Chapter 1437
Corresponding Body
Chapter 1437 Corresponding Body
Shining with golden light.
Before the Purple Qi Cave, clouds and mist shrouded the area. A dashing man sat upright at a jade table, one hand holding a cup, the other forming a hand seal. A woman sat before him, her eyes lowered as she read. After a while, a True Person from the sect entered, respectfully greeted him, and said:
"Sir, the Li family has arrived."
Tian Huo opened his eyes, his expression unusually serious, and said:
"What do you want to ask?"
Feiyuan Road:
"They said they came to borrow treasures, but it's actually the [Mysterious Dan Divine Treasure Mountain] in the grotto-heaven."
As the smoke dissipated, Zhang Duanyan finally spoke, frowning as he said:
"I don't know what they're doing, or where they got the information from..."
"We need to exorcise the demon."
Tian Huo's gaze narrowed slightly, and without hesitation, he answered:
“Shen Lufu once harmed Li Chijing, they must be killed.”
Master Feiyuan pondered for a long time, and after listening to the master before him speak calmly, he was somewhat taken aback and said:
"This is a long-standing grudge, and it's rare to remember it so clearly. I've heard that this True Person is known for remembering good deeds but not holding grudges. Ye Hui and Chang Xi once harmed him, but he didn't hold it against them. I never expected him to have this side to him, and even to the point of asking the Immortal Sect for help."
The dissolute young man in front of him waved his hand, sighed, and said:
"He has always been like this. He can endure a moment's humiliation but cannot tolerate a nine-generation feud. Back when they were a small family, everyone had a heart. Although they are now bloated, the true heroes all came from that time and never want to forget it. With the Qilin's power at its peak, Li Ximing really can't sit still."
Fei Yuan had no choice but to nod and say:
"But the [Xuandan Divine Repository Mountain] has always been used by the True Immortals within the grotto-heavens for refining artifacts; it's not something that can be lent out casually. What if something happens..."
"Lend it to him."
The young master stood up, pulled a token from his sleeve, wrote a few words on it with ink, and handed it to him. He paced back and forth in front of the cave, where purple energy churned, his face showing some worry. He said:
"It's fine if their cultivation is disturbed. Now that Father's matter is settled, they can't easily obstruct my orders. Let them hand over their things so that we can succeed in one fell swoop and not let the Li family delay any longer."
These words were quite decisive, even Zhang Duanyan looked up, surprised by his resolute tone. Fei Yuan bowed his head in agreement, while Tian Huo, seemingly responding to the woman beside him, sighed:
“A few days ago, there was some activity at Shixiu’s place. It is said that a monk from Qinling Jindi has obtained an opportunity and has begun to gather people all over Dayang Mountain.”
Zhang Duanyan was puzzled and said:
"But I don't understand... I've also heard that it's said to be the sixth incarnation. With Qilin's current abilities, even if a seventh incarnation of Maha were to appear, it probably wouldn't be able to easily stop him."
Tian Huo slowly shook his head and said:
"The trouble is that there are also Dharma images inside."
"How is that possible!"
Zhang Duanyan's expression hardened as he listened to the young master say:
"Not surprising."
"Back then, Qin Ling was definitely dead. If Li Qianyuan had personally taken action, there would have been absolutely no chance of her survival. But the problem was that her head was used instead of being completely killed."
"Since Emperor Wei deposed Gu Zhou, he naturally wanted to add some grandeur. Someone had to build palaces and cities for him. The world was not yet settled, and the corvée labor was bitter and arduous. The cultivators were not yet used to obeying Mingyang, and he had not yet been called the sovereign. When Master Qin Ling fell, he captured a body and cultivated it into that head to drive demons into battle."
Fei Yuan, however, heard it sound like the commonly known metal element, and asked curiously:
"Is it the metal element?"
Tian Huo sneered and said:
"Is he even worthy of being released now?"
He whispered:
“In our Taoist tradition, we call it the Golden Nature. Ancient Buddhism also has something similar called the Manifestation Body. The Golden Earth is the Manifestation Body of the Venerable One. In Taoist terms, it is the manifestation of that great man’s Golden Nature.”
"Although these beings are not as powerful as they once were, Qin Ling's master was once quite capable; otherwise, the Wei Emperor wouldn't have personally intervened. His incarnation could be of great use..."
"Later, when the Great Wei was destroyed and the Jin land was isolated from the outside world, no one knows whether Shangyao had the chance to erase the incarnation of Qin Ling's master."
Zhang Duanyan murmured:
"That golden land has been vacant for a full thousand years, and the Dharma image was completely dead, so it's not surprising that the manifested body came back to life..."
Fei Yuan seemed puzzled. Tian Huo poured tea and quietly said:
"The manifested body can be viewed as metal most of the time, but it is ultimately different and has fatal flaws, especially the more it resembles the manifested body of the modern Buddhist practitioner, the more obvious the flaws become..."
