Knife splashing

Chapter 744 Mythological Layers, The Beginning of Change

A thick, cold fog churned in front of me.

It felt like traversing thick mud, making movement very sluggish.

Li Yan was not surprised by this. He had the same feeling last time, and upon closer reflection, he realized that every time he took on a ghost messenger mission, it was based on the same principle.

However, the Netherworld uses the "Owl Lord" to connect with the "Gou Die" to form a stable channel, which can not only communicate but also transmit divine energy and summon Netherworld troops.

The Nuo mask of Erlang Zhenjun was only a prototype, and it had to be carried out secretly to avoid being discovered and violating the heavenly rules.

Before long, the thick fog gradually dissipated.

Once his vision cleared slightly, he found himself in a vast darkness.

It felt as if I were in the vast, boundless void of the universe.

The only thing visible was a series of tree-branch-shaped spots of light ahead.

Li Yan knew that it was a small world within the Great Luo Dharma Realm.

The netherworld, the Pure Land, the Heavenly Court... and other mythical entities.

But this time, a different discovery was made.

Those spots of light look like tree branches, but if you look closely, they seem to have a different structure altogether:
An ant nest!

All light spot structures have a core.

Starting from the core, other light spots spread outwards, just like ants making holes, crooked and twisted, eventually forming this tree branch-shaped light spot.

The Pure Land, the Heavenly Court, and the Underworld are connected by this.

Li Yan frowned slightly, a thought flashing through his mind.

He inexplicably felt that this must be one of the secrets of the Great Luo Dharma Realm.

Swish!
Before he could think any further, a powerful suction force came.

Drawn by the aura of the bronze Nuo mask, the gaze quickly drew closer, but the direction forward was different from last time; it was at the point where the two tree branches met.

Li Yan suddenly remembered that General Wu Dao had hinted that Erlang Zhenjun was unable to make arrangements in the Netherworld, so he went to guard the junction between the Netherworld and the Heavenly Court.

The thought flashed by in an instant, and a magnificent scene rushed towards me:

Contrary to Li Yan's expectations, this place, which serves as a link between the Heavenly Court and the Netherworld, was not filled with celestial energy or howling winds, but rather a desolate and barren wasteland.

As far as the eye could see, there was only a plain of solidified lava, as red as blood, covered with a thick layer of lifeless, chaotic dust.

The light was dim and unclear, and everything had a cold, hard luster.

The horizon stretches to the horizon, but in the middle there are many twisted, continuous gray-brown rock wall faults, forming fierce, steep, and bottomless canyons.

It resembles a crack in the earth, or the result of a collision and collapse of the mantle.

Looking to the far left of the earth, the sky there is a solidified azure color. From the depths of the fissures in the earth, the scorching light of lava shines through, and the ground is covered with sharp, vitrified material, like swords piercing the sky.

Occasionally, one can see huge, perforated, pale boulders lying askew on the ground, with faint remnants of massive, coiled patterns or broken column bases on them.

It must have once been a magnificent building, but the wind and sand have long since eroded away all its splendor, leaving only the coldness of its mineral essence...

On the right, however, the atmosphere is even more eerie and desolate.

The sky sank into a deep purple-black twilight, and the earth was covered by thick black basalt and cold, hard gray clay, like an ancient, dried-up riverbed.

Scattered along the riverbed were countless enormous and bizarre skeletons, some still entangled with remnants of massive bronze chains…

The scene before me is like a battlefield between gods and demons!

Li Yan was dumbfounded and it took him a long time to come back to his senses.

He looked at the center where the two met, where there was clearly an architectural ruin, ancient and simple in style, of unknown age, which had long since collapsed.

Even if only the stone foundation remains, it is comparable to a small mountain.

At the top of the ruins, a person sat quietly cross-legged with his back to him.

It is none other than Erlang Shen!

At this moment, Li Yan was not a physical entity, but was observing through the bronze Nuo mask. Therefore, with a thought, his gaze quickly zoomed in and he arrived at the top of the ruins.

"coming…"

A hoarse, cold voice rang out; it was Erlang Shen.

