Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: A Fox Dies Facing Its Den, Toying With Life and Death

Lion Transformation Seal, Demon Suppression and Fate.

Within the Daoist Alchemy Scripture, there are many metaphors, like [Dragon and Tiger], which sometimes represents the Kan and Li Blood Qi.

Sometimes, the Dragon represents, Heart Fire Illusion, and the Tiger represents, Liver Fire Desire.

When Dragon and Tiger are restless, Consciousness leaps, which is the most terrifying situation for a cultivator; the Great Night is before them.

Therefore, Daoist cultivation emphasizes ”Subduing Dragon and Tiger,” where one must ”Laugh away scriptures, recline in retreat; Dragon returns to the seas, Tiger returns to the mountains,” called ”Unmoving” in the Buddhist sect.

As for how to achieve this, there are various techniques, one of which concerns the ”Lion.”

In the Daoist Canon Seven Interpretations, it is said that the Lion can subdue all beasts. In the discourse of saints, when heavenly demons and heterodox paths attack, a Lion’s roar dispels all evils, and all beasts submit.

In many Buddhist Dao classics, heavenly demons and heterodox paths actually refer to thoughts and illusions...

A thought arises suddenly, illusions fly wildly, like heavenly demons and beasts of prey, Consciousness restless, hindering cultivation, until the Great Night falls; however, the Lion is the king of beasts, capable of fearless courage, shaking all evils.

Thus, in the Daoist sect, there is a [Lion Seal] among the Seal Techniques, and in the Buddhist sect, there is a [Lion’s Roar] among the Divine Techniques.

Even many Immortal Bodhisattvas have lions as their mounts.

For instance, the [Lion Seal] originates from the mount of the Taiyi Celestial Venerable of Salvation, the Nine-headed Divine Lion, whose roar shocks the Upper Realm, intimidating the Nine Netherworld.

In Journey to the West, the Nine-headed Divine Lion escaped to the lower realm, transforming into the [Nine-Headed Primordial Saint]... It was one of the few along the journey uninterested in Tang Monk’s flesh, capturing him in one move, even the Great Sage Equaling Heaven could only surrender helplessly.

This is also a metaphor, the Lion’s roar can subdue the Heart Monkey.

For this reason, the [Lion Seal] is one of the most fundamental Seal Techniques in the Daoist Sect, characterized by its power and righteousness.

Rumble...

A violent sound emerged from the barren grass resembling fox fur, like a heavy hammer striking a drum, or the Lion’s startling roar, sending shockwaves that drained the color from He Huan’s face.

She had seen the Daoist [Lion Seal] before, merely one of many seals, a basic skill for a Daoist’s cultivation.

Yet, at this moment, this unremarkable seal displayed extraordinary power in Zhang Fan’s hands.

Bang...

At this moment, a loud explosion cracked down, the eerie grass twined around burst open, as Zhang Fan stepped forward, forming seals with his hands, clasping nine vertical lines.

In such an Immortal Family sanctum, even the [fox fur] couldn’t withstand the Lion’s mighty roar.

”This is impossible... How can a commonplace Lion Seal yield such an effect!?”

He Huan’s face turned ashen, blood seeping from her mouth, her eyes widened in disbelief at what she witnessed.

With just one hand seal, without even cultivating magic, it could shatter her [fox fur]; in this place, the power she could harness from Immortal Family support was supposed to be the strongest.

Rumble...

Zhang Fan’s expression was indifferent, the Lion Seal in his hands resembled a true lion, Yang Qi rolling thickly, shocking the meridians...

Ordinary people here might see no anomaly, might not even hear any sound.

But to a cultivator, the Lion’s roar was increasingly piercing and shocking, even the barren cave in the distance emitted a peculiar sound...

The fox, singing, turned to a wail, filled with shock and fear.

”Who... What exactly are you?”

At this moment, He Huan panicked, showing a look of shock and horror before Zhang Fan for the first time.

She had never seen anyone who could harness such enormous power with a mere [Lion Seal], remaining ominously unmoved, the Lion’s roar suppressing demons and devils.

”Submission is human, rebellion is immortal... Such an Inner Core Dharma Method is the Daoist Family’s secret, Profound Sect authentic, extremely domineering, the bane of demons and evils, in the future when encountering such people, one must retreat thrice.”

