The First Demon of the Chan Sect

(PS: Today's second update!)

…

The scene in the mirror was terrifying. When Yang Jian stepped out of the Eighteen Layers of Hell, his body radiated a five-colored divine light, like a bright moon releasing endless splendor, and a vast force surged tumultuously.

"This power has appeared again!" Yang Jian was filled with joy. He had thought that after completing the Eighteen Layers of Hell, his cultivation would naturally recover.

However, unexpectedly, not only had his Primordial Spirit Realm peaked to the Quasi-Saint Realm, even his True Yuan had broken through repeatedly, skipping the Da Luo Realm and advancing into the Quasi-Saint. This was like a dream.

But what he didn't realize was that at this moment his body was illusory, even his True Yuan was somewhat false. But the body that stood atop Ten Thousand Feet Peach Mountain seemed to be connected to this illusory consciousness. Although it was still standing still, his legs were moving, spreading his arms, a mysterious five-colored light shone from within, resonating with Heaven and Earth.

"What's happening to Erlang?" Yang Tianyou looked at Yang Jian in the distance with concern, his tone somewhat anxious.

Yang Jiao, sensing the surging spiritual energy fluctuations, said, "Erlang, this... It seems like a breakthrough?"

Little Yang Chan blinked her big, shiny eyes and exclaimed, "No way? After swinging the axe, Big Brother just stopped. Look at all the peach trees on the mountain, I think Big Brother might be trapped in some illusion!"

"This five-colored immortal light..." Yang Jiao's pupils suddenly shrank, only to see Yang Jian's body begin to crack. His muscular and upright body had long lost its clothing, and his wheat-colored skin began to split open, resembling baby fist-sized scales, emitting a crisp cracking sound.

While the reborn face was still as handsome, his nose had become slightly raised, and his eyes had grown slightly larger. It seemed to exude a wild and majestic air, even faintly radiating the calm and pride peculiar to a Saint.

His tall and strong body had become robust due to practicing the Nine Revolutions Mystical Technique, with muscles coiling like dragons. But now, it seemed to lose all brilliance, became smooth as jade, powerful but not exaggerated; moreover, every part of his body seemed like a perfect work, presenting the most appropriate 'golden ratio'.

"Is this also caused by an illusion?" Yang Jiao was incredulous, still with a hint of shock in his eyes.

Yang Chan blushed, abruptly turning away, and said: "Who set up this Forbidden Technique? It's really shameless!"

Heavenly Court, behind the Palace of the Polestar.

Hao Tian's mouth was agape in surprise, his eyeballs almost popping out.

After a while, Hao Tian asked in shock, "Daoist, is this also the effect of the Trapped Immortal Refining Heart Array?"

Li Qingming shook his head and said, "Yes, but not really! The Trapped Immortal Refining Heart Array can not only refine one's Dao Heart but also enhance mana and the running of Cultivation Techniques. However, Yang Jian's case is a once-in-a-millennium sighting!"

…

Unaware of the outside world, Yang Jian felt that his entire True Yuan swelled to a critical point, and suddenly the light flashed before his eyes, and when he reopened his eyes, the Eighteen Layers of Hell was already gone.

He was back in front of Ten Thousand Feet Peach Mountain, except all the pink miasma surrounding it was gone, and the peach trees in front of him had become bare, lifeless.

In a daze for a moment, Yang Jian finally retrieved the memories in his mind, a long time had passed, and he felt a sense of unfamiliarity with everything, as if veiled by a layer of gauze, with the only thought in his heart being his mother in the mountain and his father and siblings outside.

Glancing back at his father Yang Tianyou, his older brother Yang Jiao, and sister Yang Chan standing miles away, Yang Jian suddenly felt filled with contentment.

Yang Jian took a set of clothes from the storage space and put them on, looked up at the dim brilliance of Ten Thousand Feet Peach Mountain, and whispered, "Even if you are the Heavenly Rules, I, Yang Jian, will break you. I want all the powers in this world to see that nothing can stop my family from reuniting!"

Taking a leap, Yang Jian soared over the peak of Peach Mountain, tightly grasping the Mountain Opening Divine Axe, driving the Nine Revolutions Mystical Technique he practiced to the extreme, transforming into a giant. Simultaneously, the Yuqing True Essence crazily infused into the Sky-Opening Divine Axe, condensing a hundred-zhang-sized axe light at the tip of the Divine Axe.

Suddenly, the sky above Peach Mountain turned gloomy!

"Break for me!"

With an explosive shout that shook the heavens, Yang Jian glared fiercely with eyes wide open, his long hair standing on end. Holding a colossal Divine Axe with both hands, along with thousands of zhang of Divine Radiance, he fiercely chopped down!

A series of thunderous "booms!" sounded nonstop, streaks of golden radiance flashed by, and with a loud noise, the Cangqiong was torn open by a large gash, and the more than two hundred-year-old Peach Mountain collapsed with a rumble.

A stunningly beautiful white-clad immortal stepped out from the mountain, her eyes flickering with confusion, a touch of joy.

Having been imprisoned for two hundred years, Yaoji's expression was somewhat vacant. Looking towards her children and husband in the distant sky, her heart trembled, "Da Lang, Erlang, Chan'er!"

"Mother!"

Apart from Yang Tianyou, the entire family rushed forward at great speed, all kneeling before Yaoji and weeping bitterly.

