Brothers

Yuan Qi and Ling Siyi were stealing the secret arts right in front of the Demon Ancestor, yet the old patriarch pretended to see nothing. He acted deaf to their hushed whispers, letting them steal away. The reason he had hoarded all the demon race's scriptures without passing them down was primarily that the demon race had been waiting for a chance to turn the tables—waiting for a lord of resurgence. Carelessly distributing these arts would only draw suppression from the Immortal Realm, ultimately leaving them unable to preserve even the techniques themselves. Now the time had arrived. With Yuan Qi and Ling Siyi stealing knowledge, the teachings would inevitably spread, cultivating many talents across the demon race. If Jin Buyi ultimately failed, only Yuan Qi and Ling Siyi would die, and the secret manuals in the tree hollow would still remain preserved. His painstaking efforts to safeguard the supreme arts for the demon race were truly profound. At long last, Jin Buyi settled the internal affairs of the new dynasty. Only then did he carry two jars of wine to Daoji Palace. Xu Ying was still studying the Ten Cave-Heavens Comprehension Method, but the golden scripture had already been set aside, left untouched. The comprehension method in the golden tome was merely speculative deduction in the first place; even the author who composed it had never cultivated it to completion. Xu Ying, on the other hand, had already opened six Immortal Realm cave-heavens—he was a man of practical mastery. Once he grasped the underlying principles, he could simply deduce the remaining four cave-heavens on his own. Jin Buyi handed over a jar of fine wine and sat straight down among the ruins. Slapping open the jar's seal, he tipped his head back and drank heartily. He paused only when his belly was half full, letting out a long sigh of relief. Xu Ying, who had been immersed in contemplation, picked up the wine jar and walked over to his side. He too broke open the seal and took a deep drink. There was no telling what year this wine had been brewed. Mellow and enduring, it carried the potent kick of an immortal herb, like swallowing a blazing sun that streamed down his throat. Once in his belly, the medicinal power and the wine's potency burst open. The surging vital energy turned into a torrent of heat, rushing upward past the Five Sacred Immortal Mountains and the First Profound Pass, straight to the Jade Capital. Furthermore, his Primordial Spirit grew pleasantly mellow and hazy, as though intoxicated, a wondrous sensation. "After I received the Eastern Emperor Heaven-Calming Formula, I realized I might never be able to return to the past, never be able to address you as Little Master as I used to." Holding the wine jar in his right hand, Jin Buyi sat with his three legs spread. Gazing into the distance, a look of perplexity crossed his face as he said, "I wanted to do something meaningful for the demon race, rather than live in a daze. I followed Demon Sovereign Jinghong to the Demon Ancestral Court, and there I saw demons of no status living like wild grass, while those in power still indulged in lakes of wine and forests of meat. At the Demon Ancestor's, I saw the glorious history of our past, and I felt as though the heavy burden of reviving the demon race fell upon my shoulders." He lowered his voice: "From becoming an Imperial Son, imparting techniques, and seeking an audience with the Ancestral God, to now proclaiming myself Emperor and establishing the Demon Court... a haze of confusion still lingers in my heart, leaving me at a loss." Xu Ying gazed into the distance, watching the clouds gather and drift apart. He smiled. "Tell me about it. I'll see if I can help you sort it out." Jin Buyi said dejectedly, "I don't know whether everything I'm doing now is truly what my heart desires. In the past, I followed you. When you were lost, I went searching for you. When others bullied you, I fought them with my life. I watched you cultivate, watched you fall in love with Yan Bao'er, watched you form your little family. Wherever you went, I went. When the two of you embraced, I stood upon the Fusang tree behind you." All of it had been so peaceful and serene, so natural and unquestioned. He had been the Golden Crow hatched by Xu Ying, bearing the duty to watch over Xu Ying, his young master. At that time, "he" had been "it," and it considered itself a part of