The Qi Ingestion world, above Black Marsh Plains.
“Why has Fellow Daoist still not entered the Blessed Land to investigate?”
Spiritual Master Lieyu looked toward Sangji with a smile. “Why not enter together with me?”
Sangji pressed his palms together and replied, “There is no need for further persuasion, Benefactor. This poor monk feels unease in his heart. It seems my White Bone Heart has issued a warning. Today is not suitable for venturing into danger.”
Under normal circumstances, a Blessed Land isolated all external influence. Even if those who entered possessed warning techniques of some kind, they would be difficult to activate.
Even Dao Foundation cultivators who had lit soul lamps would experience delays or inaccuracies if they died within a Grotto Heaven or Blessed Land. Such places severed the void itself. Even the empowerment methods of the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain could be blocked, much less ordinary techniques.
Thus, Sangji should have had no way of knowing the situation within the Blessed Land, yet he still refused firmly.
“This poor monk never gambles. Therefore, I never lose.”
“In that case, I shall take the first step ahead. Dharma King, simply wait here.”
True Personage Lieyu laughed loudly and stepped into the Buried Earth Blessed Land.
The instant he entered, his expression turned incomparably solemn. He took out a jade talisman.
Mystical light circulated across its surface, directly opening a hidden gateway.
Passing through the doorway, Lieyu arrived within a bronze palace.
Darkness surrounded him on all sides, illuminated only by rows of bronze lamps.
“This subordinate greets the Sect Master!”
Lieyu bowed respectfully toward the upper seat of the bronze hall.
Within the thick darkness ahead, a figure slowly emerged. The man was tall and wore a bronze mask. His robes were complex and profound in design. Behind his head rotated layer after layer of divine ability radiance, blooming with four distinct colors.
Clearly, this was a Purple Mansion great cultivator who had perfected four divine abilities.
This person was none other than the Yin Corpse Sect Master.
“Sect Master, the White Bone Dharma King saw the opening of the Buried Earth Blessed Land, yet hesitated and refused to enter…”
Lieyu bowed as he recounted the entire sequence of events.
“The Corpse Venerable of this sect is fed blood sacrifices regularly. That ‘Profound Sovereign Rite of Corpse Refinement True Edict’ has become increasingly mysterious and enigmatic.”
The Yin Corpse Sect Master sighed softly.
“What a pity. If this time we had sacrificed a [Nu Earth] Purple Mansion cultivator, using the imagery of a ‘Lord of Burial Tombs’—the Buried Earth Blessed Land would certainly become even more stable, allowing us to entomb the Corpse Venerable more effectively.”
“But Sect Master, are we truly plotting against an Esoteric Dharma King like this? Are we not afraid of forming enormous karma with the Hidden-Treasury Domain afterward?”
Lieyu similarly wished to avoid provoking those madmen.
“And how do you know this was not requested by the Hidden-Treasury Domain itself?”
The Yin Corpse Sect Master countered calmly.
“What?”
Lieyu was stunned. “The Hidden-Treasury Domain is that insane? They would even scheme against one of their own Dharma Kings?”
“In the end, it is because that White Bone Dharma King’s advancement to Purple Mansion lacked sufficient momentum. He only barely succeeded by relying on spiritual ambience. Naturally, doubts arose, and thus this test was arranged.”
A mocking tone emerged from beneath the bronze mask. “[Kang Metal] has descended into the world, carrying the authority of slaughter and suppression. Combined with this sect’s secret arts, it gives rise to a wondrous technique known as [Slaughtering the Frail]. It specializes in killing those whose fate and destiny are weak.”
“Such people possess lives like flickering candles and fortune like drifting duckweed. When struck by the authority of [Kang Metal], they collapse immediately.”
“But those protected by destiny stand firm like mountains and cypress trees. Slaughter cannot easily touch them.”
“So… this is merely a test?”
Lieyu finally understood. “If the White Bone Dharma King dies, it proves his fate is abnormal. Yet because he is an Esoteric Dharma King, direct action would be inconvenient. Thus the dirty work falls to us.”
“Correct. If the White Bone Dharma King survives, notify the Temple of All Beings Without Form.”
“If he dies, notify the Great Black Heaven Temple instead. You understand what to do.”
The Yin Corpse Sect Master waved him away.
The bronze hall immediately fell silent.
Cough. Cough.
Suddenly, coughing echoed through the stillness.
The man bent over painfully. At some point, the bronze mask had fallen away, revealing a face covered in cracks.
