Xuanjian Xianzu

Chapter 1449 Merit Pavilion
Shanghuan Pavilion.

The Yin energy drifted like snowflakes, flowing gently across the blue floor tiles. As the black boots stepped in, the Yin energy dispersed in all directions.

Li Zhouwei lowered his head, and the golden characters on the wooden slip appeared one by one, like jumping insects, constantly moving around on the wooden slip.

'It is advisable to have a fire technique…'

The further advancement of "Emperor's View" undoubtedly gave him more means of combat, and the power of "Visiting the Heavenly Gate" also increased significantly. In fact, even if he didn't use any spells now, the power of "Pillar Palace Sun Fire" alone, with the Heavenly Gate suppressed within Emperor's View, would surpass that of "Heavenly Crow Fire".

Besides its overwhelming power, the Fire-Binding Blade also possesses various wondrous properties that can damage one's nature, injure one's life, and burn objects. The greatest power of the Heavenly Crow Fire-Binding Blade is that the wounds it leaves behind can trouble the enemy for a long time. However, the Pivot Palace Sun Fire is a pure fire wound, which even the dragon son of that old dragon could not withstand for long.

Now that he had an abundance of immortal techniques, Li Zhouwei no longer cared as much about the techniques he used to. He skipped over the numerous techniques at the back and looked at the ones at the front, carefully selecting one before finally settling on it.

Called:

[Imperial Edict for Fire in the Six Offices].

Although this technique is not the most valuable in the pavilion, it is still first-class, requiring a full 515 Immortal Merits. With the Li family's current savings, they could easily exchange it for something better, but in Li Zhouwei's opinion, this technique is the most suitable, and there is no need to be greedy.

'This technique is based on the Bright Yang school and is an orthodox fire technique…'

This means that this technique is different from [Nan Di Xuan], as it does not borrow from or separate from any of the fires in the Mu Zhen Hong, and its foundation is extremely pure. It is completely based on the Ming Yang Dao lineage and is the orthodox technique of Ming Yang fire refining.

Li Zhouwei's current reliance on his powerful physical body and terrifying Mingyang Daoist cultivation are his main strengths.

He stroked the golden characters on the bamboo slips, secretly calculating:
'With my current level of cultivation, one year of practicing this technique is equivalent to twenty years for others. Furthermore, observing the outline of this technique, the extraction of fire-based celestial light must be related to the Emperor Qi Light and the Upper Sun Subduing Light. I fear it may be the source of the Emperor Qi Light's imitation... If I can make good use of it, I won't waste the time I would have spent practicing the Emperor Qi Light.'

After all, as his cultivation level increased, Shangyao Fuguang had been completely phased out. Although Diqiguang still had some use, as the light of the extreme yang, it gradually became contrary to his divine power and aura, and was reduced to an ordinary means. Its power was not as good as the bright yang killing light that he was now descending with the [Chongyang Xiaxing Baopan]!
The last advantage is that this technique can be practiced with a large amount of resources!

This is completely opposite to Li Zhouwei's reason for choosing [Southern Emperor Xuan] - back then, his family didn't have much resources and had to support two younger generations, so naturally, he chose the righteous method, which had no other way. Now that the Li family is so wealthy, it has reached a point where only Li Zhouwei can suppress it, so naturally, the fastest and best way is to use resources to make it happen.

With a flick of his finger, golden light poured forth like flowing water, rising into the sky with a wisp of smoke. After doing all this, Li Zhouwei did not leave, but stood with his hands behind his back, pondering for a long time:

'We still need to urge Uncle... If we don't choose the three supernatural powers for him, who knows how long he'll keep putting it off...'

Li Ximing has been at the peak of his two supernatural powers for quite some time now, and Li Zhouwei has been considering his options for a considerable period of time.

'My uncle attained enlightenment through the Heavenly Gate Technique, and his life-giving supernatural powers followed one after another. He only has three remaining supernatural powers: the Observation of the Origin Dharma Realm, the Breaking Edge Technique, and the Profound Body Technique… The first two are far too difficult for him… If he were to cultivate them, I fear he might not even possess all three by the time I attain enlightenment. It would be better for him to first master the Body Technique, and then slowly refine and master the others…'

If Li Ximing hadn't cultivated "Tianxia Ming", "Gu Shuyu" would have been the most suitable. Now, Li Zhouwei could only focus on "Jun Daowei".

"Jun Dao Wei" is officially called "Shang Yao Xuan Ji Fa Shen Tong" (Supreme Radiance Profound Ultimate Dharma Body Divine Power). Legend has it that it was the divine power that Shang Yao Zhen Jun attained enlightenment with. As one of the five most hierarchical methods of Ming Yang, it naturally has a more suitable lineage for Li Ximing, called "Di Guan You Shi Shu" (Imperial Official's Oath). Its divine power is quite different, hence it is also called:

"Oath to Xiaoshan".

