txolops Chapter 169 Fire Cloud Cave - The Path of Slaying Demons
Chapter 169 Fire Cloud Cave - The Path of Slaying Demons
It is said that Daoist Guangming endured two innate divine lightning strikes. Although he coughed up blood, he did not die.
He staggered to the ground, looked down at his chest, and saw that his Taoist robe was charred black, his flesh was torn and rolled up, and his white bones were faintly visible. He was in excruciating pain.
However, he was a Great Luo True Immortal who had cultivated for a long time and had a profound foundation, so the two lightning bolts failed to take his life.
He looked up and saw Li Fa lying on the edge of the cliff, also disheveled and barely breathing.
Guangming's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "So this is plasma! I've never suffered such a loss before! If I don't tear you to pieces today, I swear I'm not a man!"
Having said that, he mustered his inner energy, leaped into the air, and the jade ruyi in his palm transformed into a stream of light, heading straight for Li Fatian's head!
Li Fa was already at his last gasp.
His three flowers on his head were cut off, his vital energy was greatly damaged, and his magical power was leaking out of his body like water from a leaky pot.
Seeing Guangming rushing towards him, he calmed down and thought to himself: I'm going to die anyway, might as well fight!
He reached into his robes and grabbed the Thunder Pearl.
Guangming was already upon him, holding the Ruyi scepter high, and shouted, "Prepare to die!"
In that instant, Li Fa aimed the Thunderclap Pearl at Guangming's chest, no longer releasing it one by one, but instead activating the remaining three innate divine thunderbolts all at once!
That divine thunder was indeed like an arrow released from a bow; it was truly a thunderclap that startled the bowstring!
Before Guangming Daoist could even react, his primordial spirit and physical body were swallowed up by the lightning.
When the lightning subsided, only a charred corpse remained on the ground.
The jade ruyi was also broken into several pieces by the lightning, and had become a pile of useless junk.
At the same time, the Heavenly Net that had trapped Sun Wukong lost its magical support, its light dimmed, and it drifted down from the sky.
The traveler struggled inside for a moment, then realized the treasure was loose. He shouted, used his divine power, and with a shake of his arms, broke free.
Looking back, all that could be seen was the treasure lying on the ground, gleaming with golden light.
The pilgrim was overjoyed, picked up the Heavenly Net, stuffed it into his robes, and laughed, "What a treasure! What a treasure! Old Sun has finally done something worthwhile!"
Having found the treasure, the Great Sage remembered Li Fa and quickly turned around. He saw Li Fa lying on the edge of the cliff, his face ashen, barely alive.
The traveler was greatly alarmed and rushed forward to help Li Fa up, calling out, "Old man! Old man! What's wrong with you?"
Li Fa asked, "Great Sage... is that old Taoist... dead?"
The pilgrim said, "He's dead! He's as black as charcoal! Don't say anything, I'll take you to a doctor!"
At this moment, Ruyi Zhenxian struggled to get up, clutching his chest, and staggered forward.
He looked down at Li Fa, sighed, and said, "This Taoist priest... has had his three flowers on the top of his head cut off, and his magical power has leaked out. I'm afraid ordinary medicines won't be able to save him."
The Monkey King exclaimed urgently, "What? Don't talk nonsense! When I wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace, I was hacked at with swords and axes, struck by lightning and burned, yet I wasn't harmed in the slightest. He was merely struck by a Ruyi Jingu Bang, how could he not be saved?"
Ruyi Zhenxian shook his head and said, "Great Sage, you are unaware of this. The three flowers on the top of the head are the essence, energy, and spirit of a cultivator, and are the foundation for attaining the Dao."
This injury is not like being chopped with a knife or axe, nor like being struck by lightning or burned. With the three flowers severed, it is like a great tree having its roots cut off, or a river having its source cut off.
If not replenished in time, at best one's cultivation will be completely destroyed, at worst one's soul will be scattered. Ordinary elixirs are utterly useless.
The pilgrim asked, "What is needed to save them?"