He opened his mouth wide and coughed out mouthful after mouthful of yellow earth.
The dirt scattered across the floor, transforming into tiny fledgling birds that fluttered about in panic.
Only after a long while did a voice filled with hatred echo within the bronze hall.
“San Ji… Kitchen God…”
...
The Qi Refining world, Taibai Island.
After noticing Sangji safely return to Wusheng Temple, Fang Qing nodded in satisfaction.
“As expected of a Purple Mansion cultivator. With the Position Of Divinity upon him, traversing the void is effortless. Even several more mid-stage Purple Mansion cultivators might not have been able to leave Sangji there.”
The so-called ‘Position Of Divinity’ was the unnamed True Lord’s understanding of Purple Mansion cultivation.
“The Purple Mansion is the beginning of seeking the Golden Dao. Once one refines a divine ability, it resonates with one’s Dao Fruit, whereupon a trace of ‘Divinity’ descends, allowing one to ascend.”
It was precisely because Purple Mansion cultivators carried a trace of Divinity that they became transcendent beings, practically a different species from cultivators below Purple Mansion.
Moreover, by relying on one’s Divinity, one could roam the Great Void itself, unafraid of being swept away by the chaotic currents of the void.
Likewise, they could calculate and suppress lower cultivators with effortless ease, much like how Fang Qing borrowed the Divinity of the Dao-Genesis Pearl.
Even the most powerful Dao Foundation cultivators, no matter what techniques or spells they used, could hardly threaten a Purple Mansion cultivator. The gap in Divinity was simply too vast.
When those without Divinity fought those who possessed it, the two sides were almost like beings existing in different dimensions. No matter how high the lower cultivator jumped, they could never reach the higher one.
“So this is the true difference between the divine abilities of the Qi Ingestion path and the innate divine abilities of third-rank demonic beasts from the Qi Refining path.”
As for the Duzi and Dumu, they merely borrowed the tiniest fragment of a Dharma King’s Position of Divinity. Yet even that thread of borrowed authority remained an insurmountable gulf compared to Dao Foundation cultivators.
With even the slightest blessing of Divinity, a Purple Mansion cultivator’s casual spell could erupt in power hundreds or thousands of times greater than before, capable of overturning heaven and earth.
“Some lower cultivators call this ‘Will Manifestation,’ meaning that where the will of a Purple Mansion cultivator descends, it carries the might of heaven and earth itself.”
Fang Qing smiled faintly, setting aside his contemplation of the Dao and turning his thoughts toward practical matters.
“This mission involving the Buried Earth Blessed Land was personally issued by the Great Dharma King Jiumoluojie of the Temple of All Beings Without Form.”
“The Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain possesses ‘Self-Realized Buddhas.’ There is no way they do not know the secrets buried within that Blessed Land.”
“So… this is a test?”
“This Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain is truly ruthless. Not only do they treat mortals and lower cultivators as worthless, even the lives of Dharma Kings mean nothing to them.”
“This should still be the aftereffects from the earlier near-failure in breaking through. Once I survive this period, it ought to improve somewhat.”
“And as for my own Dao path…”
“My natal alignment is [Ji Water]. Most likely, in the future I will attain the Dao through [Ji Water]. That would make me one of the weaker among the orthodox positions.”
“Fortunately, the orthodox positions of the Five Virtues can shift. The orthodox position of [Stomach Earth], for example, was seized from [Liu Earth]. Therefore, the best option would be to seize an orthodox Water position. At the very least, that would allow me to stand at the same table as the non-orthodox branches of the Metal and Fire lineages.”
“As for [Year Arbiter]? That is still far too distant for me.”
“Besides, I have not even reached Purple Mansion yet. Thinking about all this now is almost laughable.”
Fang Qing rubbed his temples and sensed the presence of the Dao-Genesis Pearl. Only then did his mood improve slightly.
In a world like the Qi Ingestion path, where the number of Positions was limited, surviving without a golden finger was truly difficult.
“At least the Minor Huan Sea still has simple and honest customs. That is enough to comfort my heart.”
He emerged from seclusion, spent some time enjoying himself with Qin Ruxue and the others, then visited the Ice Soul Cave to refine a batch of third-rank pills suitable for early Core Formation cultivators to increase their cultivation.
Only afterward did he leisurely return to his cave abode and resume closed-door cultivation.
Time flowed unnoticed in cultivation.
After reaching Core Formation, one’s lifespan reaches five hundred years. A single session of seclusion could last years or even decades.
