Chapter 57#
Extra 3 (Brutal: Proceed with Caution)#
Something major had recently happened at the East Pole Immortal Sect.
The sect’s strongest combatant — a man whose legendary and inspirational journey had led him to cultivate the Path of Supreme Emotional Detachment, making him cold-hearted, cold-blooded, and utterly impassive — Grand Daoist Sovereign Cangming, had actually failed at his Inner Demon Tribulation during his breakthrough to the Tribulation Crossing stage.
The crowd of cultivators observing the event nearly had their jaws hit the floor.
Here is how things had transpired.
Grand Daoist Sovereign Cangming, with an unmatched and overwhelming momentum, had breached eighty-one bolts of heavenly lightning in succession, without so much as scorching a corner of his Daoist robe. The people of the East Pole Immortal Sect had already begun preparations for a grand banquet, celebrating the birth of the first Tribulation Crossing Divine Sovereign in ten thousand years.
For in their eyes, the Inner Demon Tribulation that followed hardly counted as any sort of trial. Who was Grand Daoist Sovereign Cangming? He was a legendary figure on the continent, cultivated across thousands of years. Though he hailed from a low-grade plane, he possessed heaven-defying talent, an almost inconceivable comprehension of the Dao, and — rarest of all — a resolute Dao Heart that had never once wavered before any external influence.
When he had first taken up residence in the East Pole Immortal Sect, the moment Cangming set foot in the Myriad Scroll Pavilion, he was chosen by the Heaven-grade cultivation art: the Qian Kun Formula. The Qian Kun Formula had dwelled in the Myriad Scroll Pavilion for tens of thousands of years without ever revealing itself of its own volition, for it was a technique belonging to the Path of Supreme Emotional Detachment.
Such a Cangming had actually capsized during the Inner Demon Tribulation, his cultivation regressing by several minor realms. Worst of all, his state of mind was thrown into chaos, and his temperament had undergone a complete transformation.
The outside world was in an uproar. Internally, the East Pole Immortal Sect was actually quite calm about it all. After all, with Cangming’s strength, losing a few minor realms was nothing — he could reclaim them in a few decades. The change in temperament was merely temporary as well; those who cultivated the Path of Supreme Emotional Detachment would recover given time.
Still, what would it look like when a typically cold and aloof man underwent such a drastic change? Several peak masters who were closer to him harbored the idea of paying a visit. After all, in the long lives of cultivators, something this entertaining was a rare sight indeed.
Calling cards were sent. The group made their way up to Qian Ji Peak.
Qian Ji Peak was perhaps the most shabby-looking of all the principal peaks of the East Pole Immortal Sect. The summit was barren and empty, with only a single bamboo cottage standing there — not a single soul in sight.
Yes, Qian Ji Peak was the principal peak with the fewest members in the entire sect. The entire peak housed only one person: its peak master, Grand Daoist Sovereign Cangming.
The group found Cangming at the highest point of the peak. He was seated cross-legged before a protruding boulder, with a sea of rolling clouds directly beneath his feet. Grand Daoist Sovereign Cangming, in his white Daoist robe adorned with blue patterns, held a bamboo flute in his hand.
From his expression of deep concentration, the group had assumed it must be some incredibly powerful magical artifact. Upon closer inspection, however, it was just an ordinary bamboo flute. Made from the most common, ubiquitous bamboo, and likely crafted by an amateur, the flute’s body was rough and uneven. A thing like that, if tossed onto the roadside of the mortal realm, would not earn a single glance from anyone.
And yet this crudely fashioned bamboo flute was cradled in Cangming’s hands — hands as flawless as jade carvings.
Hearing the commotion behind him, Cangming turned around. His expression was unexpectedly gentle, tinged even with a sliver of nostalgia.
Someone immediately found the courage to speak: “Grand Daoist Sovereign Cangming, I didn’t know you could play the flute?”
“Mm.”
“This bamboo flute is…?”
Grand Daoist Sovereign Cangming had truly undergone a complete transformation. A man who could go decades without uttering a word now answered every question directed at him.
“A gift from a friend.”
“A friend? I never heard that Lord Sovereign had any close companions.” The group perked up with interest. Mm — having a good chat with Grand Daoist Sovereign could also be considered a method of helping him shake off his inner demons more quickly.
“I once had a friend…”
…
“Hmm? What’s this? A dog?”
“I am the dog?! You’re the one who’s a country bumpkin! Have you never seen a Heavenly Demon of pure bloodline like myself?”
“My apologies, Brother Canine Demon. I am Cangming. I’ve only just arrived in this plane and don’t yet understand many things. I hope you’ll be so kind as to offer me some guidance.”
“Hmph.”
