Chapter One: The Demon Lord Descends; Today, I Realize Who I Am

In the northern suburbs of Wencheng, deep within the basement of a self-built villa, lay a space of approximately thirty square meters that had undergone extensive modifications.

The walls, floor, and ceiling all shimmered with a cold, metallic luster, resembling the vault of a bank designed to secure vast fortunes. Even more bizarre were the thick, interlinked steel cables, each as wide as an infant’s arm, bolted to the metal walls and stretching toward the center of the room. It looked like a cage meant to restrain some monstrous beast.

Yet, at this moment, the figure bound in the center of the basement was no tiger, lion, or bear, but a man.

He possessed a tall frame with broad shoulders and back, his muscles as robust and defined as those of a sculpture. He was young, his facial features sharp as if carved by a knife. His eyebrows grew in wild, upward-sweeping arcs like broken blades; his nose bridge was prominent and edged, and a vertical "hanging needle" line was etched into his forehead. At a glance, he appeared unremarkable, but a closer look revealed a fierce, menacing intensity that radiated an intimidating aura.

However, this ferocious countenance was tempered by his eyes. They were half-closed, perpetually lowered like those of a Bodhisattva, as if he could not bear to witness the myriad desires and sufferings of the world. His pupils were clear and bright, like a polished mirror reflecting the purity of his inner heart. It was a face that embodied the paradox: "A demon’s visage masking inner chaos, eyes like a Bodhi-seeker calming a hundred devils."

"Twenty years of cultivation—success or failure hinges on today."

Yi Beidou whispered to himself. He then extended two fingers and pressed them firmly against a specific point on his body.

*Pfft!*

A blood-stained silver needle pierced through flesh and skin, appearing between his fingers. He clamped them shut, pinching the needle, and slowly drew it out. Then came the second, the third, the fourth...

Seven holes, seven silver needles in total.

The Seven-Star Demon-Subduing Needles.

This was a Taoist technique for suppressing evil. When driven into an opponent’s body, the needles sealed major acupuncture points, paralyzing the body’s nervous system, blood flow, musculature, and internal organs. An ordinary person struck by these seven needles would be rendered instantly immobile, and even a martial arts master capable of shattering stone would find their strength drained, left at the mercy of others.

Yi Beidou had lived with these seven needles embedded in his body for twenty years.

*Clang! Clang!*

The needles hit the floor, emitting a crisp, rhythmic sound.

*Hoo... Haa...*

As the needles were withdrawn, Yi Beidou’s breathing grew heavy. The composure in his eyes vanished, replaced by scarlet blood vessels that flooded the whites of his eyes, making them seem to glow with a sanguine light.

Red veins filling the eyes—a sign of murderous intent!

His blood surged wildly, and as his internal organs accelerated, the hormone levels in his body spiked exponentially, transcending the limits of human physiology. Under such hormonal influence, even a sage would be transformed into a devil driven by instinct and desire.

Every person is born different, and humanity bears a thousand faces. Some are born foolish, some brilliant; some are gifted, others mundane.

Yi Beidou was born a demon.

As he grew, the levels of various hormones in his body reached levels far beyond those of an ordinary person. This naturally granted him exceptional physical strength, but also made his personality increasingly cruel and violent. When he was seven, an act of slaughter completely ignited his demonic nature.

Left to his own devices, he would have gradually lost himself to that inner darkness, eventually falling into total depravity, only to meet his end under a hail of gunfire while resisting the law.

That was his fate.

But he was fortunate to have met his master, Hong Datong, who taught him the "Heart Sutra of Ease." For twenty years, he had painstakingly practiced this method. It required no strength, no external technique—only the cultivation of the mind. Once initiated, the brain’s functions were fully activated, leading to constant, overwhelming illusions and endless demonic trials. There was never a moment of peace.

If one could overcome them, they could control their body, suppress their innate demonic nature, and achieve true freedom. If not, they would descend into madness or suffer brain death. To achieve "Ease," one must first cross a hundred disasters.

Yi Beidou’s situation was even more perilous than other practitioners of the Sutra. Because his innate demonic nature was so deep, the illusions and trials he faced were far more terrifying. Thus, Hong Datong had placed the Seven-Star Demon-Subduing Needles within him to suppress his nature and assist his practice.

If one day the stars shifted, the seven needles were removed, and he could still remain composed and undisturbed, then he would have achieved true freedom.

For twenty years, he had walked on thin ice, eyes perpetually lowered, fearing to look upon the world’s desires. Locked in his own world, he was viewed by others as a freak. Whether he could finally achieve that freedom depended on today.

*ROAR!*

With the seven stars gone, Yi Beidou let out a howl that sounded less than human. Freed from suppression, his demonic nature erupted completely, further intensified by the demonic trials inherent in the Heart Sutra. In ancient legends, Yi Beidou would have been seen as a Demon Lord descended to earth!

*Clatter! Clatter!*

He struggled like a wild beast, fighting to break his bonds. The thick steel cables pulled taut, and under his immense strength, the metal wall mounts began to deform and bulge. He was on the verge of losing all control.

"My fate is my own; today I achieve freedom!"

Yi Beidou suddenly shouted, his voice like the whispered enlightenment of the Buddha beneath the Bodhi tree. Twenty years of bitter cultivation—a life far more agonizing than that of any ascetic—had forged his will into steel.

He was sustained by only one belief.

He refused to accept this fate. He would be the master of his own destiny!

The blood vessels in his eyes gradually faded, his gaze returning to clarity. Under his control, his wild body sat down in a cross-legged position. He could clearly perceive every detail within: his blood flow, his heartbeat, the rhythm of his organs, the firing of his nerves...

Once the Heart Sutra was mastered, the brain’s potential was fully unlocked, allowing for absolute control over the physical vessel. At this moment, the very demonic nature that had once been his bane became his greatest asset.

*Crack! Crack!*

His bones and muscles popped and shifted, his flesh trembling violently. As his pores opened and closed, thick, dark red blood seeped out, quickly piling up and hardening into a scab over his skin.

He sat like this for seven full days.

By now, the scabs on Yi Beidou’s body were thick and layered; from a distance, he looked less like a human and more like a jagged piece of black-red rock.

*CRACK!*

The crust shattered. Like a stone monkey bursting from a divine boulder, Yi Beidou broke free from the shell and stood up. His skin had become smooth and refined, his powerful body leaner, almost gaunt.

But Yi Beidou knew that his life had been completely transformed.

Buddhist scriptures say that the Demon of Ease is the equal of the Buddha. Having conquered his demonic nature, he had been reborn.

"Twenty years of keeping my head bowed to guard my heart; today, I can finally look up at this world and truly be myself."

Yi Beidou whispered to himself. He looked at the steel shackles binding his wrists and ankles, and gave his limbs a slight shake.

*SNAP!*

The lock mechanisms shattered, and the shackles fell away naturally, just like the chains that had bound him for twenty years.

Yi Beidou walked to the corner of the basement, picked up his backpack, and climbed the vertical iron ladder. Just as he reached out to twist the air valve at the basement entrance, he paused for a split second.

But in the next moment, acting as if nothing were amiss, he twisted the valve open.

As the valve turned and his head emerged above ground, into the darkness of the room—

*WHOOSH!*

Two cold gleams cut through the shadows, rapidly enlarging in Yi Beidou’s eyes.