Chapter 31

The lion transforms into a seal, suppressing demons and subduing fate.

In Daoist alchemy scriptures, there are many metaphors, such as 【Dragon and Tiger】, which sometimes represent the blood and Qi of water and fire.

Sometimes, the dragon represents the delusional thoughts of the heart-fire, and the tiger represents the desire of the liver-fire.

The restlessness of the dragon and tiger, the jumping of the consciousness, is the most terrifying situation for practitioners. The Great Night-Bright is right in front of them.

Therefore, Daoist cultivation emphasizes "subduing the dragon and taming the tiger." At this time, one must "throw away the scriptures and hide in high seclusion with a smile, the dragon returns to the vast sea and the tiger returns to the mountain." Buddhism calls this "immovable."

As for how to achieve this, there are many methods, and among them, there is a path that concerns the "lion."

"Seven Interpretations of the Daoist Canon" says, the lion can subdue all beasts. When sages and saints preach, and heavenly demons and external paths attack, a lion's roar dissipates all evil, and all beasts are in awe.

The heavenly demons and external paths in many Buddhist and Daoist classics actually refer to thoughts and delusions...

Once a thought arises, delusions fly everywhere, just like heavenly demons and external paths, floods and wild beasts, restless consciousness, ruining people's cultivation, until the Great Night-Bright. However, the lion is the king of all beasts, capable of generating fearlessness and courage, shaking all evil.

Therefore, in the Daoist sects, there are seal techniques like the 【Lion Seal】, and in Buddhism, there are supernatural powers like the 【Lion's Roar】.

Even the mounts of many immortals and Bodhisattvas are lions.

For example, the 【Lion Seal】 is derived from the mount of the 【Taiyi Savior Heavenly Venerable】, the Nine-Headed Divine Lion, whose roar shocks the upper realm and whose power shakes the nine netherworlds.

In "Journey to the West," the Nine-Headed Divine Lion escaped to the lower realm and transformed into the 【Nine-Headed Yuan Saint】... It was also one of the few existences on the road to the west that was not interested in Tang Monk's meat. With one move of capture, even with the ability of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, he could only be captured.

This is also a metaphor; the lion's roar can subdue the heart-monkey.

Because of this, the 【Lion Seal】 is one of the most basic seal techniques in Daoist sects, focusing on rigidity and righteousness.

Rumble...

A violent sound came from the weeds that looked like fox fur, like a heavy hammer beating a drum, and like a lion's roar. The captivating fluctuation made He Huan's face turn pale.

She had also seen the Daoist 【Lion Seal】, but it was just one of many seal techniques, the basic skill of Daoist cultivation.

However, at this very moment, this unremarkable seal technique showed extraordinary power in Zhang Fan's hands.

Bang...

Just at this moment, an explosion rang out, and the strangely wrapped weeds were torn apart. Zhang Fan stepped out, hands forming a seal, holding nine and raising one.

In such a place where immortals are worshipped, this 【Fox Fur】 could not withstand the rigidity and vastness of the lion's roar.

"This is impossible... the common Lion Seal... how can it produce such an effect!?"

He Huan's face was pale, blood spilled from the corners of her mouth, her beautiful eyes trembling, simply unable to believe everything she saw.

With just one hand seal, without even practicing the technique, he could actually break her 【Fox Fur】. One must know that here, the power she could obtain from the immortal's blessing was the strongest and greatest.

Rumble...

Zhang Fan's expression was indifferent. The Lion Seal in his hands was like a real lion, with rolling and intense Yang energy, shaking the Qi veins...

Ordinary people here might not see any clues, or even hear any sound.

But for those who cultivate the heart, the sound of the lion's roar became increasingly harsh and terrifying, and even a strange sound came from the desolate cave entrance in the distance...

The fox's singing turned into a mournful cry, full of shock and fear.

"You... who exactly are you?"

At this moment, He Huan panicked. For the first time, she showed a look of shock and horror in front of Zhang Fan.

She had never seen anyone possess such vast power with just a 【Lion Seal】, immovable and captivating the heart, the lion's roar suppressing demons.

"Following leads to being human, reversing leads to being an immortal... Such an internal alchemy method is a top-secret of the Daoist school, the orthodox Xuan Sect, extremely overbearing, and is the nemesis of evil. If you meet such a person in the future, you must retreat three times."

