Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 594 The Three Pure Ones Discuss the Calamity, Hidden Secrets of Spirit and Venerable (Seeking Rewards and Subscriptions!)

Taiqing Sect, deep within the Xuanyuan Grotto, where clouds and mist form their own warp and weft, and spiritual springs gurgle like jade and gold.

This place is usually the secluded retreat of Lu Jingxu, the Grand Master of the Taiqing Sect. Today, however, three tables and chairs have been added, and the air is filled with pure energy, with faint echoes of the Great Dao's teachings.

The three people seated before the table were all pillars of the human immortal realm, their every move affecting the fortunes of countless lands and rivers, and the life, death, honor, and disgrace of countless human immortals and mortals.

At the head of the table, Daoist Lu Cheng was dressed in a simple black Daoist robe. His Mahayana aura was harmonious and unimpeded, his magical power was profound and boundless, and his eyes were filled with divine light. Every move he made exuded great majesty.

The two cultivators standing nearby could no longer tell that this True Man Lu Cheng was a cultivator who had just advanced to the Mahayana stage, which showed how profound his cultivation foundation was and how high his level of cultivation was.

Before the chief seat in the lower left corner, Daoist Qingyang of the Jade Purity Sect had a slender face, his hair was neatly styled, and he wore a purple robe with star patterns. His expression was calm, but the sharp aura flowing around him was like the radiance of stars falling from the heavens, dazzling to the eye.

He is the junior brother of Ziwei Daojun of the Yuqing Sect. He is upright and honest, in charge of the criminal law and judgment of the Yuqing Sect, and skilled in longsword techniques. He is known as "Qingfeng Zhenxie" in the Earth Immortal Realm.

Before the chief desk in the lower right corner, Daoist Wangchen of the Shangqing Sect exuded an air of otherworldly elegance, with white hair and a youthful face. He wore an apricot-yellow robe with eight trigrams and clouds, and a simple jade gourd hung at his waist. His aura was ethereal and lively, as if he had merged with the clouds and mist of this grotto.

Inside the grotto, the serving disciples and children had long since retreated, leaving only the pure spiritual energy flowing silently.

After a moment, Lu Cheng broke the silence. The Taoist priest lightly waved his whisk, and amidst the swirling clouds, a jade slip blessed by the secret methods of the Taiqing Sect appeared before him, its surface radiating a faint Buddhist light, exuding solemnity.

"My two fellow Daoists, today's invitation comes from Master Lianshan of the Western Great Zen Temple. His intention is to borrow the strength of our three Daoist sects to help us resist external demonic obstacles, stabilize the calamity, and restore peace to the land of the Western Great Zen Temple as the Eight Heavenly Dragons Pagoda is about to be completed."

Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqing, with their red flowers, white lotus roots, and green lotus leaves, share a deep and profound origin and can be considered to be of the same lineage. These three religions naturally have a profound connection, allowing them to communicate and interact with each other, and even though they are separated by millions of miles, they can still communicate.

However, for truly important meetings and extremely confidential matters, the three religions would still choose to meet privately to discuss and consult together.

The contents of the jade slip before them flowed through the minds of the two Mahayana cultivators in an instant, swept by their divine senses.

Qingyang Daojun's brows suddenly furrowed like two sharp swords, and an invisible aura of sharpness erupted from his body, cutting through the surrounding clouds with a subtle tearing sound.
"Hmph! His Buddhist sect is in trouble, and he wants my Taoist disciples to go and fight against all the calamities? How absurd! Buddhism is a heretical sect, and its methods originate from other realms. Even if it has some good deeds, what does it have to do with my Taoist sect? That Eight Heavenly Dragon Pagoda gathers the wishes and resentment of all living beings into one. Such an extremely dangerous and ominous thing is inherently against the harmony of heaven and earth. When it was completed, it attracted all the calamities and backlashes, which was the result of its own actions! My Yuqing lineage upholds righteousness and opposes evil. How can we take up arms for it and invite trouble upon ourselves? It is not appropriate for my sect to wade into such muddy waters!"

Qingyang Daojun made no mention of the massive resources and vast territories promised by Master Lianshan; his rejection was as clear as the cold snow of the heavens.

