Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 593 All Dharmas Return to Truth, Shaping the Mysterious Bones; Buddha Crosses the Western Pole, Driving Away Calamity (Seeking Rewards and Subscriptions!)

The lingering echoes of the nine-tone Taiqing Bell have long since dissipated into the sea of ​​clouds, as if they were merely a clear and distant sigh between heaven and earth.

Whether it's the Nascent Soul Dharma Assembly or the Primordial Spirit Dharma Assembly, as long as it's successfully held, it will enhance the prestige and morale of a sect, not to mention that this is a Mahayana Dharma Assembly that hasn't been held in tens of thousands of years.

The thousands of cultivators who had witnessed the ceremony at the main peak's white jade plaza had all returned to their caves, some to delve into the aftereffects of the Great Ascension Heavenly Tribulation, and others to return to their sects to spread this news that was enough to shake the entire Immortal Realm.

The Taoists possess an immortal body and an indestructible physique. Furthermore, there are verifiable legends that this Taiqing Sect Leader is also a sword immortal with profound swordsmanship.

Such a person, even from the perspective of a ten-thousand-year timescale, is a peerless genius who will influence the fate of the entire Earthly Immortal Realm for countless millennia.

After the commotion subsided, the main peak of the Taiqing Sect returned to tranquility, with only the swirling celestial mist and the emanating spiritual energy indicating that the master of this place had reached the true pinnacle of this realm.

Deep within the Xuan Yuan Cave, Lu Cheng sat cross-legged on a cloud bed carved from millennia-old jade marrow. The void around him seemed to form its own world, with starlight sometimes flowing like mercury spilling onto the ground, and sometimes the five elements circulating and evolving into the foundation of chaos.

His body, a Mahayana form, was in harmony with the Dao. With each breath, he caused the vast spiritual veins within the cave to rise and fall like tides. He was not healing.

The ninth-order Heavenly Tribulation Thunder Sea tempered his body, not only without damaging his foundation, but also completely forged that domineering and unparalleled creative vitality into his bones and blood. At this moment, Lu Cheng's body is the most perfect vessel for inheriting the Dao in the world, as smooth as jade, containing the power of creating the world.

What he is doing at this moment is the "return to truth" that every newly initiated Mahayana practitioner must go through.

"Returning to one's true self" is not about returning to simplicity, but rather about re-examining, organizing, and refining the myriad Taoist techniques and supernatural abilities cultivated throughout a cultivator's life on this new level of life.

Qi Hai (CV6)!

The Great Five Elements Earthly Extreme True Fire!
My destiny is blood and fire!
Great Sun Fire!

The Profound Sword!
The Five Elements Return to Their Origin!

Three flowers gather together!

The golden rainbow shines through the sun!

The mind sinks into the depths of the sea of ​​consciousness, like a deity who created the world surveying his own Daoist celestial river.

The many supernatural abilities that were once a source of pride are now fully revealed in the Mahayana realm, which offers a panoramic view of the very origins of the laws.

The Three Flowers Divine Power at the Top was once an unparalleled secret technique used by those at the Returning to Emptiness Realm to suppress their peers and nurture their divine soul and primordial embryo. Its radiant light and auspicious clouds descended.

But at this moment, although it is still exquisite and is a peak ninth-order Dao technique, it has already faintly touched an invisible "sky dome", and has already reached the dome.

The three flowers still bloom brilliantly, but they are not a solid foundation capable of bearing the weight of a collapsing sky and overturned seas.

"The Five Elements Heavenly Escape Step, the Golden-Winged Roc Escape Technique, and the Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique are three Daoist arts. Even after being cultivated to this level, they are still high-level ninth-tier divine abilities, but they are no longer super-tier Daoist arts."

Within Lu Cheng's Daoist arts, only two points shone brightly in his sea of ​​consciousness, concealing a terrifying power that even made his own primordial spirit tremble.

First, there is the original true fire that was nurtured in his dantian and accompanied him through countless life-and-death dangers—the Samadhi True Fire!
It reversed the tribulation lightning during the ninth-order heavenly tribulation, and the gold, white and red flames are now perfectly fused together. At its core, an almost invisible light purple fire seed flickers, emitting a terrifying aura that can burn all heavens and refine all laws.