Before Li Yan could react with surprise, he continued, "No need to be surprised. This is the Two Realms Mountain, where neither the Yin Laws nor the Heavenly Rules can detect it."

Li Yan opened his mouth, wanting to speak, but no sound came out.

Erlang Shen slowly floated up and turned around.

After a long absence, his appearance changed again, completely different from the Yang Chenghua of the mortal world. His skin had a radiant glow, making him look more like a deity in a temple.

It did not speak either, but the three eyes on its forehead flashed with golden light. With rhythm, a voice rang in Li Yan's mind: "This is using the Nuo mask I left behind to perform the dream-entering technique. Your cultivation is not enough, and your soul cannot communicate with me."

"I'll tell you, just listen attentively..."

Seeing Li Yan nod, he turned to look into the distance and said, “Initially, I was not interested in this Great Luo Dharma Realm. I only contacted you because I promised to communicate with you. But after exploring it these past few days, I have discovered that this place has many secrets.”

To outsiders at this moment, it would seem as if Erlang Shen was talking to himself.

Li Yan, on the other hand, was deeply attracted and listened intently.

"The origins of the Dharma Realm are untraceable. Perhaps only the most supreme immortals and gods, such as the Three Pure Ones, the Four Emperors, and the Tathagata Buddha, know the inside story. However, they are hidden deep within the Great Luo Realm, only occasionally sending their attendants to issue decrees. Since I ascended to the Great Luo Realm, I have not seen a single one of them..."

"In the Dharma Realm, there are three classes: immortals and gods."

"The first is the True Immortal. When a mortal cultivates to the ninth level and achieves the Yang God, he reaches the pinnacle of the human realm and has the opportunity to ascend to immortality. He sheds his mortal body, comes to the Great Luo Dharma Realm, and cultivates diligently. Then he has the chance to step into the tenth level of cultivation and become a True Immortal."

"Those who have cultivated to the tenth to twelfth level are all true immortals. Most of the ones I've seen are true immortals, and many struggle to break through even the Five Signs of Decay in the mortal realm. Because of the abundant incense offerings in the mortal world, I've reached the tenth level, which is why I'm feared..."

"The second is the Celestial Immortal, equivalent to the thirteenth to fifteenth level of cultivation. Reaching this level means becoming a giant in the Dharma Realm, such as the Nine Heavens Responding to the Origin of Universal Transformation Heavenly Venerable and the Ten Kings of Hell..."

"Above that are the Great Luo realms, with cultivation levels sixteen to eighteen. Those who attain this realm can create their own celestial abode within the Dharma Realm, where numerous Heavenly Immortals and True Immortals reside. They are the true rulers of the Dharma Realm..."

"As for the Netherworld and the Heavenly Court, some beings will also appear there. For example, the Heavenly Court will have maids and spirit officials, the Netherworld will have evil ghosts and demons, and the Pure Land of Buddhism will have flying apsaras. They cannot descend to the mortal world, and the reason for their birth may be related to human beliefs..."

As he listened to Erlang Zhenjun's words, the scene from just now suddenly flashed into Li Yan's mind.

Looking from the void, the branch-like light spots of the Dharma Realm, and the resulting voids, could they be the openings created by the Great Luo?
He wanted to ask, but Erlang Zhenjun obviously didn't take it seriously and continued in a deep voice: "This is the general situation of the Dharma Realm. It's not hard to find out, but it hasn't been revealed due to the constraints of the Heavenly Laws."

"But I discovered something even more important!"

Having said that, he tilted his body and flew out into the air.

Li Yan's gaze followed closely behind, and the surrounding scenery rushed past.

Before long, they arrived at a deep canyon fault line.

Looking down, the darkness was deep, with swirling white mist.

The exposed rocks on both sides are clearly visible, jagged and desolate.

Li Yan frowned slightly and looked at Erlang Zhenjun.

The canyon was indeed magnificent, but he couldn't understand why he had come here.
Without wasting words, Erlang Shen directly drew his gaze and leaped into the canyon.

As his line of sight rapidly descended, Li Yan finally noticed the anomaly!
The rocks on both sides of the canyon are not isolated, but rather layered and compressed together.

This is... sedimentary rock?