This lineage had been severed for many years, and there was no trace of it left. If it hadn't been found in the Shanghuan Pavilion, even Li Zhouwei wouldn't have known the name of this supernatural power!
'The problem is… this divine ability is far from simple; in fact, it's quite complex and is practiced by imperial clans. Even with my uncle's cultivation, it's not something he could achieve overnight. Placing it as a third-tier divine ability wouldn't be an insult to him… While studying fire techniques, I plan to borrow the body of the Black Flame Qilin to add some annotations for him. Firstly, to point out some key points, and secondly, to let him borrow my aura so he won't be repeatedly frustrated by this divine ability.'

After changing his supernatural powers and spells, he looked at the Fire of Departure again, no longer considering the "Quest for the Sun and Manifestation of Yang" technique that only required 180 immortal skills from back then, but instead scanning the "Drinking the Sun and Gaining Merit Technique" which required a full 600 immortal skills.

This was something Li Ximing specifically mentioned:
"Go down into this well in the sky, and you'll reach the celestial array, where a supreme and extremely precious ray of sunlight shines!"

This supreme sunlight is used to suppress the immortal array. The [Drinking the Sun Technique] is exactly the technique of observing the sun with fire. Just one glance at it will pave a smooth path for future cultivation!
"Looking at the fire generated by the immortal array, even if it's only at the Purple Mansion level, even I would have to keep my distance."

He exchanged them one by one before leaving the mysterious pavilion, slowly moving forward to look at the clothes draped over the well.

It is the Taiyin Feather Robe obtained from the Immortal Array!

When the sun and moon shine together in the heavens and earth, this item will automatically refine itself. It is an ancient artifact and is not used for combat. It is not only of great benefit to the cultivation of the Three Yin, but also, when worn on the body, it has the power to be unpredictable by ghosts and gods and beyond the reach of cause and effect.

'Leaving aside its power, the divine effect of this last one alone completely surpasses that of the Song Dynasty's important artifact, the [Guzhou Cauldron]...'

This is a precious artifact of the Taiyin that can change the course of the world. Li Zhouwei was not in a hurry to use it, but stared at the feathered robe, his heart stirring slightly.

'Now, I should also consider this last supernatural power of mine.'

If Li Zhouwei were to master the Five Methods of Mingyang, the final and most crucial one, 'Brightness of the World,' would be a cause for serious concern!
'The method of Bright Sun, 'Brightening the World,' is perfected at its peak, reaching its zenith of glory, but then comes the risk of death… In any case, this divine power must be achieved when my aura is at its most powerful.'

He paced back and forth, his thoughts slightly heavy.

'This is not difficult, but supernatural powers often need to be combined with methods for seeking gold…'

Having reached this point, even if the final supernatural power has not yet been achieved, Li Zhouwei is essentially at the same stage as Chi Buzhi and Murong Weidian—plotting to acquire gold!
Li Zhouwei was different from Chi Buzhi and others. Wei Li Zhaozhao had already set an example, and the path of Mingyang had been cleared. Even the Yin family, one of the six kings, had passed down the method of seeking gold. Needless to say, Wei Li's orthodox path was clear.

These things must be hidden in the hands of the various true rulers after the fall of Wei…

If Li Zhouwei wanted to find it, there was no need to say more; the Dragon Clan and the Underworld would certainly bring him the method of seeking gold. In this respect, even Luo Xia would not be stingy.

Li Zhouwei, however, did not take it seriously.

'Those methods of seeking gold used by the descendants of Wei and Li… without a doubt, they must be methods used by the descendants of the Wei emperor's subjects. Even the most advanced methods were simply written down and passed down by the Wei emperor himself…'

Mingyang had the imagery of a son replacing a father—didn't the Wei emperor notice this when he left behind the Dharma?

These methods of seeking gold are nothing short of a dead end.

Aside from the three terrifying forces that are now dividing the world, there is another supreme and wondrous method hidden within, which is also the originator of my birth from a cicada and the reason I have come all the way to where I am today.

'[In the heavens]'

Without the slightest hesitation in his gaze, he stared intently at the Taiyin Feather Robe, slightly raising his hand to look at the lake-moon pattern on the hem:
'No rush, I should go eventually; He... should see me with his own eyes.'

……

The sea surges and the old palace echoes in silence.

Jinghai closed his eyes and focused on his cultivation, but his soul rose and fell. When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a place filled with wind and snow.

The old monk was only taken aback for a moment, thinking to himself:
"They're here..."

He raised his eyebrows to look and saw that the mountain gate was shining brightly. On one side was the inscription "Having put away the three bodies, one comes to this path," and on the other side was the inscription "The heavens are where the seven emotions are contained." His heart pounded, and he felt his blood rushing like mercury. He could hardly believe it.

He stepped forward again and soon saw various buildings, all adorned with inscriptions, incredibly mysterious, and including pagodas and other structures. Jinghai was greatly astonished and bowed to each one, his heart filled with hope:

'This…this is the Holy Religion, isn't it? Could it be that I haven't entered Lord Lake's territory, but rather the place destined for him?'

So they stepped forward, passing various mysterious halls and lotus ponds, before finally seeing a monk lying on the bridge, propping his head up with his hand, seemingly dozing off.

