Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 609 Cleansing the Impurities and Purifying the Netherworld, Buddhism and Taoism Converge to Break Through All Phenomena (Seeking Rewards and Subscriptions!)

The Taiqing Hall was shrouded in purple mist and auspicious clouds, exuding a solemn and celestial atmosphere.

However, the atmosphere in the hall at this moment was heavy and cold, like an ancient frost sky.

In the center of the main hall, a gaunt and exhausted gray-robed cultivator knelt with his head bowed deeply, his forehead pressed against the cold jade bricks, his body trembling slightly from excitement and weakness.

He raised his hands high above his head, his palms holding a jade slip with a dark color that faintly exuded a bloodthirsty aura.

It was Liu Hanzhou, a traitorous disciple of the Myriad Manifestations Palace.

"Reporting to the Sect Leader!"

"This is a secret record of the 'Ghost Market' transactions of the Myriad Manifestations Palace. The Ghost Market is known for having everything and is an important source of revenue for the Myriad Manifestations Palace. However, cultivators are the shield and sword of humankind and should uphold the bottom line of humanity. Unexpectedly... unexpectedly, they have gone mad and engaged in soul-trading with the Ghost Owl Clan of the Yellow Spring Ghost Owl Ridge."

"The Ghost Owl Clan, ranked seventy-sixth among the hundred clans of the Spirit Realm, occupies the perilous Ghost Owl Ridge. They delight in devouring the souls of intelligent beings. The Myriad Manifestations Palace exchanged the souls of millions of mortals for the Ghost Owl Clan's prized Void Stone, a special product. This stone was provided by a certain Mahayana Daoist Master within the sect to cultivate a sinister and evil supernatural power. Countless lives were thus scattered and destroyed, never to be reincarnated. The tragedy is beyond description. Therefore, this disciple risked his life to steal this certificate, barely escaping with his life, seeking only to plead with the Taiqing Sect and with True Person Lu to uphold justice for these millions of unjustly deceased souls, to cleanse this filthy underworld, and to restore a bright and clear world to humanity."

Every word was written in blood, every sentence filled with injustice. The jade slip held aloft seemed to weigh a ton, carrying the silent cries of countless wronged souls.

Lu Cheng sat upright on the Dharma platform of the sect leader, dressed in a Taoist robe, his face serene.

Since rectifying the sect, arresting Minghe, and recruiting talented individuals, the Taiqing Sect has been flourishing and its reputation has spread far and wide, making it the undisputed leader of the orthodox religions of the human race.

However, though the tree may wish to be still, the wind will not cease; in this mortal realm, the filth and undercurrents never cease. Upon hearing this, his gaze deepened, and he slowly raised his hand, an invisible, gentle force lifting Liu Hanzhou up.

"I accept this certificate. If it is found to be true, I swear on my Dao to give you justice!" Lu Cheng's voice was not loud, but it carried a powerful and awe-inspiring force.

He took the jade slip, scanned it with his divine sense, and instantly understood the transaction information, the location of the soul exchange, the quantity of Void Stones, and the corresponding tragedies recorded in the jade slip, as well as the overwhelming evil and greed revealed between the lines.

A chilling coldness crept silently from the depths of his heart:
"The human world has become filthy once again..."

"A messenger is here to order the five Supreme Elders, Mingque, Mingyue, Tongzhen, Xuanzhen, and Xuanqing, to come to the Taiqing Hall immediately for a meeting."

A moment later, five powerful Mahayana auras, some ethereal and others profound, descended upon the Taiqing Hall.

Daoist Mingque has white hair and beard, and has the air of an immortal. He is a senior elder of the Taiqing Sect and has the deepest seniority. Daoist Mingyue is a newly promoted Mahayana cultivator. She broke through by accumulating merits and exchanging for and taking the Zuowang Guiyuan Pill from the sect’s collection. Although she is a female cultivator, she has a gentle temperament, but her eyes contain determination.
Tongzhen Daojun has sharp eyes; Xuanzhen Daojun is full of sword energy and is incomparably fierce; Xuanqing Daojun has a profound foundation and powerful magic.

