Chapter 113: Human Zodiac Dao Art, Five Great Demon Beasts

Human Zodiac Spirit!?

Only four characters, yet even Bai Buran, who had seen much of the world, could not help but change color.

Among the Twelve Zodiacs, the Human is first.

The Human Zodiac is known as the “Immortal,” always appearing fleetingly, seen only at the head, never the tail.

Legend says each generation’s Human Zodiac is utterly mysterious—even other members of the Twelve Zodiacs cannot know its true identity.

Most terrifying is that each generation’s Human Zodiac possesses the power to suppress the other twelve.

Precisely because of this, He has held the supreme seat as leader of the Twelve Zodiacs.

“I once heard a rumor…”

Bai Buran hesitated slightly, as if wanting to speak but holding back.

“What rumor?” Lou Hechuan fixed his gaze on Bai Buran with keen interest.

“They say ten years ago, the Human Zodiac perished, its body destroyed and Dao extinguished, gone forever—how could it still…”

“Buran, though you left Zhenwu Mountain, your news is still sharp.”

Lou Hechuan set down his thermos and gave Bai Buran a look full of implication.

“The Wuwei Sect excels in the Way of the Yuan Shen—today, no one understands the mysteries of the Yuan Shen better than they.”

“Do you think such a person could die so easily?”

“So the Human Zodiac hasn’t died?”

Bai Buran’s expression turned strange. Among the Twelve Zodiacs, the Human is first—if the Human Zodiac still lives and its Yuan Shen remains in the Dao Alliance’s hands, the moment this spread, the Twelve Zodiacs would be unable to sit still.

“The Human Zodiac…” Lou Hechuan spoke gravely. “According to Daoists from Baiheguan who fought her, she appears to be a woman, and she has cultivated part of the ‘Three Corpses Mirroring Fate’…”

Among the Twelve Zodiacs, the Human is the most mysterious—rarely acts, rarely appears.

A dozen years ago, the few times she appeared were in clashes with Baiheguan’s experts, who may have glimpsed her methods.

“After the Jiazi Purification of Demons, the Three Corpses Daoist perished atop Mount Dongyue…”

“The Three Corpses Mirroring Fate became a lost art. To grasp even a fraction is already exceptional among the world’s elite—yet the Human Zodiac possesses another extraordinary ability.” Lou Hechuan lowered his voice.

“What?” Bai Buran asked instinctively.

He had dealt with the Twelve Zodiacs—whether Hai Zhu Wang Tao, Wu Ma Wu Qilu, or You Ji Jin Mangri—all were masters of manipulating minds, ruthless and divine in their Dao arts, none easy to handle.

It was truly unimaginable how unfathomable the leader, the Human Zodiac, must be.

From Lou Hechuan’s fragmented words alone, one could glimpse a sliver.

The Three Corpses Mirroring Fate—how profound and difficult! To grasp even a fraction is astonishing brilliance—yet this was not even the true source of the Human Zodiac’s terror.

“Her ability is called ‘Taming Demons’…”

Those two words, spoken by Lou Hechuan, head of the Jiangsu Province Dao Alliance, felt as heavy as mountains.

“Taming Demons!?” Bai Buran’s brow lifted—he felt he had heard it before, yet could not recall where.

“The Mountains and Seas hold demons and spirits; taming them refines nine demons!” Lou Hechuan murmured solemnly.

It is widely known that demons are spirits possessing human bodies.

Between the Yuan Shen and the host body, rejection inevitably arises—especially under special conditions, when fury surges, the original form emerges, the human body mutating with traits of its former self, uncontrollably.

Like in the Legend of the White Snake, when Bai Suzhen drank a cup of realgar wine and began transforming into a serpent—such uncontrolled mutation could ultimately turn her into a monstrous hybrid, neither fully human nor serpent.

Thus, nearly all demons carry this hidden danger, especially on full moon nights, when the Yuan Shen stirs and the body erupts in frenzy, triggering strange mutations.

Moreover, different demon races have different ancestral traits and distinct taboos regarding mutation.

For example, aquatic demons easily mutate during thunderstorms, and at such times they usually hide to avoid calamity.

“Taming Demons can suppress frenzied mutation—and even awaken the greatest potential within a demon, refining it through nine transformations into a true demon, wielding immense divine power…” Lou Hechuan said gravely.

Ancient Daoist texts contain records of this power called “Taming Demons.”

In ancient times, some Daoists dabbled in this power, venturing deep into mountains and seas, traversing marshes and rivers, taming demons and spirits. Over years, their potential was unleashed, refined through nine transformations, becoming true great demons capable of overturning rivers and seas, transforming into demonic kings who upended the mortal world.

“Baiheguan’s secret archives record… the Human Zodiac… she used this power to subdue five great demons, making them her guardians.”

“These five great demons were no ordinary kind—they do not appear in any official records…”

“Baiheguan calls them…”

“Five Great Demon Beasts!” Lou Hechuan’s voice was profoundly low, steeped in mystery.

“Five Great Demon Beasts!?” Bai Buran tasted the name.