Ruyi Zhenxian said, "Unless it's the Three Lights Divine Water that can reshape the primordial spirit, or the Queen Mother of the West's peaches of immortality that can rebuild the foundation, I can't think of any other way."
"Great Sage, you are indeed righteous!" Upon hearing this, he said, "It's just peaches of immortality, isn't it? I've stolen peaches and imperial wine back in the day, what haven't I done? At worst, I'll just go back to that garden and steal a couple more."
After the pilgrim finished speaking, he was about to get up when Li Fa grabbed his sleeve and said, "Great Sage... wait..."
The pilgrim said, "Old man, don't stop me, I'll be right back!"
Li Fa shook his head and said, "There's no need to go to the Peach Garden... I... I have..."
The traveler was taken aback: "What do you have?"
Li Fa tremblingly reached into his robes, fumbled around for a while, and finally pulled out a jade box.
Upon opening the box, a fragrant aroma wafted out, revealing a neat row of fruits inside – ginseng fruits!
Upon seeing it, the True Immortal Ruyi exclaimed in surprise, "This...this cannot be the ginseng fruit of the Great Immortal Zhenyuan! A spiritual root of heaven and earth, indestructible through countless eons! I never imagined you possessed such a treasure. This thing can replenish the primordial spirit and strengthen the foundation. If used to repair the Three Flowers, it would surpass even a nine-thousand-year-old peach of immortality!"
The pilgrim was overjoyed, grabbing two ginseng fruits in each hand and stuffing them into Li Fa's mouth, saying, "Old man, eat! Eat!"
Li Fa opened his mouth and took a bite; the treasure indeed melted instantly in his mouth and went down his throat.
Before an incense stick could burn, color returned to Li Fa's face, and his breathing became much more stable.
He opened his eyes, let out a long breath, and said, "That was close! I'm so grateful to my brother, the Great Immortal Zhenyuan, for giving me a few ginseng fruits. I never expected they would come in handy today."
The traveler laughed and asked, "Old man, how are you feeling?"
Li Fa said, "Sanhua has not fully recovered and needs to rest for some time. However, her life is no longer in danger."
He propped himself up and sat up, looking at the corpse of Guangming Daoist in the distance, and then at Red Boy.
Although the demon king had lived for over three hundred years, he remained a mischievous child because he always had the innate essence of fire in his body.
After all this ordeal, he couldn't utter a single word; he just stood there, trembling and lost in thought.
Upon seeing this, the True Immortal Ruyi hurriedly stepped forward to support him and whispered, "Nephew, do not be afraid. The evil Taoist who harmed you is already dead."
Red Boy stammered, "Uncle...I...this fire spirit in my body...was it really planted by him?"
Ruyi Zhenxian sighed and said, "What that Taoist priest said earlier is probably true. Since your mother lent him the Banana Leaf Fan, it's clear she genuinely wanted to save you."
Red Boy lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.
Seeing this, the pilgrim walked up to Red Boy and said, "Nephew, your father and I are sworn brothers, so you should call me uncle."
That damned essence of fire within you, if not removed, will harm you sooner or later. Entrusted by your mother, I, Old Sun, am about to separate this essence of fire from your primordial spirit. Are you willing?
Red Boy looked up and asked, "If I take it out... what will happen to me?"
The traveler looked at Li Fa. Li Fa struggled to his feet and said, "After the fire essence is removed, your supernatural powers may be somewhat diminished, but your primordial spirit will be unharmed. Your mother said that even if you become a mortal, it's better than being controlled by that Guangming Daoist and falling into the demonic path."
Red Boy remained silent for a long time before finally nodding and saying, "Alright! I...I'm willing."
Li Fa took out the Dividing Spirit Jade Disc from his bosom, held it in his palm, and said to the Monkey King, "Great Sage, my magic power has not yet recovered, so I will have to trouble you with this matter of casting the spell."
The pilgrim laughed and said, "Don't worry, I'll teach you how to handle this."