In recent years, Daoist Lu Cheng has held absolute power in the sect and controlled the Taiqing lineage. However, the Taiqing Grand Elders have no complaints about this. Even if they had some complaints when they were in the Integration Realm, they all disappeared after they reached the Mahayana Realm.

Firstly, Lu Cheng's efforts to rectify the sect's atmosphere were difficult and dangerous, but they greatly benefited the Taiqing Sect's long-term foundation.

Secondly, it is because Lu Cheng opened up a vast world from the purple-gold-red gourd, which is connected to the Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven plane.

In terms of hierarchy, the Great Thousand World is equivalent to the Immortal Realm, where spiritual energy is abundant and strong, and the laws of heaven are clear. When a Mahayana Dao Lord cultivates in it, his magical power increases far more than in the outside world.

If it were during the Nine Li Cauldron era, Lu Cheng would never have had this ability, but now that the Purple Gold Red Gourd is his natal magic weapon, he has this authority and supernatural power. With such benefits in his hands, Lu Cheng has an absolute advantage in terms of both reason and profit, so he is naturally not afraid that the several Supreme Elders will refuse to bow down.

Even though Elders like Mingque, Tongzhen, and Xuanzhen had deep feelings for Daoist Minghe, Lu Cheng would immediately investigate and imprison Daoist Minghe if he made a mistake.

After the five Supreme Elders arrived, Lu Cheng succinctly informed them of the contents of the jade slip and the matters that Liu Hanzhou had recounted.

The temperature inside the hall plummeted, and the faces of the five Dao Lords all showed expressions of fury.

"Outrageous! Selling living souls! How is such behavior any different from that of cannibalistic demons? This is an act of rebellion against humanity and against the will of Heaven!" Daoist Mingque roared, his hair and beard bristling, his magical power surging, causing the purple aura within the hall to churn.

"The Myriad Manifestations Palace, arrogant enough to claim control over the underworld, acts with such utter recklessness, treating human life like dirt?!"

Daoist Mingyue frowned, his tone icy: "If this trend continues, where will the foundation of humanity lie? Where will morality and social order remain?"

Faced with such a tragedy, the five Mahayana Dao Lords were extremely furious.

However, after pondering for a moment, Tongzhen Daojun said:
"Sect Leader, the Myriad Manifestations Sect has been entrenched in the depths of the Netherworld for ten thousand years, deeply rooted and powerful. Its protective mountain formation, the 'Myriad Souls Forest Prison Suppression Formation,' is infamous. It is said to be an ancient secret of the Ghost Path, formed by combining the Yin Sha power of the nine Netherworld Eyes it suppresses. Its power is definitely no less than our sect's 'Purple Qi Sky Patrol Five Thunder Immortal Formation.' If we launch a direct attack on this sect, the cost will be unpredictable."

Upon hearing this, Xuanzhen Daojun nodded slightly. After Tongzhen Daojun finished speaking, he posed an even more serious question:

"The Myriad Manifestations Palace sits atop a vital point in the Nine Netherworlds, its mountain gate foundation suppressing nine Netherworld Eyes. If we intervene, even if we break the protective array, the Myriad Manifestations Sect, in desperation, might detonate the Eyes..."

"The consequences would be unimaginable. The simultaneous detonation of nine Earth Eyes would unleash a torrent of Yin energy powerful enough to instantly annihilate the entire underground Netherworld where its mountain gate is located. The hundreds of billions of ghosts, spirits, and even some human settlements that depend on it for survival would be instantly reduced to nothing. Even more terrifying is that the detonation of the Earth Eyes would trigger a chain reaction, causing the earth's veins to become unbalanced, heavenly lightning to ignite earth fire, and at least three continents above ground to become scorched earth, resulting in widespread death and destruction, with the calamity lasting for thousands of years. This is a truly world-destroying catastrophe!"
I fear I have offended Heaven, and that would be unforgivable.

After he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

The injustice suffered by millions of lives is already a heinous crime. If the campaign leads to a catastrophe affecting hundreds of billions of lives, then the Taiqing Sect's mission will be a net loss.

