Chapter 105: Path of the Human Demon

Chapter 105: The Path of Man and Demon

“Is taking human form… that difficult?” In the past, when Qi Yuan was in meditation, taking human form had indeed been hard.

But now, having comprehended the Path of Man and Demon,

the complete cultivation system lay within his mind.

In the snap of a finger, he could take form.

“You can take human form?” The golden canary’s snowy face was like jade; she had never seen blood take form before.

According to the teachings of Nine Coil Mountain, only spirits and demons could take human form.

Blood… what was that?

“Don’t turn into another ugly creature after you take form.

I’ve spent twenty-seven years getting used to your ugliness.

If you change into another ugly look, I’ll have to endure another twenty-seven years.” The golden canary said, conflicted.

Qi Yuan couldn’t be bothered to talk to this little brat whose mouth chattered like a machine gun.

He immediately performed the transformation technique from the Path of Man and Demon.

In an instant, a curtain of blood appeared, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth rolled toward it, condensing into a human shape.

After about a dozen breaths, Qi Yuan emerged in a blood-red robe, strikingly handsome.

Above his brow was a single red dot, giving him an eerie allure.

Now, he still looked the same as before.

Only more eerie, and more handsome.

The golden canary stared at Qi Yuan, and when she saw the handsome face beneath the blood-red robe, her snowy cheeks flushed crimson: “It’s… just average, barely worthy of this young lady.”

Qi Yuan felt his own body: “Indeed, having a body is much more comfortable.”

After speaking, he sat down again in meditation, gazing at the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences not far away.

The golden canary stood to the side, her golden dress unmoved by the wind, and said indignantly: “Is that gate so beautiful to look at? More beautiful than this young lady?”

Just now, seeing the blood bead take human form, she had thought of personally cooking a celebration feast.

But this guy, after taking form, just looked up at that gate again.

Like a block of wood.

Qi Yuan did not answer; he continued to gaze at the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences in the sky.

His mutation ability and the Path of Man and Demon were increasing wildly.

A month later, a small wooden hut appeared near Qi Yuan.

The golden canary, hands on her slender waist, shouted toward Qi Yuan: “This place has excellent feng shui. This young lady is moving here, not because I want to be your neighbor—don’t flatter yourself!”

“Is it possible that I wouldn’t even know you moved here?” Qi Yuan glanced at the golden canary. Today she had put on makeup again, her cheeks like peach blossoms, very charming.

“Hmph! Having this young lady as your neighbor is a blessing you’ve cultivated over a hundred years!” The golden canary grumbled resentfully and returned to her wooden hut. She was still angry, her small chest heaving up and down.

But she kept glancing outside from time to time, afraid that her childhood friend might disappear again one day.

Time passed, and Qi Yuan sat on the stone, meditating on the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences.

Every day, the golden canary came to chat with him.

Talking about trivial matters.

Qi Yuan roughly learned that on Nine Coil Mountain, there were many other spirits and demons like the golden canary.

Most had taken human form, though not always completely.

For example, Qi Yuan saw an elephant spirit with a long nose.

He recalled scenes from TV shows, where male demons usually retained many beastly features, while female demons did not—they transformed almost entirely into human form, leaving only a few traces of their original nature.

He had once dismissed it as fiction, but never expected Nine Coil Mountain to be the same.

“Blood Bead, something terrible! Urgent! This young lady needs your help!”

One day, the golden canary ran over with a panicked face and grabbed his hand.

“What’s wrong?” Qi Yuan let her pull him along.

It didn’t affect his meditation anyway.

“Let’s hurry! I’ll explain on the way!” The golden canary tugged Qi Yuan’s hand and ran down the mountain.

After a moment, fine sweat seeped from her small hand, and she said anxiously: “They’re arguing!”

Soon, Qi Yuan arrived at the foot of the mountain.

There, several demons were gathered, arguing, with many onlookers around.

The dispute was simple: a female rabbit, a male dog, and a female dog.

The reason was also simple.

A love triangle.

In short, the male dog and the female rabbit were originally a couple. The female rabbit cheated, and the heartbroken male dog got together with the female dog.

Some time ago, the female rabbit gave birth to a baby.

Didn’t she need to build a nest?

When rabbits build nests, they usually use their own fur, retaining their animal instincts.

She was reluctant to use her own fur because it hurt, but for the sake of the baby, she came every night to pluck the male dog’s fur.

The three of them started arguing.

The male dog’s eyes were red: “Back then, I loved you so much, and you ended up messing around with another man.”

The female rabbit was furious: “When you were chasing me, you said you didn’t mind this. After you got me, this is how you treat me?

And you! When I was still with Dog Bro, you were already flirting with him. Before I even broke up with Dog Bro, you slept with him, you little slut!”

The female dog was enraged: “If you hadn’t cheated first, would Dog Bro have done this?

I’ve always been magnanimous; I don’t want to bring up the past.

But you—after giving birth, you refuse to use your own fur to build a nest for the baby, and you steal my Dog Bro’s fur.