Daoist Wangchen's expression remained gentle. He pondered for a moment, his voice warm and peaceful, like a spring gurgling over stones:
"Fellow Daoist Qingyang's words also make sense. The Buddhist tradition is ultimately not of the same origin as our Daoist sect, and belongs to different paths. However..." He changed the subject slightly, looking at Lu Cheng.

"The Western Great Zen Temple has been rooted in the Immortal Realm for millions of years. Its strict precepts have ultimately guided people towards goodness, and its merit in saving all living beings cannot be denied. It is truly an important force for humanity. If it is allowed to collapse in the calamity of the pagoda, causing the calamity to spread and harm innocent bystanders, the Buddhist realm ten thousand miles beyond the Eastern Heaven will be in turmoil, and countless lives will be lost. Even worse, if external demons take advantage of the situation and steal the power of the defiled pagoda, such a situation would be a disaster for our Daoist sect and even for humanity in this realm. In my humble opinion, this matter still needs to be weighed and cannot be summed up in a single sentence."

Lu Cheng Daoist remained expressionless, as if he had anticipated the scene before him.

He did not rush to refute Qingyang. Instead, he flicked his whisk, and the space beside the jade slip on the table slightly distorted. A more magnificent map slowly unfolded, the very map that Master Lianshan had presented that day, marking the vast territory that was about to be relinquished to the Sanqing Daoist Sect.

Spiritual veins intertwine, mineral deposits shimmer, and the signs of blessed lands and grottoes shine brightly.

"Master Lianshan's sincerity is truly remarkable. These spiritual lands, spiritual stones, and immortal jade are enough to sustain the grandeur of the three sects for tens of thousands of years, and their current benefits to each sect are immeasurable."

"With great profits ahead, risks are also ever-present! Who has the right to distribute these riches and lands? The Western Buddhist Sect, or your Taiqing Sect? Do you expect my Yuqing and Shangqing disciples to shed blood and risk their lives, only to receive less than Taiqing? This is not mutual assistance, this is scheming!" Qingyang Daojun spoke with sarcasm. He knew in his heart that these riches and lands would inevitably be distributed according to the amount of effort each sect had put in. Now that the Taiqing Sect was powerful, the lion's share would surely be taken by the Taiqing Sect, so he did not want to get involved in this mess.

Just like the Buddha's Corpse Demon incident back then, although the Taiqing Sect needed high-level corpse refining to enhance the power of the tenth-order pseudo-immortal artifact, the Xuan Yin Demon-Suppressing Corpse Rope, they were also afraid of the deep karmic entanglements involved and did not carry it out.

The Yuqing Sect has a streamlined staff, with its disciples selected from the best of the best. It also occupies a considerable number of blessed lands in sacred mountains and is the most financially successful of the Three Pure Ones sects. Therefore, it naturally wouldn't pay too much attention to this matter.

On the contrary, Daoist Wangchen of the Shangqing Sect seemed slightly tempted. The Shangqing Sect has many disciples who teach without discrimination, and the sect's finances are somewhat tight.

Several hundred years ago, when Daoist Minghe of the Taiqing Sect went to the Shangqing Sect to seek the secret method of refining corpses, he used the relationship between the three sects as a starting point, and spirit stones and immortal jades as a means of communication. With a large amount of spirit stones and immortal jades, plus the fact that the Taiqing Sect was willing to let the cultivators of the Shangqing Sect study the Xuan Yin Demon-Controlling Corpse-Suppressing Rope, Daoist Minghe would eventually have times when he was in seclusion and did not need this treasure.

Only when these two are combined can the Nine Nether Profound Fiend Corpse Demon Formation be formed.

However, he ultimately did not speak, choosing instead to remain silent.

"Brother Qingyang, Brother Wangchen. Our assistance to the Western Great Zen Temple is not without reason. However, the true calamity is far more than the destruction of a single pagoda, nor the very survival of Buddhism." Lu Cheng paused briefly, his gaze sweeping around, before clearly uttering that name, word by word:
"The Spirit Lord's Gathering!"

The moment these three words were uttered, it was as if a chilling, eerie wind from the depths of hell had swept into this beautiful and spiritual grotto!

Lu Cheng noticed that when he said those three words, Daoist Wangchen frowned slightly, while Daoist Qingyang seemed rather unnatural.

Clearly, both of them knew about the organization, but Lu Cheng did not ask any further questions.

A cultivator at the Mahayana realm will speak if they wish, and cannot be forced to speak by ordinary methods if they do not wish to.

