When Nan Yan regained consciousness, she found herself in a bizarre realm resembling a landscape painting. Although unable to use her spiritual power, she felt no discomfort. The painted world was surrounded by white, with lush vegetation, strange flowers, and odd rocks all rendered in ink. Even her outline had transformed into ink strokes, her clothes tinted with cinnabar and dotted with misty green.
She vaguely recalled Mo Xingzhi’s warning: “Dao friend Nan, be careful! This is my master’s ‘Drawing a Prison’ technique!”
At the time, blinded by rage and focused on eliminating the Heart Demon Woman, she had underestimated Dao Life Sky’s true power.
Most people in Dao Life Sky were skilled in various disciplines. For instance, Ji Yang and Mo Xingzhi were proficient in all four paths: dan, equipment, talismans, and formations. As for Ying Zeyou, while known as Dao Life Sky’s sect leader, few realized he was also a master of both qin and painting.
This ‘Drawing a Prison’ was the essence of his painting technique. Even though it was merely a left-behind skill, Nan Yan found herself directly confronting it for the first time. After meditating for a while, she still couldn’t unravel the mysteries of this painted realm.
What level of cultivation could directly capture a living person in a painting?
“Still not enough…” Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul—still insufficient.
No wonder Shaocang always told her to flee; the gap was too vast.
However, she had dispersed the Heart Demon Woman’s form, which would not only affect the host but also force it to return to its host or the Soul River Waterfall to heal, weakening Dao Life Sky’s control over the Soul River. Shaocang should have an easier time now.
This time, she was certain she had angered him. Nan Yan composed herself, took a deep breath, and began strolling along the painted landscape.
Crossing a stream of inky water, Nan Yan entered a misty mountain. The winding path occasionally echoed with birdsong, making it feel more like a retreat for self-cultivation than imprisonment.
After walking for about two hours, Nan Yan’s keen ears picked up a sound. At first, she thought she had misheard, but as she approached its source, she heard the chorus of people reading aloud.
“Only I believe, the Great Vehicle circulates the sky, attaining truth and law, marvelous to nature; the Dao Sky is eternal, the bright lamp endures…”
Such unified reading should have come from young students, but the voices Nan Yan heard were mostly aged. Pushing aside a painted plum tree, she saw a plum grove with an open space where dozens of oddly dressed, mostly elderly cultivators sat properly on cushions. Before them were tables laden with bamboo scrolls, which they recited diligently like the most dedicated scholars.
“Excuse me…” Nan Yan didn’t try to hide, but after she spoke, none of the cultivators acknowledged her, all focused intently on studying their scrolls.
Nan Yan considered for a moment, then silently found an empty spot and sat down. Opening the scroll before her, she immediately understood—as she had guessed, this vast space held more than just her. These elderly cultivators were likely once formidable figures who had been defeated by Ying Zeyou or others in Dao Life Sky who wielded the ‘Drawing a Prison’ technique. Now they were confined here, being indoctrinated with Dao Life Sky’s doctrines.
She sat for a while, having read about half of the scroll before her when the “senior students” in front seemed to finish. They set down their scrolls and rose in unison to bow to a portrait of the Dao Venerable hanging on the largest plum tree.
“…Thank you for your teachings, Dao Venerable.”
Some had faces full of wrinkles, others had knotted muscles, and one even appeared to be a refined corpse with seventeen or eighteen stitches across his body. Yet they all obediently bowed to the portrait, creating an indescribably strange scene.
It seemed to be lunch break time. The group of fierce-looking cultivators gathered in small groups to discuss Dao Life Sky’s teachings. The large refined corpse cultivator approached Nan Yan with a kind smile, “So we have a new Dao friend. What are your thoughts on the Dao Venerable’s teachings about the cultivation world’s three sins of ‘demonic cultivation, mortal slaughter, and Dao defiance’?”
Nan Yan looked up at the refined corpse cultivator. Though rendered in ink, he still emanated the aura of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. She vaguely recalled hearing in Chen State about a patriarch of the Divine Coffin Sect who had disappeared twenty-some years ago. She hadn’t expected him to be captured and brought here.
Drawing on her years of experience in placating her older brother, Nan Yan quickly adjusted her attitude. She stood up and returned the greeting, “This junior’s cultivation is shallow, and I dare not speak rashly of my views. I only have some questions and hope senior can enlighten me.”
The refined corpse cultivator hurriedly expressed his modesty, while other elderly cultivators gathered around to exchange learning experiences.