You call yourself a mother, but you have no decency.”

The male dog accused the female rabbit of cheating.

The female rabbit accused the female dog of being a homewrecker.

The female dog accused the female rabbit of cheating and then harassing her ex.

The three argued loudly, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers, some trying to mediate.

The golden canary looked anxious: “What do we do?”

Qi Yuan was speechless: “If I’d known it was such a big deal, I should have called more people.”

"Summon the Tathagata Buddha, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Thanos, Iron Man, and Bald Qiang—this matter will surely be resolved."

With so many mighty beings present, could this quarrel still continue?

It would likely rank among the most substantive arguments in all the heavens.

The canary shot Qi Yuan a glance: "They're so chaotic—whose fault is it really?"

"Go up, slap each of them once, then leave, and the matter will probably be settled," Qi Yuan said. "But you don't have a mental illness certificate, so it won't work."

To be a judge, you need to be insane; otherwise, you'll end up in jail.

"The argument is almost over. Let's head back," Qi Yuan said, his interest waning.

"Let's watch a bit longer—we rarely come down the mountain." The canary's small hand gripped Qi Yuan tightly.

[You have comprehended the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences. Charm +5.]

"Alright." Qi Yuan decided to stay and watch.

At that moment, the three arguing parties grew more and more agitated.

Among the onlookers, some showed excited expressions: "Don't get worked up, don't get worked up."

They said this while stepping backward.

Qi Yuan also sensed something amiss: "What happens if they get worked up?"

Before the canary could answer, Qi Yuan learned the answer.

The female dog grew more agitated as she spoke, her face twisting into a snarl.

A crack suddenly appeared on her skin, and blood began to seep out.

The crack widened, her entire body swelled, and a terrifying monster tore through her skin, crawling out from within.

The monstrous creature, with a hideous face, was covered in slimy, viscous fluid, and its aura was terrifying.

The crowd on the scene, upon seeing this, turned pale or showed expressions of terror as they fled.

The male dog, seeing his mate transform like this, felt fear rise in his heart.

In just a moment, he too turned into a terrifying monster.

Finally, the remaining rabbit also transformed into a terrifying monster.

The three monstrous creatures charged ferociously into the crowd.

"Ah, heart demons have been born!"

"Run, these are heart demons!"

"We shouldn't have come to watch the fun—we're doomed!"

"Stay calm, stay calm..."

The canary's small face turned pale, and she clutched Qi Yuan's hand tightly: "Let's go!"

Qi Yuan's expression turned cold: "Demon spawn?"

The three terrifying monsters before him closely resembled the adorable demon spawn he had been fighting all along.

Or rather, they were demon spawn.

By now, Qi Yuan had slain tens of thousands of demon spawn.

He could say without hesitation that no one in this world understood demon spawn better than he did.

He glanced at the canary and gave her a reassuring look.

With one hand holding the canary, he turned the other into a sword finger.

"Die!" The three terrifying demon spawn seemed to sense Qi Yuan's aura and roared as they charged at him.

A foul stench assaulted his senses.

A flash of blood-red sword light streaked by.

Rip.

Several flashes of lightning-fast blood light cut through, and the three immensely powerful demon spawn were instantly sliced apart by that single sword light.

Finally, they dissolved into nothingness.

The fleeing monsters saw this and stopped in their tracks, gazing at Qi Yuan as if he were a god.

So cool!

Stars sparkled in the canary's eyes.

"Bloody, you're so strong! Three heart demons, and you killed them all in one go!" The canary was thrilled.

Her childhood friend was this powerful?

"A trifle," Qi Yuan asked. "They were fine—how did they suddenly turn into... this?"

He had some guesses.

The canary quickly explained: "Because... they were arguing. When you argue, you get worked up, and the heart demon devours them, emerging from their bodies to kill anything living!"

As she spoke, she looked at the three tattered pieces of clothing left on the ground, a faint trace of regret in her eyes.

"Emotional agitation makes the heart demon burst out?" Qi Yuan was astonished.

If that were the case, it was a wonder the creatures of this world had survived this long.

But then he thought about it—the beings on Nine-Pan Mountain seemed exceptionally friendly, with no fighting or killing, and everything seemed reasonable.

However, something occurred to him.

Emotional agitation wasn't limited to arguments; it could happen in many situations.

If... a demon spawn suddenly appeared, the scene would be terrifying.

"It seems this is before the North-South Conflict," Qi Yuan confirmed.

Because this world seemed even more unhinged than the world of the North-South Conflict.

Anyone could suddenly turn into a monster.

The canary's faint regret came and went quickly.

It seemed that living in this world, she had grown accustomed to regulating her emotions, avoiding getting too worked up.

"Bloody, since you're so strong, how about doing me a favor?" The canary's eyes twinkled, and Qi Yuan had a bad feeling.

"Go on."

"Do you think I'm beautiful?" The canary lifted her golden dress, preening as she asked.