Not to mention those present, even the entire Taiqing Sect would probably find it difficult to bear the heavy sins and fate of this trip, and their fortune would be greatly diminished as a result.

"This is the greatest reliance of the Myriad Manifestations Palace, and the source of their confidence to commit such a heaven-defying act. They have calculated that no one dares to bear the karmic consequences of destroying this realm!" Lu Cheng sat high on the altar, speaking slowly.
"Could it be...could it be that we just let them get away with it? Let millions of innocent souls die without ever being redressed?" Liu Hanzhou had been kneeling there the whole time, and he had heard the conversation of the Dao Lords clearly. At this moment, he clenched his fists in resentment, naturally overwhelmed by hatred and anger.

The Myriad Manifestations Palace originally had five Mahayana guardians: Ghostly Yama, Azure Water Heavenly Lord, Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother, Bone-Eating Yin Venerable, and a newly promoted Mahayana Wanhai Daoist.

Among them, the most powerful and terrifying Youhun Yama died and perished 1,300 years ago during the Ninth Great Tribulation, the "Nine Netherworld Profound Fiend Tribulation," and was reincarnated.

Even with the four Mahayana Dao Lords—Azure Water Heavenly Lord, Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother, Bone-Eating Yin Venerable, and Myriad Bones Daoist—and the Myriad Souls Senluo Prison Suppressing Formation, ordinary Mahayana cultivators would never dare to easily break into the formation.

The art of formations excels at overcoming the strong with the weak and dividing and conquering. If one is not stronger than the other party to begin with, and falls into a formation, then one becomes the fish on the chopping block and is doomed to die.

"If my Seventy-Two Heavens Magic Power were fully developed, I would be able to break the magic with force and destroy this formation directly. But right now, it is still a bit of a stretch."

After thinking for a moment, Lu Cheng finally shook his head: It is certainly not wrong to do good deeds and accumulate merit, but it is not acceptable to use the lives of Taiqing disciples to make up for it.

Moreover, even if the Myriad Souls Suppressing Prison Formation is broken, it still cannot prevent the Myriad Manifestations Palace from triggering the Netherworld Eye's madness.

Although they are unlikely to do so, one should be wary of the extreme practices of ghost cultivators.

"Hanzhou, from this day forward you will be a disciple of my Taiqing Sect. I will definitely give you an explanation for this matter. However, the Wanxiang Senluo Palace has a deep foundation, and it will take a long time to eradicate it. You should be prepared."

"Hanzhou, thank you, Master."

Liu Hanzhou bowed deeply without saying much. He knew in his heart that the Myriad Manifestations Palace was one of the nine sects of the human race. It was already a great act of kindness from Heaven that True Person Lu was willing to accept this enormous cause and effect. After his anger subsided, he also knew that he could not be greedy for quick success and instant benefits and harm others.

At this very moment, Lu Cheng Daoist, who was sitting high on the Dharma platform, suddenly had a sudden urge to calculate with his fingers. He inexplicably recalled the Myriad Manifestations of the Myriad Manifestations Palace's Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother, whom he had met once before.

I have a feeling that this person might be the key to breaking the deadlock in the future.

In the three hundred years following Liu Hanzhou's entry into the Taiqing Sect, two major events occurred on the human side of the Earthly Immortal Realm:

One reason is that the thirty-six factions compete for the positions of the nine sects of the human race, which has led to infighting and even violence, resulting in considerable bloodshed and internal strife within the human race.

As a result, the Sansheng Wendao Mountain and Taisu Qingyun Mansion, both belonging to the two of the Thirty-Six Sects, announced their merger into one sect, instantly becoming a strong contender for one of the Nine Sects of the Human Race.

The Three Lives Asking the Way Mountain and the Tai Su Qingyun Palace have a deep connection. The two sects were originally founded by a female Daoist couple. In their early years, they were almost like one family. Even now, the true disciples of the Three Lives Asking the Way Mountain can also join the Tai Su Qingyun Palace after reincarnation and become the head of both sects. Apart from not being able to take on the position of sect leader, they can also serve as elders of the Tai Su Qingyun Palace. In other words, only by becoming the head of both sects can one truly inherit the true lineage of the female Daoist couple from tens of thousands of years ago.