Although it's not a transcendent Dao technique, it has already taken a half-step forward. It faintly surpasses the invisible heavens and is a true fire capable of killing true immortals.

Of course, sufficient accumulation is required. A single flame might only be able to burn a true immortal, while a whole field of flames would have enough deterrent power.

Secondly, there is the Golden Rainbow Piercing the Sun Sword Style. This sword intent embodies all his understanding of the sword path and his killing will. Under the pressure of the Annihilation Heavenly Tribulation, it has reached an unprecedented level of purity and sublimation. It has faintly touched upon the "Heavenly Dao" itself, and has the rudimentary form of surpassing ordinary laws.

Like the Samadhi True Fire, it is also at the ninth and a half-step level. However, unlike the Samadhi True Fire, the Golden Rainbow Piercing the Sun Sword Style is much more practical.

By mobilizing the five vital energies in the chest and the three flowers on the top of the head, one can transform them into a sword and unleash a strike. As long as it is not used too frequently, this sword will not harm one's vital energy but will instead enhance one's cultivation.

Lu Cheng quietly contemplated this "insight," feeling no disappointment whatsoever, only a clear and pure Daoist heart.

"I spent too little time cultivating in the Void Returning and Body Integration realms. If I had enough time to hone my skills, the Five Elements Heavenly Escape Step, the Golden-Winged Roc Escape Technique, and the Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique could all be transformed into ninth-order super-order Dao techniques. They all have this potential, but I haven't put in enough effort or studied them thoroughly enough."

The Mahayana supernatural powers stirred something within him, yet it was like viewing flowers through fog or the moon obscured by dark clouds; he could never truly grasp their essence.

The higher you climb and the farther you look, the more you realize your own insignificance, and the more you understand the difficulty of the road ahead, so that you can only strive for excellence.

At lower levels, the Daoist methods are relatively simple, and condensing supernatural powers is like finely carving a rough jade. As long as one has a solid foundation and sufficient comprehension, it is easy to condense a rudimentary form. This is because the barriers at lower levels are not inherently high.

Now, having reached the Mahayana realm, his own magical power is immense, his lifespan is nearly endless, and he is involved in countless laws and principles, so that the slightest movement of one affects the whole body.

To integrate this vast and unfathomable power and condense it into a "Mahayana Divine Power" that truly transcends the shackles of this world is far more difficult than ascending to heaven.

In fact, this is normal for cultivators.

One's own magical power is the trunk, and supernatural abilities are the branches. Most cultivators exhaust their mental and physical potential just to maintain the trunk when they are moving forward.

After Lu Cheng mastered the Samadhi True Fire, his path to immortality became incredibly smooth. He inherited the ancient Taoist Transformation and Ascension Technique from his master, Huang Longzi. Subtly, his aptitude improved with each cultivation session. In addition, he already possessed exceptional talent for cultivation. With both factors combined, he progressed steadily, cultivating both the main trunk and the branches simultaneously. He became a large, deeply rooted tree with abundant branches and leaves.

Even with his extraordinary talent, Lu Cheng has yet to condense the Great Ascension Divine Power after all this time.

If it were just a matter of casually condensing a divine ability, Lu Cheng could still do it, but to condense a Mahayana realm innate divine ability that perfectly suited him was something he could no longer do at this moment.

In the secluded meditation chamber, time flowed by without meaning. Lu Cheng's primordial spirit transformed into countless thoughts, constantly deducing, colliding, and reorganizing within his own Daoist system.

An attempt was made to merge the Samadhi True Fire with the Golden Rainbow Sword Intent, with the fire using the sword's power to wreak havoc across the universe, and the sword drawing fire to burn and shatter the void.

An attempt was made to construct a heavenly domain of laws that flows endlessly, using the three flowers at the top as the foundation and the Five Elements Heavenly Escape as the guide.

He even attempted to activate the Blood Law contained within the Blood River Banner, using its ability to plunder all living beings to nourish his own origin and seek the power to break through barriers to achieve a breakthrough in supernatural abilities... Each attempt stirred up the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, causing the void within the cave to be constantly changing, and endless strange phenomena to evolve around the Taoist's body.

