Begin your practice with the crane-shaped stance.

Chapter 97 Demonic Nature (500 monthly tickets for additional updates)

Inside the room, time passed.

The introductory chapter of "The Asura Yin Sha Blade," which was originally as obscure as rambling in Xia Dong's eyes, gradually became clear after Xia Dong calmly studied it.

After an unknown amount of time, the chilling meaning between the lines of the ancient book transformed in his mind into clear diagrams of the flow of qi and blood and the release of energy.

Xia Dong stood up, went outside to the courtyard, and casually drew the Eagle Wolf Guard's standard-issue steel saber hanging at his waist.

He planned to use this familiar weapon to try and figure out the power generation methods in the sword manual.

He took a deep breath, his blood and qi surging slightly within his body, flowing through the meridians in his arm and into the blade.

However, before the first move could be fully executed, the standard-issue sword let out a mournful cry of despair. With a crisp "crack," the steel blade snapped in two.

Xia Dong shook her head slightly.

Seeing that his sword was no match for the weapon, Xia Dong turned around and went back into the house, picking up the broken wood-chopping knife he had brought back from the armory, which was covered in rust.

The moment Xia Dong held the knife in his hand, its immense weight immediately put him at ease.

Back in the courtyard, his blood and qi sank, his feet slightly apart, and he began to fully practice the three basic moves of the introductory chapter of the "Asura Yin Sha Blade".

The first move: Draw the knife to sever Yin and Yang.

Xia Dong's initial movements were extremely slow, as if the rusty woodcutter's knife in his hand was being dragged along by a thousand-pound weight.

But at the moment of exertion, the force suddenly burst forth from the Yongquan acupoint on the sole of the foot. This force runs through the calf, thigh, waist and hip, and finally converges on the right wrist holding the knife like a torrent.

This move emphasizes the word "explosive"—still as still water, yet swift as thunder.

At the instant the machete cleaved through the air, Xia Dong's vital energy was compressed into a single point. Combined with the machete's immense weight, it tore through the air with a muffled and terrifying sound, as if it could truly sever yin and yang.

The second move: Asura's Blood-Drinking Slash.

With a slash, Xia Dong did not hold back his strength, but instead twisted his wrist and waist in the process.

This move emphasizes "continuous" and "rebound." He uses the recoil and inertia generated by swinging the sword to create a violent, spiraling surge of blood and qi within his body. Within a small space, Xia Dong unleashed seven consecutive strikes, each faster and heavier than the last. His sword intent was like a leech, exuding a fierce and relentless aura, determined to drain the enemy of all their blood.

The third move: Yin Sha sweeps away the netherworld.

This is a powerful and wide-ranging area-of-effect attack.

Xia Dong's spine twisted wildly like a dragon, and every tendon in his body was taut. The blood and qi in his body were no longer concentrated at one point, but were sprayed outwards in a fan shape.

The rusty blade swept out, its powerful force transforming into visible shockwaves. This move drained the power accumulated in the meridians, carrying an unstoppable, all-consuming, and domineering crushing force that churned the air in the bedroom into chaotic turmoil.

When these three moves were first executed, apart from the wide and sweeping movements, they seemed unremarkable.

But as the practice continued, Xia Dong keenly perceived the ultimate mystery of this sword technique—it could penetrate from the outside in.

The external slashing motions are powerfully guiding and reshaping the trajectory of his Transcendent Realm Qi and Blood within his body.

The originally majestic and vigorous blood and energy, under the guidance of the sword techniques, gradually became cold, violent, and full of extreme aggression.

What alarmed Xia Dong even more was that, as he practiced his knife skills, the rusty wood knife in his hand, which had been completely still, underwent a strange change.

The hard rust on the blade seemed to come alive, emanating wisps of eerie, dark gray aura.

This chilling, malevolent aura, like a serpent, climbed up Xia Dong's wrist along the hilt of the sword. Far from hindering Xia Dong's movements, it perfectly complemented the tragic and insidious sword intent of the "Asura Yin Sha Blade."

The two elements blend seamlessly, causing the power of the sword techniques to increase exponentially, with each swing bringing a chilling aura.

Xia Dong felt increasingly alarmed as she performed, but also became more and more engrossed in it.

When he entered a state of complete absorption during the exercise, the magical power of the "Mysterious Yin Scripture" that he was cultivating within his body began to operate uncontrollably on its own.

The cold, pure Xuan Yin magic surged wildly into his right arm through his meridians, becoming an ideal breeding ground for nourishing this demonic sword technique. With the infusion of magic, the gray-black malevolent energy on the woodcutter's knife instantly surged, transforming into a faint black mist that enveloped Xia Dong entirely.

A strong sense of dread and pleasure surged deep within Xia Dong's mind.

With each swing of his sword, he seemed to unleash the deepest rage within him, bringing an unparalleled sense of euphoria and the ultimate thrill of controlling life and death.

His rational mind was clear that this bloodthirsty emotion was getting out of control, but the peak experience of constantly rising power made him unable to stop.

Amidst the frenzied dance of sword light and the intertwining of black mist, Xia Dong's once clear and deep eyes were now filled with spiderweb-like blood vessels.

Deep within his pupils, two crimson lights grew brighter and brighter, exuding a terrifying, utterly indifferent, and pure demonic aura.

