The Great Xia Dynasty's Longevity Begins with Connecting to the Swallowed Starry Sky

"Discovered?"

Qin Hao was taken aback.

His first thought was that he felt proud and elated to be praised by the renowned Master Cen of the capital.

Then he accidentally revealed his presence and was caught by Master Cen.

No one was born with such good qualifications.

However, the mental maturity brought about by his rebirth made him start working hard ahead of time.

Then, by using multiple worlds, he reclaimed his true spirit and increased his talents.

We've come this far step by step.

But what others don't know is that suddenly a very famous person comes along and notices your efforts.

He praised you highly, believing that you were great not because of talent, but because of hard work.

It's like someone who was dressed in fine clothes but was caught red-handed because of their uniqueness.

True happiness comes from a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

If one accidentally reveals their presence, it's understandable.

But the reality is that Qin Hao has already won the praise of many people.

In the world of Swallowed Star, the Lord of Chaos City also spoke highly of him.

He even personally took him as his disciple, ordering him to stay in Chaos City and not go out, in order to ensure his safety.

No matter how powerful Master Cen is, he is only at the fourth realm.

Of course, if it were Dean Zhou Haoran, who had worked hard all the way, overcoming obstacles and difficulties to reach the position of Dean of Haoran Academy, that would be a different story.

If it were him who praised him, Qin Hao might even feel honored.

That's why such a vulnerability could occur.

What he is using now is a technique of concealment related to the laws of time, which he has comprehended by absorbing the Daoist essence of the laws of time from his time clone.

Not to mention its extremely high level of secrecy.

Ao Hong's seven-colored dragon avatar has also advanced to the fourth realm, and he is not completely ignorant of the power of the fourth realm.

"Hahaha, as expected of Master Cen. In my hundreds of years in the Qianyang Realm, I have seen countless people, and few can match his mental fortitude and spiritual strength."

A faint, shadowy figure rose from the ground, tinged with darkness, and appeared extremely imposing.

But Qin Hao could tell that the other party was not the real person.

The Shadow Demon.

So this was the shadow demon that had been projected into everyone's minds.

and many more?

Within Qin Hao's heart, the fire of Danyang ignited.

A faint stench emanated from the air.

"it turns out……"

Sure enough, Qin Hao belatedly realized that he had also fallen into a trap.

However, the danger was very mild, and he had not yet sensed any danger.

But that's the case.

In the distance, on the Star Guide Ship that was about to reach Xiaoyao Prefecture, countless Danyang Fires suddenly burst forth.

"what happened?"

"Ah! The Fire of Danyang? What are you trying to do?"

"The Marquis of Shenyong?"

Even Yuwen Anna and Qin Lan were startled, but they soon discovered that although the Danyang Fire was scorching hot, it did not harm their bodies at all.

However, a faint stench emanated from within the body.

"This is?"

Yuwen Anna shouted, "Shut up! This is the Marquis of Divine Might slaying a demon. It seems that when we escaped from Lion Mountain Forest, we were already affected by the demons' methods. Right now, the Marquis of Divine Might is cutting off the demons' methods for us."

They are all practitioners, and their minds are naturally quick.

These were discovered based on the slightest clues.

Hearing their senior sister's words, the people of Danyang Sect finally calmed down.

Qin Hao nodded; Yuwen Anna's thinking was quite quick.

However, some of the guards around them had also been infected.

Is this transmitted through the heart?

"The methods of this Shadow Demon are truly impossible to guard against, and extremely strange."

It is said that the Shadow Demon can reside in the minds of other races, and as long as these residencys cannot be completely severed, the Shadow Demon will not die.

This method is indeed impressive, but...

Normal methods are naturally insufficient to sever the opponent's fundamental weakness.

"but……"

Qin Hao looked at the Moon Demon Mirror, which was almost complete with its essence, and flipped his hand, revealing a silver mirror.

"However, this purified and reforged Moon Demon Mirror—well, let's call it the Taiyin Mirror—can trace back to its origin, so escaping won't be so easy."

