Taoist Master Xuanhuang

"Lord Dao, spare my life! Lord Dao, spare my life! It was not my wish, not my ability, not my doing!"

After the purple light covered the figure of the 'puppet' Wu Chan, Wu Chan shouted and begged for mercy.

One sentence can mean several things.

"Not of my own volition" means it wasn't something he wanted to do; it was the law of cause and effect that pushed him to act this way. Of course, it's impossible to say he had no thoughts at all; he certainly had, but he wouldn't have gone to such lengths.

It's beyond my comprehension. It's as if it's telling Xuanhuang that I don't have that ability, that they're overestimating me, and that I'm being carried along by the Heavenly Dao.

As for "not my doing," this means that I did not do it; I did not.

"Shut up! If you did it, you would already be shut up."

The purple light was accompanied by a rebuke from Xuanhuang.

Xuanhuang's words were also a double entendre, telling him that if it really was you who did it, you no longer had the chance to speak.

Witnessing all this, Minghui broke out in a cold sweat. Unbeknownst to her, she had already been carried into the interior of the pagoda by the purple light.

"This disciple is incompetent and has failed Master Xuan!"

Minghui kowtowed and said.

"You?" Zi Mang Xuanhuang said, "I'll give you Wu Chan's three sentences: they are not what you wish for, not what you can do, and not what you can do."

This is saying that it's not a matter of whether you are incompetent or not, but that you simply don't have the ability to make these mistakes.

This indirectly indicates that it wasn't your fault.

The law of Heaven imposes cause and effect; how could a mere monk possibly stop it?

"Very well, this tower does indeed need to be restricted. If you don't go to hell, who will? You go and refine it."

Minghui: ...

What do you mean? I'll refine it?

Is this alright? This is a treasure shared by all of our Buddhist sect. Isn't it excessive for me to refine it?
It doesn't seem excessive.

It has to be a Xuan Master, someone who takes care of his disciples, and someone who does things so well that no one can really say for sure.

The Pagoda of Cause and Effect has not been completely refined, which means it has not been completely recognized as a master.

After all, it is a supreme treasure jointly refined and blessed by all Buddhist beings. It cannot be made by one person alone. It is forged from the hardest scales of the entire Buddhist community.

In this way, no one can refine it and truly possess this treasure.

Moreover, it's impossible to refine it even if you want to.

The level of the Pagoda of Cause and Effect surpasses that of the highest level of Buddhist cultivation. A second-level monk cannot refine a third-level limit magic weapon.

Not to mention the supreme treasure that was about to advance to the fourth tier after devouring the origin of the Enlightened Cicada Realm.

Previously, the manipulation of the Karma Pagoda was due to the fact that the Buddhist sect's fortune and merits were bound to the pagoda. It was Buddhism that transformed from the ordinary to the extraordinary, which is why the Karma Pagoda could be used.

But with the intervention of the Heavenly Dao, everything changed.

This precious Buddhist treasure has begun to slowly break free from the constraints of Buddhism.

For example, just like the ancestral altar of the Spirit Sacrifice Clan and the origin temple of the Holy Land of Myriad Races, they are not controlled by the Spirit Sacrifice Clan and the myriad races, but rather control the Spirit Sacrifice Clan and the myriad races.

The Pagoda of Cause and Effect is progressing in this direction if it is not stopped.

"Disciple obey!"

Minghui answered 'devoutly'.

"Wow--"

The purple and yellow light continuously condensed, and a vast pressure swept across the entire Causal Pagoda. All the myriad causal lines condensed by the Causal Pagoda were suppressed by this purple light.

The purple light slowly transformed into the character '镇' (zhen, meaning 'suppress') inscription.

The moment the inscription took shape, the will of Xuanhuang suppressed the Pagoda of Cause and Effect, and like other supreme treasures, the most fundamental core place now had a master.

Wu Chan, or rather, the spirit of the artifact, was also suppressed.

Wu Chan should have died, but he didn't.

Not only did it not die, but under the interference of the Heavenly Dao's cause and effect, it almost became the true spirit of the Cause and Effect Pagoda, an existence that transformed from a sacred status into the spirit of a supreme treasure.

Although he told Xuanhuang it was not his wish, who would want to die if they could avoid it?
He also had a will to live; his soul was not completely annihilated, and he encouraged the Buddhist sect to absorb the primordial power of the Enlightenment Realm to the greatest extent possible.

This is the power that shares the same origin as him.

It's equivalent to adding his power to the Pagoda of Cause and Effect.

If it weren't for Xuanhuang, he wouldn't have even bothered to hide. The moment he was 'converted' and the moment the Heavenly Dao imposed karma upon him, he would have started to fight back.

He fought back against the enemies who killed him.

He feared that his actions might offend Xuanhuang, especially since the greatest controller of this pagoda was one of the Dao Lord's disciples.