He said:
"The Golden Core has a position, but the Dharma Form has no position. The True Lord occupies the Golden position, and therefore can command the Golden Nature at will. Even if He perishes one day, if His Golden Nature is not suppressed and exposed to the Great Void, He will transform into a demon because He has lost contact with the True Lord..."
"But the Dharma Image has no position of power to speak of!"
The young man narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he had thought of something else:
"This means that the Dharma body is not much stronger than its manifestation body in essence. It may be fine on ordinary days, but if it is seriously injured, it cannot suppress its manifestation body well, and it is not surprising that it is occupied by the manifestation body."
He said coldly:
"Actually, this also happens among True Lords, called 'Contending for the Five Elements.' Usually, it occurs when someone goes astray in their cultivation and fails to find a way through, thus contradicting their Golden Position. As a result, they are deprived of their position or even perish. What's worse is that a True Lord of Fruit Position, whose position was once occupied by a powerful being, suddenly perishes, leaving the position without a master. The Fruit Position immediately remembers one of its former masters, which is terrifying..."
He sighed and said:
"The moment I thought about it, it came to life. Just imagine, if I could conjure up the Three Mystic Lords, the Sword Ancestor, or the Demon Ancestor, no matter how much power they possessed, it would be enough to terrify people to death..."
Fei Yuan listened with great excitement, yet a chill ran down his spine. He could only nod repeatedly. Tian Huo paused, then said:
"Fortunately... I heard my father say that the struggle for the Five Elements is not lasting. No matter how extraordinary one becomes, one will eventually vanish without a trace, returning one's position to Heaven and Earth..."
He paused here, then finally brought the topic back, saying:
"But the problem with the Dharma form is that it has no place. They rely on the legacy of their predecessors and make offerings to others, such as in sandalwood forests and golden lands, to create a form. But this form is ultimately different from themselves. Not only is it difficult to control, but once it is taken away by the manifested body, that form will live there forever!"
A hint of emotion flickered in the young man's eyes as he sighed:
“I heard that… the master of the Void Path encountered such a thing. He had made a great vow and was considered very powerful in the Buddhist world. He had some compassion, but feared that his form would be taken away and he would bring disaster to the world. In the moment of crisis, he had no choice but to make his Dharma form appear as nothingness, and both of them turned into emptiness.”
"This is why all the Mahas are so eager to go to the Golden Land. It's not just about the freedom and ease it offers; this place is of extremely high status. Even if it belongs to someone else, it can still be used as a form of half a position."
He explained the cause and effect clearly and gave examples, which Fei Yuan naturally understood. He pondered and said:
"So... although Master Qin Ling perished, Emperor Wei still needed to use his image, and his entire cultivation was not destroyed. However, the Wei Dynasty was destroyed hastily, and the True Lord of Wei would not have had that kind of benevolence. He even abandoned the country and went to Jindi to erase his image at this critical moment..."
That makes perfect sense!
Tian Huo nodded approvingly and said:
"That one manifestation may not be strong, but as long as one cultivates in seclusion in the Golden Land for many years, it will surely be stabilized. Now, all that is left is to cultivate and offer it. One day, it will not be an exaggeration to take over everything that Master Qin Ling once possessed."
He was very annoyed and said:
"Jin Di is the incarnation of Fang Zun. No one could have predicted this. This is a variable that transcends everything. We thought that with the fall of Western Shu, the situation in Mingyang was already settled. Who would have thought that Qin Ling would appear out of nowhere!"
Having listened for a while, Zhang Duanyan knew he was upset, so he winked at Feiyuan and whispered:
“Go back to the cave, take the things there, and explain the situation.”
She emphasized the word "things," but Fei Yuan already knew perfectly well, without her needing to remind him:
'Why would he tell me so many secrets for no reason? There must be a reason. If he didn't want me to deliver the treasure and incidentally pass on some information to the Li family, what else would he have to say? Young Master's identity is special, and Qin Ling doesn't know who's behind this, so it's not appropriate for her to say it herself…'
He immediately bowed and said respectfully:
"I remember it all."
So he leaped up and hurried towards the Purple Qi Cave. Tian Huo remained irritable, covering his face, until Tian Huo was far away, then he slowly let out a sigh of relief and said:
"There's a reason why my uncle took a liking to him. Even if he's not particularly talented, he's at least a good match for me."
Zhang Duanyan nodded slightly and said:
"He is sensible and knows his place. Several elders like him. Life is truly unpredictable. He was originally meant to set an example for Que Wan, but he seized the opportunity very firmly."
Tian Huo nodded, then pulled out another token from his sleeve and said:
"Regarding Qin Ling's matter... although no orders have been issued from the Xuan Palace, we cannot be careless. I heard that Fa Chang also went there at the time. We should ask the Da Mu Dharma Realm and then report to the Cave Heaven."
