CHAPTER 40: 040 HAN GUANG DAOIST

The Daoist Geng Kun and his brother, Daoist Geng Peng, both hybrids of human and demon, situated between man and beast, usually didn’t take human disciples but rather sought half-human, half-demon creatures to mentor, planning to establish a unique sect.

The problem was that hybrids usually had poor spiritual roots, and even the humans were mostly mediocre, many showing selfishness, greed, and cruelty. Since ancient times, few could truly cultivate the Immortal Path.

Demons were even worse, often possessed by anger and ignorance, bloodthirsty and cruel. Once they mastered spells, they frequently went on killing sprees, causing endless disasters. Many merfolk, otterfolk, and frogmen used spells to kill indiscriminately in the ocean, enjoying the thrill of slaughter like cats hunting mice.

Sect Leader Geng Kun, himself of a somewhat dubious nature, heavily suspicious and cruel-hearted, worried about his disciples causing trouble and embarrassing or even implicating him, so he set extremely strict rules and seldom passed on the true teachings of his spells; mistakes were met with severe punishment.

Daoist Geng Peng, however, had a better temperament than Geng Kun. He never unnecessarily caused trouble or bullied others, having a great compassion for different demons, and he would intervene to rescue them when he saw them being slaughtered.

Today, when he saw Shi Feiyang, the Black Dragon, looking just short of the transformation into a True Dragon and having mastered spells — unlike ordinary creatures, speaking clearly and logically with fine spiritual root and concealed divine energy — he thought of taking him as a disciple. He planned to bring Shi Feiyang back to Roc Bay to teach him well, helping him transform and further the legacy of the sect.

Moreover, he had an old grudge against Lady Bao Xiang; he had almost fallen prey to her beauty and nearly lost his hard-earned Lifebound Primordial Pill. So, taking advantage of the moment Lady Bao Xiang was mingling with another man, he launched a surprise attack. Their fierce battle left Lady Bao Xiang in a sorry state, barely escaping back to Central Earth, and they vowed to fight again in the future.

Today, as fate would have it, they met again, and Geng Peng struck with all his might, fiercely attacking Lady Bao Xiang. She had just lost her Yuan Yin, and her Heart Shifting Lock specifically aimed at Geng Peng hadn’t been completed, despite having Zhuge Jingwo’s help, she was still outmatched.

After a long battle, Zhuge Jingwo was the first to be defeated, pushed back hundreds of miles to the Nine Heavens by twelve golden Feathered Arrows, and Geng Peng immobilized him using a lesser Heavenly Forbidden Technique.

Lady Bao Xiang quickly used the "Thousand Miles in a Pouch" spell, reached Zhuge Jingwo’s side instantly, broke the prohibition with the Heart Shifting Lock, and swiftly fled with him.

Watching the two disappear into the horizon, Shi Feiyang rushed over to thank them for their rescue.

Geng Peng’s expression was grave, showing no joy in his victory. Noticing his unusual demeanor, Shi Feiyang asked what was wrong. Geng Peng replied, "During the duel, I was hit by two of the Demon Fox’s White Eyebrow Pins! It’s been many years since I last saw her, and her skills have only grown more powerful. I’ve been very cautious, but I still fell for her trick. And the Light Lock she used is my nemesis; it’s already so powerful without being fully refined. If she completes it, it will become a great threat to our sect."

Shi Feiyang was taken aback, "You were struck by the White Eyebrow Pins too?"

Geng Peng nodded, "I need to see the Daoist of the Icy Light at the North Pole to have him use the Star Absorption to extract the White Eyebrow Pins. Come with me; afterward, I’ll take you back to Roc Bay."

Shi Feiyang said, "I was hit by three of her White Eyebrow Pins."

With urgency in his voice, Geng Peng said, "The Demon Fox’s White Eyebrow Pins are made from the eyebrow hairs of her original fox form. Once they enter the body, they attack the mind and are extremely malicious. In this world, only the Daoist of Icy Light and the Xiankong Ancestor can remove them, we cannot delay; let’s go now."