Lu Cheng understood perfectly, but his expression remained unchanged. He simply continued speaking:
"You two Daoist brothers attained enlightenment before me. I bring this up today only to remind you of the Eastern Heavenly Palace. You two Daoist brothers also discussed the Dao with Palace Master Mo Yanxing at the summit of Lingfeng. Do you really think... with Palace Master Mo's talent and temperament, he would so easily perish at the hands of Wugu Tu of the Chi Demon Clan? Xuanji and Yuheng, the two Heavenly Craftsmen, died in battle, and that Calamity Demon Lord is still rampant and has not been subdued. I have fought with Wugu Tu before, and he is indeed a peerless ferocious demon. But to say that Palace Master Mo would be defeated by him, and that the hundreds of thousands of years of the Eastern Heavenly Palace's heritage would be cut off by the Chi Demon Clan, I think that is somewhat unreasonable."

Lu Cheng's words struck Qingyang and Wangchen Daojun's defenses like a heavy hammer.

The matter is now quite clear: the three Mahayana schools have gathered today. Their true purpose—to discuss assisting the Xiji Zen Temple—is to jointly devise a plan to deal with the Lingzun Assembly.

An indescribable chill quietly spread from the depths of the cave.

If there really was a mastermind behind the destruction of the Eastern Pole Creation Heavenly Palace, then no one could truly remain uninvolved!
The Eastern Pole Creation Heavenly Palace is one of the nine sects of the human race. Who can be sure that the Spirit Venerable will give up?
A powerful and lurking enemy force deserves the attention of the Three Pure Ones Daoist Sect.

"Helping the Western Great Zen Temple is not merely to prevent the tenth-tier Buddhist artifacts from falling into the hands of external demons, nor is it merely for the sake of those resources and spiritual lands. This is an opportunity to unite the power of our human race, to seize the chance to spy on, and even jointly resist, that 'Spirit Venerable Society'! Those shadowy figures instigated the destruction of the Eastern Pole and wreaked havoc on Buddhism. What do they want? Nothing more than to cause our human race to disintegrate and destroy our own walls! If we sit idly by and watch the Buddhist realm fall today, one day the Spirit Venerable Society will sweep in with boundless karma and faith power. Do you all think that our Three Pure Ones Daoist Sect can be safe?"

The cave was shrouded in a long silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After a long while, Daoist Lu Cheng rose and lightly waved his whisk, seemingly dispelling some of the heavy pressure that enveloped the cave. He stood up and solemnly said:
"I know that both of you are cultivators of great wisdom and courage, and you are naturally well aware of the advantages and disadvantages involved, which far exceed the dispute over a pagoda and a temple. Today's discussion shall end here for now. I have said all I have to say, and I will give you two three days to consider. The entire sect may also make its own decisions. Three days later, we will still be here, awaiting your decision."

After speaking, Lu Cheng's figure vanished like smoke and mist, instantly merging into the clouds that filled the cave, leaving Qingyang and Wangchen sitting there in silence.

The spiritual energy within the cave was still vast, but it clearly carried a heavy, leaden, and indescribable sense of desolation.

Lu Cheng was unaware of the destruction of the Eastern Pole Creation Heavenly Palace, or whether the Spirit Venerable Society had any influence on it afterward.

Perhaps it was truly just that Mo Yanxing was so engrossed in puppets that he made a momentary lapse in judgment, leading to the downfall of the Eastern Pole Creation Heavenly Palace at the hands of the Chi Demon Clan. But he suspected that the Spirit Venerable Society was also a powerful and deeply hidden organization. At Lu Cheng's level, his suspicions were already evidence of guilt.

Three days have passed, and undercurrents are surging.

Within the Jade Purity Sect, at the Star Peak Dojo, a secret meeting, limited to a few core elders, was held.

The face of Daoist Qingyang appeared on the spirit mirror, carrying an unprecedented solemnity and killing intent, as he laid out Lu Cheng's words and his own thoughts.

When the name "Spiritual Venerable Society" echoed in the Jade Cloud Palace at the summit, even the faces of several seasoned sect elders changed drastically.

