Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 527 Crossing the Crane to the West to Return to the Azure Heaven, Stepping on the Lotus to the East to Return to the Mortal World (Seeking Rewards and Subscriptions!)

What is the meaning of a hundred years of human life? Just a mayfly between heaven and earth.

Let alone a hundred years, even a thousand years is nothing. At least in the Tongxuan Dharma Realm, a thousand years is just a speck of stardust in the reversal of the Milky Way.

A thousand years later, the Red Heart Sect is shrouded in an atmosphere of profound solemnity yet hidden sorrow.

Silver coins and jade dew were sprinkled all over the eight hundred white stone steps in front of the mountain gate, and along both sides of the steps were disciples and followers dressed in plain clothes and with their heads bowed, holding banners.

The wind swept across the mountains and valleys, causing the banners in the hands of the cultivators to flutter like snow waves.

Deep within the sacred teachings, a high altar stands, upon which lies the remains of Patriarch Chen Qingyun, draped in a feathered robe woven with serene cloud patterns, his expression tranquil as if asleep.

Although she stopped at the Golden Core stage, she managed to build the Red Heart Sect into one of the eight major sects in the Tongxuan Dharma Realm, with more than two Nascent Soul cultivators in the sect.

I have loved, hated, and practiced spirituality in this life. I have suffered, but in the end, I let go and look back on the past. It was quite a wonderful experience.

Therefore, he departed peacefully; death is nothing more than a peaceful long sleep.

At this moment, thousands of disciples of the Red Heart Sect chanted the Scripture of Salvation in unison, their voices parting the sea of ​​clouds and coalescing into a line of compassionate and solemn mystical sound between heaven and earth:

"At that time, the Savior from Suffering, the Heavenly Venerable, pervaded the ten directions, constantly using his divine power to rescue all sentient beings from their delusions. These beings, unaware of his presence, were like the blind seeing the sun and moon. I am originally from the Great Void, leading without end. Auspicious clouds open the gate of life, and auspicious smoke seals the gate of death. From the initial primordial chaos, I govern the mechanisms of auspiciousness and response. I save all sins and deliver all from calamities. Vast and boundless is the source of immortality, naturally pure and expansive. All rely on the power of the Great Dao to subdue all demonic spirits…"

"Fellow Daoist, as you journey westward to the heavens, I, Lu Cheng, will see you off."

Nine hundred miles outside the Red Heart Sect's mountain gate, atop a mountain, two figures in Taoist robes appeared out of nowhere, standing atop the clouds.

The first man, dressed in simple, wide robes, with a majestic and imposing appearance, was none other than Lu Cheng Dao Ren, who had lived in seclusion for nearly a thousand years.

He was not surrounded by any spiritual aura, and his aura seemed to be one with the vast mountains and rivers beneath his feet. Only when his gaze moved did a clear light arise spontaneously, as if it contained the essence of heaven and earth, hidden deep within him. This was a Dao phenomenon that could only be produced by the "Heaven and Earth in Harmony" state of the Returning to Emptiness realm.

Half a step behind him is Gu Qinghong, the main character of the contemporary Eight Scenic Spots.

This female Taoist priest, who was one of the leaders of the Tongxuan righteous path a thousand years ago, has now also attained the primordial spirit. Her body is surrounded by rolling spiritual clouds, and a jade talisman with a precious light hangs above her head.

But at this moment, as she stood above the clouds behind Lu Cheng, she felt that the auspicious clouds with flowing light beneath her feet seemed light and frivolous, while the Taoist in plain clothes in front of her seemed to be integrated with the entire Tongxuan Dharma Realm. Heaven and earth were light and frivolous, while the true man was heavy!

Gu Qinghong was momentarily dazed.

The Eight Scenic Spots Dharma Assembly a thousand years ago was held at its inception.

At that time, although his magic power was strong and his sword intimidated the heroes, he still had a sharp edge that could be felt and a keen aura that could be touched. Never before had he been like this: deep and still, towering and majestic. Just by standing there, he made his own spiritual sense and magic power almost subside on their own. This was because the gap was too great and it was difficult to feel any resistance.