Qin Hao has such methods, and so do others.

For example, some Buddhist karmic methods, though such methods are rare, are extremely difficult to kill, which is not surprising.

"It seems we need to warn our past or future selves to be careful."

Over there, Master Cen was already fighting the Shadow Demon.

Master Cen wanted to take care of the remaining farmers. They believed that the people were more important than the ruler, so they would not easily abandon these farmers.

Qin Hao realized that the Shadow Demon had mobilized the farmers, which was intended to shake the minds of others.

But I'm afraid his main target is still Master Cen.

If one can corrupt and degrade Master Cen, one will be able to possess an extremely powerful incarnation.

It's like the Buddha converting the demon, or the demon corrupting the Buddha. Once this opposing force is corrupted, its power becomes even greater.

Filled with immense resentment, Marquis Shishan roared and launched an attack on Marquis Wuling.

On his body, the keratin began to change, becoming harder.

This is the lower-level demon race; their powerful keratin is like natural armor, protecting them from harm.

However, it is also these keratinous structures that make it difficult for them to evolve further.

These keratinous layers must be broken in order for the lower-level demons to evolve into higher-level demons.

It is protection, but also a constraint.

Upon seeing this, Qin Hao immediately understood that everything has two sides.

When lower-level demons are weak, these keratinous substances serve as protection and are essential for their survival.

As their strength gradually increases, these very things will become obstacles to their growth.

But breaking these things can enhance the bloodline, making them purer.

"In this respect, it is quite similar to the evolution of the dragon race."

His dedication stemmed from a desire to strengthen himself, break free from constraints, and enhance his bloodline during battle.

It seems that Marquis Shishan does not want to be suppressed forever and also wants to rise among the demons.

However, he was already a high-ranking member of the clan.

Now they're going to become dogs, and then try to rise again?
What exactly is the idea behind this?
Or is it that power is the fundamental pursuit they seek?

However, if one is truly capable of enduring hardship, given the Marquis of Lion Mountain's status, it is not impossible to find the appropriate method.

For example, in martial arts, if one is truly able to endure hardship, there are certain methods that can help one advance in rank.

The same applies to Confucian and Taoist practices.

If you can truly learn from Dean Zhou Haoran, recite the texts daily, comprehend their meaning, and gradually follow this path, you too can be promoted.

However, it is very difficult.

Marquis of Lion Mountain probably couldn't endure that kind of hardship.

In addition, the Ninth Prince, Prince Yong, probably also had his reasons.

Marquis Shishan originally pledged allegiance to the Ninth Prince, Prince Yong. If Prince Yong were to side with the Demon Clan, Marquis Shishan would likely have no way to escape.

If you don't report it at the beginning, even if you later turn your back on your own family for the greater good, it will be difficult to gain people's trust.

Their crimes are not light.

Now that things have come to this, he has no choice but to continue down this dark path.

"So, this whole 'choosing sides' thing is really too dangerous. The merit of following the emperor is not something that can be easily obtained."

Qin Hao was relieved that his grandfather, Qin Zhenyuan, the Earl of Anyuan, had never considered taking sides.

This prevented many dangers.

"However, Master Cen is under a lot of pressure. He has to take care of these farmers, so he has to reduce his efforts by a third."

They also had to worry about the Shadow Demon's methods affecting the farmers, and thus they inevitably had to accept a three-tenths of the harvest.

Having only four options inevitably leads to being constrained.

Even if the Shadow Demon didn't have a puppet body here, it wouldn't be able to unleash its full power.

No, this is probably the Shadow Demon's real plan—a piecemeal tactic.

This is consumption.

Now that he knew, Qin Hao naturally couldn't let the Shadow Demon succeed.

The main demon in charge here is probably this Shadow Demon.

"So, does the Living Buddha Zanbu know about this?"

Given the current situation, it's time for the Living Buddha Zanbu to get up and move around a bit.

Qin Hao didn't waste these days.

