Chapter 115: Yin Demon of the Five Aggregates, Tiger Demon Descends to the World

The bright moon was clear, the night air like a dream. Atop the mountain peak, Lin Qinhu gazed at the moon to consume its Qi. Bursts of blood-black mist swirled around his body, appearing like ghostly shadows. Five ferocious tiger-shaped Yin spirits poked their heads out from behind him, greedily tearing at the misty ghostly shadows and swallowing the fierce ghosts into their bellies one by one. The five tigers wore expressions of satisfaction and contentment, looking incredibly happy.

Yet, the True Qi and aura on Lin Qinhu's body were slowly fading, as if his entire cultivation had been devoured by the five tigers, though it also seemed as if some kind of change was brewing.

No way, Ahu, are you for real?

Chen Ci waited in the bamboo pavilion with the other three cheap fellow apprentices. None of them spoke, all curiously staring at the changes in Lin Qinhu; after all, no one had ever actually seen someone break through to the Dao Foundation.

It was just that it had taken a long time. Seeing that the Hour of the Rabbit had passed and the sky was already faintly bright, with the moon pale and stars sparse, there was still no sign that the spiritual energy fluctuations on the mountain peak were ending. The four of them were getting a bit restless; although the members of the He Mountain Sect dressed as Daoists, they possessed not a shred of the skill required to calm the heart and cultivate Qi.

"Brother Guo, Brother Geng, do you think the Dao Foundation Realm can really be achieved in a single night?"

The first to speak was the middle-aged Daoist holding a banner, surnamed Dong, given name Xiong. The Yin Yang Soul-Bewitching Banner in his hand was refined to a quite deep level. His expression was curious: "Lin Shixiong hasn't been able to break through for so many years; could it be that he was really suppressing his realm, waiting for today?"

"Heh heh, the Dao Foundation Realm is not hard to say it's easy, and not easy to say it's hard. But if it were that easy to break through, he would have done it long ago. Once the Dao Foundation is formed, these matters in Xishan Prefecture are nothing; there's no need to make a desperate move and break through at the very last second."

Guo Laodao's eyelids drooped, and he gave a dry laugh: "However, since Lin Shixiong said it would work, then it will work. I've thought about it carefully; his path is far more valuable than our cheap lives. Why would someone wearing shoes go to die with someone walking barefoot, right?"

Pausing for a moment, Guo Laodao suddenly narrowed his eyes and turned to look at Geng Laodao beside him, asking curiously: "Old Ghost Geng, I'm risking it all for that Seven Kill Primordial Spirit Longevity Great Method in the sect. That one divine talisman isn't enough for two people to split. What are you doing it for?"

This question was born of curiosity, but also out of concern that Lin Qinhu might be playing both sides, promising the same thing to two people, and had done something deceptive.

Geng Laodao's Essence Qi Spirit was clearly much better than Guo Laodao's; at least he could keep his back straight while sitting. Hearing the question, he replied calmly: "Rest assured, I will not fight you for that divine talisman. Without achieving the Dao Foundation, the success rate of casting that Seven Kill Primordial Spirit True Talisman is less than one in ten; what use is it? I am merely striving for a path for a younger generation."

"A younger generation? A path?"

"Mm, a grand-nephew. Lin Shixiong promised him the status of an Apprentice and a future for the Dao Foundation."

"Heh heh~"

"A grand-nephew, oh~~"

Unaccountably, the three of them, including Chen Ci, all had a playful smile flash across their faces—the look of people watching a show.

Let's put it this way: in the He Mountain Sect, there is a saying that whenever a cultivator considers someone like a nephew or grand-nephew, it is always counted as if they were their own flesh and blood.

Geng Laodao was not annoyed, his expression unchanged, letting the three of them laugh for a moment.

Guo Laodao set his mind at ease and asked with a smile: "Brother Dong, what about you?"

"A proper Qi-refining method that can be passed down and contains the Dao Foundation diagram."

Dong Xiong wiped the Soul-Bewitching Banner in his hand and answered.

"Heh, ambitious."

Guo Laodao moved his mouth, muttering something that sounded like both praise and mockery.

Chen Ci shifted his bottom; it would be his turn next, and he wondered what he should say.