Back then, when the world was overturned and the demon god suffered a great calamity, Gu Qinghong and the elite of the Eight Landscapes participated. However, even a thousand years ago, Gu Qinghong and the cultivators of the Eight Landscapes were not the main force, let alone now, a thousand years later.

"After a thousand years apart, the abbot's Dao heart has become even more refined." Daoist Lu Cheng suddenly turned around, his gaze sweeping over the jade talisman above Gu Qinghong's head. He saw through the magical power flowing within it and found it quite exquisite, but that was all he could say.

Gu Qinghong felt a slight chill and suddenly broke free from her thoughts.

The other party saw through her "Eight Scenery Splitting Light Sword Talisman," a skill she had painstakingly cultivated for a thousand years, with a single glance, as if reading the lines on her palm. However, considering the other party's status and cultivation level, it was only natural. She curtsied and said:
“When an old friend passed away, fellow Daoists came to recite scriptures to send him off. If Qingyun has a spirit, he should be gratified.”

"Senior Brother Qingfeng perished in a love tribulation, turning into a handful of dust; Junior Sister Luo, when she was reborn a hundred years ago through the Great Reincarnation Wheel of the Fire Spirit Cave, resolved to relinquish her memories and sever all ties to the mortal world; although Yuzhen is still by my side, she too will soon reach the time of her self-destruction..."

"Only Qingyun has remained to uphold the Chixin Sect for two thousand years. Today, he has passed away. It is my duty to personally see him off, to fulfill the friendship of the five friends from back then."

Chen Qingyun's highest achievement in Daoist arts was only the Golden Core realm. Yet she lived to be over two thousand years old and managed to make the Red Heart Sect one of the major orthodox sects in the Tongxuan Dharma Realm. Naturally, Lu Cheng protected her. In fact, if she still had the will to live, Lu Cheng might not be helpless.

However, her heart had grown old and she had no will to live. Under such circumstances, even Daoist Lu Cheng was powerless to help her.

Many primordial spirit cultivators in the Earthly Immortal Realm are like this. After enjoying themselves for tens of thousands of years, their original minds become confused, and they experience the five signs of decay. Although their lifespan has not ended, their spirituality has already perished. This is because their cultivation of the Dao heart is insufficient to support immortality. Even before their lifespan ends, they still perish.

Gu Qinghong remained silent upon hearing this.

The breeze has carried away the past, and there are no more young men to call out "Senior Brother".

As Qingyun departed again, the worldly ties that could bind this immortal being had gradually been severed.

She gazed at Lu Cheng's somewhat indifferent and ruthless silhouette in the dim light of the clouds, and changed the subject:

"I heard that both of you sisters have also set a date for your reincarnation? But why are you so determined to give up your past memories? Reincarnating without memories is like walking barefoot into an abyss; a slight misstep could lead to annihilation. Isn't this a bit too prudent?"

"It is precisely because their path in this world is too smooth that they have decided to abandon their past wisdom and memories."

"Now, the Dao resources of a realm are readily available, and the lifespan of a Nascent Soul cultivator can be peaceful and smooth. For the vast majority of cultivators, an overly smooth path is actually one that cannot be reached. It's fine with Yu Xue, but Yu Hong is a woman of her own mind. Her mind is made up, and I cannot stop her."

As he spoke, Lu Cheng raised his hand and gestured towards the mortal world beneath the distant sea of ​​clouds: "To re-enter the maze with a mortal body, to experience birth, old age, sickness, death, unfulfilled desires, separation from loved ones, encounters with those one hates, greed, anger, and delusion, is to 'wash' two thousand years of experience into a blank sheet of paper. When you redraw, the brushstrokes and meaning will naturally be different."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qinghong seemed to be deep in thought and had gained some insight.

With the current accumulation of the Heavenly Demon Palace and the current status of the Xiao sisters, it would be easy for them to undergo tribulation and re-enter the Nascent Soul realm. Even if they wanted to advance further, it would probably not be difficult.

Now, he is going to reincarnate without his own memories to strengthen his foundation. Of course, in the second life, when he cultivates to the Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Primordial Spirit realms, he will gradually unlock his memories of the previous life and merge with divine essence.

But for the Xiao sisters to take such risks, the path they are pursuing is beyond their own imagination.