Just at this moment, He Fei's past instructions couldn't help but appear in He Huan's mind. The voice was still in her ears, gradually overlapping with Zhang Fan's figure in front of her.

"Daoist top-secret, orthodox Xuan Sect!?"

He Huan's pupils contracted sharply, as if she had guessed something. Just at this moment, Zhang Fan arrived, like a shadow looming over her, carrying unprecedented pressure.

"You... you don't dare to kill me..." He Huan trembled, no longer like her previous madness and arrogance.

Hum...

Before the words fell, Zhang Fan held the Lion Seal and pointed a finger, landing on the center of He Huan's eyebrows. The latter's body stiffened, her eyes rolled back, and she fell straight down. Her breathing became increasingly weak, not yet dissipated, but her vitality seemed broken.

Whoosh...

Just at this moment, a strange sound came from the desolate cave entrance not far away. Immediately after, a fox the size of a wild wolf rushed out, its red fur like brocade, gradually dimming at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The fox stared fixedly at Zhang Fan, its eyes filled with a look like a human's, hateful and angry.

It walked out of the cave entrance, and after only five steps, it fell down, its breathing also becoming weak.

"The immortal worshipped by Chuma?" Zhang Fan thought to himself.

This was the first time in his life he had seen a spirit monster. The look just now was indeed born of spiritual wisdom, no longer like an ordinary animal.

Thinking of this, a look of ruthlessness flashed in Zhang Fan's eyes, and the Lion Seal had not yet been released.

Hum...

Just at this moment, an aged palm came from behind, gripping Zhang Fan's wrist. The latter instinctively released his hands and released the Lion Seal.

"You've caused trouble."

Old Yu's voice sounded faintly. Zhang Fan turned around and saw Wen He had also followed. Her usually gentle gaze fell on He Huan, who had fallen to the ground, and she couldn't help but push her glasses.

"Little Fanfan, did you break her primordial spirit?" Wen He leaned down to investigate, looking at Zhang Fan with some resentment.

"I... I was also forced by circumstances..."

"Is... is she okay?"

"She won't wake up. Once the primordial spirit is broken, she will never wake up again," Old Yu said in a deep voice.

Humans have three souls and seven spirits. The three souls are hidden in the primordial spirit, and the seven spirits are hidden in the consciousness.

The soul governs wisdom; once damaged, it leads to functional impairment. For example, many vegetative people have damaged or lost souls.

The spirits govern desires; once damaged, they affect emotions and moods. For example, many mental illnesses, such as depression, autism, and mania, are actually damaged or lost spirits.

Now it is seen as a psychological and mental problem, but in ancient times, one would have to find a Daoist priest or a shaman to call back the soul and seek the spirits.

He Huan's primordial spirit was broken by Zhang Fan's Lion Seal. She will never be able to wake up in this life and can only lie on the bed, forever being a vegetative person.

"Little Zhang, your Lion Seal is practiced well," Old Yu said indifferently.

"What should we do now?" Zhang Fan said.

"Little Fanfan, don't panic, this is not your fault." Wen He hurriedly pacified Zhang Fan's emotions. She had also heard of this young lady from the He family.

"Old Yu will handle it well."

Before the words fell, Old Yu had already walked toward the dying fox.

Zhang Fan looked over and saw Old Yu with his back to them. He didn't know what he did, but the fox twitched violently and then had no more vitality.

The fox died with its head toward its own cave entrance.

"Foxes die facing their home hills." It is said that foxes with spiritual wisdom, even when they die, will have their heads facing the direction of their nests.

Old Yu turned around, walked to He Huan, and carried her on his shoulders.

"Little Wen He, let's go."

"Little Fanfan, go wait for us in the car," Wen He instructed and followed Old Yu's pace.

Just after taking two steps, Old Yu suddenly stopped, turned his head, grinned, and looked at Zhang Fan with deep meaning: "Little Zhang, does the feeling of squandering power and playing with life and death feel great?"

"What?" Zhang Fan asked.

"Nothing." Old Yu grinned and laughed, slowly withdrawing his gaze, carrying He Huan, and taking Wen He away from sight.

Just at this moment, the panic in Zhang Fan's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a faint essence.

"Old Yu..."

(End of chapter)