Chapter 106.1: The Origin of the Myriad Phenomena Gate

Qi Yuan’s sermon lasted forty-nine days and nights. Like music of immortals descending from heavens, celestial melodies echoed through the Eighteen Mountains.

Atop Nine Plate Mountain, crowds stretched as far as the eye could see. Humans and demons alike stood entranced across the mountains and valleys. Thunder rolled in the sky, followed by a spring rain that fell upon the earth. The drizzle soaked through to the skin, bringing peace and joy to every heart.

A human cultivator blinked through his tears. “Since the sun, moon, and stars vanished, the world has never heard such divine music!”

A demon knelt flat on the ground, trembling as he bowed and revered Qi Yuan as his sage.

Seated cross-legged upon a massive boulder, Qi Yuan’s voice rang clear and resonant. “The path of human and demon is also the art of binding demons!”

As his final words faded, a cultivation method called the Demon Binding Art imprinted itself into the hearts of all who listened.

Then, an elderly human fell on his knees. “We thank you, Divine One, for bestowing this Dharma and saving our clan in its darkest hour!”

With the Demon Binding Art, cultivators could construct a cage in their hearts to imprison the lurking inner demons. The humans no longer risked losing control, having their flesh possessed by inner demons. For both humans and demons, this art was nothing short of salvation.

One by one, humans and demons of every rank and power level fell to their knees, their voices uniting as one. “Thank you, Divine One, for your gift of Dharma! You have saved our clans from calamity!”

The sight of thousands of humans and demons kneeling toward Qi Yuan was breathtaking.

The canary stood there, momentarily stunned.

Everyone else was kneeling... should I, too?

But the thought lasted only a moment before she tossed it aside.

Oh, please. He’s my childhood friend. Why should I kneel to him? If I am going to do it, I will only do it together with him.

Her bright eyes sparkled with pride as she gazed at Qi Yuan.

Qi Yuan rose, sweeping his gaze over the sea of beings below. Thoughts flickered in his mind, before condensing into a single sentence. “The sermon is over. Go home.”

He hadn’t meant to preach at all. But as his comprehension of the Human-Demon Path reached its peak, the insights had simply flowed from him. In sorting through his Dao, the words had turned into scripture.

As more and more came to listen, he realized that preaching, too, was a way of clarifying and organizing the Human-Demon Path. The more he spoke, the clearer it became.

Now that everything had been said, it was time to leave. If everyone kept staring at him like that, even he would feel awkward.

Hearing his gentle dismissal, the masses once again bowed deeply, before slowly taking their leave. In the end, only twenty-seven remained—half were humans, half were demons.

They stepped forward respectfully. “We are willing to serve you, Blood Master.”

Qi Yuan was dressed in a crimson robe, and his path was built upon blood. Hence, the title "Blood Master” suited him well enough.

Still, he hesitated.

Why would I take disciples?

Nevertheless, he had a change of mind when he glanced toward the Myriad Phenomena Gate hanging above. He'd require some help to gather information about the gate. Moreover, since there was a chance he wouldn't return for a while, having some trustworthy followers wouldn't hurt.

“I don’t take disciples, but if you wish to stay, then stay,” he said.

Though disappointment flashed in their eyes, joy soon replaced it. Being allowed to remain by his side was honorable enough. None of the twenty-seven chose to leave.

“We are willing to serve the Blood Master!” they shouted in unison.

Standing beside Qi Yuan, the canary noticed one of them. A white-fox woman she recognized from Seven Plate Mountain, Shang Yanran. At once, the canary hooked her arm through Qi Yuan’s and lifted her chin proudly, every bit the haughty young lady.

Qi Yuan only smiled faintly. “Find a place here on Nine Plate Mountain to settle. Build your dwellings as you wish.”

“As you command,” they answered, reverence shining in their eyes.

After all, Qi Yuan had changed their fates with the Demon Binding Art. They knew that his sermon would soon spread across the entire Flowing Wind World. Nine Plate Mountain would become a holy land, and the Blood Master would become a figure of eternal veneration. To remain here was a blessing in itself.

“Since Nine Plate Mountain is my home turf,” The canary declared with enthusiasm, “I’ll show you all where to live!”

She was lively, especially since these people were now her childhood friend’s followers. Qi Yuan said nothing, letting her do as she pleased. He still had to continue meditating on the Myriad Gate.

As the canary led the group away, she chattered happily, “That’s Blood Drop, he’s my childhood friend!”

In the crowd, Shang Yanran watched her with envy. “The Blood Master truly dotes on Lady Canary.”

She recalled how the Blood Master had once flown with the canary above the Eighteen Mountains, laughing and calling her the most beautiful lady.

Her husband, Bai Ze, chimed in. “Indeed, he declared her the number one beauty of the Eighteen Mountains.”

Their words spread quickly, and their impressions of the canary changed. At first, they thought she was just the Blood Master’s childhood friend, but now it seemed she was something more. Their attitude to the canary turned respectful and flattering.

The canary's snow-pale cheeks flushed pink. Apparently, she did know how to be shy.

***

Twenty years passed in a blink.

By now, The Demon Binding Art had spread far and wide. Countless cultivators journeyed to Nine Plate Mountain every day to pay homage. It had become the sacred heart of the Flowing Wind World.

People said the Blood Master was a divine one who emerged from chaos itself—that he preached for forty-nine days and nights atop Nine Plate Mountain, inventing the Demon Binding Art that delivered the world from inner demons.

By cultivating the Demon Binding Art, humans and demons no longer succumbed so easily to their inner demons. In the past, only one in ten thousand beings died of natural causes. Now, the number was in the thousands. Thanks to the miracle, both the human and demon populations increased drastically.

Some said that the Blood Master was like a saint. Even his twenty-seven original followers had proposed he be revered as the Human-Demon Saint. However, Qi Yuan rejected the idea outright. A saint? He wasn’t worthy of that title. As for “Human-Demon”... he wanted no part of it.

One day, Qi Yuan stood atop Nine Plate Mountain's peak. He had returned to where it had all begun. Although his understanding of the gate had deepened over the years, he did not approach it. He was afraid he'd disintegrate if he went even a few hundred feet closer.

Still, he could feel it beckoning to him. At this moment, Qi Yuan stood atop the peak, his blood-red robe billowing around him. Below him stood five men and women, each radiating a terrifying aura. They were also his original followers.

“Blood Master, the Demon Binding Art has already spread across eleven continents of the Flowing Wind World,” said a taciturn man, albeit a trace of worry flashed across his face. “In recent years, however, its progress has slowed. It seems that someone is quietly trying to hinder its spread.”

This taciturn man was the leader, known as the Foolish Daoist. The faces of the other four darkened. How could someone dare to obstruct the spread of such a great boon? They could not understand it, much less endure the anger it stirred.

“Who’s the bastard daring to block the Demon Binding Art? I’ll cleave him in half with one swing!” the burly giant growled, his temper as fierce as ever.

His inner demons had nearly broken free more than once, nearly costing him his life. Fortunately, ever since he began cultivating the Demon Binding Art, that peril had never returned. Still, his temper remained.

“Leave that aside for now.” Qi Yuan raised a hand, turning toward Bai Ze and Shang Yanran. “What have you learned about the Myriad Phenomena Gate?”