“Mortal slaughter and demonic cultivation are evils that harm all living beings, which is understandable. But regarding Dao defiance, is it fair to criminalize those who seek alternative paths to ascension outside of what Dao Life Sky approves? Moreover, why is it considered the gravest offense, met with complete eradication upon discovery? What is the reasoning behind this?”
As soon as she spoke, all the cultivators’ expressions darkened.
“Dao friend, your words are misguided!”
“The Dao Venerable is the first to ascend by breaking through realms! Every word he speaks is the truth of the great Dao!”
“The Dao Venerable cannot be wrong about Dao defiance!”
“You don’t understand—the world’s Dao energy is limited. If one defies the Dao to forge a new path, it steals opportunities from other great Daos!”
Surrounded by a barrage of arguments, Nan Yan felt she might drown in their fervor if they weren’t all made of paper and unable to use force.
At this point, the eldest among them spoke up, “Enough, everyone. Don’t be angry. We were all once as ignorant as her. Why don’t we give her our notes to study slowly? Gradually, she’ll be moved by the Dao Venerable’s great Dao and return to the orthodox path.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. They enthusiastically piled their bamboo scrolls on Nan Yan’s table before dispersing.
Nan Yan called out to the refined corpse cultivator as he was leaving last, “Senior, please wait. May I ask if you are the Yinjie Patriarch of the Divine Coffin Sect?”
The refined corpse cultivator paused, his expression momentarily confused before he seemed to barely recall his name: “Oh? So you know of me.”
Nan Yan, having guided many cultivators from other sects to the Pure Land, was well-informed: “This junior has a strong connection with your sect. I have some questions about Dao’s defiance and would like to seek your guidance, senior.”
The refined corpse cultivator spoke with a weathered expression: “The past is best left unmentioned. In my youth, I was reckless, leading inexperienced young people down the path of corpse refinement. Now, enlightened by the Dao Venerable, I understand that the cultivation world must unite under Dao Life Sky for any hope of ascending beyond realms.”
Nan Yan patiently listened to his reminiscence before saying, “Actually, I have deep ties with your sect. I’ve heard that to expand the demonic path, your sect once obtained a black jade scroll—”
A flicker of confusion crossed the cultivator’s eyes. “Oh, you mean that black jade scroll that circulated in Fan State years ago? Indeed, it happened. The item was first obtained by Si State cultivators who raided a merchant ship. The first batch sent back to Si State included over ten scrolls, some even reaching the Tianxie Dao. Other high-level cultivators also said the scroll contained an exceptionally vicious demonic cultivation method. Why? Are you interested in this?”
Nan Yan replied calmly, “Senior, you may not know that the scroll doesn’t contain demonic methods, but rather Dao-defying techniques. Someone has already been secretly practicing it. Such defiance of the great laws set by the Dao Venerable, if not eradicated in time, will surely become a major threat to the cultivation world.”
“What?!” The refined corpse cultivator was shocked. “Back then, I only set out because my subordinates claimed they could decipher the scroll. No wonder I encountered Dao Life Sky friends who brought me into this painted realm to hear the Dao Venerable’s teachings. It was a close call—if they had been a step late, I would have been tainted by Dao defiance.”
Indeed! Dao Life Sky had been hunting for the Seven Buddha Karma Scriptures everywhere. No wonder Fan State’s Filth Valley was sealed that year, and the Yangyue Sect where she first entered the Dao was destroyed. It was all because they were involved with Dao defiance.
Soul possession, demonic cultivation,异婚, mortal slaughter… Although these so-called crimes were also meant to maintain stability in the cultivation world, in a sense, they were all secondary to the ultimate goal of eradicating Dao defiance.
—Sometimes, the principles of this world are simple. If you want to deal with someone difficult, just observe what they most want to destroy. That must be their weakness.
So apart from the Nine Hells line, what Shaocang wanted to do also involved… Filth Valley.
In her moment of realization, Nan Yan heard a distant crane’s call. She turned to see a red-crowned crane breaking through the clouds and moon, landing beside her. But the voice coming from its beak was Mo Xingzhi’s.
“Conceal your aura and follow me on the crane. Master is about to return. I’ll secretly let you out before then.”
Nan Yan didn’t say much. Under the astonished gaze of the refined corpse cultivator, she mounted the crane, leaving behind these words:
“Yinjie Patriarch, think about your Dao lineage. Is Dao Life Sky truly imprisoning you here for enlightenment?”
