Chapter Fifty-Three: Slaying the Demon

  Unlike the previous time in Daxue Mountain, where he was facing Zizhu, Ding Yan's petrification technique this time is a full-force drive, attempting to petrify a white python that has strength surpassing his own. Not to mention the python's actual strength, just its enormous body alone is not something simple for Ding Yan to handle.

  The primordial energy surged back, and the illusory painting in front of Ding Yan became clearer and clearer.

  On the painting is a yin-yang fish diagram.

  Yin and yang are interdependent, twisting the essence of matter. On the outside, there are five talismans, each representing one of the Five Elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

  Petrification, among the three Taoist techniques that Ding Yan is currently learning, is the most profound one. Because petrification is not just a simple low-grade Taoist technique, when cultivated to a high level, it can reverse the five elements and change yin and yang.

  When it reaches the turning point of the five elements, the petrification technique is no longer a low-grade Taoist technique, but a medium-grade Taoist technique. At the same time, the name is no longer petrification technique, but five-element technique. After becoming the five-element technique, the power of this technique can reverse the five elements, turn water into fire, and be unpredictable by gods and ghosts.

  When it reaches the point of reversing yin and yang, this technique transforms into a high-level Taoist technique, transforming yin into yang.

  Ding Yan's petrification technique is still in its initial stage and can only temporarily turn the opponent's body attributes into stone blocks, which are not permanent.

  As the petrification spell took effect, the white python felt increasingly immense pressure.

  Finally, the python let out a loud hiss and made the first move.

  The elixir rose in a spiral, striking towards Ding Yan's still unformed petrification technique. Looking at the elixir again, a demonic aura lingered around it, threads of demonic energy spreading out and filling the air. To the naked eye, it seemed as if one could see a magnificent and resplendent illusory realm of immortals.

  "The demonic energy has solidified, this demon's power is already close to taking shape." After a moment of contemplation, Ding Yan understood why the demon had to kill him.

  White python's power is close to transformation.

  The demon's cultivation is not comparable to that of human cultivators. Every step forward in the demon's cultivation is extremely difficult, and without the assistance of spiritual medicine, the process of transformation may fail. It was precisely because of this that Bai Mang guarded the He Ye Pan Tao on the Jiulong Mountains for hundreds of years, only to ultimately benefit Ding Yan.

  With a flick of his sleeve, Ding retreated half a step with an empty word.

  "Petrify!"

  The illusory graphics shattered instantly, and a strange gray force spread along with the elixir.

  The closest demonic pill to the diagram was instantly affected by this force, and the front part showed a petrified phenomenon. The demonic energy that permeated the surface also had a hint of dissipation.

  The white python was enraged and let out a loud roar, but amidst its fury, it revealed a hint of fear.

  It's still a demon after all, and it can't understand the existence of Taoist techniques at all.

  The grey power continued to spread, and the giant body of the white python changed color at a visible speed, with its tail already turning into the color of stone.

  Bang!!

  The demon pill in the air has completely transformed into a stone ball and smashed onto the ground, making a loud noise.

  The white python let out a mournful cry, wanting to retreat, but at this moment it discovered that the lower half of its body had completely lost all sensation. Lowering its head to look, it found that the snake tail part had turned into stone.

  The white python twisted and lost its balance, falling head-first to the ground.

  The power of grey continues to spread...

  The words fell slowly down.

  At this time, the body of the white python had almost completely petrified, leaving only the skull intact.

  Struggling to lift its head, the white python looked at Ding Yan, with a hint of will to survive in its eyes. Gradually, as consciousness faded away, the white python raised its skull and let out a mournful cry. The grey power finally consumed the white python's skull, its massive body turning into a stone statue that crashed onto the ground, all signs of life extinguished.

  The world of cultivators has always been this way!

  The white python has been cultivating until now, and it is unknown how many weak and small creatures have been swallowed. Its current cultivation can almost be said to be piled up with the lives of those weak and small living beings.

  Ding Yan walked over and picked up the completely petrified demon pill from the ground, putting it into his sleeve.

  No sighs, no emotions.

  With a flick of his sleeve, in just a few steps, Ding Yan's figure disappeared into the thick underbrush.

  He who has been practicing for a thousand years has long been accustomed to this carnage and accustomed to these rules.

  After leaving the Jiulong Mountains, Ding Yanyu took a step back into thin air and transformed into a flowing light, flying towards the distance.

  Entering the mortal world, it has been sixteen years already.

  A few major sects enter the mortal world with a token, which is sent once every ten years. In other words, he has already spent the time of the next token delivery in the mortal world. However, Dīng Yán was originally a loose immortal, entering and exiting the Dao Fang Great Array, naturally subject to many restrictions like those refining Qi disciples. As long as he is willing, he can stay in the mortal world for hundreds of years.

  "Jianjing... Chen'er should have left by now..." In the void, Dingyan swept his gaze over the city below, without a hint of hesitation, transformed into a flowing light, and flew towards the direction where Zhao Guo once was.

  Half a day later.

  Above an anonymous small village.

  "Ding Yan stopped in his tracks."

  "One day in the future, I will set foot on the pinnacle of this world and make all these people tremble under my feet..."

  A voice full of confidence echoed in Ding Yan's memory.

  This is Mojia Village.

  Lotus Valley's first disciple, Mo Fan's hometown.

  After a moment of silence, Ding Yan slowly fell down, gathered his yuan power and became like an ordinary person.

  The downfall of Zhao State had no impact on Mojia Village, as it was located in a very remote area. The only road leading out of the village required crossing several large mountains ahead. Therefore, the flames of war between the two states did not reach here at all.

  The main road in the village is a bluestone path, and years have left many marks on this path. The stone seams are filled with moss, revealing an ancient atmosphere. At the end of the small road is a stone house, with a wooden door, and two lanterns hanging from both ends of the door. Due to the rain washing away, the characters on the lanterns have become completely blurred, but the outline of a "shou" character can still be vaguely seen.

  "Go away!" A hoarse voice came from the main hall inside the house.

  Outside, several men in their thirties with bare upper bodies gathered together, holding some iron hoes and the like.

  "Grandfather, don't be stubborn, Nianfan has been away from home for so many years, if he was going to come back, he would have already. To be honest, I think Nianfan is probably dead..."

  "Shut up!"

  A loud shout came from inside the house, followed by a fit of rapid coughing.

  It took a while to calm down, but the voice was still a bit short of breath when speaking.

  "Nothing in this ancestral house is ordinary, none of you are allowed to touch anything!"

  "You old thing, you're so shameless! I've gone to great lengths to find this place. As for the treasure, I must have it no matter what. Don't provoke me, or else I'll burn down your entire Mo Village with one torch!" The scar-faced man who had been silent until now finally spoke up.