"Master Huang!"
"You demon!"
Seeing Master Huang pinned to the stone chair with a single word, the other attending immortals were enraged. Their anger surged, and they disregarded the difference in strength. Ignoring the lingering demonic might, they attacked Ji Xiang!
In an instant, vast demonic power transformed into over ten torrents, accompanied by various incantations cast with incense offerings. They charged through the residual demonic energy and flew towards Ji Xiang!
The incantations enveloped Ji Xiang! Several "Changbai Mountain Immortals" at the front mobilized their spiritual power. The incantations suddenly sprouted roots, like threads of spiritual energy, piercing into Ji Xiang's body.
"Stop!"
Master Huang's words finally came out, but it was too late. The younger generation, fearless in their ignorance, had not directly faced the impact of the demonic energy. A young man with snake-like pupils then said to Master Huang,
"Master, you were caught off guard! This guy isn't that strong!"
"Exactly. So what if he's Pure Yang? There are over a dozen of us in the Innate realm, and we all have family secret techniques. How can he possibly suppress us?"
"Master, I'll come and break the curse for you!"
A young man with rat ears approached, intending to pull Master Huang up from the stone chair. However, the moment his hand touched the chair, he heard the same word in his ear—
"Sit!"
Boom! The young man with rat ears instantly fell to the ground, as if something was pressing down on his shoulders, making him unable to lift them. It was then that he clearly sensed the invisible forces permeating the surroundings!
No, they weren't invisible!
This was a power that they, as demons, were all too familiar with!
It was qi and blood!
Without moving, relying on qi and blood, and using a spoken incantation, he could render someone immobile. It felt as if he were carrying Mount Wangwu and Mount Tai on his shoulders, being pressed to the ground by this immense force!
"Old Seventeen!"
There were other Grey Family Immortals present. Seeing the rat-eared youth pinned to the ground, they immediately became anxious. But in the next moment, a sword qi swirled, and a second surge of Pure Yang power erupted!
"Japanese!"
Seeing the suddenly appearing youth's attire, the young man with snake pupils immediately identified his nationality. After all, they were ostensibly participating in the Korean War alongside Shurhaci, and they were most familiar with Japanese attire.
Miyamoto Musashi held two new samurai swords. One was inherited from Shimazu Tadatsune, who had become one of the lost demons and would never revert to his original form, so Miyamoto Musashi took this long sword as his new weapon.
The other was named Atake Sadamune, the sword of Kobayakawa Hideaki, which Ji Xiang had already captured. It was considered one of the less significant famous swords.
It was unrealistic to expect to reclaim Ten-Ha-Ha-Tsuki from Ji Xiang.
With two long swords in hand, Miyamoto Musashi crossed their blades.
In this era, true Niten Ichi-ryū swordsmanship did not exist. Before this, Japanese Niten Ichi-ryū, aside from the random swings of ronin, a style of "summer cicada's eight chops" without form or method, referred to the two swords as a long *tachi* and a *wakizashi* for *seppuku*. In frontal combat, the long sword attacked the enemy, while the short sword defended. When defeated, they would commit *seppuku* with the short sword...
It wasn't until Miyamoto Musashi's father that a style with two long swords emerged.
"Niten Ichi-ryū, Twin Blades."
Having lost Ten-Ha-Ha-Tsuki, the swordsmanship of the Tenshin Katori Shintō-ryū obtained from Hideyoshi was useless to Musashi. It was better to use the Niten Ichi-ryū he had practiced since childhood.
Niten Ichi-ryū was the precursor to Niten Ichi-ryū.
Two massive slashes were unleashed!
The demon cultivators hurriedly dodged, but when they turned their heads, the slashes were followed by more slashes!
"Dodge quickly!"
The power of the Pure Yang level slashes was terrifying, filling the attending immortals with shock and anger. The slashes grazed their very hairs as they passed. Just as they were about to regroup and attack Musashi...
The second slash arrived behind the first with even greater speed!
Then, the two slashes became four, and the four became eight.
Above, below, left, and right, in all directions, there was no escape. Eight slashes descended towards the center from eight directions, carrying Musashi's third and fourth dual-sword slashes!
Sixteen Sword Style!
The initial eight slashes had not yet dissipated when another eight slashes arrived as scheduled!
In just an instant, the sixteen slashes concluded. Master Huang's eyes widened, but as the dust was blown away by the sword wind, over a dozen young attending immortals were revealed. They had not suffered fatal injuries, but the surrounding land had been completely torn apart by the sword qi.
Dong dong...
At this moment, the old abbot of Honnō-ji also appeared, chanting "Amitabha." However, he also spoke Japanese, and in terms of cultivation, he was only at the Innate realm, with an unstable aura. This caused Master Huang to release the breath he had been holding.
He had thought another Pure Yang cultivator had appeared.
But why was it another Japanese person?
