“Congratulations, Monkey Brother, you’ve gained another marvelous skill,” Ma Ba Tian exclaimed in amazement. He thought to himself that he had only known Zhong Yuan for a day.
Within this one day, Zhong Yuan’s strength had multiplied, and his techniques had become increasingly intricate.
He couldn’t believe that it was himself who had initially taught Zhong Yuan the Forging Body 玄功.
Even if there were others secretly helping him, his talent was still astounding enough to cause admiration.
However, if he didn’t possess such talent, he wouldn’t be considered a true Chosen One, and he wouldn’t have a chance to truly revive the Great Sage.
Thinking of this, Ma Ba Tian was even happier as he thought his own family issues could possibly be resolved.
Zhong Yuan was also very happy. The technique of gathering and dispersing form was simple, yet it was truly full of changes, and the nuances were profound.
Zhong Yuan felt that if he could understand how to control his Substitute body at the same time, then he could use his Earth Escape Substitute Technique, where he used a hair as a substitute body, to evolve it into a truly invaluable External Body Technique!
As for Sun Wukong’s Seventy-Two Transformations, it was essentially using the gathering and dispersing form technique to first disperse oneself, and then gather oneself again in another form.
As long as one understood something deeply enough, like understanding one’s own body, it should be possible to transform into it.
This simple gathering and dispersing form technique was actually the foundation of many great techniques.
Zhong Yuan paused for a moment, not allowing himself to get carried away, and then said, “Brother Ma, let’s go, we’ll chase after him.”
“While the Black Wind Demon is still injured, we’ll take him down together.”
“Good!”
The two of them climbed back up the mountain.
Although they weren’t flying, they were still running at a very fast pace.
Although there were a few small demons trying to block their path along the way, they posed no threat.
Zhong Yuan also took the opportunity to try out the technique he had just learned, directly conjuring wind and fire, and blowing them towards these small demons, burning them to ashes.
If he hadn’t controlled the flames in the end, he could have burned down the entire Black Wind Mountain in an instant.
The two of them arrived at the highest peak of Black Wind Mountain and saw a tall tower, quite majestic, built upon it.
It was truly a larger-scale Guanyin Zen Temple.
However, the tower at this moment, along with the surrounding courtyard and trees, were completely engulfed in a sea of flames, with towering fires and scorching heat.
Zhong Yuan sneered inwardly. This Black Wind Demon, it seems, had also learned the Great Sage’s techniques, having learned this wind and fire technique.
That fire that burned down the Guanyin Zen Temple back then truly left behind some divine powers.
However, this Black Wind Demon’s true strengths didn’t lie in fire techniques. This wind fueling the fire, with fire being the main force, ultimately made it lose its primary purpose.
Zhong Yuan took out the Fire-Repelling Shield he had just obtained and handed it to Ma Ba Tian, “Brother Ma, I happened to get this Fire-Repelling Shield earlier, you can take it to protect yourself.”
“I also understand fire techniques, I’m not afraid of his fire formation.”
“I’ll go in and take a look, you can look for an opportunity to strike from behind.”
Ma Ba Tian didn’t refuse, he just seriously nodded and said nothing more.
Zhong Yuan calmly stepped into the fire, his gaze fixed upwards. He saw a spiritual object on top of the tower, emitting strange light, which also made the surrounding fire even more terrifying.
Could this be the Great Sage’s Sixth Root, the Eye Root?
Before Zhong Yuan could confirm, he heard the Black Bear Demon’s voice ringing out around him, speaking casually, “That guy once told me, ‘Out of sight, out of mind. That’s ordinary cultivation.’”
“Entering into all appearances, breaking through all appearances, only then can one attain true freedom.”
“But didn’t he also go mad after seeing those things?!”
“Hahahaha.” The Black Bear Demon laughed loudly, and a black wind whipped up within the fire formation, causing the fire to burn even more intensely. The black wind eventually materialized in front of Zhong Yuan, transforming into a giant bear five meters tall.
In front of the Black Bear Demon, Zhong Yuan looked no bigger than a bear paw.