However, that one step was like being separated by an invisible yet indestructible crystal wall. No matter how your sword energy swept across the sky, shattering all the clouds and mist, or how your flames burned the heavens and almost melted space, in the end, it was as if you crashed into the wall of sighs, your supernatural powers and light dissipated, and your Taoist aura returned to silence.

As time goes by, although one's consciousness becomes purer, one's magical power becomes deeper, and one's understanding of the Dao becomes more profound, the true Dao fruit that carries the Mahayana remains unclear and shrouded in mystery, like the moon in smoke or flowers seen through fog.

"Just as I thought..." In a daze, no one knew how much time had passed, and a faint sigh echoed in the quiet room.

On the cloud bed, Daoist Lu Cheng slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was calm and profound, showing no sign of defeat, only the understanding and composure that came after experiencing countless tribulations.

"The Great Dao is profound and subtle, and cannot be attained through quiet contemplation. Forcibly concentrating it will only lead to clinging to inferior principles and losing one's true nature and essence."

"Enough, enough. Yu Hong and Yu Xue must be getting impatient too."

The end of his seclusion was not an act of giving up, but rather Lu Cheng's preparation to shift his mindset and continue his pursuit. Life is finite, but the Way is infinite; to pursue the infinite with the finite is perilous.

With a slight thought, the heavy restrictions that shrouded the cave opened up like clouds. The Netherworld Daoist and Xuanqing Daoist, who had been waiting outside, immediately transmitted their voices respectfully: "Master, Master Lianshan of the Western Great Zen Temple has been waiting at the 'Fuyun Courtyard' for many days."

The phrase "多日" here is an abbreviation; in reality, it means that Master Lianshan has been living in Taiqing Mountain for many years.

Since Lu Cheng broke through the tribulation and attained the Great Vehicle realm, he has never left and has always lived on Mount Taiqing.

Lu Cheng dared not neglect this eminent monk. He had been unaware of his presence before, but now that he knew, he naturally had to meet with him first.

Fuyun Villa is located on a cloud platform halfway up the main peak, with ancient pines standing strong and gnarled, exotic flowers blooming, and cranes flying gracefully.

This place is not the main hall for deliberation, but a place where the Taiqing Sect receives close friends and fellow Daoists for discussions and philosophical conversations, fully embodying a sense of transcendence from worldly affairs.

When Lu Cheng, dressed in a simple Taoist robe, descended upon the villa on a trail of light, Master Lianshan was already standing on the edge of the cloud platform, gazing at the rolling sea of ​​clouds.

The Zen master still looked like a gaunt old monk, his robes worn and faded from washing. His body was thin, and the deep wrinkles on his face resembled cracks in parched earth, exuding a sense of weathered vicissitudes.

But how sharp is Lu Cheng's vision now?
At a glance, one can see that beneath its decaying exterior lies what seems to be a blazing sun about to burn out.

The Buddha's light contained an inner aura that faintly revealed a pressure that caused the void to freeze, a profound cultivation that was close to the perfection of Mahayana Buddhism!

But this blazing light was also entangled by another, deeper aura, a decaying aura that came from the years, from the source, and was almost exhausted!

It was as if his body could no longer bear his powerful soul and might collapse like a sand tower at any moment.

Especially when he sensed Lu Cheng's arrival and turned to perform the wai (a gesture of respect with hands clasped together), the feeling of life heading towards annihilation became even stronger in Lu Cheng's heart.

"Amitabha. Congratulations to True Person Jingxu on attaining the wondrous fruit of Mahayana! From now on, the Great Way will be open to you, and you will enjoy eternal bliss." Master Lianshan's voice was calm yet hoarse, filled with heartfelt praise:
"When I witnessed your divine might under the clouds of tribulation that day, I was deeply moved and benefited greatly. Such heavenly might is enough to subdue all demons in the world, and the glory of the righteous sect will shine forever in the Eastern Heaven."

"Master, you flatter me too much." Lu Cheng returned the greeting with a calm expression, and led Master Lianshan to sit opposite him at the white jade table in the center of the cloud platform. His disciples served him fragrant spiritual tea.

"It was by chance that I passed the test, and it's nothing to brag about. But today, I observed your demeanor, Master, and it seems you have some concerns?"