Separated for two hundred years, the world had changed greatly; they never expected to have the chance to reunite in this lifetime. Each of them caressed their faces, just like when they were children, and tears started streaming down Yaoji's face, she said: "My children, oh my children!"

Yang Tianyou's tears streaked down his face in the distant sky, walking with heavy, deliberate steps. Tremblingly, he extended his hands and said, "My lady…"

"Liege!" Yaoji trembled with excitement, never having imagined that after more than two hundred years, Yang Tianyou, once a mere mortal, could also cultivate to immortality.

The couple, their eyes brimming with hot tears, embraced each other, longing to pour out years of pent-up yearning in this very moment.

Just as the family was immersed in the joy of reunion, a clear and bright voice came from above the Cangqiong: "Foolish child! The cause of past lifetimes, the fruit of today, have you still not realized it?"

A green light flickered, and in the skies above Taoshan, the outline of a figure began to take shape, gradually becoming clear.

Dressed in an unchanging cyan Daoist robe, his black hair casually scattered on his shoulders, sat a large brown bear with tiny wings constantly flapping—unspeakably honest and adorable.

Upon seeing this person, Yang Tianyou's family all came forward respectfully and saluted, "We pay respect to Holy Father (Master Uncle), may the Saint live eternally!"

The arrival was none other than Li Qingming, who smiled faintly and with a light flick of his robe's sleeve, a gentle force was thrown out to help them up. With another wave of his hand, a swath of green light brushed past, and the gloom over Taoshan dispersed. With a third wave, five-colored Immortal Light pierced forth, shooting straight into Yang Jian's body.

As the Five-Colored Divine Light entered his body, Yang Jian's recently transformed body began to shake violently. His whole body was filled with the expanding and surging Yuqing True Essence, and a memory hidden deep within his soul suddenly burst forth.

An overwhelming flood of information broke through the chains of memory, rushing into Yang Jian's mind.

"Ah!"

Yang Jian felt as if his head was about to explode, screaming in madness.

"This, Holy Father…" Yang Tianyou's family stood there in a daze, unsure of what had just happened.

Li Qingming waved his hand at Yang Tianyou and the others, and with a thunderous roar, he bellowed, "Wukong, awaken now!"

"Boom!"

Li Qingming's voice entered directly into Yang Jian's Primordial Spirit Sea, and familiar scenes brightly flickered in his sea of consciousness:

Under a shattered Cangqiong, towering waves roared, countless creatures struggled and cried out in the waters of the Heavenly River; adorned in splendid garments, wearing a Purple Gold Phoenix Crown, poised and divine, Holy Mother Nuwa, with her bare hands, melted the Five-Colored Divine Stone; atop a barren mountain peak, a green-clothed Daoist stroked a rock while preaching...

Finally, the scene froze on the moment the Stone Monkey was kowtowing...

"Master!" Yang Jian trembled all over; his third eye on his forehead stood erect, shining with a dazzling five-colored light. Beneath the vertical eye, his clear eyes brimmed with tears, cascading like waterfalls.

The memory that Li Qingming had sealed deep within his soul had been shattered by the five-colored Immortal Light that had just touched him.

Years ago, Li Qingming preached daily to the Stubborn Stone on Huaguo Mountain, leaving his own imprint deep within the stone's soul. With a single glance, the stone recognized Li Qingming, the very same green-robed Daoist from those years past.

"Do you understand now, Wukong?" Li Qingming smiled faintly, reaching out to touch the green silk atop Yang Jian's head.

"Master, Wukong understands, I understand everything!" Yang Jian said, his hand radiating five-colored divine light, he sighed, "I, Sun Wukong, should have been born eons later to face the calamity. Yet, over two hundred years ago, I willingly gave up the chance and chose to be reincarnated. I shall fulfill my duty with all my heart and effort!"

Li Qingming chuckled softly, nodding in praise, "Since you understand! Then follow your master to East Kunlun Mountain, and after two hundred years, we shall together overcome the calamity!"

With those words, Li Qingming's figure gradually vanished.

"Yes, Master!" Yang Jian nodded, then looking back at Yang Tianyou and Yaoji, he said, "Father, Mother! Yang Jian will always be your child!"

"Erlang, where are you going?" Having endured two hundred years of solitude, Yaoji had finally reunited with her family and was loath to endure the pain of separation again.

Yang Jian shook his head and said to Yang Jiao, "Big brother, please take care of our parents from now on!"

"Erlang, go with peace of mind! I will take good care of our parents!" Yang Jiao, as the direct disciple of two Saints, naturally knew many secrets of heaven and earth. Such as the great Three Clans war, the Witch Demon War, and what Hong Jun spoke of in the Zixiao Palace regarding the Path to Heaven!

Yang Jian solemnly performed a three-kneel, nine-kowtow salute to Yang Tianyou and his wife and left without looking back.

"Erlang..." Yang Tianyou held Yaoji close, his expression full of worry.

"Little Chan'er! Your master calls you to swiftly return to Penglai Island, and you may bring your parents with you!"

Just as everyone was stunned, Li Qingming's voice suddenly resounded above, lingering for a long time.

"Ah?" Hearing this voice, Yang Chan sprang up, suddenly remembering what her master had told her before leaving the island. She turned to Yang Tianyou and said, "Father, Mother! Come with me back to Penglai Island. It's so beautiful!"

(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for a recommendation ticket or monthly ticket at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)