The Black Bear Demon had clearly recovered from his injuries and felt even stronger than before.
The Black Bear Demon roared again, turning into a black wind, using the flames to propel his claw towards Zhong Yuan.
Zhong Yuan took a step back, but also entered the flames. A golden wind rolled up, and then he appeared above the Black Bear Demon, striking down with a stick.
“You listened to Elder Jin Chi’s words and learned Buddhist teachings.”
“But because Elder Jin Chi’s Buddhist teachings weren’t complete, he also abandoned his own merit, which is truly foolish!”
The Black Bear Demon was hit hard by the stick, his head swayed, but he didn’t show much injury. He was even more enraged, “You little monkey, you dare to lecture me?!”
The Black Bear Demon turned into black wind again, enveloping Zhong Yuan. Zhong Yuan also transformed into golden wind to confront him.
For a time, the two winds were constantly changing and transforming in the air, sometimes separating, sometimes colliding, making the surrounding flames even more terrifying.
Zhong Yuan sneered, “This is a simple principle that even children understand. Just because Elder Jin Chi couldn’t do it himself, does that mean that all the Buddhist teachings he learned are fake?”
“You went to the South China Sea and came back even more backward!”
“Even if you don’t cultivate Buddhist teachings, but only cultivate your own techniques, you should still have your own considerations. How could you grow up so big and still act like you only listen to Elder Jin Chi in everything?”
“Little monkey, you’re asking for death!”
The Black Bear Demon roared, engulfing a large amount of surrounding flames, directly pressing towards the golden wind from all directions.
Although the golden wind resisted valiantly, it was gradually losing its advantage. In the end, Zhong Yuan’s true body was forced out, staggering and falling to the ground.
The Black Bear Demon was overjoyed, transforming back to his true form and performing a Mount Tai press, a magnificent gesture.
He slapped Zhong Yuan, who couldn’t dodge in time, into the ground.
“Hahaha.” The Black Bear Demon was very proud, “What Chosen One, nothing more than this!”
The Black Bear Demon raised his bear paw, but found that there was no one below, only a single hair gently drifting down.
A whip, meanwhile, accurately snaked around his other side.
The Black Bear Demon was even angrier, “Little horse demon, you dare to interfere, you’re asking for death!” He waved his hand, and billowing flames engulfed Ma Ba Tian, who was standing higher up on the other side, instantly engulfing him.
The whip that landed on him immediately lost its power.
The Black Bear Demon looked around, wanting to find Zhong Yuan’s location.
Zhong Yuan emerged from the ground, standing directly under the Black Bear Demon, raised his left hand, “Fixed!”
The Black Bear Demon heard the voice, was about to lower his head, but his body flashed golden light, fixed in place. For just a moment, but within this moment, a bronze stick directly pierced the Black Bear Demon’s chin, forcefully knocking him flying.
With his magic power enhanced and having mastered gathering and dispersing form, Zhong Yuan’s Fixed Body technique had also improved significantly.
Most importantly, he could now seize the moments of weakness in the Black Bear Demon’s strength.
Although he couldn’t fix the Black Bear Demon every time, he wasn’t always unable to fix him either.
On the other side, Ma Ba Tian, with the Fire-Repelling Shield, was actually not afraid of being attacked by flames, and when he found an opportunity, he once again restricted the Black Bear Demon.
With the two of them cooperating, the Black Bear Demon was gradually driven back, roaring and wailing.
Finally, the Black Bear Demon found an opportunity, roared loudly, and turned into a black wind, flying directly towards the back of the tower.
“Little brat, you have some skill. I won’t tangle with you today!”
“This time is different from before. There’s no one to help you. Once I take this treasure, where can’t I rebuild a glorious temple?!”
The Black Bear Demon said, wrapped up the treasure on top of the tower, and flew towards the sky.
Then, he crashed into an invisible barrier.
“Ugh…Ah…No…” The Black Bear Demon struggled to break through, but then he saw lightning and thunder flashing in the sky, forcing him back down.