that home. "Then you disappeared again. I searched just as I had before, until I grew so old I lost my memories. The purpose of my entire life ended right there." Jin Buyi grew even more lost in thought. He took a sip of wine and murmured, "Yet you awakened me from decay and death. I grew wiser, grew younger, but then I suddenly realized that I could no longer fly freely behind you as I once did. I could no longer soar across starfields and continents in search of your trace. Ah Ying, I can't return to the state of mind I had back then." Overwhelmed with sorrow, tears welled in his eyes. Xu Ying tilted his head back and stared straight up at the sky. Only after a moment did he compose himself. Smiling, he said, "Lord Jin, do you know what makes me happiest? It's that so many 'I's have appeared in your words." Jin Buyi froze, not understanding why he said this. Xu Ying smiled and continued, "In the past, whenever you spoke, the word 'I' rarely came up. Your life, your experiences—they contained far too much of Xu Ying. You spent a lifetime consumed by the name 'Xu Ying.' You had no self; you had only Xu Ying. But Xu Ying wants you to have yourself." Draining the wine in his jar, Xu Ying looked into the distance, his eyes deep and contemplative. "In Xu Ying's heart, Jin Buyi is not some beast that Xu Ying reared. Jin Buyi is Jin Buyi. He ought to have a life of his own, rather than constantly following and searching for Xu Ying. Lord Jin, in the past it was always you searching for me, watching me be reborn. But this time, it is your rebirth." He looked at Jin Buyi and smiled warmly. "You are Jin Buyi, not just the Golden Crow of Xu Ying's house. You are Xu Ying's brother. The you of the past was you in your childhood. Now that childhood has come to an end, you can step forth and establish your own house." Deeply moved, fiery tears streamed from Jin Buyi's eyes. Raising his wine jar, he smiled. "Brothers?" Xu Ying lifted his wine jar as well, clinking it gently against Jin's, and laughed out loud. "Brothers! I was actually worried that once you became Demon Emperor, you wouldn't recognize a poor relative like me!" Jin Buyi burst into hearty laughter. The two clinked jars and drank to their hearts' content. Forgetting his newfound station, Jin Buyi sat with Xu Ying among the ruins, conversing loudly and drinking deeply, oblivious to the rest of the world. When the wine ran out, he had more brought over. They drank until deep into the night, both thoroughly inebriated, before Jin Buyi finally returned to the Imperial Palace, escorted by Demon Sovereign Jinghong. Xu Ying sat upon the ruins, drinking alone. After a long time, two trails of tears slipped down his cheeks, dropping into the wine jar with soft clinks. Deep in his heart, he only felt that Jin Buyi, who had accompanied him for so long, had finally grown up and departed. He felt a measure of solace, but even more sorrow. Jin Buyi was his family. By establishing his own house this time, their paths would diverge, parting far more often than meeting. At this thought, even the finest wine of the demon race could not soothe his heart. On this day, he too had grown up a great deal. After his visit, Jin Buyi grew busy once more, his visits to Xu Ying becoming increasingly rare. Xu Ying simply took up residence in Daoji Palace, continuing to organize and refine the Ten Cave-Heavens Comprehension Method. The person who created the Ten Cave-Heavens Comprehension Method had likely been unable to continue along this path, yet his concepts offered Xu Ying immense inspiration. Previously, when Xu Ying opened the six cave-heavens, he had relied on his comprehension of the bodhimandas of Dao Ancestor Taiqing, Great Dao Sovereign Xuhuang, and others. Yet he had never pondered their deeper significance, nor had he considered the underlying rules governing them. He had simply let nature take its course. Now, however, he had a clear direction. He knew that beyond the six cave-heavens lay four others, corresponding to Life and Death, Dao Power, Void, and Primordial Supreme One. Having gained that knowledge, he could grasp the direction and apply himself with dedicated effort. With a direction and a target, Xu Ying could draw from the truths he had previously comprehended, picking out insights into the profound mysteries of life and death. Using that as a breakthrough point, he sought comprehension of the Immortal