Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Pagoda Tree Demon

Ning Caichen’s brows creased ever so slightly as he scrutinized Su Ye. After a prolonged silence, he finally agreed to bring Su Ye into Lanruo Temple.

Lan Yin Mountain was the cultivation ground of Ning Caichen and his wife. In life, Ning Caichen had been a man of refined tastes; even after death, though reduced to the status of a ghost cultivator, he had not abandoned his sense of elegance. On this mountain, he had taken in many wandering spirits and lonely ghosts, teaching them the ways of ghost cultivation and enlisting their help in tending to Lan Yin Mountain.

Su Ye followed Ning Caichen up the mountain path. The snow lay thick and pristine, flowerbeds scattered everywhere. Come spring, the scenery atop Lan Yin Mountain would surely be enchanting.

Both walked quickly, and in but a short span they arrived at the location of Lanruo Temple, nestled halfway up the mountainside. Once, Lanruo Temple had been the largest Buddhist temple in Jinhua County, sprawling over a vast area with numerous buildings. Yet, after Ning Caichen had annihilated the monks of Lanruo Temple, he set fire to it, reducing nine-tenths of the place to ashes. The residence he now occupied was newly built in the aftermath.

“Ning Caichen, why cling to the past? I have now merged completely with Nie Xiaoqian—we are one and the same. Living together, would that not be bliss?”

“What a handsome young gentleman. Are you here to join us as well?”

…

As Su Ye followed Ning Caichen into the courtyard, he saw a robust locust tree rooted in the center. Despite the swirling winter snows, the tree appeared unscathed, its branches lush and verdant, thriving as if untouched by the season’s chill.

The moment the two stepped into the courtyard, the great crown of the locust tree rustled loudly, and a bewitching voice issued forth from within the tree. Upon hearing it, Ning Caichen’s face darkened, though deep within his eyes lingered a profound worry.

Now, Nie Xiaoqian’s soul was hidden within this locust tree, fused with the soul of the tree demon. For most days each month, it was the tree demon’s will that dominated; only on rare days could Nie Xiaoqian’s soul suppress it. Whenever the tree demon’s soul took control, Ning Caichen would seal it within the locust tree, lest it escape Lan Yin Mountain and wreak havoc beyond.

The method of sealing had been taught to him by Abbot Huiji in his final moments—a fact that only deepened Ning Caichen’s torment when, freed of his obsession, he recalled all he had done.

Especially when he remembered the sealing technique imparted by Abbot Huiji before his death, the pain in Ning Caichen’s heart only intensified. So many years had passed, and the incident had become a new inner demon, the chief reason why Ning Caichen’s cultivation had remained stalled at the ninth rank, unable to progress further.

Through the years, as he coexisted with the tree demon, it ceaselessly sought to stir up the shadows in Ning Caichen’s heart, hoping to drag him back into darkness and together bring calamity to the world.

Ning Caichen did not explain to Su Ye, but the moment Su Ye saw the locust tree in the courtyard, he understood that his suspicions had been correct. The soul of the tree demon had indeed merged with Nie Xiaoqian’s, and presently it was the tree demon’s power that reigned, suppressing Nie Xiaoqian’s spirit.

“Silence!” Ning Caichen shouted angrily, forming a seal with his hand. In an instant, golden spiritual light surged around the locust tree, and golden flames billowed up from within its trunk.

Under the scorching fire, the tree demon let out a piercing, anguished wail.

“Burn me as you will, Ning Caichen! I am one with Nie Xiaoqian—my pain is hers as well!” The tree demon, howling madly, loosened its grip just enough to let Nie Xiaoqian’s consciousness surface, so that she too would suffer the torment.

Sure enough, a moment later, Nie Xiaoqian’s agonized cries echoed from within the tree. Seeing this, Ning Caichen’s face darkened further, but he had no choice but to withdraw the golden flames.

The tree demon then quickly suppressed Nie Xiaoqian’s consciousness once more, resuming its mocking laughter at Ning Caichen’s expense.

Having watched this spectacle for some time, Su Ye sighed softly. With a flick of his wrist, he produced a talisman brush; spiritual power surged from within, and a grayish-white glow shimmered at the brush tip. He touched the tip to the thick trunk of the locust tree, and instantly a talisman sigil took shape upon the bark.

“What is this sorcery? What have you done to me?” The tree demon shrieked in rage, shaking its massive crown violently. Dense, dark green leaves rained down like an array of emerald swords, hurtling toward Su Ye.

Seeing the tree demon’s fury, Ning Caichen felt somewhat reassured; such a reaction confirmed that Su Ye was indeed capable. Without waiting for Su Ye to defend himself, Ning Caichen formed a seal with both hands, summoning a dark-golden bell that enveloped Su Ye, shielding him securely.

“You’ve lost your mind, Ning Caichen! If anything happens to me, Nie Xiaoqian will be annihilated along with me!” The tree demon’s voice rang out sharply. Now confined by the sealing formation, it could not unleash its full power. With Ning Caichen standing guard, it was utterly powerless.

Su Ye’s expression remained unchanged. He brandished the talisman brush, inscribing sigil after sigil upon the locust tree’s trunk, each mark swiftly absorbed into the wood. The densely woven talismans formed a vast net, enveloping the entirety of the great trunk.

At length, Su Ye put away his brush and formed a seal between his palms, pressing it into the locust tree. A mass of gray-white light surged from within, coalescing into the form of a beautiful woman—the soul of Nie Xiaoqian, drawn forth by Su Ye.

The instant Su Ye saw Nie Xiaoqian’s ghostly form, he rapidly formed several sealing sigils and sent them into her soul. Though the tree demon’s will still dominated, the power within Nie Xiaoqian’s spirit was instantly suppressed by these seals.

Nie Xiaoqian’s consciousness reemerged, quickly seizing control and subduing the tree demon’s presence.

“Husband!” Now in command, Nie Xiaoqian’s aura softened. Her clear, limpid eyes turned gently toward Ning Caichen as she called to him.

“My dear, you’ve come out!” Joy lit Ning Caichen’s face. Only recently had the tree demon regained dominance; under normal circumstances, it would be more than half a month before his wife’s consciousness could resurface. Su Ye truly possessed remarkable skill, able to suppress the tree demon and restore his wife so swiftly.

Su Ye quietly attuned to Nie Xiaoqian’s consciousness and sensed that her strength was feeble within the soul. If the tree demon truly wished to maintain control, Nie Xiaoqian might never have been released again.