Some people tend to resist and insist on sticking to their own positions;
Some felt that Master Lu Cheng's words were like swords, hitting the nail on the head. If what he said was true, once the Buddhist realm was lost, the Spirit Venerable would come with the power of the Buddhist pagoda and the power of the Unburdened. Yuqing would be the first to be affected, and it was definitely not the way to avoid calamity through pure cultivation.

The debate raged, the starlight atop the peak flickered, until finally, the Purple Star Dao Lord issued a cold and resolute decree from the highest level:

Hundreds of millions of miles away, before the Dharma Mirror, Daoist Qingyang received the Dharma decree.

Inside the residence of Daoist Wangchen, however, was a completely different scene.

Daoist Wangchen did not rush to summon the elders of Shangqing Sect. Instead, he sat alone on the Star Gazing Platform, the jade gourd at his waist shimmering with light, reflecting the starry sky.

In the void before him, countless talismans evolved automatically like serpents, outlining various mysterious and unpredictable trajectories and connections. Sometimes they pointed to the Karmic Sea of ​​the Western Buddhist Realm, sometimes they were connected to the tragic aftermath of the destruction of the Eastern Heavenly Palace, and more often, they vaguely pointed to some indescribable terrifying existence deep within the Nine Netherworlds.

He repeatedly deduced the possibility that the Spirit Venerable Society was intertwined with the calamity of the Buddhist pagoda, and the cause and effect related to Buddhism.

Finally, he exhaled a long breath, as if he had gained some insight or enlightenment.

Daoist Wangchen finally waved his hand to disperse the talismans in front of him, and ordered a disciple beside him: "Set off immediately to secretly investigate the strange spiritual energy fluctuations in 'Chenhui Valley' on the edge of the Western Ten Thousand Buddha Forest over the past hundred years. Be sure to keep it secret and return quickly."

The disciple obeyed the order and left.

At this moment, two children stepped forward and helped the Daoist Wangchen, whose spiritual power was greatly depleted, to sit on a rattan chair behind him. Then, the two children, a boy and a girl, fanned their master's rocking chair.

Don't underestimate the attendants of these high-level cultivators. Only second or third-generation disciples with impeccable lineage and exceptional innate talent from the Shangqing Sect can secure these positions.

Serving the Grandmaster for a hundred years can bring immeasurable benefits to one's entire future cultivation path. If one truly develops a bond with the Grandmaster, shedding the status of a novice disciple and becoming a true successor, that is a leap to heaven, a direct path to immortality!
"Master, the world is in turmoil again, and things are not peaceful once more?"

The boy waving the fan asked this softly.

"...When has there ever been peace in this world? Even if one truly cultivates to become an immortal, one may not necessarily enjoy a life of bliss. The three thousand worlds are like a deep forest under the cover of night. If one loses the desire to seek the Dao and the ambition to make progress, one will one day encounter an inescapable calamity."

Daoist Wangchen spoke these words with his eyes closed, and then closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

The three-day period arrived in the blink of an eye.

In the Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven, the cloud-covered meditation cushion remained unchanged. The figures of Daoist Qingyang and Daoist Wangchen reappeared almost simultaneously.

Qingyang Daojun's aura became much more restrained, his previous sharpness like a sword sheathed with a heavy weight, but the determination in his eyes was even more solemn than before.

His gaze was like lightning as he looked at Lu Cheng on the futon: "Our sect's Supreme Elder has decreed: The tragedy of Mo Yanxing is shrouded in mystery, and could not have been caused by the Chi Demon. The 'Spirit Venerable Society' harbors sinister intentions. If they intend to use the Buddhist pagoda as a pretext to disrupt the destiny of our human race, the Yuqing lineage, regardless of whether they are Daoists or Buddhists, should unite to eliminate them! The Yuqing Sect agrees to this!"

His few words were resounding and forceful. His resolute determination was now completely unwavering, clearly indicating that the three days of secret sect discussions and the attitude of Daoist Ziwei had thoroughly changed his stance.

Daoist Wangchen sighed softly and followed up, “True Master Lu has keen insight. The Spirit Venerable Society is like a lurking snake in the abyss, its poison already showing signs. The Shangqing Sect has an inescapable responsibility and is willing to do its utmost to assist in investigating the matter! However, I must state beforehand that this journey is not only for Buddhism, but also to protect the foundation of our human race for ten thousand years!” In his agreement, he still retained the rationality and caution of the Shangqing Sect.

