[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-dao-dust-pearl":3,"chapter-the-dao-dust-pearl-the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-85":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Dao Dust Pearl",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2359586,4614,"Chapter 85: Don","the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-85",85,"\u003Cp>The four white-bone divine demons merged into a single four-faced divine demon form, its six arms pinning the howling moon wolf, seated atop the giant beast—not only immobilizing it, but also draining the wolf’s demonic energy, transforming it into dark qi that rose in torrents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its two free arms, in harmony with the four expressions of joy, anger, sorrow, and madness on the divine form’s faces, clasped together at the instant the sword light struck, using bare hands to catch the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword qi’s thunderous sound was already the swiftest, most unstoppable sword light—Qian Chen had never imagined anyone could trap it with a divine demon form…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like clutching a thunderbolt falling from the heavens… an impossibility beyond the imagination of ordinary cultivators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Qian Chen’s heart grew slightly heavy—he had never witnessed Miao Kong’s true power, and had not anticipated this man was even stronger than he’d imagined… This was no mere upper-grade Golden Core cultivation base; it was clearly the Yin Spirit of the Daoist path, the divine demon true form of the demonic sect—a realm beyond Core Formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Daoist Yin Spirit, after enduring three tribulations, achieves the Yang Spirit; the Yang Spirit becomes immortal, transforming into the Primordial Spirit, a True Immortal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demonic divine demon true form, after enduring nine trials, becomes the Life-Root Divine Demon; when the Life-Root Divine Demon unites with the self, it becomes an immortal divine demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this stage, Daoists, demons, and even Buddhist offshoots all attain immortality, living as long as heaven and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-bone hands of the demonic form, born from the white-bone stupa, each bore an eye in their palms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the single eye emitted soul-destroying demonic light, shining upon the sword light trapped between the two palms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The soul-melting, bone-eroding demonic light followed the true qi connection between the sword light and its wielders, Qian and Yan, exerting a sucking force that made Yan the Sword Immortal’s limbs go limp, his entire cultivation base gradually slipping from his control, stolen by the demonic light, and slowly eroding his fundamental power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan the Sword Immortal’s face turned grim, and he whispered: “The Four Seats of the Blissful Demon Realm!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You are a true disciple of the Nine You  Demon Sect!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhī Qiū raised his hand and unleashed a divine talisman; he did not ask why Qian Chen had struck, but seeing the manifested divine demon form, he acted without hesitation to aid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had Qian Chen’s white-bone stupa drawn three other white-bone divine demons? Why had the white-bone divine demons suddenly intervened to subdue the wolf general? Why had Miao Kong suddenly moved to capture the wolf? And why had Qian Chen attacked Miao Kong? All these questions were set aside now… Though Qian Chen dressed as an offshoot, he had consistently come to their aid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the man behind him was a genuine demon!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This alone was enough to make Zhī Qiū act: “Disciple Zhī Qiū of the Lower Realm Kunlun, humbly beg the Ancestors to intervene!” Zhī Qiū cried out with all his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The divine talisman summoned a power of tortoise and snake entwined, about to manifest as a divine general—when suddenly the divine demon form roared with laughter; two of the six hands gripping the giant wolf sprang free, fists swinging, shattering the spectral image of the divine general summoned by the talisman… The summoned demon-subduing divine general vanished. Zhī Qiū spat a mouthful of heart-blood, his body flying backward, crashing into the hall and striking the Buddha statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan the Sword Immortal spat out a stream of fundamental power, ignoring the intensified soul-destroying demonic light within him; a single point of sword light suddenly detached, slipping into his sword pill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yin Spirit exiting the body… Sword and spirit united!” Yan the Sword Immortal spewed golden blood from all seven orifices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword light within the divine demon form’s grasp surged violently again… breaking free from the white-bone hands where none should have been possible, stabbing toward the divine demon’s third eye…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Kong merely smiled coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Qian Chen suddenly struck from behind Yan the Sword Immortal, slamming both palms into his back, unleashing overwhelming cultivation power. Yan’s face showed first disbelief, then a sorrowful betrayal. Qian Chen roared in fury: “Old demon! You placed a restriction on me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Kong laughed: “Little brat, you truly have some fortune—within just a few years, you’ve achieved such cultivation. Even more terrifying than I was in my youth. Though I gave you all those artifacts, your own talent is clearly exceptional. Good thing I kept a trick up my sleeve—how does the Secret Demon’s Three Lives Restriction taste?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah… This demonic restriction is called Three Lives. Even if you reincarnate, you cannot escape it. Controlling you to betray your comrades? That’s trivial.