Chapter Forty-Nine: The Chaotic Taotie

A layer of postnatal restriction, two layers, three layers... Only after the evolution of ten layers did it come to a halt, and the Profound Demon Sword was further infused with a ferocious and baleful might. Once the energy within the sword was completely digested, the image of Taowu could even be manifested to assist in battle.

“This is simply defying the heavens—if I can manifest Taowu, at minimum it will be at the peak of a Mysterious Immortal, perhaps even at the early stage of a True Immortal of Great Unity. Such an ally is invaluable! Moreover, it is the condensation of the sword’s demonic energy, undaunted by death, able to be reborn in cycles. Should I succeed in devouring the other three great fiends, uniting all four, I could arrange the Fourfold Slaughter Formation, and their mutual support would allow for limitless growth in strength. While the Hunyuan Realm is unlikely, the stage of Grand Golden Immortal should be within reach. Yet, there are drawbacks: the time originally needed to harmonize with the Profound Demon Sword was already considerable; now, it will likely be tenfold, and this is after swallowing only Taowu!”

The prospects for the Profound Demon Sword were limitless, but for now, he could only covet its potential. Using it at this stage was like wielding a ticking time bomb—there was no telling when it might explode!

With a sigh of frustration, Qingxu returned the Profound Demon Sword to the Upper Dantian, within the Palace of the Mud Pill, to temper it with his primordial spirit, hoping to one day soon let its edge shine forth.

“We humbly thank the Celestial Immortal for saving our lives!” Suddenly, a chorus of voices arose—it was the tens of thousands he had saved, bowing in gratitude.

“There’s no need for such formality. Uplifting the good and vanquishing evil is simply the duty of a disciple of the Doctrine of Elucidation,” Qingxu replied, waving his hand. A gentle breeze helped the multitude to their feet. Pressing his palms together, he gave a solemn nod. This, too, was part of his plan. The Doctrine of Elucidation would one day preach among the human race; forging goodwill now would make all future endeavors much smoother.

“The Doctrine of Elucidation? Is that the one established by the Sage of Pangu’s Jade Purity?” The fame of the Doctrine of Elucidation was known to all in the Great Desolation—after all, when the Primordial Heavenly Venerate attained Dao, he had announced it to all, seeking disciples across the land.

“Indeed.”

“No wonder the Celestial Immortal’s power is so profound—even a fiend like Taowu falls before him. To be a disciple of the Sage of Pangu—truly, a worthy successor!”

“By the way, how did you come to cross paths with Taowu?” Qingxu changed the subject. To respond to the people’s praise with modesty would seem insincere and diminish the dignity of the Doctrine of Elucidation; to accept it outright would feel arrogant. Though this was his inner reasoning, outwardly he maintained composure, for the reputation of himself and his order depended upon it.

In his previous life, Qingxu had read enough books and watched enough dramas to know that immortals, regardless of their true nature, always appeared at formal occasions as serene, detached, and compassionate. Now, these mannerisms came to him effortlessly. Instantly, his entire bearing turned ethereal, his expression calm and benevolent, his form wrapped in an immortal aura that inspired reverence.

Witnessing the immortal air of Qingxu, the tens of thousands of humans were filled with awe, and the name of the Doctrine of Elucidation was etched deeply into their hearts.

“You are unaware, Celestial Immortal! Since the birth of our race, disasters have been many—vicious beasts and the fierce might of Wu and Yao tribes have long plunged us into misery. Countless kin have perished, living always in fear. Decades ago, four great fiends appeared. These four are so cruel and violent that every so often they would descend upon Wanqiu, seizing hundreds or thousands to devour. Sometimes, on a whim, they would rampage deep inland. The beasts and Wu-Yao, unwilling to see their prey stolen, would contend with them, but many died in the struggle, only making the Four Fiends even more formidable, until none dared challenge them. This time, we were sent by our queen to negotiate an alliance with the Youqiong Tribe, but happened to run into Taowu…” The highest-ranking man among the humans answered Qingxu.