Upon hearing this, Lu Cheng stood up and said loudly:
“Excellent! Senior Brother Qingyang is decisive and clear-headed, while Senior Brother Wangchen is discerning and cautious. This is in line with the principle of mutual support in the Great Dao! Assisting the Western Extremity is to counterbalance the Spirit Venerable Society and unify the power of the human race! This is not only the responsibility of the Three Pure Ones, but also the cornerstone for the survival of the human race in the Earthly Immortal Realm!”

After securing the cooperation of the Yuqing and Shangqing sects, the Three Pure Ones Daoist Sects jointly invited the remaining sects among the nine human sects:

Lingtai Fangcun Mountain, Wanxiang Senluo Hall, Juetian Sword Sect, and Sanhuang Hall.

In the end, the Myriad Manifestations Palace and the Absolute Heaven Sword Sect chose to respond to the matter, while the Spirit Platform Square Inch Mountain and the Three Emperors Palace chose to remain uninvolved, each with their own considerations.

Although Lingtai Fangcun Mountain is one of the nine sects of the human race and possesses extremely vast territory, the location of its mountain gate has always been a mystery.

Most cultivators in the Earthly Immortal Realm believe that the founder of Lingtai Fangcun Mountain discovered a secret realm of extremely high level, and then used this secret realm to build an immortal mansion for future generations.

The immortal abode is rich in spiritual energy and its internal resources are self-sufficient, supporting a small number of disciples to cultivate. Therefore, the number of true disciples of Lingtai Fangcun Mountain is extremely small, but each one has extremely high cultivation. With such an immortal abode, they can naturally avoid many calamities. Therefore, the disciples of Lingtai Fangcun Mountain do not need to participate in many battles in the Earthly Immortal Realm unless they wish to.

This time, however, the cultivators of Lingtai Fangcun Mountain chose to refuse. Perhaps the high-ranking cultivators in the mountain had divined the secrets of heaven and foreseen that this matter was fraught with calamity and danger.

The Three Emperors Hall is the oldest of the nine sects of the human race, and it enshrines three tenth-order pseudo-immortal artifacts: the Human Emperor Sword, the Heavenly Emperor Golden Armor, and the Earth Qilin.

Ancient legends say that one day, a human cultivator will emerge, wielding the Human Emperor's Sword, clad in the Heavenly Emperor's Golden Armor, and riding an Earth Qilin, leading humanity to unify the Immortal Realm.

However, almost every race in the Spirit Realm has such a legend. Although the Three Emperors Palace has always followed this legend, after a long period of time, they themselves seem to have stopped believing it.

However, recently, rumors have circulated that a true disciple of the Three Emperors Palace is able to simultaneously trigger the resonance between the Human Emperor Sword and the Heavenly Emperor Golden Armor. If this is true, the Three Emperors Palace may be planning to cultivate a new Holy Emperor. At that time, the calamities of the Earthly Immortal Realm can naturally be quelled with a single sword strike.

Although they are all tenth-tier pseudo-immortal artifacts, the Human Emperor Sword, the Heavenly Emperor Golden Armor, and the Earth Qilin are far more powerful than the Blood River Banner and the Profound Yin Demon-Suppressing Corpse Rope, and are among the top-tier spiritual treasures in this category.

Lingtai Fangcun Mountain and the Three Emperors Palace were not present; however, apart from the already destroyed Eastern Celestial Palace, all the other Mahayana sects of the nine human clans gathered in the Western Pole:
The Taiqing Sect's leader, Master Lu Cheng, along with three elders—Ming Que, Ming He, and Xuan Zhen—a total of four Mahayana cultivators, Qingyang Daojun of the Yuqing Sect, and Wangchen Daojun of the Shangqing Sect.

The Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother of the Myriad Manifestations Palace, the Seventh Sword Master of the Absolute Heaven Sword Sect, and the two rogue cultivators, Long Zhang and Feng Tu, who were invited at great expense.

The gathering of ten Mahayana cultivators from the human race, strictly speaking, surpasses even the battle at Zhenmo Mountain in the past.

After all, at that time, the human race's Mahayana cultivators did not possess the Blood River Banner and the Profound Yin Demon-Suppressing Corpse-Suppressing Rope, two pseudo-immortal artifacts. If even these could not help the Western Great Zen Temple overcome this calamity, then it was only to be expected.

(End of this chapter)