Douluo: Soul-Breaking spear

Chapter 115: Controlling the Aura of Killing

After leaving the Shrek Academy crowd behind, Yang Potian was eager to return home. His internal killing intent had grown increasingly uncontrollable, especially after slaying soul beasts in the Star Dou Forest. He felt more prone to losing control, his mind often clouded by a dangerous bloodlust.

After four or five days of travel, Yang Potian finally arrived at the Yang Clan's residence. A wave of relief washed over him as he knocked on the main gate. The guards were surprised to see a visitor at such a late hour, but their shock turned into astonishment when they recognized Yang Potian.

"Potian, you're back? And...what happened to you?" The guard's voice held a mix of surprise and worry.

Yang Potian suppressed the turmoil within him. "I'm fine. Please inform my parents and grandfather that I've returned."

The guard quickly opened the gates, allowing Yang Potian into the clan's grounds. But instead of heading straight to his family's quarters, he made his way to his grandfather's alchemy room. Within moments, his grandfather Yang Wudi, his father, and his mother arrived at the room.

Yang Wudi examined Yang Potian's physical state with a grave expression. His parents stood by anxiously; his mother, Niu Jinfeng, was on the verge of tears, distressed by her son's current state.

Yang Potian, dressed entirely in black, appeared almost afraid to face others. His aura exuded an intense bloodlust, so potent it evoked an instinctive fear in those nearby. He seemed like a wild beast driven solely by a desire to kill.

After examining his grandson, Yang Wudi's expression grew even darker. "Potian, this killing aura… it's from the Slaughter City, isn't it? It seems you've acquired the Killing God Domain, but instead of returning to us immediately, you suppressed the aura with medication. This has only made the killing intent harder to control."

Yang Wudi continued, "I once saw Tang Hao's Killing God Domain. To master this aura, he required a year of focused training, sometimes three to five years, without engaging in further killing or even harboring killing thoughts."

Niu Jinfeng, Potian's mother, looked at Yang Wudi, her face full of worry. "Father, can we do anything to help him? His aura frightens me."

Yang Wudi's expression was grim. "When Tang Hao was struggling to control his own Killing God Domain, he relied on his sister Tang Yuehua's Noble Domain. Our only option may be to seek her help."

Yang Potian interjected before his grandfather could say more. "Grandfather, please, no! The Yang Clan has finally distanced itself from the Clear Sky Sect; we cannot risk getting entangled with them again."

Niu Jinfeng cut him off, her voice trembling with emotion. "Potian, you don't need to concern yourself with that. If it comes down to it, I'll go and ask Tang Yuehua myself if it means you'll be healed."

Yang Potian fought against the urge to release his killing intent as he spoke. "Mother, I promise I have my own method. I don't need Tang Yuehua or the Clear Sky Sect."

Yang Wudi regarded his grandson intently. "You think you have a way? Potian, Tang Hao was over thirty when he acquired the Killing God Domain. He struggled for years to control it, and you're only seventeen. Leave this to us—we'll find a way to protect you."

"Grandfather, I truly have a way."

"And what way might that be?"

"I remember that in the mountains behind our residence, there's a spacious area. Could you prepare a small house there for me, with absolute quiet and plenty of paper, pens, and books?"

Niu Jinfeng looked at him, unsure. "Potian, will this really help you control the killing intent inside you?"

"Trust me, Mother. This will work."

Wiping her tears, she nodded. "I'll go oversee the construction myself. Just hold on a little longer—it will all be ready soon."

His father, Yang Zhentian, placed a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder. "Potian, if there's anything else you need, just let me know."

After thinking for a moment, Yang Potian replied, "Father, could you inform my teammates at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy that I've returned safely and that I'll be back as soon as I've recovered?"

"Of course. I'll send word tomorrow. You focus on getting better—leave the rest to us."

The following morning, Niu Jinfeng had already built the small house in the mountains. Though modest, the house was carefully constructed from local wood, standing alone in a quiet area. Inside, it was well-equipped: a large desk for writing, a small kitchen and bathroom, and even a bathtub filled with spring water from the mountains, with a well nearby.

Once inside, Yang Potian began his journey to control his aura of killing.

The aura stemmed from the countless lives he had taken, becoming intertwined with his blood and bones. Moreover, Slaughter City was imbued with the divine energy of the God of Shura, and this force now resided within him.