Given Master Lianshan's status and position, he has no need to fawn over the Taiqing Sect. This old monk's humility must stem from a significant request.

Considering the current state of Xiji Zen Temple, Lu Cheng had some vague guesses in his mind.

A flicker of surprise and understanding flashed in Master Lianshan's cloudy eyes, which quickly turned into a calm, bitter smile:
“The true master’s eyes are truly like torches. This old monk’s physical body can no longer hold on for much longer. However, in these turbulent times, with the temple in grave danger and the survival of countless disciples hanging by a thread, this old monk dares not easily leave this mortal world and leave such a great karmic burden for future generations to bear.”

Lu Cheng took a sip of the tea, his movements fluid and graceful, then set down the cup, his gaze settling on Master Lianshan's face:
"Is the perilous situation you speak of, Master, the 'Eight Heavenly Dragons Pagoda,' a tenth-tier Buddhist artifact that your temple is currently refining?"

Although they are called pseudo-Buddhist artifacts or pseudo-immortal artifacts, in the Earthly Immortal Realm, these spiritual treasures, whose power far surpasses that of ninth-order magic treasures, are indeed Buddhist artifacts or immortal artifacts. As long as no true immortal descends to earth or an immortal artifact descends to the mortal realm, this is the truth.

With the gradual completion of the refinement of the Eight Heavenly Dragon Pagoda, the Western Great Zen Temple has become a place where all calamities converge.

The Taiqing Sect currently possesses two pseudo-immortal artifacts: the Blood River Flag and the Profound Yin Demon-Suppressing Corpse-Suppressing Rope. This means that the Taiqing Sect acquired them very quickly and immediately fled back to the Taiqing Mountain Gate after obtaining them; otherwise, the bloodshed would have been immense, leaving behind endless calamities.

The Western Great Zen Temple is now crafting its own Eight Heavenly Dragon Pagoda, which perfectly matches the cultivation system of the number one Buddhist sect of the human race in the Earthly Immortal Realm. If it succeeds, the power of this Buddhist artifact will far exceed that of the Blood River Banner and the Profound Yin Demon-Suppressing Corpse Rope.

At that time, Xiji Zen Temple may truly be able to forever guard the Western Pure Land.

"This is indeed the treasure!" Master Lianshan was not surprised that Lu Cheng could guess it. With the intelligence and talent of the Taiqing Sect leader, it was not difficult for him to think of this.

"The concept of the Pagoda originates from the ancient Buddhist scriptures, aiming to use boundless Buddhist light to save all sentient beings, suppress the endless sea of ​​calamities, and even protect a pure land in the Dharma-ending Age. However, it is extremely difficult to complete. It requires endless Buddhist energy to refine it, the blessing of the vows of hundreds of millions of believers, and the integration of the resentment and karmic obstacles of countless beings to guide demons to Buddhahood, so as to achieve the supreme power of yang and salvation for all living beings!"

There is a Buddhist proverb: "Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot." This is naturally difficult for non-Buddhists to understand. Why should ordinary people have to cultivate themselves and go through countless hardships to become Buddhas, while bad people can become Buddhas simply by putting down their butcher's knives?

However, Buddhist disciples see this as a requirement for their own spiritual cultivation.

If a Buddhist disciple can convert countless demons into protectors of Buddhism, then his or her spiritual practice has naturally reached a very profound level. At the same time, this act also has great merit. Therefore, all Buddhist sects have the custom of converting demons into the sect.

In fact, the Taoist lineage also has the custom of converting ghost kings to serve under their command, simply because cultivation is not easy.

Therefore, this proverb should not be used to demand things of others, but rather to demand things of oneself.

"Your temple has a far-reaching plan. Taking advantage of the Chi Demon clan's decline, you have sent the entire clan into the tower. Although it is an open scheme, it is still risky. The Chi Demon clan's karma of fighting and killing for hundreds of thousands of years has now been transferred to your temple."

"Moreover, it's probably not just the Chi Demon clan. In that case, before the artifact is completed, this tower will be the place where the greatest karmic obstacles in the world are gathered, hence the name 'Eye of Calamity'!"
Xiji Zen Temple is already at the center of the storm, the target of everyone's anger. Such karma cannot be overcome by ordinary magical powers. Is the master worried about the cataclysmic calamity that will threaten to overthrow the entire Buddhist land of Xiji before the pagoda is completed?