At this moment, He Fei’s past reminder unwittingly surfaced in He Huan’s mind, still echoing, gradually coinciding with the figure of Zhang Fan before her.

”Daoist Family’s secret, Profound Sect authentic!?”

He Huan’s pupils suddenly contracted, seemingly realizing something, and at that moment, Zhang Fan had already approached, like a shadow pressing with unprecedented oppressiveness.

”You... You wouldn’t dare kill me...” He Huan trembled, no longer the madness of just moments ago.

Buzz...

Before she finished, Zhang Fan held the Lion Seal, pointed a finger, landing between He Huan’s brows, her body stiffened, eyes rolled back, and she fell straight down.

Her breathing gradually weakened, not dissipating, but her vitality seemed severed.

Swoosh...

At this moment, a strange sound came from the barren cave not far away, followed by a fox the size of a wild wolf bursting out, its silky red fur gradually dimmed at a visible pace.

The fox stared intently at Zhang Fan, its eyes filled with human-like hatred and anger.

It stepped out of the cave, just five steps, before collapsing, its breathing turned weak.

”An Immortal Family worshipper’s beast?” Zhang Fan mused.

This was his first encounter with a spirit monster, the gaze just now indeed revealed intelligence, no longer like an ordinary animal.

With this in mind, a harsh glint flickered in Zhang Fan’s eye, the Lion Seal yet to be released.

Buzz...

At this moment, an aged hand reached from behind, grasping Zhang Fan’s wrist, and he instinctively released his hands, dissolving the Lion Seal.

”You caused trouble.”

Old Yu’s voice echoed hauntingly, and Zhang Fan turned to see Wen He, who also followed, always gentle eyes on He Huan lying on the ground, pushing her glasses.

”You shattered her Primordial Spirit?” Wen He crouched down to examine, looking at Zhang Fan with some surprise.

She knew Zhang Fan had only just begun his cultivation, yet in a dangerous magical combat, he could breach the He Family girl’s Primordial Spirit!?

”Facing a maniac, I’m scared too, could only fight back to the death!” Zhang Fan spread his hands.

”Is she alright?”

”...”

”She won’t wake again; once the Primordial Spirit breaks, she will never wake again.” Old Yu spoke solemnly.

People have three souls and seven spirits, three souls hidden within the Primordial Spirit, seven spirits housed in the Consciousness.

The soul governs the mind; once damaged, it causes functional disability. For example, many in vegetative states have harmed, even lost, their three souls.

The spirit governs emotions; once damaged, it affects feelings and moods. For instance, many mental illnesses like depression, autism, mania are actually spirit damage or loss.

Nowadays, it’s considered a psychological or mental issue; in ancient times, one would seek a Daoist or witch to call back souls.

He Huan’s Primordial Spirit shattered by Zhang Fan’s Lion Seal, she could never awaken in this lifetime, only lying in bed, forever like a vegetable.

”Zhang, your Lion Seal practice is quite good,” Old Yu commented nonchalantly.

”What should we do now?” Zhang Fan asked.

”Don’t worry, Fanfan; this isn’t your fault.” Wen He quickly reassured Zhang Fan, knowing about He Family’s daughter, that she indeed secretly committed many harmful deeds.

”Old Yu will handle it.”

Before the words fell, Old Yu had already moved towards the dying fox.

Zhang Fan watched, seeing Old Yu’s back to them, not knowing what he did, the fox suddenly convulsed, then lifeless.

The fox died, with its head towards its own cave.

A fox towards its hill, it’s said the foxes that gain intelligence, even in death, will face their den’s direction.

Old Yu turned, walking to He Huan, hoisting her over his shoulder.

”Little Wen He, let’s go.”

”Fanfan, go wait for us in the car,” Wen He instructed, following Old Yu.

After taking just two steps, Old Yu paused, turning back, a meaningful look at Zhang Fan: ”Zhang, the thrill of wielding power, toying with life and death is quite something, isn’t it?”

”What?” Zhang Fan asked.

”Nothing.” Old Yu chuckled slightly, slowly retracting his gaze, carrying He Huan, disappearing from sight with Wen He.

”Playing with life and death!” Zhang Fan murmured, breaking someone else’s Primordial Spirit was no different from killing.

This feeling was indeed peculiar, the key was...

He faintly felt, this wasn’t his first time!

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