Of course, Lu Cheng made many preparations for the Xiao sisters' reincarnation without their memories. He ordered the Fire Spirit couple to personally control the Great Reincarnation Disc, which could ensure that the two sisters were reincarnated in the Tongxuan Dharma Realm, or even within a certain range. In this way, with the current power of the Heaven and Earth Demon Palace, it would not be difficult to find their reincarnations and secretly protect them, thereby strengthening their cultivation foundation.

Even so, the danger was immense; every step felt like walking alone on a precipice. If this weren't the Tongxuan Dharma Realm, Lu Cheng would never have allowed the Xiao sisters to act this way.

Lu Cheng's two concubines, Yun Yuzhen and Yun Ling'er, will still be reincarnated with Su Hui. All four of them have reached the Nascent Soul realm by refining the Ghost Infant Pill. Now that their lifespans are nearing their end, it is a good thing for them to continue their path of cultivation.

……

Between heaven and earth, the rise and fall of fortune follows its own laws and patterns.

After being suppressed by the demon god for tens of thousands of years, the Heavenly Dao of the Tongxuan Dharma Realm was re-established. During this period, it became much easier for cultivators in this realm to ascend to immortality.

Because the Heavenly Dao of the Tongxuan World also needs the spiritual energy of the Upper Realm to nourish the Lower Realm.

For example, with his Taoist power and merit, as long as he doesn't act perversely, his ascension to immortality (earth immortal) is almost a certainty.

He even has the ability to lead a few people to ascend to the upper realm.

Yun Yuzhen and Yun Ling'er were waiting for this: when one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Cultivating a primordial spirit in the Earthly Immortal Realm is much easier than cultivating a primordial spirit in the mortal realm.

The Xiao sisters' resolve became even stronger and more resolute. Unwilling to burden their husbands, they abandoned their memories to undergo a second tribulation and rebuild their cultivation, hoping to strengthen their foundation and ascend to the upper realm as primordial spirits, thus not adding too much burden to their husbands.

The second generation of the Heaven and Earth Dao Palace, and the true disciples of Lu City, have a much higher chance of ascending to immortality than cultivators from other realms.

However, after the second and third generation cultivators of the Heaven and Earth Dao Palace ascend to immortality, the fortune of the entire sect will gradually decline. Where in the world is there a path to eternal life that can be passed down through generations?
The blessings of a virtuous person will end after five generations. The destiny of the Heavenly Palace will gradually return to ordinariness before five generations, but this may not be a bad thing.

Gu Qinghong was born in one of the Eight Views. Her master, Qingxuan Daoist, sacrificed himself to delay the great calamity of heaven and earth.

Therefore, the Eight Landscapes also possess extremely profound destiny. If Lu Cheng wanted to destroy the Eight Landscapes, he could naturally do so, but it would damage his own destiny, so there was no need for him to do so.

Instead, he wanted to guide Gu Qinghong so that the two families could merge their destinies rather than fight each other, so that they could continue to thrive for a long time.

Gu Qinghong, who cultivated the Yi Shu Daoist method, was not a fool. After talking with Daoist Lu Cheng for a while, she took a light breath and felt the mountain breeze with its swirling clouds on her face.

She gazed at the landscape and slowly said, "Fellow Daoist, your plans are far-reaching, and you have schemed for a thousand years. You have forcefully pulled this Tongxuan Dharma Realm from its depths of despair, resuming the path to heaven that has existed for ten thousand years. Now, the fortune of this realm is surging, a new phenomenon never before seen. The path to enlightenment is easier, the shackles are reduced, and the opportunity for the primordial spirit to break through realms and ascend is manifesting, more than ten times greater than before... No wonder it has attracted the attention of all the heavens, and is surrounded by wolves."

The Tongxuan Dharma Realm was freed from the great calamity of demons and gods. The scattered Qi and destiny of the Heavenly Dao Palace received a major flow, while the Eight Landscapes received a minor flow. However, much of the Qi and destiny also flowed into the world.

