The Transmigrator’s Cultivation

Arc 21: Breaking Through The Nascent Soul Stage | Chapter 389: Inner Demons

After this battle, the people from the Huoyuan Mountain Domain did not come to stir up trouble for several years.

However, Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie were instead admonished by many of their fellow shixiongs.

It turned out that their shixiongs had learned the reason behind the sudden hostility of the Huoyuan Mountain Domain while gathering information.

The cultivator Yun Lie had cut down, Cai Tongguang, who lost half of his body to Yun Lie’s sword, was the son of the region’s lord.

The Huoyuan Mountain Domain was different from the Wuling Mountain Domain.

Wuling Mountain Domain was weak. The many disciples of Wuling Mountain had to constantly fight in duels, focusing all their energy on increasing their cultivation and leaving no time for forming relationships, let alone finding true Dao companions. As a result, this Mountain Domain had only solitary cultivators.

However, the Huoyuan Mountain Domain had many disciples, and for thousands of years, the region had been ruled by the same lord. This lord had a Dao companion who was a few realms below him in cultivation.

Over the years, the couple had only one child, and the wife had died giving birth to this son. Because of this, the lord of Huoyuan Mountain loved his son dearly. Especially since the child had extraordinary talent, the lord valued him even more. After several hundred years, the son was approaching the Divine Transformation stage and held a highly esteemed position within the region.

Over time, Cai Tongguang came to believe himself to be exceptionally gifted, developing a somewhat arrogant and unstable temperament. This was largely due to his relatively short cultivation time and the ease with which he had advanced. When he lost face in this recent incident, he wanted to regain it, but he never intended to kill anyone.

Unfortunately for him, his true essence, built over years of peaceful cultivation, was no match for Yun Lie’s sword intent, which had been honed through daily killing since his youth. Furthermore, Cai Tongguang happened to encounter Yun Lie while Yun Lie’s sword soul was condensing, making him the perfect sharpening stone. He nearly lost his life—only spared because Wen Tianhua intervened in time, and Yun Lie held back, not destroying his dantian.

Even so, Cai Tongguang would still have to suffer greatly.

This was the backstory; now for the aftermath.

Cai Bingyuan, the region lord of Huoyuan Mountain, had already reached the Great Ascension stage. Over the years, he had accumulated a high position and great influence, and his state of mind was as firm as a rock.

Cai Tongguang was his reverse scale. Although Cai Bingyuan knew it was his beloved son who had provoked the incident, he couldn’t help but feel some anger.

However, as a cultivator of immense power and stature, he couldn’t seek revenge on younger disciples. Still, the lingering dissatisfaction in his heart could lead to inner demons if unresolved. To prevent this, he restrained his disciples, forbidding them from further provoking the Wuling Mountain Domain. This was his way of stepping back. However, he also instructed his followers that if they ever encountered that young man named Yun Lie, they should teach him a lesson.

The severity of this “lesson” would depend on Yun Lie’s fortune. If he was lucky, he would survive; if not, he might simply perish!

Listening to his shixiongs’ conversation, Xu Ziqing pondered deeply.

So, it seemed that the lord of Huoyuan Mountain wanted to vent his anger for his son, but he wasn’t ready to completely sever ties with Wuling Mountain Domain. The price, however, would be that his shixiong would be targeted, and only when Yun Lie suffered severe injury or death would the matter be settled.

The lord, sitting high above, likely believed this was already quite generous to the Wuling Mountain Domain, and perhaps it wasn’t entirely unreasonable. However, in Xu Ziqing’s heart, nothing was more important than his shixiong. Even if their current cultivation was far below that of the region lord, how could they allow themselves to be at his mercy?

Many disciples of Wuling Mountain shared this sentiment. They had been oppressed for many years, yet they had never feared anyone, nor would they willingly send their fellow disciples to be punished.

Huoyuan Mountain Domain was indeed much stronger than Wuling Mountain, and as a local Mountain Domain, they had many external powers supporting them, unlike the rootless Wuling Mountain. But even so, for the region lord to look down on them like this was truly an underestimation!

