Chapter 74

Fang Naji could not figure out the purpose of the mirror, nor did he understand the intention of the Green Snail Palace Master. However, he did not dare to disobey the order and, as instructed, bit his middle finger and smeared a red layer of his blood on the mirror. Yue Qing then taught him a spell, instructing him to recite it three times and then exhale a true breath onto the mirror. The mirror's surface flickered with a cold light, absorbing the blood and regaining its brightness.

Next was Kaying Sha Bu. Although he was rash, he knew that he was at the mercy of others. Afraid of ending up in a situation where he could neither live nor die, he did not speak and, like his senior brother, used his blood and the spell to consecrate the magic mirror, then exchanged it.

Yue Qing did not take it, pointing at Huang Su: "You all do the same, one by one."

The Eight Demons were somewhat stunned, but they did not dare to defy their master's command. Starting with Huang Su, they consecrated the magic mirror in turn.

The spell Yue Qing taught each of them was different. After the consecration, he handed the magic mirror back to Huang Su: "From today on, you will focus on refining this mirror for me. You each have half a day to send back the women you have abducted and disperse your followers. From Qingyuan Temple to Green Snail Palace, there will only be you and me, plus Lei Qilong and the twelve of you. If there is one more, I will kill whoever is left!"

He then looked at the two monks and threatened, "You can run, but even if you go ten thousand miles away, I can easily capture your souls." The two monks said they dared not.

Although the ten of them were unwilling, they did not dare to disobey. They immediately returned to disperse their followers and servants, driving them out of the Green Snail Mountain territory. Fortunately, not far from Qingyuan Temple was a major road leading from Yunnan to Sichuan. Although the traffic was sparse due to the frequent raids and abductions by the two monks and the Eight Demons, there were still some brave or self-confident travelers who dared to pass through, so they did not fear starvation.

After the ten of them handled their affairs, they returned. Yue Qing handed them the magic mirror: "From today on, except for the Zi and Wu hours, each of you will take one hour to consecrate this mirror using the method just now. During your free time, you must also sit in meditation, recite the spell, and practice your skills, without any slack."

The two monks and the Eight Demons were relieved to find out that they were only asked to help refine the treasure. The Eight Demons, who were originally very anxious, also felt relieved. Since their master took in the little Lei Qilong, he seemed to have changed, losing all his former tenderness and affection, and instead showing a ruthless and violent side. The Eight Demons had been on edge all day, and now they felt a weight lifted off their shoulders.

Yue Qing confined them in the main hall, not allowing them to step outside. He also had Lei Qilong assist, personally picking many herbs and boiling them into a thick medicinal broth, which he poured into gourds. Each of them had to drink a cup before starting their consecration. They took turns, each for one hour, and during the Zi and Wu hours, Yue Qing would personally consecrate the mirror. This process continued without a break.

The mirror's surface gradually emitted a blood-red light, which became increasingly intense. By the thirty-sixth day, wherever the mirror's light shone, everything turned blood red. After that, the light began to fade, and by the seventy-second day, not a trace of red remained, and the mirror returned to its original clear, cold light.

During this period, the two monks and the Eight Demons underwent significant changes, becoming increasingly emaciated and withered. They originally had fat, red faces, but in the end, they all became skin and bones, resembling skeletons. Their vital energy and spirit all entered the mirror, and their mental state became increasingly excited. After the thirty-sixth day, a world formed within the mirror, and each time they refined the mirror, they could experience the most wonderful sensations in life. They all knelt before Yue Qing, begging to be allowed to consecrate the mirror continuously.

Yue Qing said, "To be honest, I taught you the Ten Demon Heart Spell of the Northern Demon Sect. Now you have exhausted all your vital energy and spirit. If you continue, your current bodies will die, and your souls will enter the mirror, becoming demon servants. However, I do not like to force anyone. If you now wish to turn back, I will kill you with one sword and send you to be reborn. In the future, I will guide you back, educate you from a young age, and help you cultivate and pursue the path of immortality."

The ten of them shook their heads: "Our bodies are already withered, our skin loose, our bones weak, and we are full of foul odors. Being reborn would only give us another such body, which is truly uninteresting. We are willing to enter the mirror and live there freely."