Dao. Immersed in deep contemplation, he hardly noticed as spring gave way to autumn. The Demon Ancestor waited constantly, occasionally emerging from the Ancient Fusang Tree through wind and rain to gaze toward Daoji Palace. "To ask him to comprehend the Ten Cave-Heavens Comprehension Method in such a short time and open a cave-heaven possessing the power of life and death is truly demanding too much of him." Anxiety weighed on the Demon Ancestor's heart, yet this was his final opportunity before the arrival of the Three Realms Tide! As the tide drew nearer, raging winds and surging waves were inevitable. He had to return from death to life before then; otherwise, when the great tide arrived, the demon race would never withstand the impact of the tempests! When that time came, he would be the one to buy time for the demon race! Just as his patience wore thin with worry, glorious rays of rosy light suddenly surged skyward from Daoji Palace, piercing straight into the clouds. Sensing it in his heart, the Demon Ancestor leaped up from his prayer mat. Before he could even put on his shoes, the old man rushed barefoot out of the tree hollow onto the high terrace outside. He normally cared about his dignity above all else, but at this moment, propriety was thrown to the wind. Only when he stepped outside did he notice his bare feet. The Demon Ancestor did not bother returning for shoes. Looking toward Daoji Palace, he saw that the rosy glow was Dao light carrying profound wonders. To ordinary eyes it might have seemed like mere light, but to him, it revealed Xu Ying's comprehension and understanding of life and death. Though he did not fully understand it, he could appreciate it. The Dao light converged in the sky, gradually swirling into a vortex that stirred the winds and clouds, dragging the surrounding tempest into its spin. With his heart in his throat, the Demon Ancestor watched the spinning vortex. He had heard Yuan Qi speak of the Nuo methods and the six secret depositories. He knew that one could only open one's six secret depositories before forming the Primordial Spirit; the deeper one's cultivation grew, the harder it became to open them. Once a Qi Refiner formed a Primordial Spirit and the secret depositories solidified, they could no longer be opened. Now Xu Ying had long since formed his Primordial Spirit and was already in the Jade Pool stage, with an exceptionally profound cultivation. Without crippling his cultivation, could he truly open a seventh cave-heaven? Suddenly, as if some barrier at the center of the vortex had been forcibly breached, the surrounding space shuddered violently. Then, immortal light and immortal spiritual energy poured down from the heavens. The cave-heaven spun like a forming tornado, boring downward! "Did he succeed? Did he succeed?" The Demon Ancestor was even more nervous than Xu Ying, not daring to shift his gaze for an instant. He watched as the cave-heaven descended and connected with Xu Ying within Daoji Palace. *Hum—* A surge of Dao power erupted from Daoji Palace. Then, the tornado-like funnel receded, leaving only a rotating cave-heaven hanging high in the sky. "Did it succeed?" The Demon Ancestor could not quite tell. He had little attainment in Nuo methods, and his heart was suspended in suspense. Only after a moment did he realize how terribly anxious and unsteady he had become. He chuckled at himself, remarking, "To think I've lost my composure like this. If that monkey found out, he would surely mock my pathetic Dao heart." He steadied his Dao heart and continued to wait. Before long, Xu Ying rode the wind over to the Ancient Fusang Tree, landing upon the high terrace. He smiled. "Forgive me for keeping the Demon Ancestor waiting." His gaze fell upon the Demon Ancestor's bare feet, a touch surprised. Only then did the Demon Ancestor remember that he wasn't wearing shoes. His ten toes curled against the ground as he pulled his feet back slightly, laughing self-consciously. "Little Friend Xu, might this old one have a look at your Life and Death cave-heaven?" Xu Ying unfolded his cave-heavens. A total of seven cave-heavens connected to the Immortal Realm, though he did not open his Martial Dao cave-heaven. This scene mirrored Kunlun in ancient times: ten cave-heavens hanging high, immortal light dazzling, fine jade nectar flowing from the ten cave-heavens to nourish Kunlun. Only, what his seven cave-heavens