Zhang Duanyan took it, and Tian Huo then called someone up and gave instructions:
“In the next few months, the King of Wei may not be in Shu. Please keep a close eye on the Jianghuai region, Grand Master. I will personally go to Nanzheng with Dan Yin to keep an eye on things for them. We absolutely cannot allow any trouble to occur at this time.”
……
Shu land.
Heavy snow swept across the bridge, piling up layer upon layer of white snow. The golden palace shone in the morning light, and the great hall seemed to be filled with endless pure light.
Amidst the pristine white surroundings, the master of this Heavenly Palace rested one hand on his hand, holding a small, jade-like, stone-like golden talisman. After casually reading it, he gently placed it on the table.
"pat..."
The man in the black robe sat high above, the sun star between his brows flickering slightly. The sunlight behind him accentuated his majestic face, making him appear exceptionally noble, yet there was a hint of contemplation in his eyes.
After conquering Western Shu, Li Zhouwei first cultivated in the capital of Shu. Later, he killed Wu Xun and reorganized the Shu region. He then went to Jianchi and Xigaoyuan before finally returning to Shu and cultivating the Walking Technique for a long time. Now, more than half a year has passed.
Three months ago, the entire Shu region had already stabilized under the reorganization of Cui Jueyin and the other masters. Before long, news of Li Ximing also reached Shu.
The master standing in the main hall at this moment was dressed in a simple Taoist robe, with a sword on his back—it was Cheng Jiuwen!
This master no longer possessed the indignation and determination he had shown at the Sword Sect, nor did his eyes hold the venomous flames of hatred. He now appeared quite submissive.
But the King of Wei descended step by step and said:
"Master, Sword Immortal... did you leave any last words?"
Cheng Jiuwen bowed again and said:
"The Great Master and Jin Yidao had a past connection. Back then, the Daoist entrusted someone to save him, precisely for today's contest to see who was superior. The Great Master fought fiercely for the Dao and perished. Ping Yan, who had harmed him in the past, also died at his hands in the desert. His great revenge was fulfilled, but one grudge remained—the Great Desire Daoist's Measure of Strength, Tian Langzhi..."
He seemed to remember Li Ximing's words very well, and spoke them very sincerely, as if he had not heard them from someone else, but rather Cheng Xunzhi had told him personally before leaving the mountain.
The King of Wei above stared at him and said:
"I will avenge him."
But the King of Wei was ultimately astute; before he could even consider it, he said:
"But...why did the True Man move to Shu?"
Cheng Jiuwen's eyes welled up with tears as he replied:
"Our lineage originally resided in Shu. Back then, our sect declined, and Changhuai seized control of a country. Out of consideration for our fellow disciples, we moved to the place where the True Man cultivated. Now that Changhuai has transcended worldly affairs and passed away, it is only right that we return."
King Wei said:
"Sure?"
These four words were like lightning, cleaving through the darkness in Cheng Jiuwen's mind. Various images repeatedly flashed through his mind, but his body remained as steady as a pine tree, without moving an inch.
He was not the kind of person who would go hysterical for revenge. Even though he was no longer willing to be under the same sect as that Xuan Song, he did not have the right to reveal everything about this place. This True Man's heart was as hard as iron, and he understood what was temporary fame and what was like a shadow that would forever hang over his head.
Cheng Jiuwen took a deep breath, as if trying to swallow all the decaying past on the mountain, the various scenes under the pine trees at dusk, along with his tears, and said:
"Yes... I beg Your Majesty to grant my request!"
Having heard this, the King of Wei understood perfectly, and he finally stopped asking questions. Cheng Jiuwen then touched his sleeve, took out an item, and presented it with both hands, saying:
"The sect has already received word from Master Zhaojing..."
This item was a gold box, no more than half a finger wide but as long as an arm, resembling a small box for holding a rapier. It was decorated with fine white patterns and shimmered in the sunlight. He said respectfully:
"The Precious Heart Jade Box is here!"
Li Zhouwei casually took it, weighed it in his hand for a moment, but didn't examine it closely. He stepped back up the stairs, saying softly:
"Although Senior Ling Mei is no longer here, the friendship of the Sword Sect remains. If you need a few peaks or a former county town, go find Jue Yin to arrange it."
He placed the treasure on the table, listened to the gratitude expressed by the immortals below, paused, and said:
“When I fight against the Great Desire Path, I will send someone to invite you.”
Cheng Jiuwen thanked him repeatedly before saying:
"Jiuwen has entered the Song court and cannot move around freely. He needs to go back and ask the emperor for permission. Gu Pang, however, is still free. He will guard the sect in Shu. If he has offended anyone, please forgive him, Master Cui."
He showed no sign of lingering and hastily withdrew. Li Zhouwei simply stood in the main seat, his brows lowered, gazing thoughtfully at the sword box, his expression unchanged.
After an unknown amount of time, the golden talisman on his desk began to glow faintly, as if startling the King of Wei from his reverie. He picked up the sword case and gave the order:
"Please invite Master Liao Luo up here."