Just as Li Yan was wondering, Erlang Zhenjun finally stopped at a certain place.

Li Yan stared wide-eyed, somewhat incredulous. In those fractured and twisted sedimentary zones, one could vaguely see indistinct giant statues, broken altar fragments, and even the skeletons of giant beasts sealed and solidified in the ore.

Everything has lost its luster and charm, like weathered rocks.

Moreover, these were all things that Li Yan had never seen before!
A guess popped into Li Yan's mind, and he looked at Erlang Zhenjun.

Erlang Zhenjun made no attempt to conceal anything and continued in a deep voice: "The Great Luo Dharma Realm may have been destroyed more than once, and it is related to the beliefs of the mortal world. This is also the reason for the birth of the Heavenly Laws."

“I once saw the two venerable gods, Shen Tu and Yu Lei. Due to the long passage of time, they had fallen into a deep slumber, and their skin had turned into rock. As a result, Taodu Mountain was almost abandoned, and all the sinners were sent to the eighteen levels of hell.”

"There are also rumors that the overseas divine realm is bordering the Netherworld, which may be related to the opening of the seas..."

"The people of Heaven are very tight-lipped about this matter, and the chaos of the Jianmu tree may have started because of this!"

That's it!

After listening to Erlang Zhenjun's analysis, many of the mysteries in Li Yan's mind were instantly cleared up.

No wonder the Jianmu demon could wreak havoc so much, yet there were still people in the Dharma realm helping him.

If it concerns the future of the Great Luo Dharma Realm, there will inevitably be different stances.

Just then, Erlang Shen frowned slightly, looked into the distance, and said in a deep voice, "Someone is coming. They need your help this time."

"There are rumors that the Lord of Mount Tai is about to be replaced. You can go to Mount Tai to investigate and find out the reason. If you have the opportunity, help me seize this position so that I can deal with the great calamity in the future..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Yan's vision was enveloped in white mist.

When I opened my eyes again, I was already in an inn.

This time, we entered the Dharma Realm, which took at least several hours; it was already dark outside.

Li Yan felt weak all over. He struggled to get up, but his vision went black and he almost fell.

Having stayed in the Great Luo Dharma Realm for so long, even with the help of Erlang Shenjun, my soul has been greatly depleted.

Li Yan didn't mind. He went into his suitcase, took something out, and placed it in his palm.

Dark and glassy, ​​it is "jet" transformed from trilobites.

He had been wondering how this thing came to be.

But his trip to the Great Luo Dharma Realm gave him some ideas.

This realm possesses both malevolent and malevolent energies, perhaps dating back to an even more ancient mythological era.
However, those ancient things have faded away and become the "mythological layers" we see before. And now, the immortals and gods of the Dharma realm will eventually face the same fate.

Are those behind Jianmu the ones who refuse to fade into obscurity?
There was also a request from Erlang Shen.

What happened at Mount Tai...?

………………

It was another early morning, and the sky over the capital was covered with dark clouds.

The air was so heavy you could wring water out of it.

Overnight, those powerful figures of the Xuanmen sects who once dominated their regions—Zhang Tianshi of Longhu Mountain, Qiu Changchun of Zhongnan Mountain, Wang Miaoyin of Emei Mountain, Yu Chanzi of Wudang Mountain, and Chen Kongzi of Qingcheng Mountain—

They have all quietly entered the city!

Their lodgings were under strict "protection" by the Commandery.

Despite Zhao Wujiu's numerous attempts to obstruct and delay along the way, he ultimately failed to prevent the leaders of these great sects, who possessed invaluable treasures and were well-versed in profound mysteries, from gathering in the imperial city.

Deep within the imperial city, an intricately decorated side hall was shrouded in an invisible atmosphere of solemnity.

Emperor Xiao Qixuan's face was slightly pale, and his eyes were filled with anger.

Zhao Wujiu stood respectfully to the side, his aura as deep and still as an ancient well. Occasionally, he would raise his eyes, sharp as a hawk, and sweep them over the several sect leaders below, who, though exuding an air of otherworldly elegance, could not conceal their solemnity.

The contents of the private conversation remain unknown to outsiders.