"Good!" Yue Qing said, waving the mirror, and their souls were drawn out and thrown into the mirror. Their bodies quickly collapsed, forming ten human-shaped ashes on the ground.

Lei Qilong, who witnessed this shocking scene, turned pale and trembled, not daring to speak.

Yue Qing looked at him: "Do you think your master's actions are too cruel?"

Lei Qilong quickly shook his head like a wave, having seen too many cruel and bloody things from Huashan to Green Snail, and knowing that these people were all ruthless killers, he did not dare to have any resentment.

Yue Qing put away the magic mirror: "These ten people committed all kinds of evil, from rape to abduction, and countless people have suffered at their hands. Each of them is covered in blood! If they had not accumulated such deep karma, I would not have used them to refine this Demon God Mirror."

After all this, only he and Lei Qilong remained in the Green Snail Valley, in a desolate silence.

A few days later, Yue Qing had refined all of Wei Fengniang's magical treasures and instructed Lei Qilong to stay at home, close the array, and practice diligently. He himself rode his magic sword straight to Mount Lu, landing in front of the White Deer Cave. Before his feet touched the ground, a fierce white tiger with a black stripe on its forehead pounced at him, but he swiftly beheaded it, splattering the ground with tiger blood. Then, a giant white-scaled snake with a single horn emerged from the nearby forest, opening its mouth and spewing toxic mist, but he cut it in half with his flying sword.

A roar came from the White Deer Cave, and a short, plump Taoist nun appeared on the hillside, with a leopard head, ringed eyes, yellow hair, and a fiery Taoist robe. She held a nine-knot, eighteen-ring dragon-headed staff. This was the owner of the cave, Flying Dragon Nun. She shouted, "Who dares to harm my mountain guardian beasts!"

Upon seeing the intruder, her face showed surprise. She recognized Wei Fengniang, a famous sword immortal who had been prominent in recent years, known for her ruthless and powerful magic. She thought to herself that she had never crossed paths with her, so why was she seeking trouble today?

Yue Qing chuckled, "Flying Dragon Nun, you are a Taoist nun, not a Buddhist nun. Why do you call yourself a nun?"

Flying Dragon Nun's face was filled with doubt, "Wei Fengniang, I have never offended you. Why do you come to Mount Lu to tease me?"

Yue Qing replied, "I am not here to tease you. I have important matters to discuss with you. Will you not invite me into the cave to talk?"

Flying Dragon Nun coldly said, "My White Deer Cave is too small to accommodate you. Let's talk here."

"Fine," Yue Qing said, "I recently obtained the secret scriptures of the Northern Demon Sect and have benefited greatly from them. I have come to invite you to join my sect and study the Heavenly Book together."

Flying Dragon Nun's eyes flashed with interest. She was very covetous of the Northern Demon Sect's secret scriptures: "The Ten Demon Sutra is the supreme secret of the Wutai Sect. Where did you get it?"

"The Ten Demon Sutra is not exclusive to the Wutai Sect. In the past, the Grand Master Taiyi Hunyuan and the Venerable Mahakala Sikong Zhan transcended the demonic path and entered the Tao. Although the Northern Demon Sect declined, eight of the ten elders remained. The scriptures I obtained are the secret texts left by the two elders, Ji Wudi and Xing Tianyin. What do you think? Are you interested in studying them with me?"

Flying Dragon Nun was half-believing, half-doubting: "If that's the case, show me the Demon Sutra. If it's real, I will make a decision."

Yue Qing smiled, "You can see the Demon Sutra, but you must first do something." He raised his hand, and the Demon God Mirror flew out. "I will teach you a spell of the Yin Demon. Use this spell to consecrate the mirror. Then you will become an elder of the Yin Demon Sect, and I will teach you the secret techniques of the Yin Demon Sect."

Flying Dragon Nun knew the power of the demon sect's secret techniques. Sometimes just a glance could ensnare you, so she did not dare to touch the Demon God Mirror with her hands. She pointed her dragon-headed staff, and the mirror began to spin at the end of the staff. After a careful inspection, she found nothing unusual. Hearing Yue Qing's words, she tapped the staff, making the mirror fly back to him and coldly said, "I am too timid to risk my life. I am not worthy of being an elder of the Yin Demon Sect. Find someone else!"