Even if they couldn't seize all of the Heavenly Dao Palace and the Eight Scenic Spots, they could take more. However, at the same time, the Nascent Soul cultivators of the seven great worlds—Dingzhang, Tongtian, Liehuo, Xuankong, Jumang, Yuqing, and Yinyang—also coveted the Tongtian Dao Path. Although they feared Lu Cheng Daoist's power, they couldn't be made to back down. In fact, Lu Cheng was currently somewhat restrained in killing them. Every cultivator who could reach the Nascent Soul realm was favored by the heavens and earth, and their own destiny was not weak.

Lu Cheng may not fear the calamity that will befall him after killing them, but this calamity will fall upon the inheritance of the Heaven and Earth Dao Palace.

If one acts recklessly and kills indiscriminately, the Heavenly Dao Palace will inevitably suffer a great calamity in the future!
Having thought of this, Lu Cheng didn't feel constrained; on the contrary, he found it interesting.
What is an immortal? A scientist's pursuit of truth, a politician's strategic maneuvering, an athlete's perseverance, a philosopher's pursuit of harmony—everyone who can cultivate themselves to become an immortal must possess one or more of these qualities; only in this way can one progress from human to immortal.

Seventeen years later, in the outer void of the Tongxuan Dharma Realm.

Above the bright moon, a pavilion has been built, and just like seventeen years ago, Lu Cheng is playing chess with Gu Qinghong.

This time, however, Lu Cheng was accompanied by two more beautiful maids, one in a golden robe and the other in a green dress. Both of them had an ethereal beauty, and even someone with Gu Qinghong's cultivation level couldn't help but take a few more glances at them.

But in the next moment, a cold glint flashed in Gu Qinghong's eyes as she turned towards the direction beyond the endless void, her tone shifting from relaxed to solemn:
"The Nascent Soul cultivators of the seven great worlds—Dingzhang, Tongtian, Liehuo, Xuankong, Jumang, Yuqing, and Yinyang—have been probing us with their divine senses for days, like maggots clinging to our bones, spying on the world behind us almost every moment. They are afraid of your boundless power and dare not act rashly for the time being, but how could they sit idly by and watch this unparalleled opportunity pass them by? The Tongxuan realm is just beginning to open, the boundary membrane is not yet solid, and the Heavenly Dao is not yet clear; this is precisely the opportunity to seize!"

Gu Qinghong's voice faded, and the void fell into a deathly silence.

Suddenly, like a giant drum striking the sea of ​​stars, a massive, dull, rough, and scorching destructive intent, like an ancient beast awakening from its deep slumber, crashed down upon the void!
"Hmph! What a 'Profound Dharma Realm'! What a 'Heaven and Earth Demon Palace' Daoist Lu! A mere weak and dilapidated place, relying on trickery and luck to steal a few bits of strength to prolong its life, dares to create its own chapter and presumptuously criticize our predecessors?" The voice rolled, stirring up the starry river, domineering and incomparable, causing the world outside the Profound Dharma Realm to tremble and become chaotic.

Immediately following, another cold and eerie thought, like the serpent's tongue, lurked and probed in the darkness:

"Tsk tsk... Indeed, this is a remarkably pure and nascent Dao fortune. Heaven and earth are as fragile and tender as a newborn infant. How can you all enjoy such a rare treasure of heaven and earth alone? It should be given to us to use to cultivate our true nature!"

Om-!
A piercing metallic screech tore through the air, and a massive, jet-black sword phantom, its blade gleaming with intense heat, suddenly cleaved the heavens in two!

The sword shadow, carrying a ferocious force capable of shattering mountains and boiling seas, was like a demonic dragon from the depths of hell reaching out its claws, ruthlessly grabbing at the Tongxuan Dharma Realm, this newly created world.

Just as Gu Qinghong said, Lu Cheng Dao Ren led the Heaven and Earth Demon Palace, defeated the Heavenly Dao of Ten Thousand Demons, and beheaded Sheng Yang and defeated Kong Ji.

Which cultivator of the Nascent Soul stage in the world wouldn't feel some fear?

However, many Nascent Soul cultivators have undergone two tribulations and are nearing the end of their lifespan, so they are likely to die anyway. If they are not afraid, they still have a glimmer of hope, so there is nothing to fear.