But the palace walls were not an impenetrable fortress; various unsettling snippets of information seeped out through different channels, reaching the ears of the city's astute and influential figures.

“Master Zhang said, ‘Divine artifacts have no permanent masters,’ and must be ‘followed by Heaven and the people’s will’… But His Majesty’s mind is as firm as iron…”

"His Majesty was furious, rebuking Master Qiu for being 'conservative and stubborn,' and stating bluntly that 'a new heaven needs new gods'..."

"Master Wang used the chaos in Sichuan as a metaphor, saying that the change of divine positions easily attracts external evils..."

"Chen Kongzi mentioned the 'theft of the Peach Capital Wood,' which seems to be a veiled criticism of Zhao's actions..."

Master Yu Chan remained silent, not saying a word...

Each message is like a boulder thrown into stagnant water, creating ripples within a limited core circle.

Those knowledgeable in the Taoist arts were deeply worried.

The emperor is determined to use secular imperial power to completely control the humanistic reforms.

what does this mean?
Of course they know.

The emperor's suppression of Taoism will be further intensified.

They didn't care who controlled the divine artifacts of humanity; what worried them more was that the imperial court and the Xuanmen sects would become completely opposed, causing turmoil in the land.

Don't underestimate the potential of the Xuanmen (Taoist sect).

If we turn a blind eye, the Maitreya sect can cause great trouble. In the past, when Daxing destroyed the dynasty and Daxuan took its place, the Xuanmen sect did a lot of work.

The news naturally reached Qiankun Academy as well.

Tao Fengchun, the grandmaster of the Mo Sect, sighed heavily as he looked at the statue of the True Lord of the Flint Wheel, which was only in the framework stage, over ten feet tall, and gleaming with a cold metallic luster.

He unconsciously traced lines on the ground with a ruler in his hand.

The dents that were just filled in on the base of the statue were caused by the hidden dangers planted when Lu Chengye was coerced yesterday.

The old man was filled with self-reproach.

If I had been more vigilant, I wouldn't have been taken advantage of by the demons.

Supervisor Yuanfeng also looked much older.

After this incident, the Mohist school's previously thriving momentum declined once again, and the emperor's trust in it inevitably diminished, likely leading to numerous troubles in the future.

Finally, a golden edict was sent out from the palace gates, and in the afternoon it was scattered all over the capital.

The content was brief, yet sufficient to quell all rumors and gossip:

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: In gratitude for the auspicious signs from Heaven, which provide sustenance for the people, it is hereby decreed that tomorrow at the hour of Chen (7-9 AM), the statue of the Divine Lord of the Flint Wheel Manifesting Sage will be respectfully enshrined in the main hall of the Temple of Earth and Grain, having received His mandate from Heaven to preside over the duties of creation and communication with the divine..."

"By imperial decree, all officials of the third rank and above, nobles, heads of various Taoist sects, and eminent monks in the capital shall enter the palace at dawn tomorrow to participate in the consecration ceremony, in order to uphold divine authority and demonstrate the will of Heaven. This decree shall be proclaimed throughout the land so that all may know!"

The position conferred by imperial decree was extremely prestigious—"the one in charge of creation and communication with the gods."

The consecration ceremony itself was of an unprecedentedly high standard, requiring the joint witnessing of powerful figures in the capital and leaders of the Xuanmen sect.

With the decree issued, the ambiguous rumors of secret talks instantly fell silent, leaving only the absolute silence before the storm.

The massive chariot of the imperial court had already rumbled into motion, leaving no room for doubt or turning back. The Hall of State Cemetery was heavily surrounded by the Imperial Guards overnight, with officials from the Ministry of Works and the Inner Palace coming and going, the lights burning brightly until midnight…

Everyone who knew the inside story breathed a sigh of relief.

The True Lord of the Flint Wheel will be enshrined in the Temple of the God of Earth and Grain, and the leaders of the major sects will jointly hold a consecration ceremony. The True Lord of the Flint Wheel will also be included in the pantheon of immortals and worshipped by all people under heaven.

This can be considered a compromise by both sides.

The humanitarian reforms in China did not begin with war...

(End of this chapter)