Starting with the titmouse, seventy-two transformations

Chapter 376 Deduction: Suddenly an old friend crosses my mind, and looking back, the mountains and rivers are already in autumn (Part 1)

In the 431st year, you opened a wood carving shop opposite Xu's Pharmacy.

Carving snakes, carving birds, carving monks, carving monks, medicine doctors, masters, servants, etc.

Your craftsmanship is outstanding; each sculpture is lifelike, vivid, and naturally expressive.

Because they are all carved based on the living people and things you have seen, each one contains a story, so they are naturally lifelike.

Your wood carvings are works of art, so beautiful that people can't put them down, and your reputation is growing.

A young girl from Xu's Pharmacy really likes your wood carvings. She comes over every day whenever she has free time to chat with you and watch you carve. She's so lively and adorable.

Her chubby little face, like a steamed bun, feels wonderful to pinch.

She has endless things to talk about with you and asks you countless questions; she always wants to grow up quickly.

Her name is Xu Rong'er.

...

[In the 440th year, ten years have passed.]

In recent years, monsters have often appeared, devouring flesh and blood, while high-ranking and virtuous people have traveled the world to subdue and eliminate demons.

Fortunately, with you in charge, Ruyi Fang has always been peaceful and safe, with no demons harming people, which has attracted many people to move here.

But this world has been plagued by centuries of war, with people suffering and demons running rampant. Where is there any peace and tranquility?
It was just that you secretly carried the burden and killed those demons, monks, and Taoists who came to cause trouble in Ruyi Fang.

As Xu Rong'er grew up, her voice, appearance, and especially her peach blossom eyes, resembled those of Xu Xuan from back then.

You are quite familiar with her father, and you learned some things about the Xu family's ancestors from him.

Three hundred years ago, you took advantage of Bai Suzhen's weakness after childbirth, crippled her cultivation, abandoned her at the foot of Qingcheng Mountain, and then took her place on the river journey, bearing her karma, and was eventually imprisoned in the Yinshui Pool of Jinshan Temple.

Xu Xuan disappeared without a trace back then.

Her sister, Xu Jiao, endured countless hardships, grew old with her husband, and raised their children to adulthood.

He then chose one of his sons to change his surname to Xu, so that the Xu family line could continue. In the end, he inherited the pharmacy, which was passed down from generation to generation until his generation.

Hearing stories of old friends fills you with emotion.

Three hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye; time flies.

...

[The 450th year, another ten years have passed.]

Xu Rong'er has married and had children, and has inherited the Xu family's pharmacy.

Life wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either.

Busy with making a living, housework, raising children, and serving parents every day, they are like oxen and horses, never able to stop.

The smile of yesteryear is now hard to find; wrinkles have appeared on her face, and gray hairs have sprouted at her temples.

During holidays and festivals, she would visit and give gifts, looking at the wood carvings all over the house and reminiscing about her childhood with a smile on her face.

But that was twenty years ago.

Perhaps the happiest time in a person's life is when they are still young.

But back then, I just wanted to grow up.

On the Mid-Autumn Festival, she brought you mooncakes. When she left, she suddenly asked you, "Why have you not changed in your appearance for more than 20 years?"
Because I am a monster!

You smiled, said nothing, but knew it was time to leave.

But I'm still a little reluctant to part with it.

For the past twenty years, you have lived a simple and peaceful life, watching the sunrise and sunset, seeing the tides come and go, and finding peace in your heart.

You like this feeling of authenticity, so you've tried many methods in the hope of washing away your sins.

You have recited scriptures, observed fasts, repaired bridges and roads, provided porridge and assisted in funerals, saved lives and healed the wounded, and accumulated merits.

However, the results were minimal and the effects were negligible.

Over the past twenty years, the merits you have accumulated are not even enough to offset one ten-thousandth of the sins you have committed.

Moreover, their spiritual practice has regressed instead of progressed.

...