"Miyamoto-san, stop fighting... A show of deterrence is enough."
The old abbot asked Musashi to put away his weapons and not escalate the conflict.
"Damn it... this is an insult to us!"
The young man with snake pupils realized that although the opponent was young, his strength had already reached the Pure Yang realm, and his life force was vigorous and young. He was by no means an old monster transformed into this appearance. Such a supremely talented individual appearing in this desolate place?
"Oh, you didn't kill them. I was thinking you might have chopped them all up, which would have made things a bit difficult for me and caused me to fall out with Changbai Mountain."
Ji Xiang's voice echoed.
The young man with snake pupils looked incredulous. He saw Ji Xiang easily dispel the incantations. The so-called root-sprouting curse seemed as if it had never taken effect. Furthermore, the glow on the incantations had disappeared at some point, and the demonic power and incense offerings were all gone.
"The taste is quite good. The incense offerings from Changbai Mountain are quite prosperous. They say Shamanism isn't very good, but I think it's quite capable."
"You're already about to establish a nation, why not submit an application to the Ming Court?"
Ji Xiang spoke to Miyamoto Musashi while also addressing the dozen or so attending immortals. Musashi replied respectfully, "My lord asked that demon cultivator to sit down from the beginning and had no intention of killing him. How could your subordinate dare to kill these people arbitrarily!"
After speaking, Musashi retreated to the side. Ji Xiang ignored the young attending immortals and looked at Master Huang.
Master Huang's body trembled uncontrollably. As Ji Xiang's gaze fell upon him, a pressure made him feel as if he were suffocating.
"Hoo!"
His breath momentarily stagnated before he exhaled, his face paling by a third.
Although he was also close to advancing to the Pure Yang realm, he was fundamentally still in the Spirit Refining realm. The juniors around him, though elites of the past century, were only barely at the Innate realm.
In the Pure Yang realm, there were only three people in all of Changbai Mountain. Besides the Heavenly Emperor Hongsheng, who often manifested to protect the mountains and forests and deter demons, the other two Pure Yang cultivators had become legends. Some ancient demons even speculated that they might no longer be alive.
Although the lifespan of demons, from ordinary perception, seemed longer than humans, the world had been in severe decline since the Song Dynasty, and their lifespans were naturally affected. Moreover, to say that demons lived longer than humans was a fallacy.
Animals inherently had shorter lifespans than mortals. If they became demons, their lifespans would naturally be inferior. Humans could cultivate, and demons could also cultivate. Humans lived for a hundred years, while pigs and dogs died within fifteen to thirty years. The common saying, "a thousand-year-old turtle, ten-thousand-year-old tortoise," was actually based on ordinary turtles living only sixty years, which was similar to humans.
Therefore, with the decline of spiritual energy, the lifespans of demon cultivators were naturally shorter than those of human cultivators.
The notion that demons lived longer than humans was merely because accomplished spirits encountered ordinary mortals.
"I never expected this old man to have the fortune to witness an existence at the pinnacle of the human world... You call yourself a Heavenly Demon, could it be... that kind of Heavenly Demon?"
Master Huang dared not speak too clearly, but Ji Xiang had no such reservations and directly admitted, "It is the kind of Heavenly Demon you are thinking of."
"Trial Heavenly Demon."
Master Huang's expression changed several times. After briefly adjusting his breathing, he asked with great confusion,
"I have already reached the Spirit Refining realm and passed the ten trials of demons. Why would a Trial Heavenly Demon descend to test me?"
Ji Xiang waved his hand, his expression unchanged, "Don't play coy. You know what you are doing, and whether I am here to test you. Don't think I am a character from a trial illusion."
Master Huang was momentarily speechless with embarrassment.
He was indeed testing to see if this was a trial illusion. Although it was absurd, well, reality was even more absurd.
"It was my oversight. I hope the esteemed immortal will not blame me."
"There is no major issue. Tell me, what are you doing here, and what does Changbai Mountain intend to do?"
"..."
"You won't speak?"
Ji Xiang smiled as he saw Master Huang remaining tight-lipped.
"Aren't you afraid I'll tell Shurhaci, have him expose your actions, and report to Shun Tian?"
"Esteemed Immortal, please forgive me. You have already heard some of my words just now, so why ask me? Isn't that redundant?"
Master Huang replied this way, thinking that whatever Ji Xiang had heard, he had heard. Whatever he hadn't heard, he couldn't be blamed. Words spoken could not be taken back, but if he didn't say anything else, Ji Xiang couldn't do anything to him. In any case, judging by Ji Xiang's attitude, he wouldn't make an enemy of Changbai Mountain.
So, he would deny it. Denial was enough.
"Is that so? Then I will proceed with what I have heard and discuss it with you."
Ji Xiang did not want to resort to force, so he proactively extended a sliver of goodwill.
Only a sliver.