nourished was not Kunlun, but his own physical body and Primordial Spirit! Witnessing this, the Demon Ancestor praised him repeatedly: "Little Friend Xu, to comprehend and open the Life and Death cave-heaven in just eight months—truly miraculous speed!" He extended a hand in invitation and led the way forward, quietly using his Daoist robe to conceal his bare feet. Xu Ying smiled. "If not for my prior foundation, I wouldn't have been able to comprehend the Life and Death cave-heaven in such a short time either. However, after the Life and Death cave-heaven come Dao Power, Void, and Primordial Supreme One. Opening these three cave-heavens will be even more difficult. With my current foundation, I fear I can only manage up to the Void cave-heaven." The two entered the hollow of the Fusang tree and sat down. Taking advantage of the moment, the Demon Ancestor slipped into his shoes and called deeper into the hollow, "Siyi, serve tea! Little Friend Xu has arrived! Come out and serve tea!" There was no response from inside the hollow for quite a while. Feeling rather awkward, the Demon Ancestor got up to boil water and brew tea himself. Pouring a cup for Xu Ying, he asked humbly, "I have heard that for a Qi Refiner, the earlier one opens a cave-heaven, the better. Opened early, the resistance is minimal; once one's cultivation becomes profound, opening them becomes exceedingly difficult. Little Friend Xu, your current cultivation, even without using external realms, is comparable to a Heavenly Immortal. How did you open a new cave-heaven without crippling your cultivation and realms?" Xu Ying chuckled. "The Demon Ancestor may have a slight misunderstanding. When Qi Refiners cultivate Nuo methods, what they open is not cave-heavens, but the human body's secret depositories. In the process of opening the secret depositories, cave-heavens form, connecting to the six other shores to dredge immortal medicine. But after experiencing the shattering of my six secret depositories, I was gravely wounded. When I reopened cave-heavens, I did not follow the ancestral method. Instead, relying on my own comprehension of the Great Dao, I naturally bridged a path to the other shore. Only, this other shore is not the six other shores, but a connection to immortal spiritual energy, becoming an Immortal Realm cave-heaven." Enlightened, the Demon Ancestor smiled. "So that's how it is." He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately voiced his deepest concern: "Little Friend Xu, are you now able to refine Jade Pool immortal water?" Xu Ying mobilized the Life and Death cave-heaven. Immortal spiritual energy poured in incessantly, refined within the cave-heaven until immortal dew slowly condensed and dripped down. The place where the immortal dew fell happened to be none other than his Jade Pool! The immortal dew condensed by this cave-heaven was none other than Jade Pool immortal water! This substance was extraordinary, condensed from the power of life and death, and precisely what the Demon Ancestor's true form, the Fusang tree, required. Seeing this, the Demon Ancestor was filled with joy. Xu Ying lifted his hand gently. The teacup before the Demon Ancestor floated up, hovering above the Jade Pool, where another drop of immortal dew slipped down, falling into the cup with a soft splash. Xu Ying smiled. "Xu Ying wishes the Elder longevity!" The Demon Ancestor laughed heartily. His hand trembling slightly, he lifted the teacup to his lips and drained it in a single gulp. Though there was only a single drop of Jade Pool immortal water in the cup, its significance was immense, stirring in him an unbearable thrill of excitement. As the cup of tea went down, the power capable of reversing life and death slowly diffused, bringing tears of joy to the Demon Ancestor's eyes. So long as Xu Ying continuously supplied him with Jade Pool immortal dew, his resurrection was just around the corner! At that moment, Ling Siyi and Yuan Qi poked their heads out stealthily from within the tree hollow. Catching sight of the two drinking tea outside, both jumped in fright and swiftly pulled their heads back. The Demon Ancestor was still laughing boisterously, tears streaming down his aged face, leaving the two muttering in their hearts: "Can that tea really be that good? The old man is practically laughing himself to death." "All the better to inherit his fortune," Yuan Qi whispered.