In the 452nd year, on this day, a Taoist priest came from the east. He was highly skilled in Taoist arts and possessed a righteous spirit.

He possesses secret techniques and has discovered your true form, intending to subdue the demon.

Not wanting to cause trouble, you revealed your abilities and persuaded him to leave.

He raised his eyebrows, drew his sword, pointed it at you, and began to curse you—

Burdened with sins, having slaughtered countless people, and having offended the heavens, he is to be killed on sight, even at the cost of one's own life.

Your attempts to communicate with him have only angered him, prompting him to threaten to fight you to the death.

That night, the light of swords illuminated the riverbank, and blood stained the river red.

Although you are just a monster, your fighting power in the water is comparable to that of a great demon. You also have the Four Fiends Yin Water by your side. What is a mere little Taoist priest worth mentioning?
So, he died.

The negative karma you have accumulated has increased dramatically, enough to offset the merits you have accumulated through a century of good deeds.

You then realize that although this young Taoist priest is young, he has been slaying demons and protecting women and children along the way, accumulating merit and virtue. He is an absolutely good person.

But in this world, good people never live long.

You killed him simply to save your own life; you did nothing wrong.

More importantly, your cultivation has increased dramatically, not only making up for the decline of the past twenty years, but even surpassing your former level.

It is the Vajrayana Sutra!
The heavier the sins, the deeper the spiritual attainment.

Only then did you realize that the seeds of cause and effect had already been sown that very day…

In this lifetime, I may not be able to follow the path of "transforming into a dragon by walking the river" that Bai Suzhen once taught me.

You found a Taoist book on the Taoist priest, called the "Supreme Spiritual Treasure True Scripture".

Curious about practicing it, I found it like being stabbed with a sharp blade, my lungs and internal organs feeling as if they were being torn apart.

So it stopped.

This is the right path.
It seems we are not meant to be.

...

In the 453rd year, you are making your last struggle.

After all, the method of "transforming into a dragon by crossing the river" is the righteous path. As long as one successfully crosses the river and overcomes the tribulation, one can transform into a true dragon.

But in the end, it was just wishful thinking.

The Vajrayana Sutra is too perverse and evil; once practiced, it becomes like a persistent carbuncle that cannot be shaken off.

The deeper one's sins, the faster one's spiritual progress.

In your quest to become a dragon, you committed countless murders and accumulated immense sins. When the Jinshan Temple was flooded, Fahai cursed you with his life...

It would be virtually impossible to follow Jiang Hualong's path again and successfully overcome the tribulation.

You pondered for seven days in the river, and finally made up your mind.

Since I can't become a true dragon, I'll become a demon or monster and go all the way down this path.

Therefore, killing that young Taoist priest was absolutely the right thing to do.

It will not only greatly advance your cultivation, but also create karmic connections with your master's sect.

After all, if you beat the young ones, the old ones will surely come. This cycle might be the opportunity for you to transform into a dragon.

However, after this, I will have to leave.

Please wait patiently.

Finally, a year later, a middle-aged Taoist priest arrived.

You lured him to the river and fought him.

Kill him, and your cultivation will greatly increase again.

In the 454th year, just after the Awakening of Insects, an old Taoist priest came to visit.

You killed his disciples and followers, which offended Heaven and the people. You did not do it for the sake of the common people, but only for revenge.

He then spat out a flying sword, severing your head.

【you are dead. 】

……

"Oh no, this is... gone too far?"

Liu Sheng took a deep breath, shook his head, and looked at the ink-wash characters on the panel, lost in thought.

Yin Shuijiao stayed in Lin'an City for two reasons: first, to learn about the Xu family's past and fulfill his long-cherished wish.

Secondly, in order to cleanse himself of his sins, he hoped to cross the river and undergo tribulation, transforming into a true dragon.

Now that the first wish has been fulfilled, the second wish is impossible...

Therefore, there's no need to stay in Lin'an any longer.

