On the fifth day after Fan Yunxiao departed, many strangely dressed people appeared on this small island. Men and women, old and young alike, arrived one by one. First came one person who planted a large banner on the island. Then, whoosh whoosh whoosh, streaks of light flashed past, and many more banners appeared on the island.
Once the banners were taken down, several hundred people materialized on the island. They sat cross-legged around the island, each at a different position, scattered like stars across the sky, remaining perfectly still.
However, every two hours, these people would rise and shift their positions. This pattern never changed.
In the shade of the trees, Long Jiaonan shivered several times in succession and quickly shifted her body further toward the center of the island.
Si Yunxiang, on the other hand, was quite cheerful, cooking meals for everyone so they wouldn't go hungry.
Ling Yuxiu's expression was grave as she looked around. She too could tell this was a massive formation array that trapped them all on the island, giving them no chance to leave. If anyone tried to force their way through, the formation would activate, transforming into a killing array that would turn this island into an asura field!
When this great formation activated, it would be terrifying beyond measure!
Moreover, she noticed some of these strange people were even wearing official court robes—they were high-ranking officials of the current dynasty. Others were butchers from the vegetable market, executioners, and even Imperial Academy officials. What a bizarre collection of people!
The most peculiar thing was that every two hours, these people changed positions, which was altering the formation itself. They were clearly guarding against the Dao Master deciphering the formation's changes.
"The Heavenly Demon Cult truly lives up to its reputation as the foremost demonic sect. Their calculations are precise," the Old Dao Master remarked, observing the killing formation with admiration in his heart. "I can figure out the formation's changes in exactly two hours, and they change it at precisely that moment. The Formation Hall Master is truly cunning."
The Formation Hall Master was a Guozijian instructor at the Imperial Academy's Formation Origin Hall, bestowed the title of Hanlin Academician by Emperor Yanfeng. He was extremely favored and often summoned to the palace to discuss matters of state. Although he wasn't given real power due to his origins in the Heavenly Demon Cult, most of the military's formations were designed by him.
Clearly, the Formation Hall Master had calculated the Old Dao Master's capabilities to the letter. If Qin Mu were in danger, he would never be allowed to leave alive. Even if he did leave, it would have to be in death.
Unknowingly, fourteen days had passed. Qin Mu closed his eyes. After a moment, he opened them again, stood up from beneath the stone stele, and bowed to the Dao Master. "Thank you, Senior Brother, for allowing me to contemplate the Dao Sword."
The Dao Master rose and returned the bow. "I wouldn't dare accept such thanks. The Human Emperor has always been qualified to contemplate the Dao Sword. I showed you the Dao Sword, and the Tathagata will show you the Tathagata Mahayana Sutra. The Human Emperor is worthy of it."
Qin Mu said, "I have already seen the Tathagata Mahayana Sutra."
The Dao Master was stunned. After a long moment, he shook his head and chuckled. "That old fellow is still as cunning as ever, getting ahead of me. Disciple, return the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra to the Human Emperor."
Daoist Lin Xuan jolted from his contemplation, quickly gathered the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra back into a ball of thread, and respectfully handed it to Qin Mu with both hands.
Qin Mu smiled. "We are about the same age. There's no need for such formalities."
Daoist Lin Xuan shook his head. "Excessive courtesy offends no one. Since I haven't become the Dao Master, I remain your junior."
Qin Mu sighed helplessly. "Even though the Dao Master hasn't read the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra, his words about preserving evil and preserving good capture the essence of the sutra perfectly. When you contemplated the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra, how much good and how much evil did you see?"
Daoist Lin Xuan hesitated. The Dao Master chuckled and said, "Cult Master Qin is an expert in this matter. Just speak freely."
Daoist Lin Xuan said, "Perhaps it was because of my preconceptions, but when I first read the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra, every sentence seemed to contain words of harm. When I reached the middle section, I began to grasp something, and the distinction between righteous and demonic dissolved in my heart. By the time I reached the final section, I realized my earlier understanding might have been mistaken, so I read it from the beginning again, and my feelings were different once more."