Gongye Feibai reminded them, “Although we may be lacking, we will never betray our fellow disciples. You two should focus on cultivating. Within the sect, they won’t dare act recklessly.”

Ke Hong and the others chimed in, “There’s no need to be afraid. If we do face them, they may not be our match!”

Xu Ziqing felt the warmth of his shixiongs’ support and said softly, “Thank you for your care. Yun Shixiong and I will remember this well.”

Yun Lie nodded slightly in gratitude.

From then on, the two truly focused on cultivating within the Wuling Mountain Domain. Without the duels from Huoyuan Mountain Domain, the challenges from the other three Mountain Domains also became less frequent. Gradually, a sense of peace settled over Wuling Mountain. Occasionally, small Mountain Domains would come, seeking to take advantage of their resources, but most of them were driven off. The few who won did not harm the foundation of Wuling Mountain.

Thus, time flowed like water, passing by slowly.

#############################

Five years later.

A young cultivator dressed in green robes sat cross-legged, with countless plants and vines behind him, densely packed like the sands of the Ganges, weaving together to form an endless scene resembling a forest.

However, this scene was not real but illusory, mere phantoms.

Soon, the plants and vines began to writhe, transforming swiftly into countless fierce beasts and savage creatures, pouncing, tearing, and displaying their various abilities, their power terrifying.

In the next moment, those fierce beasts and creatures vanished, leaving behind the silent shadows of trees, as calm and still as before.

Only several thick blood-red vines swayed wildly, surrounded by towering trees and vibrant green spiritual plants. While the atmosphere carried an overwhelming ferocity, it seemed to immediately dispel any hostility, transforming into a peaceful—no, perhaps nearly balanced—state.

These blood-red vines and the surrounding trees showed no sign of distortion, nor could they transform into myriad spirits of the world.

This young cultivator was naturally Xu Ziqing, and the blood-red vines unable to transform into spirits were his life-bound Bloodthirsty Demon Vines, alongside several secondary trees with powerful yang energy that balanced them, nurturing his body and flesh.

Such wondrous trees of the world were innately stable in form, making it extremely difficult to transform them into humanoid shapes, let alone control them with spells.

Even with the heaven-defying “Ten Thousand Woods Great Heart Planting Technique,” it still wasn’t possible.

At that moment, a cold and stern man in white approached, standing in front of Xu Ziqing. His eyes lowered slightly as he asked, “How are you today?”

Xu Ziqing raised his head with a smile. “Today is also very good, I believe the affliction has completely dissipated.”

Why did he speak of an affliction?

It was due to an old matter.

Since the Huoyuan Mountain incident, Xu Ziqing had cultivated even more diligently, knowing that if he continued as he was, he might still not be able to help his shixiong. On the contrary, he could end up being a burden, restricting his shixiong. His shixiong’s understanding of the Sword Soul advanced rapidly, and in no time, he had completed the first refinement of his sword soul, progressing at an incredible pace.

Xu Ziqing, possessing legendary cultivation techniques, knew that though his growth might be slow and steady, it should still grant him many more methods and strengths. He shouldn’t be falling behind like this. Besides, his shixiong had lived for a century through a reincarnated primordial spirit. Previously, he could attribute his lack of help to his young age, but now there were no more excuses.

If he had not yet developed feelings for his shixiong and merely admired him from afar, it would have been one thing. But now, having become his shixiong’s dual cultivation partner, he needed to work even harder.

However, the more Xu Ziqing practiced, the more his cultivation stagnated—he hadn’t made any progress for half a year. Although he became more proficient in his techniques, the power of his spells grew increasingly unstable. Unfortunately, he hadn’t realized this until one day, when he was struck by the backlash from Rongjin’s killing intent, severely injuring his internal organs. Only then did he notice something was wrong.

Yun Lie, who had been in seclusion refining his sword soul, sensed Xu Ziqing’s injury and came out to check on him. He found that his junior brother had nearly fallen into a state of inner demons.