Perhaps, the Heavenly Dao Palace's Lu City Divine Lord is already seriously injured and is just a paper tiger.

The reason they didn't come a thousand years ago was because the Tongxuan Heavenly Dao was not yet stable at that time, so it would have been useless for them to come. Now, however, it is time to reap the rewards.

The one who made the move was a Nascent Soul sword cultivator from the Dingzhang Realm. This cultivator's nature was like the Fiery Heaven Divine Sword, violent and intense, so he was the first to strike!
The hope is to incite the surrounding cultivators to act together and defeat Lu Cheng.

Just as the giant sword was about to tear through the barrier of the sky, Lu Chengren casually flicked his sleeves on the Moonlit Pavilion.

A simple, earthy-yellow flying stone silently coalesced, flowed, and appeared for a fleeting moment as the sleeves billowed. It was without luster or brilliance, heavy and solid.

clang--!
There was no violent burst of energy, only the Xuan Yan giant sword that broke through the boundary with the force of ten thousand jun. The moment the sword tip touched the flying stone, its condensed thousand-foot sword body was like a glass vessel thrown into an invisible millstone, emitting a series of teeth-grinding cracking sounds!
This was an inevitable result, as there were very few people in the mortal realm who could withstand a combined attack from Lu Cheng Dao Ren and Zhen Yue Shen Jiang.

"Ah!"

The Nascent Soul sword cultivator from the Dingzhang Realm, whose natal flying sword was injured, spat out a mouthful of blood and turned to flee.

Because he had not only lost his magic power, but also the fact that the Taoist Lu Cheng could find the flaws in his sword technique with every move he made, thus breaking his sword technique. This showed that he had been completely defeated. The strength of a sword cultivator lies in the sword in his hand and the spirit in his chest. At this moment, he had lost both of them. His divine sense, magic power and combat power had all declined to the extreme. What was the point of staying to die?

The moon rose over the pavilion, and Lu Cheng, who had been standing there as if he had never moved, did not sway in the slightest. He simply summoned back the God-Slaying Stone, as if he had only brushed away a speck of dust from his sleeve.

"Hmm? There's something to it!"

An ancient thought from the Great World of Jumang resounded, carrying a hint of surprise and greed.

"This world's opportunity for ascension, I want it, Ancestor!" Before the words were finished, at the intersection of the southeastern star region of the Tongxuan Dharma Realm, countless spiderweb-like cracks suddenly appeared in the space.

Thick, ancient-looking green vines, some tens of thousands of feet long, resembled ancient serpents resurrected from the primordial chaos. They were entwined with a strange Daoist aura, a mixture of rich Yi Wood vitality and decaying decay, and instantly broke through space and time.

The vines were endless, growing and intertwining wildly, instantly weaving into a giant emerald net covering millions of miles of star field. At the tip of each vine, there were needle-sized, yet all-consuming dark green branches that fiercely wrapped around and pierced the Tongxuan Boundary Membrane.

This is the supreme divine wood technique manifested from the original source of the ancient green vine in the Jumang Realm. It is not an ordinary spell attack, but rather contains the erosion and assimilation of the laws of the plane.

Once entangled by its boundary membrane, the fortune of the Tongxuan Dharma Realm will be slowly extracted and dissolved until it becomes the Dao Fruit in the old monster's palm.

A colossal azure net enveloped the sky and spun around, bringing a deathly silence that was even more terrifying than the sword intent from before.

But just as that azure light, capable of corroding all life, was about to touch the barrier of the Profound Realm—

"You treacherous dog, Sheng Yang! Prepare to die!" A sharp cry from a woman, seemingly containing ancient resentment and boundless sharpness, exploded in the souls of all the cultivators present without warning.

The next instant, the sky split open!
A golden ray of pure light, so fast it surpassed the limits of time perception, burst forth from the golden-robed maid beside Lu Cheng, like the first golden light that cleaved through chaos at the beginning of time.

Golden light pierced the darkness, rose with the wind, and in an instant transformed into the true form of the Golden-Winged Roc, its wings spread across the clouds and pressing down on the Milky Way!

It turns out that this being, who seemed to be a primordial spirit cultivator from the Jumang Realm, was actually the only one among the ten external avatars of the Holy Sun Daoist who had never descended.