"not good."

In the final moment before the boundless pleasure of slaughter was about to completely overwhelm his reason, a sliver of clarity remaining in Xia Dong's mind sounded a stern warning.

He realized that if he continued to wield the weapon without restraint, he would inevitably fall into an abyss of no return.

At this critical moment.

"Buzz!"

The sound of the bell was like a resounding bell, yet also like a bucket of ice water being poured over one's head.

Xia Dong shuddered, the crimson in his eyes receded instantly like a receding tide, and the swirling black mist around him also dissipated.

He stopped abruptly, panting heavily, his right hand, gripping the rusty woodcutter's knife, trembling slightly from the exertion.

Reason has regained the upper hand.

Xia Dong immediately sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes to look inward.

This sight, however, made his heart sink.

He clearly sensed that a dark and profound "demonic nature" had been lurking deep within his mind at some unknown time.

This demonic force did not dissipate when he stopped practicing his swordsmanship; instead, it seemed to have found the most fertile soil, taking root and sprouting deeply in his mind.

"The devil is also the way—" Xia Dong opened his eyes and murmured to himself.

Having experienced it firsthand and now calmly analyzed it, he keenly perceived the true nature of this demonic force.

It is completely different from the "qi deviation" that occurs in normal cultivation, where one's qi and blood flow backward and emotions become out of control due to being too eager for quick results.

This demonic power is neither chaotic nor insane; it is extremely pure.

Ultimately, this demonic nature is part of the deep-seated human nature—a hidden violence, desire, and the impulse to break all rules.

Allowing demonic tendencies to grow is also a form of cultivation, only it is completely different from the "quietude and inaction, step by step" path emphasized by the orthodox Xuanmen sects.

However, Xia Dong knew that if he really let go of his mind and body and allowed this demonic nature to grow unchecked, wouldn't he become a demonic cultivator?

It's not to say that demonic cultivators can't achieve the Great Dao.

Throughout the history of the cultivation world, there have been countless brilliant and extraordinary demonic masters.

However, the path of demonic cultivation emphasizes extreme plunder and explosive power; one must either achieve great success or suffer a great defeat, with no middle ground.

In fact, as long as he adheres to the bottom line and does not engage in evil deeds such as absorbing the life force of living people and devouring innocent souls, the magic power he cultivates solely by relying on Yin Sha Pills and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is still incomparably pure in essence and can definitely be considered a true orthodox Xuanmen.

The problem is that this magical power's "attribute" is too cold and gloomy. This kind of magical power is practically born to nourish demonic cultivation techniques.

The "Mysterious Yin Scripture" and this "Asura Yin Sha Blade" are indeed a match made in heaven.

The problem is that they are too compatible.

The sync was so perfect that it felt as if an invisible hand was pushing him hard from behind, dragging him headlong down the path of demonic cultivation.

If this demonic force cannot be suppressed and continues to grow subtly, Xia Dong finds it hard to imagine what outrageous things he might do in the future.

Given the unbridled and capricious nature of demonic cultivators, who knows, the next time he sees that aloof and icy Senior Lone Moon, he might dare to brazenly rush up to him and say, "Lone Moon, I need your help with my cultivation?"

Xia Dong was startled by the absurd thought that suddenly popped into his mind and broke out in a cold sweat.

"No, no, this can't be so outrageous." He shook his head repeatedly, trying to banish the suicidal image from his mind.

Master Guyue is a Foundation Establishment cultivator who can crush him at any time. If he were to unleash his demonic nature and do something like this, he wouldn't even know how he died.

Xia Dong frowned, frantically trying to figure out how to dispel the demonic force rooted in his mind.

Even if it cannot be completely eradicated, its negative impact should at least be minimized. One must never allow such a huge distortion to occur in one's behavior and personality.

However, putting aside the risk of getting out of control, Xia Dong also had to admit that this demonic quality was not entirely without its merits.

Recalling the state he had been immersed in while practicing swordsmanship, he clearly felt that, under the influence of demonic power, his courage had been amplified infinitely, and a fearless and heroic spirit surged within him.

We will not flinch or show any cowardice when facing any formidable enemy.

That state, stripped of worldly morality and fear, leaving only the pure will to kill, can truly be described as: selfless, without possessions, fearless and undaunted.

"No self, no things, no fear, no dread—" Xia Dong repeatedly pondered these eight words, when suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him.

This state of mind, which dispels all illusions and fears, is quite similar to the "seeing one's true nature and understanding one's mind" described in Zen Buddhism.

Zen?

Buddhism?

Xia Dong's thoughts suddenly became clear.

All things in the world are interconnected and mutually restraining. If we were to ask who in the world is most adept at subduing demons and suppressing restless minds, it would undoubtedly be Buddhism.

Or, from a higher perspective of spiritual practice, Buddha and demon are two sides of the same coin.

One thought can turn you into a demon, another into a Buddha. Demonic nature can actually be transformed and balanced using Buddhist teachings.

Xia Dong couldn't help but think of the "Vajra King Mantra"!

The Vajra glares fiercely, thus subduing the four demons; the Bodhisattva lowers his brows, thus showing compassion to the six realms of existence.

This top-tier body-refining method, derived from Buddhism, might be able to subdue his demonic nature and truly bring it to his disposal.

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