Chapter Nine: Bowing in Submission (Part One)

Calm your mind and clarity will follow; enter tranquility and the spirits will come.

For safety’s sake, Shi Jun dared not stray from Hu Hai’s side at this moment. Yet, after a day of running about, exhaustion weighed upon him. He sat at the edge of the bed, let his legs dangle, relaxed his body, and closed his eyes for a brief respite.

Since his return to the human world, he had been plagued by endless affairs—if not troubled by the hunt for ghost spirits, then consumed by breakthroughs in his cultivation. His vision clouded by worldly distractions, his wisdom entangled by matters, his restless heart eroding his spiritual clarity. Each time the urge to struggle arose, his once-clear mind slipped further away. Body and soul were stretched to their limits, fatigue now reaching its peak. In this stolen moment of rest, his mind wandered freely, unbound and undistracted, unexpectedly entering a state of true tranquility and communion with the spirits.

As his breathing grew longer and slower, his limbs, bones, and even his soul relaxed, as if he had slipped into the deepest, sweetest dream. Strangely, his consciousness did not drift off with his body; instead, it seemed to gently peel away, floating and swaying, observing the world from the perspective of an outsider.

All around was utter silence—so much so that even a single hair falling to the floor would ring out clearly. He could hear the alternating breaths and heartbeats of himself and Hu Hai, mingling with the faint chorus of insects outside the window, weaving a unique rhythm that brought a lively pulse to the melody of the night.

Though Shi Jun’s eyes were tightly shut, he could still “see” Hu Hai with his hands resting flat, mouth slightly open. The demon, whose body was rigid, leaned motionless against the wall—likely ensnared by Shi Jun’s spell, its internal spiritual power now slowed and sluggish.

Shi Jun’s spirit circled the bedroom once, then returned to his body; but this time, it plunged deep within, drawn by the powerful beat of his heart, entering a special space.

In that instant, all external light and sound vanished. Only a single beam of white light, origin unknown, slanted down and filled the space around him. The light was gentle yet bright, and though he searched, its source could not be found. The space seemed boundless, without end.

Suddenly, Shi Jun was overwhelmed by a feeling as intimate as sleeping in his mother’s arms as a child. All fear and doubt vanished, and he simply followed the direction of the light, striding forward...

He could not tell how much time passed, nor did he know where he wished to go. It was as if bewitched, he marched onward, sensing something ahead calling to him, something of great importance awaiting his resolution. Yet what it was remained a mystery.

After walking for a while, the white light before him split apart, transforming into seven dazzling beams of different colors. Each beam originated from a separate direction, yet all converged here, merging into the white light he had just seen. Unlike the previous white glow, these rainbow beams were painfully intense. The moment his gaze met them, his eyes burned as if scorched, red and yellow spots dancing before him. He quickly withdrew his gaze, shielding his eyes as he looked ahead.

In the distant mist, a colossal peach-shaped object stood upright, surrounded by a curtain of seven-colored light. Strange characters and spells flickered upon its surface, but the distance was too great for Shi Jun to discern their true nature. Judging by the direction of the beams, the curtain of light must be their source.

Shi Jun felt as though he had seen those characters and spells somewhere before. He instinctively groped his way forward. Suddenly, the massive object began to contract and pulse violently. The ground trembled beneath his feet, and he nearly fell.

Steadying himself with difficulty, Shi Jun noticed that the closer he approached, the stronger the vibrations became. He could even hear thunderous “puff-puff” sounds. He dared not advance further, so he relaxed his body and waited quietly, hoping to adapt to the environment.

After some time, the “puff-puff” sounds grew louder and more frequent. Accompanied by explosive booms, a jet of ink-green light shot past Shi Jun from behind, swirling before his eyes and then darting toward the peach-shaped object. Next, a water-blue shadow whistled past his ear, chasing after the green light, and in a blink both disappeared.

Curiosity gnawed at Shi Jun. Not long after, activity in the distant object seemed to subside. He pondered briefly, then quickened his pace to approach and investigate.

He had barely taken a few steps when the ink-green beam and water-blue shadow returned, hurtling toward him at great speed. Just as he tried to dodge, the two beams seemed to have eyes, circling once and then plunging straight into his body.

A surge of energy exploded within him. Shi Jun felt his insides churn, his breath catch, and a bone-chilling cold burst from his chest, rapidly spreading through his limbs and bones, making him shiver uncontrollably. Fortunately, the cold quickly dissipated, replaced by a warm flow of energy, as if he were soaking in a hot spring—an indescribable comfort pervading his whole body.

Relieved, Shi Jun was about to look down and see what had happened when a few loud roars echoed in his ears. A powerful force swept him up, his spirit helplessly dragged along, flying back the way it came...

* * * * * * * *

Motuo and Liu Qing had been resting in the living room when strange sounds suddenly echoed from Hu Hai’s bedroom. Without a word, they rushed in together.

Upon entering, they saw the demon, previously bound by the Spirit Binding Spell and propped against the wall, now collapsed on the floor in its true form. Its exposed face and limbs had become semi-transparent, a sight utterly uncanny.

“Ah!” Motuo was about to step closer for a better look when Liu Qing, who had come with him, let out a shrill cry. Turning his head, he saw her body growing indistinct as soon as she entered the room, as if some unknown force were tearing at her. Within seconds, she was nearly completely transparent, her expression twisted in pain.

On the bed, Hu Hai still lay with his mouth slightly open, but his eyes brimmed with anguish and anxiety, fixed intently on Shi Jun beside him.

Only then did Motuo notice Shi Jun’s abnormal state. Instead of sitting on the bed, Shi Jun hovered half a meter above it, enveloped in a radiant white aura. He seemed a deity descended, his face serene and majestic, exuding a sacred and untouchable presence.

Motuo involuntarily drew a sharp breath. This vision of Shi Jun—godlike, imperious, above all beings—he had seen only once before, when as a child he accompanied his parents to pay respects to the Supreme Demon of the Demon Realm, the former Demon Emperor, Remnant Color Demon Lord. Since hearing of Remnant Color Demon Lord’s disappearance during the Four Realms conflict, he had never again witnessed such an awe-inspiring sight. Yet Shi Jun was but a mortal—how could he possess such power?

But Motuo had no time for fear. All he could think was to wake Shi Jun and stop this disaster. Though his mind urged him forward, his legs felt as heavy as lead, barely advancing a meter or two after great effort. As anxiety mounted, his body shuddered, and a vast, irresistible force swept him up, dragging him toward the center of the room.

Clinging desperately to the door frame, Motuo tried to anchor himself, but the frame was wrenched loose, and he still could not stop himself. Terror-stricken, he used every ounce of strength to let out several fierce shouts, then stumbled headlong toward Shi Jun...