Chapter 101: The Palm Shifts, The Daoist Arrives

The demonic auspicious clouds floating above Ji Ming’s head descended, with the vast majority settling onto his two palms. Very quickly, a violent transformation began to take hold of them.

First, his six fingers fused in pairs into three. Then, the nails on these three digits curved downward, hardening and darkening into sharp, hook-like talons. The sensation of this metamorphosis was akin to a severe cramp; countless invisible tendons and bones beneath his palms were being stretched and pulled, knitting together to form an entirely new structure. Ji Ming had no choice but to endure the agonizing pain, his body already drenched in sweat.

Thick scales emerged along the joints of the three digits, resembling the shells of a crustacean, with the hooked talons resting just beneath the topmost scaly plate. The rest of the skin grew thicker and tougher, and beneath those large, shell-like scales, a multitude of tiny, square-shaped scales began to sprout.

The transformation of his palms did not resemble the talons of any known bird. Perhaps hand-claws and foot-talons were inherently different, or perhaps they were shifting into the claws of some exotic spirit bird. Ji Ming had no intention of investigating the root of this change; he could feel the demonic transformation spreading up his arms, which now twitched and curled uncontrollably, as if possessed by the instincts of a bird.

"Hah!"

Unable to maintain his seated position, Ji Ming let out a sharp breath and slammed his claws into the floorboards. With a harsh screeching sound, three deep gouges were torn through the wood. Beneath the skin of his arms, something seemed to be wriggling like small insects, and Ji Ming could not predict the next stage of this demonic evolution.

"If the Primordial Yang remains still, nothing is born; if the human heart does not change, the demonic heart cannot take root." Ji Ming recited the incantation of reverse cultivation, sensing the changes in his flesh and spirit. He murmured to himself, "If the human heart does not change, the demonic heart cannot take root. Yes, as long as I am not influenced by the demonic nature and do not exchange my human heart for a demonic one, the transformation will not progress so rapidly."

As Ji Ming calmed himself, the transformation ceased.

"Phew—"

He exhaled a long breath and let his sleeves fall, concealing his talons within.

"My six-fingered bone structure must be hidden, and these demonic claws must also be kept from sight. When will I ever be able to show my true human form?" Ji Ming lamented inwardly.

Over the next few weeks, Ji Ming set up altars several times, performing sealing earth rituals and deciphering various minor heavenly cycle talismans. Of course, deciphering the talismans was not his primary goal; his true aim was to lure and slay yin demons, capturing their dead yin devil energy to trade for Li Muru’s Yin-Hidden Thunder Pellets.

Perhaps he had set up the altars too frequently, as he began to sense that invoking the "Three Origin Heavenly Venerables" for blessings was becoming increasingly difficult. To avoid incurring their displeasure, Ji Ming decisively stopped this practice of "shearing the wool" of the yin demons through ritual offerings.

He divided the dead yin devil energy he had accumulated into three portions. He kept one in reserve for emergencies, set one aside for his trade with Li Muru—a significant amount even after being split into three—and refined the final portion into his White Bone Heart-Gathering Bead, intending to elevate it to the rank of a treasure artifact.

The Heart-Gathering Bead was an old companion, and while Ji Ming hoped to acquire another magical tool, his experience with the bone bead made him look down on anything inferior. As for the truly superior ones—those that had developed a spirit, or even true treasure artifacts—he had yet to lay eyes on a single one.

As he was contemplating magical tools, he saw Li Muru approaching with a sword strapped to her back. It was the same one she had used to cleave through his qi during their first encounter.

At the time, he hadn't paid much attention to the blade, but looking at it now, he noticed a faint, lingering green hue. Prolonged observation even gave him the chilling sensation of a blade pressed against his own body.

"A treasure artifact!"

Ji Ming wondered why, if the Great Master refused to teach her lethal techniques, she possessed such a sword.

Li Muru, oblivious to his scrutinizing gaze, handed him a box containing three Void Flowers. Ji Ming sent out a burst of qi to wrap around the flowers and brought them to his nose. As he inhaled, a flurry of hallucinations flickered before his eyes like a revolving lantern. To Ji Ming, these illusions were negligible; he estimated that only when the "Mirage Great Method" reached the stage of great completion would it pose a real threat.

He had heard Li Muru say that after reaching the minor completion stage, inhaling the Void Flowers would cause illusions to affect the brain, making it experience genuine, alternating sensations of heat and cold. If one could not withstand it, it was entirely possible to die of cold on a hot day or of heat on a cold day.

After absorbing the three flowers, Ji Ming stood with his hands behind his back. The small box in Li Muru’s hand flew out, suspended in the air before him by his fierce, concentrated qi. The three-toed claws hidden behind his back twitched slightly, and a pulse of qi pried open the lid, revealing a millet-sized Yin-Hidden Thunder Pellet.