“Ah, safe travels, Brother Canine Demon. May fate bring us together again.”
…
“Brother Canine Demon, we meet again.”
“I told you I’m not a canine.”
“Brother, you’re injured. Allow me to bandage your wounds.”
“Stay away from me.”
“I’ll leave as soon as I’ve finished bandaging.”
“Hmph.”
“Take care, Brother. Until we meet again.”
“Wait. My name is Meng Yu. Seeing as you’ve shown some sense, I’ll permit you to address me by my name.”
“Then, Brother Meng Yu, until fate brings us together again.”
…
“Brother Meng Yu, why is it that every time I see you, you’re injured?”
“It should be every time I’m injured that I run into you.”
“We really are fated to meet.”
“Fate of ruin.”
“Brother, you’re coughing up blood. Take this medicine quickly.”
“What kind of medicine is this you’re giving me? Why do my injuries feel worse? Are you someone the Xi Clan sent to kill me?”
“Don’t move around — the more you move, the more you bleed. I obtained this pill from a secret realm. Every time I’m injured, I take this medicine, and it cures the wounds immediately.”
“You’re a Dao cultivator! I’m a Demon cultivator! What you call medicine, we call poison! Where exactly did you crawl out from, you ignorant bumpkin!”
…
“Brother, you’re awake.”
“Where is this?”
“This is my cave dwelling. Your injuries were too severe, and you passed out. So I brought you back here.”
“No — I was knocked unconscious by you.”
“I truly am sorry. How are you feeling now?”
“Hmm? You actually know how to treat Demon cultivators?”
“I’ve had some insight into the art of formations. This is a formation I developed myself — one that can convert demonic qi and spiritual qi into each other. The issue is that it’s somewhat unstable in operation. I didn’t expect it to succeed today. Lucky me.”
“You experimented on me?! What if it had failed? Have you considered the consequences?!”
“But it succeeded, didn’t it?”
…
“Brother… Brother Meng Yu, it seems the situation has reversed this time.”
“How did you get hurt so badly?”
“I was betrayed by a snake.”
“With your level of common sense, it was only a matter of time before you ended up dead in this Demon Realm. Seeing as you’ve tended to my wounds on several occasions, follow me from now on.”
…
“Cangming, do you still remember how clueless and naive you looked when we first met?”
“At that time, weren’t you the one always getting injured? These demons in the Demon Realm who tremble at the mere mention of your name would probably never imagine the kind of spectacle the Great Heavenly Demon used to put on.”
“Cut the chatter. Drink.”
“Brother Meng Yu, I’ve decided to seek opportunities in the Cultivation Realm. This plane, after all, isn’t suitable for Dao cultivators.”
“When do you leave?”
“Tomorrow.”
…
“Brother Meng Yu, are you here to see me off?”
“Catch.”
“Is this… a bamboo flute?”
“I remember you mentioned you could play this peculiar instrument, but you’d forgotten to bring one from your homeland. So I made one based on your description.”
“Thank you. Until we meet again.”
“Once I’ve sorted out this mess in the Demon Realm, I’ll come find you.”
…
“It’s been years. You haven’t changed.”
“My friend really is something — he actually made it into the East Pole Immortal Sect. I followed the trail all this way, and you’re quite the celebrity in the Cultivation Realm now.”
“Reuniting with an old friend calls for a toast. Cheers!”
“Together!”
…
“Cangming, what exactly is the cultivation method you’re practicing? Have you noticed that you’re losing more and more human emotion?”
“The Qian Kun Formula.”
“The Qian Kun Formula? That’s the Path of Supreme Emotional Detachment! It won’t be long before even I, your closest friend, leave no trace in your heart.”
“I come from a low-grade plane. My karmic ties to it are too heavy. To continue walking the path of cultivation, I can only practice the Path of Supreme Emotional Detachment.”
“I will find a way to sever your karmic ties with that plane. As for this Path of Supreme Emotional Detachment — stop practicing it.”
“Why?”
“For me.”
“!”
“Just as I imagined — cold. Wait until I return.”
On the edge of the cliff, a figure in a white robe adorned with blue patterns watched the departing silhouette in the sky. After a long moment, he raised a hand and touched his own lips. The corners of his mouth curved.
“Alright.”
…
“I once had a friend…”
“And then?” Seeing that Grand Daoist Sovereign Cangming had fallen silent for quite some time, the group pressed on with some impatience.
“Then, he died. Ashes and smoke — nothing left.”
Hearing those final words, the group noticed that Cangming’s tone had reverted to its usual, familiar coldness.
Looking again, all they saw were his eyes — calm, still, and utterly without ripple.
The Inner Demon Tribulation — Broken.