A glint flashed in Master Lianshan's eyes, and he nodded deeply.

"Your Excellency's insight is profound and your words are spot on! I have three concerns: First, the calamity upon the tower's completion! The moment this treasure is formed, it will inevitably trigger the most terrifying backlash calamity in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, containing world-destroying thunder and fire, karmic red lotuses, demonic illusions, and the annihilation of the void—all terrifying. Second, the surrounding demons! Many reclusive old demons and giants who covet pseudo-immortal artifacts and intend to hinder the prosperity of Buddhism have now set their sights firmly on the Western Extremity! Third, what happens after the treasure is completed!"

Master Lianshan paused, his tone extremely heavy: "The Floating Pagoda refines the karmic obstacles of billions of living beings, and its power is boundless. However, if its control is lost, it will lead to the destruction and collapse of the temple."

At that time, the Buddha's light will vanish, and the Demon Tower will descend upon the world! An endless demonic realm will descend upon the Western Regions, and the former guardian Vajra will transform into a bloodthirsty Rakshasa, turning the Pure Land into a demonic lair! This calamity will spread far beyond the Western Regions, inevitably engulfing this realm and affecting the entire Immortal Realm!

On the Cloud-Piercing Terrace, the clouds seemed to freeze instantly.

"Since it is so dangerous, why does your sect still need to defy the heavens?"

"This pagoda has exhausted the accumulation of my temple over tens of thousands of years. It was started when I first entered the monastic life. How can it be stopped so easily now?"

"Therefore, I have come here today not for the survival of the Western Buddhist sect, but to prevent this pagoda from collapsing and causing an immeasurable calamity! What I seek is to earnestly request the Taiqing Sect, as the orthodox sect of Taoism, to join forces with the Three Pure Ones Taoist sect to help my Great Zen Temple resist the calamity that this pagoda will bring!"

Lu Cheng remained silent upon hearing this. The sea of ​​clouds surged and rolled behind him, the rosy light sometimes illuminating his serene profile, and sometimes disappearing into the deep shadows.

After a long silence, Lu Cheng finally spoke slowly: "Buddhism is a righteous path of salvation, and its merits are immeasurable. However, this pagoda is burdened with too much karma and boundless karmic obstacles. Even if the Taiqing Sect is willing to help, how can it save us? How can it resist us? Master should understand that the Taiqing Sect is not just the sect of Lu Jingxu alone."

Master Lianshan was prepared for this and immediately took out two storage treasures:
One is an ancient, dark yellow jade talisman, crafted for Taoist incantations, exuding a rich earth elemental energy; the other is a crystal clear one, with countless rays of light flowing within.

He gently activated the Xuanhuang Jade Talisman, and a huge three-dimensional spiritual energy map unfolded like a light screen above the table. It revealed a vast area centered on the Western Great Zen Temple, extending into the depths of the endless desert! This included seven super-giant spiritual mine veins, thirteen blessed lands rich in spiritual energy, and three vast, boundless, and savage demon forests rich in rare and precious materials!

"This is the 'redemption money' and 'disaster relief land' that I, the old monk, promised on the orders of the abbot of the temple and the heads of the various branches." Master Lianshan's withered fingers traced across the map, each point representing a resource enough to support a large sect for ten thousand years!

"The jade talisman contains the land deed, the spiritual guide, and the array key, which the Taiqing Sect can access at any time! These areas are not the core of our Buddhist sect. Although they are rich in spiritual resources, they offer limited benefit to the cultivation of our Zen disciples. It is worthwhile to sacrifice them in this critical moment of survival to protect the lives of our disciples and help them overcome the calamity of the tower's formation!"

The other crystal was filled with spirit stones and immortal jade. Lu Cheng only needed to glance at it to know that the Western Great Zen Temple had probably brought all of its remaining assets, and its actions were indeed decisive.

"This matter is of utmost importance, and I must give it some thought."

"Amitabha!" Master Lianshan knew that this was all he could say at this point, so he chanted the Buddha's name once more and said no more.

(End of this chapter)