He searched extensively here, and with the help of his Primordial Spirit Eye, which possessed the laws of destiny, he could vaguely see a connection between cause and effect.

Qin Hao looked toward a certain cave.

Over the years, Marquis Shishan has conscripted many laborers to set up this altar and the demon formation.

These people were initially the main force in mining, but later they became helpers in changing the terrain and setting up formations.

Ultimately, it will become raw material for sacrifice to the altar.

It really doesn't waste a single bit.

Qin Hao greatly admired the person who designed this plan.

"In that case, let's send a message to Master and ask him to make a move."

Along the way, Master Yunhua encountered many laborers, and he knocked them unconscious and gathered them into his Flowing Cloud Sleeve.

However, at this moment, Master Yunhua felt that the space within his Flowing Cloud Sleeve was also basically occupied.

"I haven't been practicing this technique of 'space within a sleeve' for very long, and my understanding of space is insufficient. Besides, there's no air inside, so these laborers can't stay there for long."

Just as he was worrying, a thought struck him.

Since Qin Hao's contact had arrived, Master Yunhua remained calm and waved his hand, collecting all the laborers in front of him.

Then, a ring appeared on his hand.

"this?"

He examined the ring and found that it was hundreds of miles long, wide, and high.

"Legend has it that the Sumeru Banner, a supreme treasure of Buddhism, is even larger than this. But seeing how easily it was given to me, there must be many of these things, right?"

Just now, Qin Hao sent him a telepathic message, instructing him to search for a ring among these people.

Qin Hao secretly placed it inside.

This ring can gather living people; even tens of thousands of people living inside it wouldn't be a problem.

With a little refinement, Master Yunhua refined the World Ring.

How could he know that in another world, the laws of space are explicit laws, and any cultivator has the opportunity to comprehend them?

Realm Lords can easily extract spatial fragments and create spatial rings.

Yes, the materials are quite expensive, and the price is also quite high.

But for Qin Hao, it was just a drop in the ocean.

After obtaining the treasure, Master Yunhua slightly changed direction and successfully found a cave where laborers were hiding.

These laborers, though they were also the last fuel for the altar.

However, it also hinders these fourth-realm cultivators who come to break the formation.

Master Yunhua easily slaughtered a group of demons and stepped into the cave. The crowd at Minfu Gate was in an uproar, as if they had seen a glimmer of hope for survival.

"Immortal."

"A real person."

Master Yunhua looked at the group of people and quickly found a very calm young man among them.

"So this is the prodigy. He's so calm; has he already awakened?"

He found it strange, but still chose to act quickly and hide the person.

Meanwhile, Qin Hao was also pondering the meaning of the existence of the spirit child.

For example, in the sequel to Journey to the West, there is the reincarnation of Buddha, Qiao Ling'er.

Once Buddha returns, Qiao Ling'er will cease to exist forever.

The Buddha's primordial spirit was merely residing within Qiao Ling'er's body.

"Perhaps it's the same method, or at least the same ingenious approach."

Qin Hao has always felt that the Buddhist practice has its merits and is also great.

But every discipline has its peculiarities.

This method of cultivation through countless lifetimes is not a normal method of cultivating again by going through the cycle of reincarnation and understanding the mysteries of the womb.

There are clearly significant problems.

"Alright, you've been rescued. I'll put you away for now, and release you later after I break the formation."

With that, Master Yunhua flicked his sleeve and gathered all of them away.

Then it was transferred to the World Ring.

Then he turned and continued toward the altar.

"What's going on? Why can't I sense the presence of the spiritual child?"

The Living Buddha Zanbu was puzzled. How could he have suddenly disappeared at this point?

If the reincarnation child cannot be found, his reincarnation will be interrupted.

The thought of that outcome made him feel like the sky had fallen.

He has been reincarnated seven times, and this is his eighth time.

If he cannot be reincarnated normally, what awaits him is...

There was only one way left: physical disintegration.

The physical body is a precious raft for crossing the sea.

If only the primordial spirit remains, it is undoubtedly inherently half as weak.