“The Four Fiends’ cultivation may not be much, but with their baleful blood miasma, even an ordinary True Immortal of Great Unity would be hard-pressed to survive. The Wu-Yao have few who can resist. And here, on the eastern coast, how could any top cultivator of the two tribes be found in this remote place? But what of the Youqiong Tribe? The name stirs some memory…”

He pondered the Youqiong Tribe, swiftly recalling ancient myths and histories from his past life.

“The Country of Youqiong... That rings a bell. Yes, in the ancient era, there was a country named Youqiong, ruled by Houyi. His adopted son, Hanzhuo, first slew his master and rebelled, then murdered Houyi and seized power. But the tale is not widely known—perhaps because of its infamy.”

The thought made his head ache. Houyi again? Wasn’t he a great Wu leader? Some accounts spoke of two different Houyis in history—who knew? It was all a tangled mess best not taken too seriously.

“What’s the story with this Youqiong Tribe?” Lost in thought, he asked aloud, wondering if Houyi was perhaps of the Wu tribe.

The burly man was about to respond when, suddenly, two masses of inky-black clouds shot through the air from afar. Within them, faintly visible, were two monstrous beasts, each over ten zhang tall. Qingxu’s vision was extraordinary—he could see their forms at a glance. The one on the left was dog-like, long-haired, four-legged, resembling a bear but clawless, with eyes that saw not. Its entire body was fiery red, but Qingxu recognized this as netherworld fire, invisible to mortal eyes. The one on the right had a sheep’s body and a human face, eyes hidden beneath its armpits, tiger’s teeth, human claws, and cried with the voice of an infant.

“Hundun? Taotie?” Qingxu was startled—he had just subdued Taowu, and now two more fiends had appeared.

“Demons are coming! Run for your lives!”

“Demons! Demons!”

Terror swept across the faces of the tens of thousands, and chaos erupted as they scattered in panic, running for their lives, cursing themselves for not having more legs. Their fear was understandable. Compared to Taowu, Hundun and Taotie were far more terrifying. Hundun could conjure thousands of illusory avatars; if a good person encountered it, it would roar and terrify them out of their wits, while an evil person would find it submissive, ready to be commanded for harm—an even greater calamity. Worst of all, it was invisible to the common eye, making it nearly impossible to defend against. Taotie, in contrast, was simple: it lived to eat, its appetite boundless, its stomach a bottomless pit, devouring anything—grain, people, objects... Who knew how much it had consumed? In the hearts of the people, these two fiends were the embodiment of evil; to see them was to flee without hesitation.

“Do not be afraid! Now that I, a humble Daoist, am here, I will not stand idly by. These two beasts have met their doom today.” Qingxu’s voice was calm and clear, and gradually the panic subsided. Remembering how he had dealt with Taowu, the crowd’s confidence grew, though their bodies still trembled—they were truly terrified to their core.

Qingxu was just about to ask more about the Youqiong Tribe and the negotiations, but with the arrival of the two fiends, a surge of anger rose in his heart—a killing intent flaring. Since the Profound Demon Sword had devoured Taowu, he’d felt his own fortune increase, gained some postnatal merit, and greatly enhanced his sword’s power. The benefits were too many to count. Now, with two more fiends delivered to his door, Qingxu resolved to find a way to devour them as well. If he could then absorb Qiongqi, the four fiends would be united, and the Profound Demon Sword would surely surpass the Executioner and Avici swords of the River of the Netherworld, and might even rival the four Immortal Executioner Swords of Tongtian (individually, not as a formation).

“Besides, there are still the Eight Demon Kings of Mount Daba. It seems reaching the status of the most fearsome weapon in all the Great Desolation, surpassing even the Immortal Executioner Swords, is no longer just a dream!” At this thought, a flash of excitement appeared on Qingxu’s face—he was truly exhilarated!