Qin Mu asked with a smile, "How much remains demonic?"
"About twenty percent," Daoist Lin Xuan answered honestly.
Qin Mu said, "Your Dao heart still has twenty percent that is demonic. But you're already much better than the Buddhist Youth. When the Buddhist-hearted Youth reads the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra, he sees demons everywhere. He has the appearance of a Buddha, but in his heart, he is an incurable demon."
Daoist Lin Xuan froze, then suddenly understood. "So that's how it is!"
Yet in his heart, he felt somewhat unwilling. His gaze flickered toward Qin Mu. "How much of the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra does the Human Emperor see as demonic?"
Qin Mu replied, "Every chapter of the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra is both righteous and demonic. It depends on how I use it."
Daoist Lin Xuan was stunned. "This..."
Qin Mu continued with deep meaning, "The sage's way lies in the daily use of the common people. The very first line of the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra makes this clear. You and I are also common people. When we hold righteous thoughts, the Great Nurturing Heavenly Demon Sutra becomes righteous. When we hold demonic thoughts, it becomes demonic. I can use it as a righteous cultivation technique, or I can use it as a demonic one. The wonder of its application lies entirely in the mind."
"The wonder of its application lies entirely in the mind?" Daoist Lin Xuan was stunned again, finding great wisdom in this.
The Old Dao Master hurriedly shouted, "Stop! Don't listen to his teachings—another piece of twisted logic about Following Nature! You are the next generation Dao Master. Be careful not to be deceived by his clever words into joining his demonic sect!"
Daoist Lin Xuan snapped back to awareness, breaking into a cold sweat that soaked through his robes. He thought to himself, "He used the guise of instructing me to discuss demonic sect doctrines, trying to deceive me in the process! His 'Following Nature' is nothing like our Dao school's 'the Dao follows Nature'!"
The Old Dao Master said solemnly, "Cult Master Qin's mental fortitude is indeed a step above yours. In the future, when he opposes you as the demonic sect's leader, you must be careful. Don't forget that he is both the Human Emperor AND the Heavenly Demon Cult Master!"
Qin Mu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The Old Dao Master truly treated him like a flood or a wild beast, guarding against him even while instructing his disciple, lest he be led astray into the Heavenly Demon Cult.
The Old Dao Master asked, "What does the Human Emperor think of the Dao Sword?"
Qin Mu replied solemnly, "It exhausted my understanding of mathematics and principles, with extraordinary subtlety. The final few moves seemed to transcend mathematics and approach the Dao itself."
The Old Dao Master's words also carried deep meaning as he smiled. "Our Dao school's Dao Sword can actually be seen as how to precisely measure a circle. The close ratio and approximate ratio approach infinity. The diameter and circumference cannot be resolved through emptiness and purity alone—there are countless digits beyond. The Dao has no end, and the circumference of a circle has no end. So, why should the Dao need to change? Why should the law need to transform?"
Qin Mu was stunned. This Old Dao Master was propagating the Dao school's doctrines to him!
"Dao Master, let's stop there," Qin Mu said with a smile.
The Old Dao Master laughed heartily and had Daoist Lin Xuan put away the stone tablet. "Human Emperor, your identity is special, and you will face many fearsome opponents. It would be best to return to the Great Ruins soon. The Dragon King's daughter was sent by me to invite you. Would you allow this old Daoist to take her with me?"
Qin Mu looked at the Solomon's seal beneath their feet. Many of the huangjing roots had sprouted several leaves, but quite a few had already withered.
"Don't worry. She listens to my words and won't come here again."
The Old Dao Master smiled. "You haven't lost anything. In fact, she's the one who has lost much."
Qin Mu nodded and called Long Jiaonan forward. Long Jiaonan bore her pain and stumbled forward...