Jinghai stepped forward, bowed his head, and said respectfully:
"Senior...do you not know where this place is...?"

The old monk, with his eyes closed and turned to the side, casually said:
"Go up and see for yourself."

Jinghai was both surprised and doubtful. He bowed and went up the steps. He first read the Xuan Stele and was secretly astonished:
"【Great Black Heaven】—The wondrous land of the Southern Master?"

He examined it carefully for a long time, but couldn't figure out what was going on, so he turned around and slowly pushed open the palace door:
"crunch..."

With a loud bang, the river on the bridge seemed to smile, and it stood up, stepped forward, and silently counted in its mind:

"three."

"two."

"one."

Then a crisp sound was heard, followed by the sound of blood being vomited, the voice hoarse:
"what!"

Dangjiang stopped in his tracks. A figure staggered down the steps above, rolled several times, and landed right at his feet, lying on its back, unable to move. Its beard was covered in blood. Who else could it be but Jinghai?
This old monk was indeed remarkable; his mind was pure. In an instant, he wiped the blood from his face, two lines of tears streamed down his face, and he turned and bowed:

"Greetings, Your Excellency!"

Seeing how quickly he recovered, Dangjiang realized that even if he had cultivated a highly righteous method, he must be an extremely powerful figure. He couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension and trepidation.

'What an amazing fellow! He even possesses golden talisman on his body. In all my years of supervising this area, he's the first monk to have done so!'

But his smile remained calm, the corners of his mouth curving upwards, making his sinister aura even more pronounced. He said:
"Fellow Daoist, have you seen clearly? I, Dao Venerable, am below the Southern World Venerable and have not yet returned to my rightful place. I am honored to be the abbot here. Since you have the opportunity to enter, you must remember this."

Upon hearing this, Jinghai immediately froze on the spot.

The old monk raised his head in disbelief, seemingly more astonished than if he had seen the two Buddhas in their true forms. He stared blankly at the Dangjiang River and repeated:

"Nan Shizun?"

His hands trembled, and he took another step forward, looking around as if he suddenly understood, and said:

"Yes...this is neither Jindi nor Shitu...no wonder..."

Dangjiang was just using this as a pretext; upon seeing his appearance, he immediately felt guilty. Unexpectedly, Jinghai stood up and muttered to himself:

"I see...I see!"

The monk, tears streaming down his face, knelt on the ground and bowed in all four directions, performing a full prostration, before sobbing:
"After a hundred years of arduous struggle, Xiao Xiu has finally seen the Great Dao. Greetings, Abbot!"

Dang Jiang watched with a startled expression, but remained outwardly calm. He secretly thought to himself that this title was indeed effective, and chuckled, saying:

"Come with me!"

So they went to the Hall of Robes and Bowls, and as usual, retrieved the ordination certificate and handed it to him. The old monk examined it carefully, verified it with blood, and quickly returned it to him. Dangjiang glanced at it:
The Great Ukonghai Mandate of the Dharma.

Zheng Xiuwu was 510 years old.

The prefecture of Beiliang Xuanxiang Konghai Wubian Wanli Temple Master Zhenggong 166
[The Dharma Successor of the Sea]

【Konghai Jindi Transmission of Light】

These lines of writing completely stunned the abbot. It wasn't the gold plaque above that was remarkable, but rather the gleaming, shining characters:

One hundred and sixty-six merits.

Dangjiang gasped, as if dazzled by the handwriting, and murmured:

"Good heavens! One hundred and sixty-six..."

Jinghai, not understanding, simply said:

"This humble monk has traversed the southern lands, vanquishing demons and monsters, healing the sick and saving lives. I have spent two hundred years traveling, and I have personally saved at least eighty to one hundred thousand people. Later, Wanli Temple performed many good deeds, and I don't know how many more people it has saved..."

But he looked guilty and said:

"Now that the family business has grown, it's inevitable that some monks will break their vows. It's impossible to completely eliminate them, and I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing... Perhaps because of this, there's no real merit to be gained..."

Dangjiang murmured for a while, his gaze complex. He stood up, personally helped the monk up, and sighed:
"No wonder... Jindi resonated with you spontaneously. It's truly rare. It must be that your great virtue moved Jindi, which is why it was bestowed upon you."

The old monk shook his head, stubbornly saying:
"It's just a coincidence. If Jindi truly possessed the divine wisdom to choose the good and follow it, how could the world be in this state today?"

“This golden land is like the Buddha’s scriptures. Whoever finds it owns it. What the reader says will determine what is said. A thousand people will have a thousand different interpretations, and it is not determined by good or evil.”

Upon hearing this, Dangjiang held him in even higher regard. This guy was usually playful and mischievous, but when he actually met someone like this, his expression became complicated, and he thought to himself:

'Such a virtuous person... Alas, he is the one who is truly suited to be the abbot, while I have become a charlatan monk who deceives the world...'

So he took two steps down, helped the old monk up, and looking at his righteous face, he pondered:

'I've been bullying others on their territory for so long, I owe them something. In the future... even if all the monks in this temple die, I'll still protect them, as a way of repaying Xuan Tian's kindness.'