Li Muru was astonished by his control over the qi. "You have refined the Crane-Controlling Qi to such a subtle and precise level; I doubt even the creator of this secret art could have foreseen such an evolution."

Ji Ming stared at the thunder pellet, confused. "I haven't handed over the dead yin devil energy yet. What is the meaning of this?"

"I just returned from my Master’s side. The old Taoist Flying Crane has already arrived in the cave. From what they said, they intend to take you away to participate in the Taoist citizen examination within the Lan Yin District. You have been in the cave for so long that you don't know the situation outside; the Lan Yin District has been a contested territory for the last decade, with many heterodox demons and evil spirits lurking within. I just finished refining this thunder pellet; take it for self-defense."

Ji Ming glanced at the pellet, wanting to say something but hesitating. Finally, he said, "My Original Yang must not be lost."

Li Muru’s eyes widened, wondering if she had misheard. Her fair face turned crimson—not from shyness, but from a flare of anger. "We of the martial world help each other out of righteousness, and yet you think I covet your virginity?"

Ji Ming tossed her two portions of the dead yin devil energy and fled in embarrassment. He didn't leave the third portion behind; he wasn't the type to lose face so completely.

"Incomprehensible!" Li Muru’s thoughts and the logic behind her actions were entirely beyond his prediction, as if she acted purely on impulse, disregarding everything else. Yet, the incident from that day remained a thorn in his side. Ji Ming was not a magnanimous person, and he would not beautify a past wrong simply because of a present act of kindness.

He had barely walked a few steps out of the garden when he heard the cry of a crane.

"Master!"

Up ahead, Flying Crane Zi was approaching, accompanied by Ling Gu.

"My dear disciple."

They hadn't seen each other in a long time, and the old Taoist’s address was cloyingly sweet, his face crinkling into a smile.

"Ling Gu, look at your brother. The divine light in his eyes is hidden yet radiant, like the sun breaking through the clouds. This is a sign of the 'Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown.' You must learn from him and ask for his guidance."

"Mean brother, you just stayed hidden in the garden and never came to visit me," Ling Gu complained, feeling wronged.

Ji Ming kept a straight face. "I have often heard that you are cultivating diligently by Su Su’s side and that your Taoist practice has improved greatly. Now that I see you, you have only just attained the 'Essence Flower.' Once we take the Taoist citizen examination and you are registered, you will follow me to cultivate in the Bone-Piercing Garden. That should fulfill your wish."

Ling Gu shrank her head and shook it violently. "It’s fine to stay with Sister Su Su. It’s enough if you come to see me occasionally when you leave seclusion."

Ji Ming flicked a burst of qi, lightly tapping Ling Gu on the forehead.

Flying Crane’s hand, which had been stroking his beard, paused. He carefully sensed that burst of qi, feeling how it was concentrated and unwavering, yet moved with ease. He feared that Ji Ming had already touched upon the true essence of magical arts.

"Good disciple, I have already settled things with the Great Master. We are leaving now."

Ji Ming looked toward the direction of the thousand-year-old plum tree. "Before we depart on this long journey, I should thank the Great Master in person. I have relied on his care for all this time."

"No!" The old Taoist stopped him immediately. "The journey is long and we are pressed for time. I have much to instruct you on along the way. You can come to thank him another day."

Saying this, he hoisted Ling Gu and Ji Ming onto the back of the crane and fled the Fire Ruin Cave as if escaping.

Beneath the thousand-year-old plum tree, the Great Master watched the large crane fly away and couldn't help but chuckle. "That old Taoist," he thought, "as if I would forcibly snatch his disciple away."

Not long after, a young attendant reported that a friend had come to visit. When the Great Master heard the name of the visitor, his expression darkened. When the friend explained the purpose of the visit, his expression grew even uglier.

"Her nature is impulsive and filled with murderous intent. She is blinded by hatred. If she isn't tempered, she will surely perish once she is let loose."

The friend replied softly, "She carries a blood feud and is stifled in this cave. You refuse to teach her the Great Pure Yang secret art, the 'Root of Sitting.' As time passes, it is inevitable that inner demons will sprout. I fear she will rely on her family’s 'Mirage Great Method' to spy on the cultivation techniques of the guests who enter and leave the cave."

"She dares?" The Great Master’s voice rose, and the ground around them sank toward his seat as his third disciple, Li Muru, was drawn forward by the earth.

"I took you in because I pitied your loneliness and valued your talent. I did not expect you to forgo diligent cultivation to plot a private vendetta. I forged this blunt treasure sword for you to stop killing, not to fuel your bloodlust. And now, you have even dared to have Master Xin Ru come here to persuade me to let you descend the mountain to seek revenge."

The old nun, Xin Ru, pressed her palms together. "If you truly want to help her, it would be better to let her descend the mountain. I will watch over her; perhaps then that old feud can be resolved."

The Great Master looked deeply at his old friend, finally gave a reluctant nod, and then took a step, vanishing from the spot.