Longevity?

Golden Core?

Upper Grade Dao Foundation?

It all felt a bit too wild. A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind; he shouldn't make himself a target. Just vaguely saying "Dao Foundation" should be enough.

But after waiting for a long time, Guo Laodao seemed to be resting with his eyes closed and didn't ask again.

Chen Ci: "." What, was he being ostracized?

"Brother Chen, don't overthink it. Since you have learned the Five Ghosts Transportation Method and have practiced such a minor technique to a high level, one can tell at a glance that you want to walk the same path as Lin Shixiong. However, heh..."

It was Geng Laodao who spoke, though there seemed to be a different meaning in his smile.

"Brother Geng, however what?"

Chen Ci asked curiously.

Perhaps because the four of them were now in the same camp, Geng Laodao didn't play coy. He scanned Chen Ci twice and said slowly: "There are at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, fellow apprentices in the sect who have practiced the Five Ghosts Transportation Method, and dozens or hundreds who have learned the Five Ghosts Possession Great Method. But as for being able to reach Lin Shixiong's level and cultivating the Yin Demon of the Five Aggregates, he is the only one. As for the rest... heh heh, their ends were not very good."

Seeing that Chen Ci's expression seemed skeptical, Geng Laodao thought for a moment and added: "This method is based on the five ghosts. Lin Shixiong's five ghosts were a gift from heaven; others cannot learn it."

Chen Ci: "." No, what did he mean by Lin Qinhu being the only one who could succeed?

"Old Ghost Geng, why waste so much breath? We've seen plenty of small cultivators like him. If they don't crash into a wall, they won't give up."

Guo Laodao also gave a dry laugh, opened his eyes, and joined in the fun: "I still remember that someone back then who even questioned me, 'Brother Guo, could the next person not be me?' But unfortunately, the five ghosts backlashed, and they died quite miserably."

Damn it, pressuring a teammate right from the start, trying to mess with his head, right?

Chen Ci scanned the three of them, his gaze calm, and said indifferently: "Born for the Dao, die for the Dao. Without opportunity, you and I are all just commoners, bones in a grave, ant-like figures. Does it really make a big difference if one dies early or late? With Lin Shixiong achieving the Dao Foundation today, in the struggle for the Great Dao, one must seek Longevity for oneself. I, for one, feel that the next person to master this method will surely be me."

"."

Guo Laodao stared at Chen Ci with his cloudy eyes for a long time, then curled his lips: "A fine 'struggle for the Great Dao, seek Longevity for oneself.' It's a pity you are only an Outer Transmission. If you really had some affinity, you should be enjoying yourself on the He Mountain Nine Peaks."

"Alright, say no more. The sky is almost bright. Has Lin Shixiong attained the Dao Foundation?"

Geng Laodao laughed it off, and the four of them realized that the sun was about to rise.

Looking at the mountain peak again, Lin Qinhu, who had been cultivating there all night, had slowly stood up. The five tiger-shaped Yin spirits broke free from behind him and jumped down, as if they had regained their freedom. They roared at the rising sun, and finally condensed into a mass of Yin flow, pouncing toward Lin Qinhu's dantian.

"Once the Dao Fruit is plucked, it takes a hundred years to sever the self."

Lin Qinhu slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air. The blood-colored phenomena on his body had all faded. Although there was relief in his expression, there was no extraordinary joy after attaining the Dao Foundation.

"True Qi formed, Dharma Power talismans?"

"Congratulations to Lin Shixiong for attaining the Dao Foundation!"

Although they had heard Lin Qinhu say he could achieve the Dao Foundation in one night, when a Dao Foundation expert truly stood before them, even the expressions of Guo and Geng were significantly more respectful. They stood up and bowed, no longer just fellow apprentices discussing cultivation levels.

"Let's go, it's time to get down to business."

Lin Qinhu descended the mountain, walked into the bamboo pavilion, and ordered in a calm voice: "Although I have entered the Dao Foundation, my Dharma Power is only enough to fill one aperture, and I only have the strength for one strike. Kill that man surnamed Yao, and not a single one of the others can be allowed to escape. Can you four do it?"

(End of chapter)