Chapter 45: Chapter no.46 Six Sanskrit Mantra
[ POV Change ]
Demonic Qi is a title given to the special Qi born from the flow of a man who has been wronged by the world.
As the man stirs the world's flow with their raw emotions and will, this abyssal-like energy is produced. This energy has been given many names over the years in the Murim.
Wicked Qi, Demonic Force, Devilish Energy,
Malefic Qi etc.
Despite what it was called in whatever era of time, Demonic Qi has always been a source of fear for the Murim because fighting against a cultivator who wields Demonic Qi is one of the most dangerous endeavors for any cultivator because of one simple fact.
Demonic Qi erodes through normal Spiritual Qi like a hot knife through butter.
This strange property of Demonic Qi has led to the deaths of an innumerable amount of cultivators through the years but Demonic Qi is like a two-edged sword; it can help the wielder defeat significantly stronger opponents with ease but it also eroded through the wielder's mind causing them to go insane and barbaric through their exposure to Demonic Qi.
This double edge nature of demonic Qi has led most of the Murim to stay away from it even the evilest sects except a few.
The fear of Demonic Qi has resulted in stigmatization for sects that if a user of Demonic Qi emerges from a sect, they are labeled as an evil sect by the Murim as a whole and the title of evil remains etched into history alongside the sect irrespective of the good they did.
Fear of ostracization and the title of the evil sect on their name and honor has led countless sects to erase families .... entire bloodlines just so they don't have any association with demonic cultivators.
This process has been mockingly called the blood cleansing by the evil sects of the Murim.
Legends say that those wielders of Demonic Qi fought like demons, caring not for their opponent, caring not for their companion, and caring not for themselves as they try to inflict as much pain onto the world as they can.
.....
[ Dreamland ]
The lighthouse would have once stood tall, a beacon of hope and guidance for ships navigating through the treacherous waters. But now, it lay in ruins, its once proud tower nothing more than a pile of rubble, scattered across the rocky shoreline. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and ash, and the sound of crackling flames. The fire had spread quickly, engulfing the entire structure in a raging inferno. The wooden beams that had once held the lighthouse together now lay blackened and charred, the stone walls reduced to nothing but a pile of rubble.
Amidst the destruction, an ethereal symbol of the Dao had formed, a swirling vortex of energy that seemed to pulse with otherworldly power. The symbol was a mesmerizing sight, with its intricate patterns of black and white energy, writhing and twisting in an endless dance. At the center of the symbol stood a black cocoon, it's surface writhing and shifting as if something within was trying to break free. The cocoon was made of a strange, dark material that seemed to absorb all the light that fell upon it. It was as if the cocoon was a void, a gaping hole in the fabric of reality.
Chains of black and white energy shot out from the cocoon, writhing and twisting like snakes, as they restrained the cocoon, keeping whatever was inside from escaping. The chains were made of a strange, ethereal energy that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. They seemed to be both solid and insubstantial at the same time, and they gave off a faint hum that could be heard even over the sound of the raging fire.
Surrounding the Dao symbol were a couple of hooded men. Their attire was made of black and dark grey, lightweight clothing, designed for stealth and movement. The fabric was adorned with intricate symbols that seemed to glow with a faint, ethereal light. They wore black boots, and their arms were covered with black fingerless gloves. Their faces were obscured by the shadows of their hoods, but their eyes glinted with fierce determination. They stood guard, ready to defend the cocoon at all costs. They held bows at their sides, the weapon glinting in the light of the fire.
In the distance, silhouetted against the backdrop of the burning lighthouse, stood Lin Lai alongside as she healed Bowman's missing right arm with greenish-blue flames.
....
The darkness of the cocoon was suddenly broken as a brilliant light began to shine through the cracks. The once-solid exterior began to crumble and fall away, revealing a stunning figure within. The brown-haired Zhongli emerged as the cocoon disintegrated around him.