“Each of the Five Great Demon Beasts possesses profound demonic arts, hidden among mortals—unseen in mountains or rivers, obeying only the Human Zodiac’s commands; even the other Twelve Zodiacs do not know their methods.”

Here, Lou Hechuan paused slightly, then coldly chuckled: “Ten years ago, when the Human Zodiac perished, the Five Great Demon Beasts were not by her side—does that strike you as odd?”

“Odd… indeed odd!”

Bai Buran muttered under his breath, eyeing Lou Hechuan with suspicion.

“Director Lou, you mean the Human Zodiac hasn’t died, and her Yuan Shen is still in your hands?”

Compared to the Human Zodiac still being alive, Bai Buran found this even more suspicious.

After all, this was the Human Zodiac.

“Ten years ago, after that night, this Yuan Shen has been hidden within the Jiangsu Province Dao Alliance… but…”

Lou Hechuan’s white eyebrows lifted: “This Yuan Shen is strange—sealed shut, yielding not a single drop of essence.”

“Even your cultivation level can’t extract anything?” Bai Buran couldn’t help asking.

“The Yuan Shen is subtle—slight deviation, and you gain nothing… I dare not force it.” Lou Hechuan shook his head.

“That’s why I want to send it to the Xuanmiao Temple in Suzhou.”

The Xuanmiao Temple, a famous Daoist temple in Suzhou, had existed since the Eastern Jin Dynasty, its incense burning for a thousand years—its foundations were deep indeed.

“Inside the Xuanmiao Temple is a seal from Longhu Mountain, gifted by the Zhang family during the temple’s founding ritual a millennium ago,” Lou Hechuan said gravely.

“The Longhu Seal can illuminate the Yuan Shen!” Lou Hechuan whispered.

“Director Lou… ten years…”

“We leave today—Baiheguan has likely already received word.”

Before Bai Buran could voice his question, Lou Hechuan cut him off.

At these words, Bai Buran understood at once.

The Jiangsu Province Dao Alliance had secretly concealed the Human Zodiac’s Yuan Shen from everyone—even from Baiheguan—hoping to extract something from it. After all, the Human Zodiac’s Yuan Shen held the secrets of the Wuwei Sect; if they truly succeeded, the credit would be immense, and perhaps even extinguish the Wuwei Sect in this age.

But after ten years, the Jiangsu Province Dao Alliance had extracted nothing. Now they could only rely on the Longhu Seal enshrined at the Xuanmiao Temple. Once used, Baiheguan would surely learn of it.

At that point, ownership of the Human Zodiac’s Yuan Shen would likely be transferred upward.

Hence, Lou Hechuan was in such a hurry.

“There’s another question…” Bai Buran spoke up.

“What?”

“Such an important object—entrusted to four young people? Isn’t that too frivolous? What if…”

“It would be better if the Wuwei Sect’s demons found out,” Lou Hechuan sneered.

“I’m afraid they won’t come.”

At these words, a chilling gleam flashed in Lou Hechuan’s eyes. In that moment, the old Daoist’s posture seemed to straighten, like a blade drawn from its sheath, all sharpness exposed.

Knock knock knock…

At that moment, a knock came at the door, interrupting their conversation.

“Enter,” Lou Hechuan said.

The door opened, and Zhang Fan and Jiang Hu entered, bowing to Bai Buran: “Boss.”

“This is Director Lou of the Jiangsu Province Dao Alliance.”

“Greetings, Director Lou.”

Zhang Fan and Jiang Hu, as juniors, quickly bowed respectfully. To them, the old man before them was a towering figure.

“Youngsters, your futures are boundless.”

Lou Hechuan rose, smiling warmly, like a retired elder.

“You two talk.”

Saying this, Lou Hechuan walked toward the door, hands behind his back. As he passed Zhang Fan, he paused slightly, glancing at him.

Thud…

The door closed. Only then did Bai Buran slowly withdraw his gaze.

“Sit down.”

He then explained the mission, but said nothing about the contents of the earthen jar—after all, the matter was too grave; the less one knew, the safer one was.

“Can’t we just use a courier?” Jiang Hu muttered.

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“Boss, what’s inside the earthen jar?” Zhang Fan couldn’t help asking.

“I don’t know. Don’t ask.” Bai Buran shook his head. “Just follow the Dao Alliance’s people. Say little on the road. If trouble arises, stay as far back as you can.”

“Understood.”

“We’re best at this.”

Zhang Fan and Jiang Hu said in unison.

“…”

“What kind of people have I hired?” Bai Buran had no reply.

…

14:23 PM.

Zhang Fan and Jiang Lai were already on the high-speed train to Suzhou, accompanied by Zhan Xinyue and Sui Chunsheng, whom they had already met.

The earthen jar was tightly wrapped in a jinpa cloth and placed inside a suitcase, kept close by Sui Chunsheng, while Zhan Xinyue guarded beside it.

Zhang Fan and Jiang Lai, however, seemed superfluous.

“Hey, want some duck neck?”

At that moment, Jiang Lai pulled out a spicy duck neck from his bag and offered it kindly to Zhan Xinyue and Sui Chunsheng.