Fang Qing’s situation was somewhat better. He did not need to painstakingly absorb heaven and earth spiritual qi bit by bit. Instead, he cultivated directly through swallowing pills.
As a result, his progress advanced at astonishing speed. Before he realized it, another two years had passed.
…
Qi Ingestion world.
Xituo Commandery, White Bone Dao, Wusheng Temple.
It was deep in the middle of the night, yet suddenly a second sun appeared in the western sky.
Golden sunlight spread everywhere, turning night into day!
Sangji, who had been in seclusion, immediately sensed something. His figure entered the Great Void.
When he appeared again, he had already arrived at the border between the Ancient Shu lands and the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain.
Here, a pitch-black plateau rose abruptly from the earth, standing over three hundred zhang higher than the plains of Ancient Shu, like a colossal cliff.
It was from the side of that black plateau that the Great Sun had emerged, creating the phenomenon of a nighttime sun over all of Xituo Commandery.
Suddenly!
The Great Sun rapidly descended, transforming into the figure of a monk in crimson robes.
The monk had deeply sunken eye sockets and bronze-colored skin. His body, however, was adorned with countless golden ornaments.
Bathed beneath the radiance of the Great Sun, those ornaments emitted dazzling treasure light, carrying an overwhelming aura of supreme fulfillment and perfect completion.
“Sangji greets Dharma King Pilu!”
Sangji pressed his palms together and bowed respectfully.
“Sangji… prepare to receive the ‘Golden Edict of the Great Sun.’”
Dharma King Pilu raised the object in his hand high into the air. It was a golden scroll decorated with gold ornaments, shining brilliantly.
More terrifying still was the aura emanating from the scroll.
It was as though the Great Sun from moments ago resided within it!
“Praise be to Great Sun Tathagata…”
Sangji immediately revealed an expression of utmost devotion and prostrated himself completely upon the ground.
Even if this Dharma King Pilu had cultivated the Great Sun Empowerment Secret Art and attained the Dharma King realm, Sangji would not have treated him with such reverence merely because he came from the Great Snow Mountain.
But holding the “Golden Edict of the Great Sun” was entirely different.
It represented the will of the Lord of the Great Snow Mountain itself!
Dharma King Pilu’s eyes suddenly turned pure gold. A blazing sun mark appeared upon his forehead as he raised the golden edict high.
“By the supreme virtue of the Three Jewels, under the blessing of the honored Dharma Protector, in the name of the Great Sun Wheel-Turning Temple, this Vajra Secret Edict is delivered unto the White Bone Dao:
“You Dharma Protector disciples must know that in the eastern lands there exists a demonic sect of Blissful Union that corrupts all living beings and overturns the hearts of men. You shall bear vajra pestles, wear hidden-treasury pearls, carry mantra wheels, ignite the lamps of wisdom, and shatter their mountain gate!
“This Edict is witnessed by heaven and earth alike. To behold this order is as though beholding the true face of the Buddha Mother herself. Those who defy it shall descend into the Mani Hell. Those who obey shall attain the Dharma Body of Padmasambhava.”
“Om Mani Padme Hum!”
The surrounding spiritual atmosphere surged violently, carrying an incomparably heavy pressure.
Only after Dharma King Pilu finished proclaiming the decree did that terrifying pressure suddenly dissipate.
“Sangji respectfully obeys the Buddha’s decree. However, as for how this matter should be carried out, I ask Dharma King Pilu for guidance.”
Sangji pressed his palms together respectfully.
He truly did not understand why the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain had suddenly decided to go to war against the Blissful Union Sect.
After all, should this not have been the time for the Esoteric Domain, Cloud Grazing Cliff, and the Blissful Union Sect to unite together against the pressure of the demon race?
It could only be said that compared to the Great Sun Wheel-Turning Temple, Sangji had once again become a lower cultivator.
“This is the Buddha’s decree. You need only obey.”
Dharma King Pilu spoke calmly.
“The Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain did not have you cross eastward merely to occupy a single Xituo Commandery. You are to continue eastward, break through the Xuantu Gate, cross entirely through Wushan Commandery, and press onward until you reach the territory of the Blissful Union Sect itself.”
“With the strength of your White Bone Dao alone, accomplishing this will not be difficult.”
“After that, the matter will concern the entire Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain.”
Sangji’s heart jolted violently.
Only now did he realize that the Esoteric Hidden-Treasury Domain had merely formed agreements with Cloud Grazing Cliff. They had never established the slightest restraint or alliance with the Blissful Union Sect at all!
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