"Beautiful, incredibly beautiful—rarely seen in this world!" Qi Yuan flattered.

Hearing this, the canary shot him a glare.

She felt Bloody was being sarcastic.

But she didn't mind, since she was asking for a favor.

"This time, in the contest for the top beauty of the Eighteen Mountains, that white fox Shang Yanran was named number one. On what grounds? I should be the number one beauty!" the canary said.

"Don't get excited," Qi Yuan said.

He was also afraid that the canary he held might suddenly turn into a demon in the next second.

The canary revealed a serene smile: "You should know how to fly, right? Take me flying over the Eighteen Mountains. I want to shout to everyone that I am the most beautiful woman in these Eighteen Mountains!"

Qi Yuan was speechless: "Canary, your competitive streak is way too strong."

"This isn't called competitiveness; it's called bringing the truth back to light for the whole world!"

"I have to say, your skin is thicker than mine."

"Where?"

"Don't you think if I run around like this with you, everyone here will think we're lunatics? It sounds utterly idiotic!"

Qi Yuan wanted to refuse.

After all, he had always kept his distance from lunatics, and he didn't want to leave an impression of being a madman by helping the canary.

The image he presented to the world was that of a proud, solitary swordsman!

"Blood bead gege..." The canary grabbed Qi Yuan's arm and acted spoiled.

Qi Yuan immediately surrendered: "Alright, alright, alright, I'll go, okay?"

After all, who could refuse a girl who called him "gege"?

...

At night, Qi Yuan returned to the place where he always stayed.

Today, he had taken the canary and flown all over the Eighteen Mountains.

He turned into an airborne loudspeaker, proclaiming to the Eighteen Mountains that Miss Canary was the most beautiful woman in the Eighteen Mountains.

Anyone who disagreed was beaten into submission by Qi Yuan.

Now, Qi Yuan just wanted to stay here forever, unwilling to go down the mountain and face people.

The canary, on the other hand, was incredibly smug and seemed in a great mood.

She even felt it wasn't enough and wanted to do it again.

"Blood bead, did you see the white fox Shang Yanran today? Isn't she a notch below me?" The canary looked at Qi Yuan expectantly.

Qi Yuan's mind also conjured the image of the white fox Shang Yanran.

In terms of appearance, the canary was naturally superior.

But still, looking at the plain and ordinary canary, Qi Yuan understood why the white fox was considered the most beautiful woman in the Eighteen Mountains.

"Do you want the truth or a lie?" Qi Yuan asked.

The canary glared at him: "...The lie."

"She's beautiful," Qi Yuan said, telling the lie.

Hearing this, the canary looked aggrieved: "Both the lie and the truth are her, right?"

"The truth is you."

"You're lying to me, saying one thing but meaning another."

"I never tell lies."

"You just told a lie!"

...

Twenty years later.

Qi Yuan sat upright on a green stone.

His Human-Demon Path had now broken through to 999,999.

Extremely terrifying.

He gazed at the Gate of Ten Thousand Differences in the sky, lost in thought.

"The heart demon is born from heaven and earth, nourished by nature, following like a shadow."

"Tempted by power, disturbed by emotion, trapped by greed... all such things are sins."

Qi Yuan felt a resonance, and his voice grew louder.

"If you see me through form, or seek me through sound, you are walking a deviant path."

"See not the sun and moon, see not the stars, seek not immortals or demons; humans shall trap the demon!"

His voice was vast, like spring thunder, like a dragon's roar, drifting through the Nine Coiled Mountains and beyond the hills.

Wherever it passed, strange fragrances scattered naturally, refreshing the mind and heart.

All the demon spirits and creatures who heard Qi Yuan's voice stood dumbfounded, their eyes showing contemplation.

Some demon spirits knelt and bowed, as if they had received supreme wondrous teachings.

"Who... is preaching the Dharma?"

"Which great master!"

"Nine Coiled Mountains, hurry!"

"Such wondrous teachings, truly extraordinary, seem to be related to the heart demon!"

All the demons were shaken, and even the humans who heard the voice were pleasantly surprised, rushing toward the Nine Coiled Mountains.

A day passed.

Qi Yuan sat like a deity, his words blooming like lotuses.

On the Nine Coiled Mountains, flowers bloomed of their own accord, flocks of birds sang in homage, and auspicious clouds brought blessings.

Countless animals, demon spirits, and even some powerful human cultivators sat at the foot of the mountain.

They sat quietly, listening to the wondrous sound.

Their eyes showed shock and excitement, sometimes pondering, sometimes suddenly enlightened, unable to tear themselves away.

They were immersed in Qi Yuan's Dharma preaching.

On the Nine Coiled Mountains, withered trees sprouted new buds, all things were harmonious, and every living being looked at Qi Yuan with reverence.

Only the canary tilted her head, just a few meters away from Qi Yuan, looking at him with pure pride.

PS: Only one chapter today, asking for leave. There may be no update tomorrow either. A thousand apologies. There's a funeral at home. Sorry.

(This chapter ends)