Saint Yang cultivated the Ten-Day God-Splitting Mantra and possessed ten divine divisions. As long as even one of these divine divisions remained intact, he was immortal.

After the great calamity a thousand years ago, the Heavenly Dao of Ten Thousand Demons collapsed, Kong Ji was defeated, and Sheng Yang lost nine of his divine avatars. After this battle, Kong Ji Daoist led some demons to ascend to the Upper Realm, but Sheng Yang dared not follow, because Kong Ji Daoist's only daughter, Kong Yan, was still in Lu Cheng's hands, and Sheng Yang was afraid that Kong Ji would capture her and exchange her for Kong Yan.

Sheng Yang knew that given the depth of the enmity between the two sides, Daoist Lu Cheng would surely kill him before ascending to immortality.

So even knowing the danger, the last wisp of Sheng Yang's spirit still came today. Of course, he made many preparations. His true form was the Golden Crow, but he pretended to be a Wood Element Primordial Spirit cultivator and used the power of his natal magic weapon, the Fusang tree branch, to cast the spell.

But his trickery, though it might fool others, could never fool Jin Ling.

The roc's eyes blazed with hatred that could burn away the nine netherworlds, and the edges of its two giant claws, which reached into the void, were wrapped with Gengjin divine light that could cleave space. It was merely a most primitive and ferocious pouncing and grabbing posture!
Sizzle—!!!
It was as if the skin of the sky had been ruthlessly torn open by supreme divine power. The ancient green vine net that covered the vast void and contained profound wood element laws was as fragile as rotten cloth under this claw.

Billions of crisscrossing, sharp metallic energies erupted wildly, weaving together into a chaotic current of laws purely composed of destruction. The dazzling Gengjin divine light shot out like billions of divine needles, brutally and thoroughly tearing a terrifying, ferocious gap with its edges burning fiercely in the center of the giant green net.

Countless broken giant green vines emitted silent wails, like ancient pythons torn apart, twisting and rolling wildly in the starry sky. The life and death Dao intent attached to them was brutally destroyed by the pure Geng metal sharpness, and their vitality was annihilated.

The void seemed to have been splashed with concentrated sulfuric acid, corroding open a huge spatial hole with shimmering golden edges, leading straight to the cold and deep end of the starry sky.

The intention disguised as greed and control by the Holy Sun let out a muffled groan of disbelief, pain mixed with shock and anger, and then stopped abruptly.

He hadn't expected that Jin Ling's magical power would improve so quickly under Lu Cheng's command. He was originally 70-80% confident that he could conceal it from Jin Ling by using the wood-fire interaction, but now it seemed that he had completely miscalculated.

Having succeeded in his attack, the massive true form did not pause. With a flap of its wings, it was about to follow the trajectory of the shattered space, carrying a killing intent that could tear the heavens and split the earth, and rush towards the distant depths from which the thought originated.

"Fellow Daoist Jin Ling! Don't pursue a desperate enemy!" Gu Qinghong's cold voice was like ice, instantly suppressing Jin Ling's somewhat chaotic spiritual fluctuations.

She made a hand seal with her jade fingers, her figure rose up, and her clothes fluttered like a crane descending to earth.

"Eight scenic views illuminate the world, penetrating heaven and earth!"

With a command, a gentle, clear, pure white flame suddenly ignited between Gu Qinghong's brows, as if it could illuminate the darkness of the heavens.

The real fire shot out and poured into an antique-style palace lantern that he had taken out.

As the lights mingled, the chaotic scene of turbulent energy and torn heaven and earth seemed to pause.

The image projected before Jin Ling showed that the Holy Sun Daoist had already escaped from a distant star using an ultra-long-distance teleportation array.

"He also knows that he only has half a life left to eke out a living. If it weren't for disrupting the situation, he would never have shown himself so easily. So why wouldn't he have left himself a way out? Even if you chase after him, he can destroy the teleportation array on the other side, and you will be helpless."

Time is on our side. A thousand years ago, my sister and Lord Lu were able to take nine of his lives. Now, there's no need to rush. Wouldn't it be better to let him live in fear for a while longer?

(End of this chapter)