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Originally, I planned to take the thing nurtured within you and leave you with a soul-scattered fate… but now, seeing your exceptional talent, I find myself reluctant to waste such potential…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll refine you into a white-bone divine demon, and harvest your skull and soul to forge a white-bone stupa!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?” Qian Chen replied coldly: “I think your skull is quite fine too—I quite like it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Yan the Sword Immortal, struck by Qian Chen’s palm, suddenly glared, roaring aloud. His entire body surged with emerald Golden Core energy; the previously stalled sword light surged again, instantly stabbing toward Miao Kong, the sword qi’s thunderous sound accelerating by three-tenths, slicing through the white-bone divine demon form. The divine demon form shattered, reverting to four white-bone stupa fragments…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Kong’s demonic qi coalesced into a giant hand, desperately seizing the sword light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Qian Chen struck Yan the Sword Immortal from behind, Yan’s shock was genuine—but once Qian Chen inserted the seventh-grade external elixir into Yan’s body and secretly transmitted the method for its assimilation, all subsequent actions were a performance, merely to buy time for Yan to absorb the external elixir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His Yin Spirit exiting the body into the sword caused immense damage, as his cultivation was insufficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the sword light was thus pushed to a state never before achieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing such a reliable ally, Qian Chen naturally did not ignore it; he immediately altered his original plan, handing the external elixir to this powerful ally, and simultaneously dissolving several spirit pills to replenish his damaged spiritual essence. Thus, Yan the Sword Immortal’s desperate gambit, aided by Qian Chen, restored him to his best state ever, delivering a sword strike that pierced two realms at once, shattering Miao Kong’s divine demon form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below, Zhī Qiū had seen Qian Chen’s earlier ambush on Yan the Sword Immortal, and his heart had already sunk into the abyss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only upon hearing Qian Chen claim he’d been placed under a restriction did he feel some relief, thinking: “Though the demon is stronger, this comrade has not betrayed us. To die together is to honor this bond forged in hardship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, just as they faced an unstoppable foe and certain death, another twist arose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen merged body and sword, unleashing a second sword qi’s thunderous sound—like a streaking rainbow—he caught up with Yan’s sword light locked in struggle with the black qi hand, uniting with it. Instantly, the black hand lost its strength, crumbling point by point. Qian Chen and Yan the Sword Immortal roared in unison, merging their Shangqing and Taiqing cultivation power, tearing open the black qi hand, finally piercing Miao Kong’s third eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as the sword light drew within three inches of Miao Kong’s third eye, it suddenly halted, unable to advance or retreat. A thin layer of black-and-white mystery light rippled from his third eye—so thin, yet nearly indestructible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Qian Chen detached from the sword light, formed a sword seal, and declared decisively: “Detonate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Black Iron Demon Hook exploded violently, unleashing an overwhelming sword light—yet it remained trapped between the black-and-white mystery light, unable to advance or retreat. Yan the Sword Immortal sighed faintly: “Gang-sha qi… Nine You  demonic light!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the Nine You  demonic light technique, forged from the True Sha of the Nine Yin Abyss and the Luo Hou Veil-Heaven Mystery Barrier Gangqi ,” Miao Kong said slowly. “You’ve forced me to use this technique. Little insect, you’ve given me more surprises than expected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the restriction I placed on you… you’ve broken it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I almost regret it now! Clearly, the thing that fell upon you has undergone many changes. But fortunately, it’s still salvageable… You have some fortune, but I prepared well—I gave you no time!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gang-sha qi… has revealed another of his secrets.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Qian Chen paid no mind to this minor setback—he never expected this attack alone could harm Miao Kong the demon. Having two reliable allies was already beyond his hopes. To expect the enemy to be weak was unrealistic, and far too dismissive of the Louchuan Sect’s million-year legacy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen’s expression was neither sorrowful nor joyful; beneath the moonlight, he stood face-to-face with Miao Kong, hovering above the Jialan Pagoda Grove.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Kong’s black qi coalesced once more into a giant hand, reaching gently toward Qian Chen… Yan the Sword Immortal and Zhī Qiū could hardly bear to watch. Before the overwhelming demonic palm, Qian Chen’s figure seemed frail and small—when suddenly, moonlight pierced the darkness, bathing the entire Lanru courtyard. The lotus in the Merit Pool bloomed silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A point of light shot forth…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the four broken white-bone stupa fragments, a hundred-legged venomous dragon suddenly emerged. The four white-bone stupa fragments had been suppressing the giant howling moon wolf; now, the Five Poisons Divine Demon struck. Neither the white-bone stupa demons nor the wolf had time to react—the hundred-legged dragon seized the wolf’s internal core, absorbed by the stupa fragments, and plunged into the giant wolf’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wolf suddenly thrashed violently…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Kong raised his hand and released two more white-bone stupa fragments, bringing