiang Chengyun withdrew his gaze and looked at the barefoot woman sitting beside him.

Both were demon hunters, and the message that had sounded in the bell had naturally reached them as well.

Grandma was summoned back to temporarily serve as Regional Commander; such a massive disturbance tonight could not possibly be ignored.

Aqian stretched lazily, sounding slightly weary: “After being out in the wild so long, I’d forgotten about these aristocratic sects.”

Jiang Chengyun fell silent for a moment: “You’ve secretly tracked the Howling Moon Demon King for centuries—how could you possibly pay attention to all this?”

How strong a Baodan expert is depends on who you’re comparing them to.

No matter how finely you divide the realms—Baodan cultivation, shattering the core to transform the soul—it’s all still just the Golden Core realm.

Before a Demon King equivalent to a Hunyuan Wuji Grand Master, they’re as weak as infants.

But Qingzhou must constantly monitor its movements, and the Regional Commander must remain stationed in the main city—so this task falls solely to the three Golden Bell demon hunters.

“The Howling Moon old bastard and the Regional Commander have faced off for years, divided by Qingzhou’s twelve commanderies, never crossing paths.”

“I’m worried about that young demon. Its growth rate is terrifying, its ambitions laid bare—when it declares itself king… it’s already calling itself Little Demon King, arrogant and cunning. Every ambush against it has failed. When it fully matures, with two Demon Kings united, Qingzhou is doomed.”

“The Regional Commander has requested reinforcements three times—all to no avail. It seems the situation elsewhere is no better than Qingzhou’s.”

Having long pursued the Demon King’s trail in secret, under immense pressure, every time Aqian returned to the mortal world, she would release her suppressed emotions—crying when she wanted to cry, laughing when she wanted to laugh, like a truly innocent child.

But now her face was filled with solemnity.

Jiang Chengyun frowned slightly and urged: “It has a Little Demon King, but Qingzhou has Jiang Qiulan—who will win is still uncertain.”

At the mention of that name, Aqian’s eyes flickered with rare admiration: “Jiang Qiulan… she actually returned once. She read Lin Baiwei’s letter, skimmed through the case files brought back from Baiyun County, gave me two brief instructions, and left immediately for Linjiang Commandery without resting a moment.”

All twelve Demon-Suppressing Generals took shortcuts, cultivating incense and devotional energy, solely for defense, never for offense.

The only exception was the one who took over after the Great General of Yushan Commandery died—she followed the true path of the Hunyuan Wuji Grand Master.

A single commandery’s people cannot sustain two Martial Immortals.

The Regional Commander gathers Qingzhou’s collective devotion to become a Martial Immortal, his methods devious.

But his physical body is frail—he needs someone standing before him to block one or even two Demon Kings.

Autumn’s end brings winter.

The one who stands in winter and turns the tide.

From the moment the Regional Commander took her as his disciple and renamed her, she was destined to become the solitary figure holding back a horde of demons beyond Qingzhou’s twelve commanderies.

“…”

Jiang Chengyun stilled his admiration and turned back to the city gate: “Should I act now?”

“She’s doing Qingzhou’s work—can you stop always trying to snatch credit from newcomers? Just follow those two rules, can’t you?” Aqian said coolly.

“Ha. Follow the rules.”

Jiang Chengyun raised an eyebrow without changing expression: “What rules? The Demon-Suppressing Bureau’s rules? What do they have to do with me? If it’s the demon hunter’s code, he didn’t send me a plea for help, didn’t report any information—he clearly intends to handle it himself. As a Silver Bell demon hunter, how could I interfere with his prey?”

He turned his head, his honest face showing a hint of doubt: “I just wonder… Grandma, does he even have the strength?”

According to the unwritten custom among demon hunters.

Unless one voluntarily yields part of the spoils to request aid, or admits defeat and withdraws, others may not interfere.

Whether life or spoils matter more must be judged in advance.

If you can’t even make that judgment, you’d better hand over your bell early.

“No, you’re too polite—you’re my grandma.”