They must go out and seek another opportunity to transform into a dragon. If that doesn't work, they can only commit evil again and accumulate sins.

Of course, the most direct reason was that he couldn't beat that old Taoist priest.

Otherwise, staying in Lin'an City and killing those chivalrous demon hunters who come to right wrongs is also a good choice. You can keep waiting for the right opportunity to strike, accumulate sins, and eventually transform into a dragon...

Evil dragon! Yes, the Vajrayana Sutra also mentions the method of transforming into a dragon, but not into a true dragon favored by heaven and earth, but rather an evil dragon with heinous sins.

The amount of bad karma that needs to be accumulated is astronomical; the sin of killing ordinary people alone is simply not enough.

Tens of millions? Trillions? Countless.

"So killing monks and Taoists who have accumulated merit, especially great merit, is more efficient?"

Liu Sheng narrowed his eyes.

To transform into a wicked dragon, one must commit great evils and wicked deeds; the best way to do so is to oppose the righteous path.

He would summon righteous people to him to "exorcise demons and subdue evil spirits," then kill them and accumulate sins.

It's not about right or wrong, it's about transcendence.

So……

Why not become a great demon king who strikes fear into the hearts of all?
Liu Sheng slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, having made his decision:

"Continue the simulation."

……

In the 431st year, you opened a wood carving shop opposite Xu's Pharmacy...

...

In the 452nd year, a Taoist priest came from the east. He was highly skilled in Taoist magic and possessed a righteous spirit.

If you kill it, you will obtain a Taoist scripture, named "The Supreme Spiritual Treasure True Scripture".

He then killed the middle-aged Taoist priest who came seeking revenge, obtained his robes and sword, and left Lin'an City.

Before you left, you left the gold and silver you had accumulated over the years to Xu Rong'er.

This marks the end of the ties you formed with Lu Sheng back then.

The beginning and the end of a cycle.

Right now,

Just like that time and that moment.

...

In the 454th year, you traveled along the river, committing all sorts of evil deeds, earning the nickname "Black Dragon Demon," which terrified people and beasts alike.

But the accumulated sins were not as great as expected.

...

In the 460th year, you settled in Penglize.

He adopted the name "Black Flood Dragon Demon," gathered thousands of large and small demons, ruled the waters, and frequently launched attacks on all sides, stirring up trouble and creating waves.

His infamy spread far and wide, but his spiritual practice improved significantly.

On this day, an old Taoist priest came and said that you had killed his disciples and grand-disciples, which was against the will of Heaven and not for the sake of the common people, but only for revenge.

He spews flying swords from his mouth and battles you.

Little did they know, you were born with a water spirit, and over the years your cultivation has advanced to a level comparable to that of a great demon in the water.

In the end, the old Taoist priest, who had spent his life upholding justice and slaying demons, died under your Four Fiends Yin Water.

Your sins have increased dramatically, and your spiritual cultivation has advanced significantly.

...

[The 490th year, this is the 30th year you have stood on the stick.]

Over the years, relying on the Jiao's innate advantage over other aquatic creatures, you have led your people to conquer all directions and seize the best areas of Pengli Marsh.

They also encouraged their subordinates to commit evil deeds, turning them into a wicked and terrifying force.

Over the years, many monks and Taoist priests have come here, hoping to slay demons.

Unfortunately, you are no longer the same person you used to be, and you can easily kill them.

However, to avoid intimidating these righteous people and preventing them from bringing more sins in the future, you usually only use two or three tenths of your strength to deal with them.

You're "fishing," and to avoid attracting an insurmountable enemy, you're putting on an act.

They deliberately acted as if they were equal to them, often at the cost of being "seriously injured" before they could kill them.

Your reputation for being "ordinary" is gradually spreading throughout the world.

...

[In the five hundredth year, you have been living in seclusion in Poyang Lake, accumulating evil deeds.]

...

[In the 510th year, you secluded yourself in Poyang Lake, accumulating evil deeds.]