In the original story, both Tang Hao and Tang San used Tang Yuehua's Noble Domain to control their killing aura, attaining inner peace through Yuexuan's teachings and Tang Yuehua's innate domain. Yang Potian, however, had another approach in mind.

In the realm of mind training, Douluo Continent paled in comparison to the wisdom of Earth's 5,000-year history. The people of Douluo Continent may have advanced in martial training, but their culture was akin to that of a primitive society; all they valued was strength, and few cared about mental refinement.

Earth, by contrast, had developed a deep understanding of the mind and spirit over 5,000 years. Buddhism and Daoism, in particular, had established practices to cultivate inner peace. Buddhism's teachings, like those of the Tang Dynasty's Zen master, the Sixth Patriarch Huineng, were aimed at freeing people from delusions and attachments, allowing them to see the true nature of their minds.

Huineng's famous verse went:

The Bodhi tree is not a tree at all,

The bright mirror is nowhere to stand tall.

There is nothing from the very start—

So where can dust and dirt befall?

Though brief, these twenty words capture profound Buddhist wisdom.

Yet above even this revered verse lies the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra:

The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, while practicing the profound Prajnaparamita, sees that all five aggregates are empty and transcends all suffering and calamity.

Sariputra, form is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form. Form is emptiness; emptiness is form.

So it is with feeling, perception, intention, and consciousness...

The Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra, often called the Heart Sutra, has only 260 characters, yet it encapsulates profound principles like the Five Aggregates, the Four Noble Truths, and the concept of emptiness. It speaks to the idea that wisdom can liberate all beings from suffering, leading to ultimate nirvana. For this reason, it's considered the heart of the Prajnaparamita teachings.

In Daoism, the most revered text is the Tao Te Ching. This work uses the philosophical principles of "Dao" and "Virtue" to discuss self-cultivation, governance, and living in harmony with nature, ultimately proposing the ideal of the "sage-ruler." Its wisdom is vast, and it is celebrated as the "king of all scriptures."

The essence of Daoism is "the Way of Nature," while Buddhism emphasizes the unity of emptiness and form. Regardless of the path, once a person's understanding reaches a certain depth, they can achieve complete mastery over their inner killing aura.

In the days that followed, Yang Potian set aside all thoughts of cultivation. His daily routine was simple: he spent his mornings planting flowers, tending to grass, and sometimes gazing at a tree or a blade of grass in silent contemplation. It was as though all concerns about the outside world had faded away.

Inside his small cabin, he read and wrote, though none of the books related to cultivation. Instead, they were light stories and simple philosophies, things that seemed far removed from the world of martial arts. Each day, Yang Potian practiced calligraphy, filling pages with writings of the Bodhi Verse, the Heart Sutra, and the Tao Te Ching.

When thirsty, he drank from the mountain spring; when hungry, he cooked simple meals with vegetables he had grown. His life was simple and serene, akin to that of a farmer.

Time flowed swiftly, and soon, a year had passed.

Yang Potian's transformation was profound. The once-overwhelming aura of bloodlust had vanished, replaced by a calm, gentle presence. He appeared no different from an ordinary person—no soul power emanated from him, and he exuded an air of complete tranquility. His presence now embodied the Buddhist notion of "emptiness is form" and the Daoist ideal of "following the way of nature."

When he walked in the forest, he seemed to merge seamlessly with the landscape, becoming one with the mountain and trees. Through months of writing, he had integrated the essence of the Tao Te Ching into himself, reaching a state of inner harmony. In this mindset, he held no hatred, no anger, and no ambition.

As for his soul power, during his two years in Slaughter City, it had risen to level 58, fueled by the constant bloodshed. At that time, his energy had been wild, barely under his control, like a force teetering on the edge of chaos.

This past year, with no cultivation practices, Yang Potian focused solely on embracing nature and studying philosophy. Through this journey of inner reflection, his soul power had ascended two more levels, reaching level 60 naturally, like water flowing to fill its course. The quality of his soul power felt richer and more stable than ever.

One day, Yang Potian gazed around the tranquil valley that had been his home for the past year. He took in the lush greenery and the small cabin he had lived in with a touch of sadness.

But ultimately, he steeled his resolve, knowing he had to leave this sanctuary.

Though a life of peace was alluring, a life of peace demands the strength to protect it. Without power, one would always be at the mercy of others, like sheep awaiting the slaughter.

Yang Potian was determined to be neither sheep nor prey; he aspired to be the one who shaped his destiny. With unwavering conviction, he left the serene valley behind, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.

(End of Chapter)

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