Aqian rolled her eyes and slowly stood up.

Hearing this, Jiang Chengyun knew he’d offended her and reluctantly turned away: “Fine. Golden Bells can’t command Silver Bells, but elders can command grandchildren—I’ll follow your orders.”

Aqian stretched: “Though I’ve only just arrived in Qingzhou and am no good at acting as Regional Commander, this happened right under my nose. To avoid the Regional Commander blaming me, just do me a favor. I know you’ve coveted my Golden Bell for a long time, but one more achievement won’t hurt.”

She leapt off the roof, leaving only her crisp voice behind: “I’ll make an exception once—if he truly misjudged the situation, it’ll be lesson enough.”

“…”

Jiang Chengyun stood alone atop the roof, slowly clasping his hands behind his back.

How could the Regional Commander blame Grandma over something like this? Besides, demon hunters aren’t under the Demon-Suppressing Bureau’s control—it’s just an excuse.

Hesitate! Hesitate!

Make an exception! Make an exception!

I’m getting old—no different from Chen Qiankun.

I still need Qingzhou’s sharpest sword, leading this new generation, to completely replace these old relics!

Thinking of that cold, composed face, Jiang Chengyun’s eyes once again filled with reverence—even fervor.

…

Qingzhou, Pingkang Mountain.

Over a hundred ink-clad riders yanked their reins in unison; the muscular demonic horses reared high, majestic and imposing.

Hong Lei dismounted and walked with two other deputy generals to Shen Yi’s side.

All those who came were elites; the two inner-camp deputy generals had even more seniority than he, both at the late Jade Fluid realm.

One hundred and twenty Captains—all three-stripe.

Even Hong Lei hadn’t expected that just gathering them together could assemble nearly Qingzhou’s strongest personal retinue of deputy generals.

This wasn’t something even General Chen’s prestige could achieve.

No matter how great the old man’s reputation, he remained in Linjiang Commandery and rarely interfered in Qingzhou City affairs.

These men had all come of their own accord.

A large part of the reason was Shen Yi himself.

Private rumors, combined with what had happened inside the Golden Vajra Sect, had made his position as personal deputy general all the more credible.

“Seal the mountain immediately. No one leaves.”

The deputy generals swiftly issued orders; though the Captains came from different commanders, they moved in perfect order—just a glance was enough to assign routes.

Shen Yi lifted his gaze toward the mountain ahead.

White clouds curled around it; ancient pines and cypresses stood lush and green.

It certainly looked like a spiritually blessed place.

His eyes glowed gold as he activated the Qi-Viewing Technique; his vision turned gray and hazy, filled with clusters of white vapor, occasional golden glimmers—but not a trace of demonic aura.

“…”

Shen Yi dismissed the technique, feeling no surprise.

If demonic corruption were obvious at a glance, the Golden Vajra Sect wouldn’t have hidden here this long.

Soon, only thirty-odd inner-camp Captains remained, orderly ascending the mountain.

The rugged mountain path was as flat ground to these martial warriors.

They quickly reached the summit, where a simple grand hall stood before them.

As they neared, they heard low, continuous chanting.

“Erase my countless eons of deluded thoughts, attain the Dharmakaya without passing through countless kalpas.”

“May I now attain Buddhahood, and liberate these countless beings.”

At the entrance, two lay disciples held prayer beads; their peripheral vision caught the flood of black-clad figures climbing the path—their thumbs paused slightly…

They instinctively turned, but before they could act, two flying chains wrapped around their necks and yanked them violently backward.

“Stay put.”

Two inner-camp deputy generals pinned them to the ground; Hong Lei stepped forward and kicked open the hall door!

Crash!

Not the violent imprisonment scene Shen Yi had imagined.

Inside the dim hall, incense smoke curled thickly; no guards were present, only a clay statue of a great Buddha bowed its head.

Countless devotees sat on cushions, elderly, their withered faces serene, chanting without pause.

Occasionally, their nostrils twitched, and a faint joy rose in their cloudy eyes.

“Compassion… compassion…”

(End of Chapter)