With a wave of his hand, he used the Great Heavenly Escape Skill and leveraged the wind with his wings; they traveled thousands of miles in an instant, swiftly crossing countless icy seas and snow-covered ice plains, finally landing in front of a glacier.

There was an ice cave there. Geng Peng said, "This cave is meant for people to live in; with my size, I have to keep my wings folded to enter. You need to shrink before you can enter."

Shi Feiyang didn’t know the spell to shrink, so Geng Peng opened his palm and had Shi Feiyang land on it. Shi Feiyang flew up towards his palm, which seemed incredibly distant; he flew at full speed for quite a while before finally landing on the hand.

His size hadn’t shrunk, nor had Geng Peng’s palm grown larger, yet he appeared to have become only as thick as a chopstick in comparison to Geng Peng’s palm.

Shi Feiyang marveled at the marvels of the spell, crawling around in his palm, looking around, and thinking that Geng Kun, whom he knew from the original text, didn’t seem all that impressive, and he didn’t recall him having a younger brother who possessed such divine skills.

Geng Peng chuckled, "This is one of the Twelve Great Heavenly Forbidden Techniques, from the ’Chi You Three Disks Scripture.’ Do you want to learn it?"

Shi Feiyang nodded; he indeed wanted to learn. Currently in Geng Peng’s hand, he felt like Sun Wukong in the palm of Tathagata Buddha. He wasn’t sure if he could escape the range of the spell if he flew outward with all his might, or if attacking Geng Peng’s palm with his inner core would cause any damage. But regardless, he was amazed and envious of the profoundness of this spell.

"If you want to learn it, I’ll take you back to Roc Bay in the East Sea. You can become my disciple, and then I will teach you. As long as you are diligent and earnest, with your aptitude, once you’ve undergone your final tribulation and transformed into a True Dragon, you could cast it!"

As he spoke, he communicated with someone inside the cave, and soon a young Taoist came out to greet them, his attitude very respectful.

Geng Peng introduced Shi Feiyang, "This is the disciple of Daoist Han Guang, Chi Chengzi."

Upon entering, they saw an old Taoist wearing a blue robe with white beards, brows, and hair. Geng Peng added, "This is Daoist Han Guang, whom you should address as ’Elder Master.’"

Daoist Han Guang looked at the small black dragon in his palm, "You just left, and yet you return again?"

Geng Peng recounted what had just happened, and Daoist Han Guang then brought out a fist-sized Treasure Bead, translucent and sparkling, containing swirling constellations of suns, moons, and stars surrounded by nebula-like clouds moving incessantly.

With his left hand, he held the Star Absorption, infused True Yuan, and pointed his right hand holding a spell toward a spot in Geng Peng’s wings, where the Star Absorption emitted a beam of starlight that landed on the needle hole. Moments later, a white-haired needle was drawn out.

Following that, he extracted another, and then proceeded to extract those embedded in Shi Feiyang’s body.

The five white-haired needles, all removed, were about an inch long, made from the whiskers of an old fox, tougher and harder than bristles, stained with blood.

Angrily, Geng Peng took out a gourd and collected the whiskers, "That damned Demon Fox, once I have my hands free, I must annihilate her to prevent further vicious deceptions to the world!"

However, Daoist Han Guang was rather gentle in temperament. As he served tea to Geng Peng, he commented, "The grudge between you and Lady Bao Xiang..."

"A Demon Fox!" Geng Peng corrected seriously.

"All right, my calculations show that this grudge with the Demon Fox is very unfavorable for you. You must be wary."

Hearing this, Geng Peng’s expression grew solemn, and he slowly nodded, "This time, I saw her using a Magical Treasure that specifically counters many of my spells. It’s incredibly powerful. Fortunately, she hasn’t fully mastered it yet; otherwise, I would likely face grave dangers."

Daoist Han Guang suggested, "You and your brother possess the ’Ancient Secret Scripture of Chi You.’ It includes methods to refine various powerful Magical Treasures. Why not refine a few to counteract her?"

Sighing, Geng Peng shook his head repeatedly, "Cannot be done, cannot be done!"