them together below, merging into the four broken fragments, once again manifesting the four-faced white-bone divine demon form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as the wolf remained firmly suppressed, no matter how many tricks Qian Chen had, he could not act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at that moment, a clear-hong sword shadow erupted from behind Miao Kong, accelerating abruptly—the sword light flashed like lightning, having shed all its youthful inexperience, revealing a mastery beyond compare in sword qi’s thunderous sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this sword light, Yan the Sword Immortal suddenly had a thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This comrade is truly a sword prodigy. He only witnessed me use sword qi’s thunderous sound once, yet he could replicate it himself—and by the third time, he’s reached this level. In comparison, I’ve studied swordcraft for sixty years… truly…” For the first time, he felt inferior to another’s sword talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even considered inviting Qian Chen into his sect, then snapped back to reality, thinking: “This younger brother is no ordinary hermit—he is a disciple of the Supreme Dao. His sect holds the supreme path; why would he abandon it to join the Lingbao Dao?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, the clear-hong sword light, as the Black Iron Demon Hook’s explosion restrained the gang-sha demonic light, finally pierced Miao Kong’s protective gang-sha. The sword light veered, merging with Qian Chen’s body and sword, accelerating another fifth—finally shattering all protective artifacts, gang-sha, and restrictions, circling once around Miao Kong’s neck—whereupon demonic light gushed forth, his head flew up laughing, his headless body transforming into two demonic lights, instantly fleeing miles away, then rejoining as one, restored to original form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Life-Root Divine Demon!” Qian Chen’s physical body shot from the sword light, confirming his suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a Daoist cultivator attains the Yin Spirit, the physical body becomes merely a vessel. Even if slain, the spirit can dwell in an artifact, absorbing qi to form a Nascent Soul body. But demons fuse their bodies into their Life-Root Divine Demon, transforming themselves into grotesque, inhuman forms. At this point, demonic cultivators may truly be called demons!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Chen’s sword art alone could not overcome him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only by forging an ultimate sword intent could one slay both the divine demon body and its soul… or possess a magic treasure sword capable of killing the Primordial Spirit. Otherwise, even if you severed the divine demon’s head hundreds of times, he would easily restore himself. Compared to Zhou the Witch’s soul altar technique, this Life-Root Divine Demon was immeasurably superior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, many of the ghosts, gods, and demons worshipped by witch rituals were the Life-Root Divine Demons of demonic sect elders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Kong, both shocked and furious, sneered: “Clever scheming, great fortune! Give you a little more time, and my painstaking calculations may ultimately benefit you. Today, I absolutely cannot let you live…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This boy must not be allowed to live!” Qian Chen smiled faintly: “I never thought I’d have a day like this. Truly, the protagonist’s fortune!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Miao Kong…” Qian Chen called out: “Show your true strength! Qian Mou waits here for you to take my head.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after repeatedly encountering Qian Chen’s unpredictable twists, witnessing what true protagonist aura looked like, Miao Kong had always maintained calm, never lamenting his fate, always striving to eliminate threats—but now, hearing these words, his expression changed drastically: “What did you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re clearly surnamed Li—why do you call yourself ‘Qian Mou’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Qian Chen’s heart stirred, and he smiled: “My original surname no longer matters. My spiritual sense was destroyed by you; I barely reborn, all memories vanished. The past is smoke, the former life forgotten. I only wish to wander freely in this world. Since I’ve forgotten, why ask of the past? Now, I am—Qian Chen!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Kong nearly went mad: “‘Don’t ask of the past’? Then why not call yourself Mo Wen, why call yourself Qian Chen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because this body came from the past,” Qian Chen said calmly. “So I cannot forget my great grudge against you, nor the great kindness of my former self!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re clearly surnamed Li…” Miao Kong cried in frustration: “You could call yourself Li Chen… or Li Yuan, Li Xiaoyao even!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nonsense… I don’t even know Zhao Ling’er—why call myself Li Xiaoyao? That name later became Yi Pin… Yi Pin means ‘utterly destitute’—how inauspicious! It can’t bring freedom. I’ll call myself Qian Chen…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Qian Chen… Qian Chen… the Louchuan Sect’s revitalizing Master Qian… ha… ha… am I also part of fate? Are my calculations merely part of the chessboard? They say fate cannot be changed—even reincarnators cannot defy it. I, Miao Kong, refuse fate today. To believe in fate is eternal damnation; to believe is death. I must defy heaven and alter fate—I can only defy heaven and alter fate!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Miao Kong’s face twisted into utter ferocity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, his killing intent was absolute; his eyes revealed a determination to cut Qian Chen down, no matter how many obstacles lay in his path.\u003C\u002Fp>",2484,"2026-06-21T05:39:58.326Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ce232193233e563fec93faea7e28078b0f4fb2388834086f45a76df2335a8705","the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-86","the-dao-dust-pearl-chapter-84",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-dao-dust-pearl-cover.jpg"]