As long as I discuss it with you, it is goodwill. As for the negotiation results and process, I will have the final say.
"Firstly, I want to tell you about the types of Heavenly Punishments. I wonder if you are aware of them?"
"?"
Master Huang was taken aback, not knowing what Ji Xiang was going to say.
Heavenly Punishments were the means of punishment within the Heavenly Laws. Of course, he knew.
"Does the Esteemed Immortal mean I have broken the law? But that's not right. I am doing things in Joseon. How can that violate the Heavenly Laws of the Great Ming?"
You are using the laws of the Great Ming to judge matters in Joseon... Wait, it seems you really can!
No, no, vassal states have their own circumstances. Besides, Changbai Mountain is also under nominal control. Can't you be a little more lenient?
Ji Xiang ignored him and continued speaking on his own:
"The punishments for violating Heavenly Laws are roughly as follows."
"Caning, beaten with a stick; Labor, forced labor; Exile, banished."
"Needle Judgment. This is a punishment carried out by deities of the Thunder Department. The 'Taishang Sandong Shenzhou' states: 'Great Divine Beings of the Laws and Commands, holding needle hammers, display them to the three realms.' This needle is specifically a tool for punishing offending immortals. Needle Judgment is generally for offenses not punishable by death, because after Needle Judgment, it is accompanied by exile."
"Execution, which is beheading; Soul Dissolution, meaning the soul and spirit are scattered into dust."
"Demotion to the mortal realm, which is literal."
"In addition, there are a few less common punishments, such as: Ten Thousand Deaths, Ten Thousand Lives, Iron Ball Ingestion, and so on."
Master Huang swallowed.
Ji Xiang continued, "The nature of your group is that of guardian spirits. Although you are demons, you also receive offerings. The Ming Dynasty acknowledges your independence but does not permit the establishment of formal temples for worship. Therefore, you exist in a form that combines shamanism with small temples. So, are you considered Earth Gods?"
"According to the Heavenly Laws, for any local area where ignorant commoners establish temples to lewd ghosts and deities without formally reporting the reasons, they shall be caned a hundred times. If one knowingly pretends ignorance of such matters, they shall be executed."
"Master Huang, what deity's tablet were you holding just now? Which deity is it? Is it a folk deity or a celestial deity? Is it an Earth deity or a water deity? Is it an outer deity or a Western deity? Is it a Shaman deity or a Mongolian deity?"
"Let me see?"
Ji Xiang made a request to see it, threatening him with execution.
Master Huang's expression changed, and he quickly retorted, "The Heavenly Laws state that to commit such a crime, it must be within the jurisdiction of the land. We are considered Earth Gods, but this is Joseon, not our jurisdiction!"
"Although I knowingly committed the offense and established myself as a deity for the people, this is an external act. The Heavenly Laws do not have this clause!"
"It doesn't say that deities cannot establish deities, does it? If I receive some incense offerings, does the Heavenly Law prohibit receiving incense offerings in another country?"
Ji Xiang reminded him, "There is also national destiny."
Master Huang: "Then there is also national destiny, so what?"
Ji Xiang: "You refuse to show me your deity's tablet when I command you?"
Master Huang: "I will not show it to you."
Ji Xiang's eyes flickered, "Then, is it one of the eight solar terms now?"
The so-called eight solar terms are: Beginning of Spring, Spring Equinox, Beginning of Summer, Summer Solstice, Beginning of Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Beginning of Winter, Winter Solstice.
Master Huang answered without hesitation, "Of course not."
He thought to himself, he would just play dumb with Ji Xiang. Judging by Ji Xiang's demeanor, he was sent by the court. But when did the court have such an omnipotent great demon?
The world had truly changed, and it had changed too quickly, catching him off guard.
Master Huang's thoughts raced, but he was suddenly brought back to reality by Ji Xiang's shout!
"Then is stealing another country's national destiny considered harming another country?"
"This, this is not harming the Great Ming!"
"Haha! All Earth Gods who, not during the eight solar terms, arbitrarily cause harm, seeking wealth and offerings, shall have their souls dissolved!"
"!"
Master Huang was dumbfounded! After a moment of stunned silence, if his hand could be raised, he would have slapped himself.
He had suffered because he didn't understand the law?!
Ji Xiang chuckled sinisterly, "Don't tell me you are not seeking profit or wealth, not seeking offerings! I heard all those words clearly. What the 'orthodox religion' cannot rise without dying, what borrowing Joseon's national destiny to complete the power of the spirits, and then slowly converting it to Great Ming spirits in the future, what if you don't establish a great religion, you cannot preserve yourself... these are all acts of seeking profit, all acts of enjoying offerings. As for wealth, if you enjoy offerings, you naturally have incense money, which is incidental."
Master Huang's face instantly turned as white as paper, and Ji Xiang extended his hand towards him:
"Come, let me see!"