“You’re a true disciple of Maoshan—why do you still crave taste? These foods only drain your primordial qi.” Zhan Xinyue shook her head.

At their level, they could fast for long periods, cultivate the Golden Core method, gather herbs and refine them to maintain abundant primordial qi.

Ordinary grains entering the intestines and digesting may nourish flesh and blood, but they consume primordial qi; over years, one becomes nothing more than a corpse-guarding ghost.

Sui Chunsheng said nothing but took a small gourd from his bag, uncapped it, poured out a pill the size of a thumb, crimson and glowing with a faint Daoist radiance, swallowed it whole, then closed his eyes tightly.

“We’ll eat it ourselves.” Jiang Lai, rebuffed, pushed the duck neck toward Zhang Fan.

“Damn…”

At that moment, Zhang Fan suddenly cried out.

“What’s wrong!?” Jiang Lai asked.

“I forgot my sleeping pills.”

“You sleep that poorly?” Jiang Lai couldn’t help saying.

“Never mind, we’re only staying two days anyway.” Zhang Fan shook his head and dropped the thought.

“I didn’t expect there’d be a Daoist on this train.”

At that moment, from the adjacent carriage, a young man put down his phone, turned his head, and glanced back with a cold laugh.

“If you don’t recognize true lead as your ancestral root, all your efforts are in vain. Divorce your wife, blame yin-yang separation; fasting only empties your guts…”

The young man, dressed casually, chanted slowly.

"Herbs, gold, and silver are all dross; clouds, auroras, sun, and moon are mere haze. Even if you practice breath control and visualization, they are utterly different from Golden Core cultivation."

At that moment, an elderly man with streaks of gray at his temples but a ruddy complexion continued:

This seven-line poem comes from the Daoist classic *Wu Zhen Pian*, originally meant to reject breath control, visualization, burning herbs, fasting, and ingesting external elixirs, advocating instead internal alchemy to cultivate sufficient primordial spirit and true yang.

“If you truly understand cultivation, why take external pills? Just showing off…” the casual youth sneered.

“The Dao reaches the boundless—there is no distinction. External elixirs also hold profound subtleties…”

At that moment, the elder shook his head and spoke: “Long ago… one of the Five Great Demon Beasts was skilled in crafting external elixirs.”

“Master, what are the Five Great Demon Beasts?” the casual youth asked, puzzled.

The elder seemed not to hear; his eyes instead shimmered with memories.

“He had an elixir called the Divine Breath Pill—golden, perfectly round, profoundly mysterious. I once took one in my youth.”

“Divine Breath Pill… what kind of pill is that?” the casual youth asked curiously.

“Divine breath enters stillness, becoming false death; one sleeps, all matters vanish.”

“Divine breath, divine breath—once ingested, the spirit ceases, sinking into stillness,” the elder sighed.

“If the spirit ceases, isn’t that death?” the casual youth exclaimed in shock.

“For ordinary people, yes—it’s a fatal poison. But for a powerful spirit, ceasing for a moment is like false death, entering a dream; the spirit revives, returning light, and if strong, remains strong,” the elder murmured solemnly.

In Daoist practice, sleep is called minor death or false death—the state closest to the conscious spirit returning to stillness.

Especially deep sleep greatly aids the body’s recovery.

Master Sanfeng once revealed that sleep holds the secret to immortality.

Sleep Immortal, Sleep Immortal, high on stone roots, forgetting years; the Three Lights sink, yet nature turns complete.

Qi returns to the mysterious orifice; breath follows nature’s course.

Don’t scatter your mind; be calm and still. Nourish until your nature is round, waiting for the lead flowers to appear.

No loss, no wandering; true fire timing, centered in motion; perform the Seven Returns, no hardship.

Refine the Nine Transmutations—why sigh? Quietly watch the dragon and tiger battle; secretly invert yin and yang.

Men say I’m a dazed fool; I wish to sleep, yet sleep eludes me.

Mastered—true sleeping meditation.

Cultivated—true embryonic essence.

When the sleeping dragon rises, it ascends to heaven.

This hibernation method—who passed it down? The ragged Daoist, Immortal Sanfeng.

The elder naturally understood the wonder of hibernation and false death—he had once taken this pill himself, entering the state for seven days and seven nights before awakening.

Now, thinking back, he felt dread: had he not awakened then, false death would have become true death—his spirit extinguished, its lamp gone dry, never to reignite.

Each ingestion of the Divine Breath Pill is equivalent to killing the spirit once.

Thus, though the Divine Breath Pill is profound, enabling false death, ordinary people cannot endure it.

Unless one’s spirit is strong enough to exhaust the pill’s power within a single night.

“This pill isn’t meant for humans… almost no one’s spirit can endure its ferocity for long…” the elder sighed.

“Then why make it!?”

“Ordinary mortals cannot ingest it—but there are other kinds.”

“Other kinds? What are they?” the casual youth pressed.

“Divine Demon Sacred Embryo!!” the elder whispered, lips parting to utter four words.

(End of Chapter)