...

[In the 520th year, you have been in Pengli Marsh for 60 years. Although you deliberately acted to make yourself "ordinary", you have not fallen for 60 years and your infamy has spread far and wide. There are not many young heroes who come to you to make up for your achievements.]

But the sins you have accumulated are far from enough.

Therefore, you allow your subordinates to go out and do evil, harm the people, and cause trouble.

Finally, some demon hunters couldn't stand it anymore and took the initiative to come and slay the demons.

They easily killed some weak demons, which boosted their confidence. They then killed some powerful leaders and were victorious again.

Therefore, they looked down on you a lot and finally joined forces to break into Pengli Marsh, wanting to act on behalf of Heaven.

You struggled to control yourself and "exerted all your strength" to kill most of them, then pretended to be seriously injured, unable to catch up, and deliberately let a few escape.

You are "fishing".

Hopefully, after they recover from their injuries, they will continue their efforts and attract even more "sins."

...

In the 522nd year, after waiting for two years and almost becoming impatient, those people you deliberately let go back then finally came with enough men to come and find you to exorcise demons.

In the past two years, while recovering from their injuries, they have been gathering manpower. This time, more than 20 people came, several times more than last time, and they belong to different sects.

Each one of them possessed a clear mind and bright spirit, had accumulated merits, and exuded righteousness.

You are overjoyed, thinking that by killing this wave, you might accumulate enough sins to transform into a wicked dragon.

So he showed himself and engaged them in battle.

This time, you're no longer hiding anything; you're going all out.

The river surged, the waves were huge, the demonic aura soared to the sky, the black mist swirled and obscured the sun, and the four evil spirits of Yin water flowed through it, sinister and vicious, impossible to guard against.

Ultimately, all the visitors were wiped out.

The sins on your body have increased so much that they have almost solidified into a tangible form, which is extremely frightening.

A sudden inspiration strikes you, and you're about to dive into the water to slumber, attempting to molt and break through...

They trick you into believing a gold brick will fall and make you see stars.

Then, magical treasures such as spirit swords, purple knives, banners, golden bowls, and vajras shot towards them.

I'll pierce your seven inches, shatter your scales, and slice through your flesh...

Each of them is skilled in their techniques, adept in their moves, and experienced, and they intend to take your life.

It turned out to be the elders of the sect of those young heroes from before.

It turns out, you're calculating against others, and others are calculating against you.

You see them as sinful, but don't they see you as virtuous?

【you are dead. 】

……

"Dead again!"

Liu Sheng slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, staring blankly at the ink-wash characters on the panel, lost in thought.

This Yin Water Dragon incarnation is clearly repeating the same old trick.

Just like back in Snake Valley, he raised strange snakes and snake spirits for him to devour, thereby stimulating the awakening of his bloodline.

He gathered thousands of demons and allowed them to go out and do evil, all in order to lure "demon hunters" to come and subdue the demons.

They even knew how to "fish," deliberately letting a few go back to lure in the next wave.

Unfortunately, the devil is always one step ahead, but the righteous are ten steps ahead; he ultimately underestimated the human heart.

While he was using the lesser demons to catch fish, weren't those old masters from prestigious sects also using their "small fish" to lure out his "great merit"?
They scheme against each other; the so-called good and evil are nothing but slogans.

In the end, it all comes down to actual ability.

They were not strong enough before, and then they made too much of a fuss.

"If Penglize...every few decades, a heinous monster appears, attracting a group of chivalrous demon hunters..."

Liu Sheng's heart skipped a beat, and a plan suddenly came to him. His eyes gleamed with a mysterious light.
"It's like harvesting crops, one crop after another, and each time the evil 'monster' is killed, wouldn't that be a safer approach?"

He paused for a moment, then decided to give it a try:

"Continue the deduction!"

Suddenly, the light and shadows flickered before my eyes, and the sound of waves filled my ears...

(End of this chapter)