Therefore, he did not retaliate immediately, but planned to do so slowly.

Who would have thought that, as expected of the Dao Lord's disciple, not only are his senses so sharp, but his Dao heart and will are also so strong.

I have been exerting influence and causality all along, and I have even used the causal power of the pagoda, but it is still of no use.

The first thing Minghui did upon returning to headquarters was to come to this special hall to sense the source of the crisis.

He was tempted to take a risk and test the waters.

The moment Minghui made the decision to use Xuanhuang to restrict the pagoda, he actually attacked Minghui.

Unexpectedly, Minghui's soul contained something that shouldn't belong to her.

An otherworldly being constantly watching over him prevented him from succeeding.

At this moment, it was all too late.

Fortunately, it seems I don't have to die; I've truly become a spirit. But unfortunately, my thoughts and soul are being forgotten and altered.

Even if I survive, I won't be a complete version of myself anymore. From now on, I really have to become a loyal spirit.

I'm so unhappy!
But in an instant, this resentment was forgotten.

Xuanhuang used his immense power to show Wuchan how to properly use the pagoda's abilities, forgetting everything before giving her any time to think and reshaping all her perceptions.

"Minghui!"

"The disciple is here!"

"go with!"

A line of cause and effect entered Minghui's soul.

"Since it is a treasure of cause and effect, then refine it in the most suitable way. This is the very foundation upon which this tower existed from its very beginning. If you grasp this thread, you can safely control this treasure. However..."

Xuanhuang continued, "However, this treasure is so fortunate that it is on the verge of advancing to the fourth rank. If it were not suppressed by me, it would soon advance to the tribulation stage. However, your cultivation cannot keep up with the speed of this treasure. Therefore, I will give you ten days. After ten days, this treasure will undergo tribulation and advance to the rank of magic weapon. You should prepare well."

After saying that, the purple light completely disappeared.

Minghui respectfully saw Master Xuan off as he departed.

Only now did he realize that the opportunity truly belonged to him.

The previous experiences of converting the cicada and absorbing the source seemed like opportunities, but they were opportunities beyond one's control. They seemed very tempting, but they were deadly traps.

Things are different now. After being suppressed and sorted out by the Xuan Master, the opportunity is now entirely his own.

He had truly refined the Pagoda of Cause and Effect, though he didn't know how he had done it.

In short, it made the monk very happy.

"Owner!"

Freed from evil influences and bathed in a vast, holy light, Wu Chan respectfully bowed to Ming Hui.

This is the transformed Wu Chan, now a true artifact spirit. "Hmm! Just call me Your Excellency. I'm a Buddhist, so it's best not to use certain titles." Minghui was a little uneasy for a moment, but thinking of the primordial source within her soul reassured her considerably.

"Master Xuan said that you will undergo tribulation and advance in ten days. Are you confident?" Minghui asked.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, if it weren't for the suppression by the Mystic Master, I would have been able to transcend the tribulation and advance in a short time. Previously, this humble monk fell into the demonic path and tempted Your Majesty to absorb the source. Even if it was less than 40% of the source, it would still be the collapse of a fifth-order essential realm, which would have allowed me to advance to the fourth order."

“It’s good that you have repented. It’s worth it for Master Xuan to reshape you. You should know that you went down the demonic path before, which had no future. Only under the great path of Master Xuan can you have a future,” Minghui instructed.

“I am deeply remorseful for my past sins. I have now repented and taken refuge in the Buddha. As the spirit of this precious artifact of cause and effect, I will be extremely cautious.”

Minghui was very satisfied. As expected of the transformation by the Master Xuan, he was so obedient and truly reformed.

"Good, good!"

Through the conversation, Minghui learned that the reason why the Cause and Effect Pagoda took ten days to undergo tribulation was because the Master Xuan had given him time; otherwise, he could have undergone tribulation immediately.

"In addition, the Dao Master also intended for this humble monk to have some time to reflect, since the profound mysteries I have accumulated are far inferior to those of the Dao Master's supreme treasures," said the artifact spirit, Wu Chan.

"Don't compare these things. What you said is very true: it's neither something you can do nor something I want."

Minghui interrupted her directly.

Are these comparable?

Still trying to catch up with the Xuan Master's supreme treasure? It seems your reflection as a weapon spirit isn't thorough enough!
This is beyond your capabilities, and it's not what I want. You're not afraid, but I'm afraid I won't be able to control it.

"This humble monk knows his mistake!" the spirit of the artifact, Wu Chan, realized.

"Will you need any help when you are going through your tribulation?" Minghui quickly turned the page and asked the question that concerned her the most.

"Yes, we need it!" said the spirit of the artifact, Wu Chan.

"Need it?" Minghui was taken aback.

How can this be considered a need?