The three treasures of essence, energy, and spirit are indispensable.

When one's body dissolves and one's primordial spirit ascends to heaven, that is a choice one is forced to make when there is no other option.

"Is it a spatial magic artifact? A sun and moon within a pot? Or a universe hidden in a sleeve?"

Such magical arts, like "a universe within a sleeve" or "the sun and moon within a pot," cannot sever one's connection to the spirit child unless one has cultivated them to an extremely high level.

"Unless it's a high-level spatial magic treasure, forming its own world, like a Sumeru Banner, or a grotto-heaven magic treasure?"

This is a turning point in his journey.

If the reincarnation is lost, and it is time for him to be executed.

At that time, if one's spirit is strong enough, one might be able to choose to dissolve one's body and allow one's primordial spirit to ascend.

However, since the path to enlightenment has not yet been perfected, there may be no further progress.

This is something that the Living Buddha Zanbu cannot accept.

“It seems I can’t hide it any longer. I was planning to make them put in more effort to break this formation, and then I would destroy the altar. I would gain immense merit and save thousands of cultivators in the vicinity, which would also help build connections for the Rotten Temple. It would make things easier for me during my seclusion.”

It seems that it won't work now.

All the meticulous planning had to be interrupted by this one unexpected event.

"Who is it? Don't let me find out, or else..."

To cut off someone's path to liberation is a fight to the death.

Zanbu Living Buddha stood up, a powerful aura emanating from his body: "Everyone, I have grasped the key to this matter and restored my cultivation."

The Living Buddha Zanbu said loudly, "I am here to help you break free from this cage. Please recover quickly and come back to help me."

As he spoke, he was about to make a move.

But soon, the Living Buddha Zanbu realized that he had no way to help.

Two demon generals with curved horns on their heads, purple skin, and crimson armor arrived.

"It seems there's a big fish here, and it might actually be a living Buddha?"

"We're lucky; he's about to die. Let's fight him again and make him fail at dying."

"Once we swallow the primordial spirit of this living Buddha, the shackles that prevent us from advancing to the higher demon race will disappear."

"kill!"

Just like every great Buddhist master, who likes to convert demons into protectors of the Dharma.

This is a manifestation of merit, and it can also enhance one's own strength and perfect one's cultivation.

Demons also enjoy devouring high-ranking Buddhist monks, as this greatly benefits them and can even help them advance from mid-level demon bloodlines to high-level demons.

The two fourth-realm demons were overjoyed and pounced directly on the Living Buddha Zanbu.

The Living Buddha Zanbu broke free of the cage, unleashed a great hand seal, and began to fight the two demons.

He tried his best to avoid the cages where other cultivators were imprisoned.

However, he didn't see that the cultivators in the cages were looking at him with somewhat complicated expressions.

Those captured here are not those with exceptional talent, but rather the backbone of their respective sects.

It was because of its own great strength that it was captured by the demons due to negligence.

However, Qin Hao's help had restored their spiritual energy.

Looking back, I can always recall some key points.

Their arrests seem to have something to do with the Living Buddha Zanbu.

Perhaps, that's what led us to his trap.

Therefore, at this moment, they viewed the words and actions of the Living Buddha Zanbu with a judgmental eye.

They didn't believe that the Living Buddha Zanbu had really just recovered.

This must have been due to some unexpected event that forced the Living Buddha Zanbu to launch the operation ahead of schedule.

"It seems that something during the rescue efforts of the Great Xia and the Chunyang sects has affected the plans of this Zanbu Living Buddha."

At that moment, they all realized that the Living Buddha Zanbu was not a good person.

At least, according to rumors, his scheming is unparalleled.

Was their defeat and capture also partly due to the machinations of the Living Buddha Zanbu?
Ok?
"what happened?"

At this moment, the Living Buddha Zanbu was not thinking about finding the reincarnation as soon as possible.

Even if he wanted to search, he was shrouded in the demonic array.

Having lost his connection with the child spirit, he had no choice but to break the formation first.

