Chapter Eighty-One: The Life-Bound Demon Lantern

So the Willow Deity was actually a willow spirit? The arts it used weren’t Daoist techniques, but demonic arts? Yet he hadn’t sensed any difference at all.

Suddenly, the Willow Deity spoke in a low voice, “Do you know the difference between demonic arts and Daoist arts?”

Chu Youcai shook his head.

The Willow Deity said, “Daoist arts borrow the spiritual power of heaven and earth, connecting with the sun and moon, following the laws of Heaven and Man. Those who practice Daoist arts draw on virtue, consuming that virtue to commune with the Dao. To learn Daoist arts, one must lay a Daoist foundation—I can see you already possess a rather impressive one.”

Chu Youcai nodded unconsciously.

The Willow Deity continued, “But demonic arts are entirely different. One must cultivate a Lifebound Demonic Lamp!”

Chu Youcai was taken aback. “Lifebound Demonic Lamp?”

The Willow Deity nodded and said, “After refining the Lifebound Demonic Lamp, it must be entrusted to the underworld. Only then can one draw upon the powers of hell to wield demonic arts. When a demon dies, its Lifebound Demonic Lamp isn’t extinguished, but its soul falls into the underworld, where it will endure eighteen kinds of torment, until its spirit collapses. At that moment, the power of hell seizes its chance, invades, and takes control of the lamp, making it a puppet of the underworld,” the Willow Deity explained solemnly.

Chu Youcai was stunned, never expecting such a restriction on demonic arts.

The Willow Deity went on, “I have spent years researching how to reclaim the Lifebound Demonic Lamp from the underworld, but I have ultimately failed. However, because I often slay demons, my demonic arts carry traces of Daoist energy. Unless someone examines closely, they will mistake it for Daoist art.”

“And I see your mind is resolute and your nature clear. You are not blinded by the world’s prejudices—slaying demons on sight, killing devils without thought—but can distinguish right from wrong. Therefore, I will pass on the demonic arts to you.”

“You have laid both Daoist and literary foundations, and your mind is lucid. Your path will likely unite the Dao and poetry, with limitless potential. So you must never practice the demonic path yourself. If you do, the world will never accept you.”

The Willow Deity took a breath. “So I hope you can find someone worthy to pass on this demonic path.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Youcai finally understood the difference between demonic and Daoist arts. Instantly, he thought of Wen Ji. Wen Ji was born of jade, a spirit by nature—if she could master demonic arts, her cultivation might soar, and she would no longer be oppressed by the sound of thunder.

At once, he asked, “May I ask, Senior Willow, are there any requirements for inheriting your demonic path?”

“Nothing but a resolute heart. Without it, demonic arts will drag one into the eighteen hells, never to be reborn,” the Willow Deity replied gravely.

“Yes,” Chu Youcai answered.

Just then, he remembered the Six Jia Divine Array he had learned earlier. He explained the matter and asked, “Senior Willow, Jiang Xue said the Six Jia Divine Array is a demonic formation. Why was I able to master it so quickly?”

Hearing this, the Willow Deity gazed intently at Chu Youcai, not blinking, his expression grave.

After a long silence, the Willow Deity finally exhaled heavily. “You must never use the Six Jia Divine Array again!”

“Why?” Chu Youcai was startled.

“Because you have a great root of wisdom—not only a Daoist and literary foundation, but you have also formed a foundation for demonic arts!”

Chu Youcai was dumbfounded. “I have a demonic arts foundation?”

He could hardly believe his ears. Could he be a demon as well?

“Have you ever thought that there’s no real difference between humans and demons?” the Willow Deity asked sharply.

“I have. The Dao is about difference, not opposition. The true Great Dao must allow all roads to lead to the same end; at heart, there is no essential distinction between humans and demons. There is good and evil among demons as well—the only difference lies in the heart. We should seek common ground and accept differences, not—” Chu Youcai stopped, suddenly realizing something, and his body trembled.

The Willow Deity said, “Exactly! That is the foundation for demonic arts! It is the easiest of all foundations to form—simply by believing demons are not truly different, you lay the foundation for demonic arts!”

“But cultivating demonic arts is also the harshest path; one must endure a hundredfold torment of the flesh to achieve mastery. Yet whatever happens, you must not pursue demonic arts. If your Lifebound Demonic Lamp is seized by the underworld, you will be lost forever, and the human world will deem you evil, leaving you with nowhere to belong!” the Willow Deity warned solemnly.

At these words, Chu Youcai’s expression changed, for in that moment, he suddenly thought of Second Mother.

In his dealings with her, Second Mother showed a bold, heroic temperament, but her flute was filled with loneliness. She did not even dare show herself openly in Yanzhou City, and he had already guessed at her identity.

He could not help asking, “Did Second Mother also study demonic arts?”

“Yes,” the Willow Deity sighed. “Second Mother is resilient by nature. If she could learn Daoist arts, she would be transformed. But her origins constrained her, so she ultimately took up demonic arts…”

Chu Youcai’s heart tensed. If he practiced demonic arts and was shunned by the world, he would be unable to protect himself, let alone safeguard Yun Cuixian and the others.

“There’s little time. To memorize the Demonic Canon in three hours is no easy task. Sit down cross-legged, and I’ll explain it to you…” The Willow Deity glanced at the hourglass atop the golden pagoda, his expression grave.

“Alright,” Chu Youcai composed himself and sat cross-legged.

But at that moment, a thought occurred to him. He hesitated, then finally asked, “Senior Willow, I wish to know—among all the arts in this world, is there one that can extend an ordinary person’s lifespan?”

“To reverse fate and prolong the life of a mortal?” The Willow Deity shook his head. “Difficult! Difficult! Everyone’s fate is set from birth, unless two rare possibilities occur. The first is to possess a time-grade cursed treasure—a thing nearly impossible to find. The second is to enter the Celestial Execution Institute, which is a sacred place in the world. Perhaps there, one might find a way to lengthen a mortal’s life.”

Hearing this, Chu Youcai’s heart shuddered. A time-grade cursed treasure was nearly impossible to obtain, and the Tuo Dragon Mountain and River Pearl had already recognized him as master—unless he died, it could not pass to another. The other possibility was the Celestial Execution Institute.

“The Celestial Execution Institute? A sacred place? No matter what, for Cuixian’s sake, I will enter!” Chu Youcai’s eyes grew resolute.

He closed his eyes, calming his heart to listen to the Willow Deity’s teachings.

As the Willow Deity spoke, Chu Youcai focused all his spirit, memorizing every word, every syllable.

Only after listening did he truly understand the difficulty of cultivating demonic arts.