As her voice faded, the ink landscape blurred momentarily. Golden Bodhi leaves fluttered down, settling on the brow of each painted cultivator.
After the crane carried Nan Yan out of the painted realm, the atmosphere in the plum grove changed abruptly. In an instant, the Dao Venerable’s portrait hanging on the plum tree was torn apart by a spiritual energy storm. Then, the refined corpse cultivator let out a roar:
“Damn you, Ying Zeyou! You killed my beloved disciple and stole my sect. I swear I’ll slaughter your entire household and devour your flesh! Fellow Dao friends, wake up!!”
Amidst the raging storm of fury, the collapsing plum grove suddenly froze. From the rippling ink emerged a gray-haired figure in light robes. He seemed utterly unconcerned with the approaching cultivators, allowing their weapons to come at him while he stooped to pick up the fragments of the Dao Venerable’s portrait.
“Die!” The refined corpse cultivator took the lead, his entire being wrapped in rolling black energy as he swung a large axe down.
However, the next moment, there was only a light ‘ding’ sound. Ying Zeyou stood up, folded the portrait fragments, and put them away. His finger pointed at the refined corpse cultivator’s brow from a distance. In an instant, the large man’s eyes filled with horror as ink fire began to consume him from his feet up, leaving only a head in moments.
“The Fifth Decline… What realm is the Fifth Decline?!”
“Don’t move.” Ying Zeyou’s expression remained calm as he slightly curled his five fingers. From the brows of all the hateful cultivators, golden Bodhi leaves flew out, landing in his palm. As if encountering a terrifying natural enemy, they struggled fiercely for a while before being annihilated by the Dao seal that appeared in his palm.
The refined corpse cultivator, now just a head, glared at him with trembling lips: “You… Dao Life Sky and you will come to no good end.”
“I’ve walked through hell for hundreds of years without hearing the final chapter. I’m used to it by now.” Ying Zeyou’s gray eyes closed gently as he asked, “Who left these Bodhi leaves?”
The refined corpse cultivator’s face twitched. “I only hope for your death. Why would I tell you?”
He began to laugh loudly, but his remaining head was quickly devoured by a black mist that flew out from behind Ying Zeyou, not even sparing his primordial spirit.
“You know, don’t you?” The Heart Demon Woman emerged from the black mist, satiated from consuming half a Nascent Soul cultivator. She wiped her lower lip with her thumb and deliberately moved closer to him, her slender fingers resting on his arm. “Don’t you want the Buddhist bone and Zen heart? You’re so clever. She’s been in the mortal world for so long—how could you not make a move?”
As if stung by something poisonous, the arm touched by the Heart Demon Woman instantly rotted to the bone.
The Heart Demon Woman said smugly, “Isn’t it laughable? The things you’ve been avoiding and delaying will always end most tragically by your hand. The owner of this face, her daughter too—you’ll have to kill them all. There’s no escape… Or has your iron heart finally softened enough for me to take a bite?”
“…”
He stood silently with his hands behind his back. The Heart Demon Woman, sensing an opportunity, gently embraced him from behind. In a voice barely concealing her greed, she tempted, “Ying Zeyou, isn’t suppressing desire a painful thing? Why not indulge just once? A low, base heart demon like me… you can erase me anytime after you wake up…”
The cold breath, like that of a snake, fell on his neck. Suddenly, the plum trees swayed, and all the surrounding landscape seemed to be stirred by an invisible hand, returning the world to chaos.
The Heart Demon Woman’s newly formed body shattered, and the tiny embers burrowed back into Ying Zeyou’s heart.
He opened his gray eyes. The portrait fragments in his hand turned to ash. As if encountering something absurdly laughable, he silently tugged at the corner of his mouth. With a sweep of his sleeve, he stepped out of the painted realm and reappeared in his usual study.
Mo Xingzhi was kneeling before him, his back ramrod straight.
“His residence is off-limits to outsiders, except for direct disciples.
“That child, did you let her go?” Ying Zeyou asked softly.
Mo Xingzhi raised his head and said, “Master, that year, how did senior brother die?”
Although some things needed no verification, he still struggled, trying to awaken from this irreversible nightmare.
His master, whom he had revered for half his life, showed no intention of explaining. Just as he had done years ago when severing emotions, killing disciples, and abandoning humanity, he coldly said—
“Xingzhi, do you know your mistake?”