As he stood there, the light danced around him, illuminating every inch of his body. The silk cocoon swirled and twisted, clinging to his right arm and transforming it into a jet-black appendage. It was as if the darkness of the cocoon had taken hold of him, imbuing him with new strength and power.
Zhongli's eyes were closed, but as the last bits of the cocoon fell away, they opened to reveal a pair of piercing blue orbs and a sense of overwhelming power and presence filled the air. It was as if a monstrous entity had been awakened and was now locked onto its target - Lin Lai.
Lin Lai's body tensed as she felt the weight of that presence bearing down on her. Her eyes widened in fear as she realized that this was something far beyond her control.
The Seven Branch Prison Sword was able to amplify someone as weak as Lan Yue to battle against Zhongli so how powerful was Zhongli at this moment?
Zhongli's eyes flicked around, taking in the scene before him. He was surrounded by Lin Lai's puppets, all of them lunging toward him with deadly intent. He could feel the weight of their attack bearing down on him, and he knew that he had to act fast.
With a fluid motion, Zhongli raised his arm, the one that was now jet black from the cocoon's remnants. The darkness seemed to swirl around it, forming into a series of dark orbs that hung suspended in the air.
The puppets were upon him now, their weapons raised and ready to strike. But Zhongli was faster. With a swift motion, he unleashed the orbs, sending them hurtling toward the puppets with deadly precision.
The orbs struck their targets with a resounding thud, impaling the puppets and holding them in place. But the darkness was not done yet. The orbs began to shift and change, elongating and solidifying into black rods that pinned the puppets to the ground.
The puppets lay pinned to the ground, the black rods impaling them and holding them in place. But they were not defeated yet. They struggled against the rods, their bodies writhing and twisting in an attempt to break free.
As they struggled, their forms began to distort and change. The wooden exteriors cracked and splintered, revealing the grayish humanoids underneath. They were emaciated and twisted, their skin stretched tight over their bones.
The humanoids were bound in red ropes, with multiple talismans tied to their bodies.
" What the fuck ?" Zhongli exclaimed as he gazed upon the true form of the puppets.
[ What? Is this your first time seeing a " perianth ]
The voice of ego artifact transmitted to Zhongli who frowned and asked.
" What's that ?"
[ It's a type of magic doll that is formed from the flesh of a cultivator and they're not going to be defeated just like that. ]
The Artifact's words seemed to be correct as Zhongli saw the puppets snap the rods that were pinning them down.
" How do I defeat them ?"
[ You need to fight them using the opposite nature of Spiritual Qi. Seeing as they are Yin creations, you need Yang Qi. ]
" Well, I don't have any kind of Yang Qi."
[ Yang Qi is a fundamental Qi formed from the body. ]
" Good to know, How do I use it ?"
[ Use a Yang technique. ]
" I don't have a Yang technique "
[ I do ]
" Then give it to me."
Zhongli exclaimed as he dodged the puppet's attacks.
[ Brace yourself, this is going to hurt ]
Zhongli's mind focused on the technique he had just received. He could feel the knowledge flowing into him, filling him with the power he needed to defeat his enemies. But with that power came a price. Blood began to seep out of his eyes, a sign of the strain the technique was putting on his mind.
Despite the pain, Zhongli did not falter.
" OM MANI PADME HUM "
Zhongli recited the six-syllable Sanskrit mantra, and as he spoke the words, the puppets began to erupt in golden flames. The flames consumed them, destroying the twisted humanoids and the talismans that bound them.
The black rods that held the puppets in place began to shift, transferring Zhongli's Yang Qi into their bodies. The flames intensified as the puppets were infused with Zhongli's power, burning brighter and hotter.
With a final burst of energy, the puppets were reduced to ashes, the flames dying out as they were consumed.
Zhongli cleaned his eyes, wiping away the blood that had seeped out during the transfer of technique. He looked up to see the bowman approaching him, his eyes filled with killing intent. Zhongli could sense the man's malice, and he knew that he was not to be underestimated.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone