Chapter 64: The Might That Shakes Mount Qi, The Three Fiends Vanquished

After the mural depicting the alliance of humans and demons heading to Mount Qi, the iron-colored roots extended to their end, marking the conclusion of the first series of images.

The SUV continued onward, crossing beyond the outermost spreading roots and entering the open terrain within the imperial city of the demon capital.

The winding path gradually opened into a broad plain, and outside the window, the colossal golden phoenix tree loomed ever closer. Nestled beside the great tree stretched the mountains and rivers, the golden tree and green hills arranged one behind the other, the entire scene reminiscent of an ancient oil painting.

After traveling several more kilometers, the vehicle stopped before a clearing at the foot of the mountain. The team from the Advanced Research Institute, accompanied by the peacock, disembarked to face the dust-laden wind blowing toward them.

Cheng Xiaomeng shaded her eyes with her hand and gazed ahead, seeing a vast expanse of gray-white rock. This mountainside was untamed—no fields had been cultivated, no structures erected—preserving its primordial visage.

“The path we just traveled was the very route His Majesty and the Immortal took when they stormed into the demon lair,” the peacock explained.

“Thirteen centuries ago, the Three Demons occupied Mount Qi. Humans and demons alike were slaughtered, countless corpses amassed, and the cave realm of Mount Qi was transformed into the Corpse Forest. It was not until His Majesty and the Immortal arrived that the forest was purged in a single strike, and they pressed into the heart of the demon lair.”

Extending a wing, the peacock gestured toward the group.

“And here was where the Three Demons once stationed their forces.”

“To save Mount Qi, the Immortal and His Majesty fought a fierce battle here against the Three Demons. Traces of that ancient conflict remain even to this day. Please follow me.”

With that, it spread its wings and soared ahead, leading the Advanced Research Institute team forward.

A gentle breeze stirred dust along the dirt path. Cheng Xiaomeng looked down, noting the road laid with fragments of stone and yellow soil, stretching for miles beyond sight.

This was the same path once trodden by that legendary figure 1,300 years ago.

...

The golden phoenix tree’s radiance filtered down, casting the shadows of a man and a bird swiftly moving through the cave realm.

After a moment, the shadows paused beneath the shade of leaves. Zhou Wuqing, suspended in midair, lowered his gaze to the forest below.

This western region of Qi was renowned for its dense gathering of demon clans. The outer areas they had just traversed were lush and vibrant year-round; within this aura-rich cave realm, the mountains and rivers were even more verdant and thriving.

Yet now, amid this beautiful forest, countless corpses lay piled high.

The bodies numbered perhaps in the thousands, varied in form—demons of many kinds and humans clad in simple cloth.

Each corpse was dismembered: skins hung from branches, tendons tied to trunks, and chunks of flesh scattered among strange flora on the ground. Human and demon flesh were mixed together, heaped into gruesome mountains of corpses and seas of blood, staining the once-beautiful landscape of western Qi a deep crimson.

The stench of blood was overpowering. The red bird flapping beside him trembled, its flight erratic with fear.

“Immortal Lord... this is the place,” the red bird stammered.

Zhou Wuqing’s eyes fixed on the carnage below. “This atrocity was wrought by the Three Demons you mentioned?”

“Yes,” the red bird nodded. “The Three Demons claimed their purpose was to transform Mount Qi into the Buddhist holy site known as the ‘Corpse Forest’ for their disciples’ cultivation.”

“Since their arrival, many demons originally dwelling here pledged allegiance to them, accepting purification and following their path. Those who refused... ended up as these corpses in the forest.”

Zhou Wuqing listened without excess emotion, merely lowering his gaze to observe the grim scene.

The “Corpse Forest” was a term he had indeed heard before.

During the Buddhist purges of the Northern and Southern Dynasties over a century ago, the Jiuli forces allied with the Northern Zhou dynasty to destroy countless Buddhist temples across the Central Plains, seizing many sacred texts.

As perpetual adversaries, the Immortal Alliance had studied these spoils carefully; he had perused some of these scriptures himself. The name “Corpse Forest” came from a text called the “Sutra on the Practice of Self-Sacrifice.” (Note 1)

According to that scripture, those who can sacrifice their bodies atone for all sins and attain the perfect enlightenment of Buddhahood.

To cultivate this path of self-sacrifice, the Buddhist sect established the sacred site “Corpse Forest,” encouraging disciples to display corpses and flesh within the forest and practice cultivation there to comprehend the cycle of birth and death.

This unprecedented method of practice drew varied opinions within the Immortal Alliance; his own judgment was simple.

Suddenly, intense heat radiated outward, gusts of scorching wind like a hurricane shot into the sky. The red bird, caught off guard, hastened to cling tightly to Zhou Wuqing’s side to avoid being swept away.

Its eyes widened, reflecting a fierce fiery light like the sun itself. In the next moment, the entire mountain range before them burst into flames.

...

Blazing infernos surged like giant waves across the forest. Within moments, the Corpse Forest became a sea of fire; the demons hiding there were reduced to ashes before they could react.

The sight seared itself into Zhou Wuqing’s vision. The red bird at his side was momentarily stunned.

Though it possessed sentience and a century of cultivation, it had never witnessed a human cultivator with such terrifying presence.

Could such power truly exist among humans?

Suddenly, a deep roar echoed from afar. The central golden phoenix tree trembled, emitting a faint golden aura that spread throughout the cave realm. It seemed that some hidden being within sensed the disturbance and turned its gaze this way.

The red bird shuddered; if not for Zhou Wuqing holding its feathers, it might have fallen midair.

Naturally, Zhou Wuqing heard the noise as well and rose once more, heading toward the center without waiting for the bird to guide him. The red bird flapped desperately to keep pace, avoiding being overwhelmed by the roar’s imposing force.

Together, man and bird sped along the stone-and-soil path, finally halting at its end. The shadow expanded as the figure in a red Taoist robe descended from the air, stepping onto the yellow earth.

Zhou Wuqing looked up, the towering giant tree reflected in his eyes.

The tree resembled a phoenix tree, its leaves golden, branches iron-like, surrounded by mountains and rivers—clearly the heart of this cave realm.

Unlike the outer Corpse Forest, the inner realm retained its original pristine beauty. Everywhere were fragrant herbs, rare flowers, tall pines, and verdant bamboo—a true fairyland.

Closer inspection revealed faint golden Buddhist light shimmering along the phoenix tree’s branches, suffusing the sanctuary with a sacred aura, reminiscent of the legendary Buddhist holy mountain of Tianzhu.

The flapping sound beside him ceased as the red bird landed at his feet, feathers ruffled, wings trembling.

At this spot, it could clearly sense the immense demonic aura emanating from the golden phoenix tree—like three great mountains standing there. Even miles away, the presence was palpable.

Not long ago, these three mountains crushed the entire Mount Qi region, causing countless demon casualties. The horrific scene still haunted the red bird’s mind; it dared not advance a single step, terrified merely by their overwhelming aura.

“Are you hiding here?” Zhou Wuqing suddenly spoke beside it, causing the red bird to turn. Then, with a stomp, he unleashed a surge of force.

Boom! The ground shook violently, startling the red bird so much that it flew several dozen steps back, retreating behind a cluster of iron roots. As it looked out from its hiding place, it took in the blazing flames, the imposing sword, and the commanding figure before it.

At the same time, two giant shadows descended from the sky.

Sharp howls pierced the air as a golden-winged roc spread its wings atop the mountain, the giant elephant alongside it trumpeting fiercely. The two immense figures, like storms, swept down the mountain, their six massive eyes glaring down at the small figure below.

“Who dares trespass upon our domain?” a thunderous voice echoed.

Their colossal shadows cast across the earth. Zhou Wuqing raised his gaze and swept his eyes over the three great beasts. Each bore a faint swastika mark—an unmistakable Buddhist emblem.

“Indeed, the Three Demons raised by Buddhism’s dogs,” he muttered.

The earth quaked anew, this time from the three great demons before him. The blue lion on the left roared, the sound shaking the heavens.

“How dare you!” it leaped from the mountaintop, baring razor-sharp fangs. “We serve the Buddha’s command to enlighten these wild demons and ignorant mortals. How dare a mere mortal trespass...”

The sharp clang of a sword rang through the valley. The red bird’s eyes trembled violently.

Zhou Wuqing suddenly raised his hand, summoning a spirit sword in his palm. Without hesitation, he swung it, the sword light slicing through the sky and striking the blue lion midair.

With a howl, the lion fell, its massive body crashing to the ground, scattering leaves and churning earth.

The sword’s fierce energy swept across the upturned soil, stripping away the yellow earth to reveal piles of white bones beneath.

Those bones formed mountains of varied sizes and shapes—some belonging to other great demons, others human remains.

“Corpses piled like forests, bones buried in the earth. This Buddhist enlightenment is truly aptly named,” the man in red remarked amid the biting wind.

The sudden clash startled not only the red bird watching from behind but even the two great demons perched on the ridge.

The golden roc flapped its wings, preparing to rise, while the central giant elephant, as if aware of the situation, brought its front hooves together in a precise Buddhist salute.

“Amitabha. It appears you are a master of the Immortal sect. We mean no offense,” the elephant said, bowing slightly. “Immortal Lord, perhaps you misunderstand. We do not intend to consume humans or demons. But the mortals of the Central Plains are mired in desire, greed, lust, and strife—killing and quarreling abound. Humans and demons here suffer from the same.”

“Desire, lust, strife, tainting karma. We seek to create a pure land on earth by sending those burdened with such karma into the cycle of reincarnation as salvation. If you do not mind, Immortal Lord, allow me to elaborate on this path. Perhaps then you will understand our actions.”

As he finished speaking, Zhou Wuqing swept his gaze over the scattered bones and smiled coldly.

“A few lackeys dare lecture me on doctrine?”

The hurricane-like heat surged again, the flames of boundless true fire igniting around him. His overwhelming aura burst outward instantly.

The red bird, pressed nearly to suffocation behind him, flapped its wings desperately, retreating behind a cluster of iron roots several dozen steps away.

Peering from its cover, it fixed its gaze on the blazing fire, the solemn sword, and the imposing figure.

At the same moment, two giant shadows descended from the sky.

Sharp screams rang out as the golden-winged roc suddenly spread its wings, the elephant trumpeting loudly in tandem. The two colossal forms, like hurricanes, swept down from the mountain peak, unleashing a storm upon the red-robed man.

“The Buddhists claim to guide all beings into reincarnation?”

Amid the raging wind, Zhou Wuqing raised his sword, blade wreathed in fierce flames, facing the oncoming giants.

“Today, I will send you into reincarnation!”

...

The peacock folded its wings and gracefully descended to the ground. Behind it, the Advanced Research Institute team halted, each looking ahead.

Before their eyes stood a towering green mountain, its center split by a massive chasm as if torn apart by some great force.

Beneath the mountain’s fissure stood a black stone stele inscribed with Chinese characters:

“The Three Demons of Buddhism—White Elephant, slain here.”

“My goodness... was this cut by someone?” a researcher murmured in awe.

Cheng Xiaomeng listened silently, surveying the surroundings.

Beside the vast fissure lay a depression filled with rubble, resembling a crater formed by a giant meteorite. Though centuries had passed and some filling had occurred, the center remained barren.

Another stele stood at the crater’s edge:

“The Three Demons of Buddhism—Blue Lion, extinguished here.”

Further ahead, a huge hollow was carved into the mountain’s stone face, flattening much of the surrounding range—a striking and abrupt feature.

Below it stood another stele recording:

“The Three Demons of Buddhism—Golden Roc, shot down here.”

The mountain wind whistled through the cracks, echoing mournfully through the mountains and rivers—a lament spanning over a millennium.

“These are the remnants of the ancient demon-slaying war,” the peacock said elegantly, flicking its tail as it addressed the team.

“In those days, His Majesty and the Immortal entered Mount Qi together to battle the Three Demons here.”

“The Three Demons were fierce, beyond ordinary foes. His Majesty and the Immortal burned the Corpse Forest, shattered the green mountains, and finally confronted the Three Demons beneath the golden phoenix tree. Their battle darkened the heavens and eclipsed sun and moon, ultimately subduing the demons and restoring peace to Mount Qi!”

Note 1: The “Sutra on the Practice of Self-Sacrifice” originates from Dunhuang and is included in the Japanese Taisho Tripitaka.

Today is Lunar New Year’s Eve; wishing everyone a joyful celebration! If all goes as planned, this book should be released in the early hours of February 1st and is expected to cause quite a stir. I humbly ask all readers for their support—many thanks in advance!