I can't do it. A decade is only twelve years. It's hard enough for me to even reach the third rank. How can I help a fourth-rank magic weapon overcome its tribulation?
This humble monk cannot do it.

“Your Excellency, cause and effect are cyclical, everything has a cause and an effect. There must be a reason why the Dao Lord is doing this. Don’t worry, things will work themselves out,” said the spirit Wu Chan.

"Mm!" Minghui tried her best to appear composed.

I cannot lose face in front of my precious artifact spirit.

But what should I do if I'm really worried?

I can't rely on myself. There must be a reason why the master is doing this. Since I can't figure it out, I won't try. I'll deal with it when the time comes.

Anyway, there's still ten days left.

"Your Majesty believes that with my assistance, it is feasible for Your Majesty to enter the third stage within ten days."

Seemingly sensing his master's worries, the spirit of the artifact comprehended the Dao of the Cicada.

"How to say?"

"Your Excellency, this humble monk has been reshaped by the Dao Lord. Putting aside everything else, my understanding of the Law of Cause and Effect alone is far superior to what it was before. If Your Excellency is willing, this humble monk can now allow you to enter the third rank."

"Oh?"

“But I think this is not advisable, not the best approach. There are other methods,” said the spirit of the magical artifact, Wu Chan.

"Speak!" Minghui was somewhat embarrassed; this was the difficulty of her cultivation being inferior to that of a supreme treasure.

Even his own most treasured possessions are beyond his comprehension.

"Forget!"

"Forgotten?" Minghui didn't understand.

"Yes, Your Excellency. The reason why it is not advisable is precisely because of the ability to forget. This humble monk can make Your Excellency forget your current cultivation level and instead believe that you are at the third level. Then you will be at the third level."

"Huh?!" Despite trying to remain calm, she couldn't stay composed in the end.

Can forgetting really happen in reverse?

Forget your weak self, remember your strong self, and then you will become strong.

"Your Excellency, this is merely a minor path. Cultivation and spiritual practice involve forgetting, which means departing from reality and approaching illusion... Although illusion can be a powerful illusion, and can be assumed to be real, reality is illusion... it is not advisable, as it will consume a considerable amount of your time to compensate for this illusion."

Once this was explained, Hui understood.

Assume a cause, and you will get the effect first; this is a way of reversing the cause and effect.

That is definitely not advisable.

Spiritual practice is about cultivating truth, and everything should align with reality. If you assume it to be true, you are essentially making yourself meaningless.

Although it is a void of self, this void is not a return to nothingness, but a void cast out through cause and effect, and it has a certain degree of real existence.

As long as this fact truly exists, it can be powerful in its emptiness.

The reason it's not worth it is because one's cultivation is not yet sufficient; how can one try to annihilate oneself? Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?

While one may gain temporary power, lasting power becomes an obstacle.

“What other options are there?” Minghui asked.

It negates the nothingness of forgetting.

"Other methods, Your Majesty, you may refer to Hall Master Sun of the Merit Hall, or Lord Qingyunzhou's Daoist partner Liu Wenhe."

Minghui understood immediately upon hearing the explanation of the spirit cicada.

Isn't this field resonance?
By binding with a supreme treasure and resonating with the extraordinary field, one can quickly improve their cultivation and understanding.

If that's the case, then it's certainly possible. After all, it's been proven in practice, and there are no downsides, only benefits.

Of course, the prerequisite is that you have a strong enough will.

“That’s right,” Minghui nodded.

If one resonates with the Pagoda of Cause and Effect in this way, it can indeed shorten the time for enlightenment, which is equivalent to having a third-order limit enlightenment amplifier.

“Let’s do it this way,” Minghui agreed.

He seeks stability, but he's not rigid. If there's a faster way without causing harm, why not do it?

All you need to do is constantly hone your willpower; that's the key.

"I also have some knowledge of willpower," Wu Chan's spirit added.

"Not bad!" Minghui wasn't unsurprised, but rather somewhat numb.

This is the correct way to unlock a supreme treasure; this is the right way to do it; this is the kind of power a supreme treasure forged by a Xuan Master should possess.

Not to mention its immense power, its various support methods are simply unparalleled.

Whether through cause and effect, forgetting, severing ties, or shielding, one can indeed temper one's will.

It's still my own treasure; I can use it however I want, and adjust it however I want.

If everything goes smoothly, I'll be able to become number one in no time.

Jiutong, Sun Hui, and Yan Lai are all on my radar.

"I'll go and give some instructions, then I'll come back and go into seclusion."

Thinking of this, Minghui was full of motivation. Nothing made him happier than improving his cultivation. He wanted to immediately, right now, enter seclusion.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Wu Chan's spirit replied.

As for what Minghui needs to explain?
Naturally, the previous ambush footage doesn't need to be edited.

Release them all, release them all to this humble monk.

...(End of chapter)