To break the formation, one must destroy its foundation and the most crucial altar.

Originally, he planned to break the six array flags after the Great Xia and Chunyang sects had broken them, and then he would break the last and most crucial altar.

He received the most important and greatest share of this merit.

Others work hard and can also get some scraps.

With these merits, he successfully assimilated the soul of the reincarnated child and was perfectly reborn.

In just a few years, once the child spirit's strength has increased, he can quickly recover his original strength and accumulate power for another lifetime. This time, his strength may even be stronger than before.

Because the child's aptitude was far greater than any of the previous hosts he had received.

Damn it, what on earth happened?

He couldn't find the reincarnation, couldn't sense him, as if he had completely vanished.

It's all your fault!

Zanbu Living Buddha knew that they were all demons, as well as those from the Fourth Realm of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Only they could possibly do something that he hadn't anticipated.

Therefore, the Living Buddha Zanbu decided that the altar must be destroyed quickly.

Even if it means exposing some information, we are willing to do so.

Master Yunhua continued forward, but he also kept some attention on the World Ring.

Despite the sudden change in environment, the lama did not seem worried.

He looked around and quickly discovered that it was a world filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers.

If I could live here forever, it wouldn't be so bad, would it?

In this way, he wouldn't have to think so much about the meaning of life.

All you need to do is live your life as usual, even if it's just a simple life without any excitement.

He didn't actually want to practice Buddhism, nor did he want to go out into the world.

Every day, they lead cattle to graze, pick wild fruits on the mountain, and fish in the river.

He also found this monotonous life quite enjoyable.

Previously, he had no choice.

But at this moment, he seemed to sense a glimmer of hope.

Is this the person who just put me away?

"If possible, I would like to live here forever."

The child muttered to himself, seemingly telling the powerful person who had saved him.

It was as if he was telling himself that he would settle down here from now on.

"interesting."

Master Yunhua thought to himself, "Perhaps we can let them reproduce here."

At least for the time being.

Unless, of course, his apprentice has some ideas.

The wrath of a Living Buddha Zanbu, who had reached the peak of the fourth realm and accumulated eight cultivation sessions, was not easy to bear.

The two mid-level demon generals were very strong, but they gradually became no match for the Living Buddha Zanbu.

The Buddhist light emanating from him was extremely powerful, suppressing the two demon generals who had arrived.

Originally, the Demon Clan's Devouring Array was beneficial to their environment, but it seems to have been suppressed by this Buddhist light.

And there was that Buddhist wheel that appeared behind the other person's head.

That is the light of wisdom, the light of spirituality, and the light of Buddhism and Taoism.

The advantages of cultivating oneself over lifetimes are now clearly evident.

"Quick, call for backup."

This demonic formation contains more than just a few fourth-realm demons.

After years of lying low, they have accumulated a considerable number of fourth-realm demons.

Although many of them were forcibly upgraded, their combat power is not as good as that of those who were orthodoxly upgraded to the fourth realm.

But that's still not comparable to the third realm.

"But what were Lord Shadow Demon's orders?"

"Our primary task is to protect the altar. If the fighting continues, we won't be able to protect it. Therefore, everything is based on this premise, and we need to bring all those people over here."

Then, Ao Hong discovered that all the high-ranking demons around the altar had left.

He grinned and said, "That's perfect, it makes it easier for me to move around."

"who?"

Just as the other demon generals left, only some demons of the third and second realms remained to defend.

Ao Hong appeared decisively, and a huge fist came down, the immense force crushing all the demons into pieces.

Then, with a single roll of the Demon-Slaying Decree, he absorbed all the demonic energy and flesh of these demons.

They didn't give the altar a single chance.

"Next, it's my turn to perform."

Ao Hong tried to use as little force as possible so as not to disturb the demons or the Zanbu Living Buddha.

"Next, let's collect this precious mine first, then plan the altar. That way we can finish this sooner. The Shadow Demon? The Living Buddha Zanbu? Heh." (End of Chapter)