Xu Ziqing had developed a heart demon.

The two ceased their relentless cultivation, and Yun Lie carefully examined Xu Ziqing’s condition. When asked, Xu Ziqing could not explain the cause.

So, Yun Lie pulled him into the room, and they engaged in dual cultivation, merging their primordial spirits.

As an outsider looking in, Yun Lie understood the reason behind Xu Ziqing’s state.

At the root of it, it was nothing more than the accumulation of numerous minor thoughts and unspoken concerns, finally erupting all at once.

It was a reflection of Xu Ziqing’s feelings of shame and inferiority.

Imagine, ever since he embarked on the path of cultivation, Xu Ziqing had faced countless dangers and near-death experiences. Every time, it was his shixiong who stood at the forefront to shield him. Though Xu Ziqing also fought, he was mostly a supporting figure, and even caused his shixiong to almost lose his life. Even later, when he watched over his shixiong for those many years, due to his own formation of the Golden Core, he was unable to attend to every matter thoroughly.

Now that they were Dao companions, they should be equals. However, Xu Ziqing felt that he was still taking more and giving less.

Every time Xu Ziqing reflected on this, he would tell himself that there was no need to be overly calculative with his shixiong. If he achieved anything in the future, he would simply give it all to his shixiong. There was no need to get caught up in such thoughts. Yet, the deeper his love grew, the more inadequate his contributions seemed, making him feel uneasy.

On top of that, his cultivation had been smooth in the past, without ever encountering a bottleneck. But now, his cultivation had stagnated, and the last type of divine water he needed was still elusive. These concerns gradually piled up, influencing his mental state without him realizing it.

As a result, Xu Ziqing’s mindset subtly changed. Not only did he grow a bit impatient during cultivation, but even while circulating his techniques, there were minor hindrances—though they didn’t cause major issues, they prevented his spells from being as smooth and flawless as before.

After their dual cultivation, Xu Ziqing’s injuries had mostly healed.

Yun Lie, having learned the reason behind his troubles, though his desires remained, prioritized Xu Ziqing’s health and did not indulge.

During their union of primordial spirits, Xu Ziqing also reflected on himself and realized the cause of his struggles.

This discovery brought a wry smile to his face.

Indeed, Xu Ziqing feared that he would not be able to keep up with his shixiong’s pace, that he would drag him down, or that one day his shixiong might grow tired of him due to his insufficient reciprocation of their deep bond.

A cultivator must have a firm and steady heart. Whenever these thoughts arose in Xu Ziqing’s mind, he would extinguish them immediately, thinking that his Dao heart was pure.

Unexpectedly, though he had dispelled these thoughts many times, they had arisen just as often. Over time, some were overlooked, and slowly but surely, they had built up without him fully realizing it.

Now, he had fallen prey to a heart demon.

Seeing him like this, Yun Lie pulled him into his embrace.

The two sat in silence, their skin pressed together.

Xu Ziqing could hear the steady, rhythmic beating of his shixiong’s heart, without the slightest irregularity.

Just like his shixiong—sharp as a sword, yet his heart was as steady as a rock.

Yun Lie, who rarely spoke, remained silent.

After a day and night passed, Xu Ziqing opened his eyes, his expression becoming even more gentle.

By this time, his heart had calmed like still water.

After several months of seclusion, Xu Ziqing finally managed to slay his heart demon.

However, the internal injuries from the backlash were still present, and he continued to be affected by the lingering power of the heart demon. These could only be slowly removed and gradually worn down.

Thus, several more years passed.

Until a few days ago, Xu Ziqing’s Dao heart had been thoroughly polished, and his previous concerns were all eroded away.

The occasional fluctuations in his mental state caused by the heart demon had finally disappeared as well.

All the hidden injuries in his body had also fully healed.

At this moment, someone came with a message—there was news regarding the task Xu Ziqing had posted at the Baigu Hall.

Translator: Lynn

Translations are not 100% correct. Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

Support me on ko-fi if you like what I do^^