Under such circumstances, given sufficient interests or crises, it is only natural for the two factions to merge.

Furthermore, after the two factions merged, Chu Mingyun, the Supreme Elder of the Three Lives Asking the Way Mountain, personally went to the Taiqing Sect and obtained an audience and approval from Lu Cheng, the Sect Master of the Taiqing Sect. Therefore, the chances of the Three Lives Profound Su Sect becoming one of the nine sects of the human race have increased by 30%.

Back then, when Lu Cheng first entered the Spirit Realm, he had a chance encounter with Chu Mingyun, which now seems like thousands of years ago.

Another major event was that the Mahayana Daoist Master Wanmiao Guimu of the Wanxiang Senluo Palace suddenly betrayed the sect, abandoned ghosts to cultivate Buddhism, and joined the Xiji Jichan Temple, which was severely damaged.

From then on, he abandoned the path of ghosts and turned to Buddhist practice, which shocked the world!

The Western Great Zen Temple, one of the nine sects of the human race, was besieged by powerful clans from all over the world because of the tenth-tier Buddhist treasure. At the critical moment, the Holy Monk of Lianshan abandoned the Buddhist treasure, splitting it into seven pieces, which allowed all the demons in the world to compete for it, thus preventing the destruction of the temple and the extermination of the clan.

However, in this battle, almost all six Mahayana monks of Xiji Temple were wiped out. The Holy Monk of Lianshan perished, as did the two Vidyarajas, Vajra and Prajna. Vajra perished, Prajna was seriously injured, Zen Master Xiaoyue was seriously injured, and Fashan and Fade perished. However, after the demons dispersed, Xiji Temple was eventually rebuilt. The Buddhist land in Xiji, which had been cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years, was not so easily wiped out by its believers.

Zen Master Xiaoyue rebuilt Xiji Zen Temple and made a vow that he would not ascend to Buddhahood until Xiji Zen Temple regained its former glory.

Buddhism has a method of vows, which is incredibly mysterious and can make up for deficiencies in one's theoretical understanding and magical power when one's cultivation level is low, thus forcibly raising one's cultivation level. With the help of the advantageous location and formation of Xiji Zen Temple, Zen Master Xiaoyue was able to finally regain his strength.

It is said that on the day the Seven Treasures flew away, Xiji Zen Temple used all its means to retrieve one of them and reintegrated it into the severely damaged tenth-tier Buddhist artifact, the Eight Heavenly Dragon Pagoda. Although the tenth-tier Buddhist artifact was not completed, it still possessed some of the wonders.

The reason why Wanmiao Ghost Mother is willing to betray Wanxiang Senluo Palace and join Xiji Zen Temple is because Zen Master Xiaoyue promised to use the remaining power of vows in the Eight Heavenly Dragons Pagoda to cleanse Wanmiao Ghost Mother of her yin energy and reshape her into a golden body of Buddhism.

In this way, the righteous and the evil merge, and the Taoist and Buddhist practices are combined. The foundation of the Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother is fully formed, and the chances of ascending to heaven in the future are greatly increased. Even if it doesn't work out, she can still enjoy ten thousand years of carefree life in the spirit world.

Given the significant nature of this event and the excellent relationship between Xiji Zen Temple and Taiqing Sect, Zen Master Xiaoyue naturally invited Master Lu Cheng, the head of Taiqing Sect, to participate, and Lu Cheng did not refuse.

Xiji Zen Temple, also known as Honglian Bie Temple, is located deep within the "Honglian Plain," a place as red as blood, perpetually filled with the faint scent of sandalwood and sulfur.

In the past, the ten-tiered Buddhist treasure "Eight Heavenly Dragons Pagoda" was destroyed in a calamity. Four of the six Mahayana Daoist masters in the temple perished, and one was seriously injured. Only Zen Master Xiaoyue escaped with serious injuries. Now, the temple gate has been rebuilt on the ruins.

The remaining ninth-grade Buddhist artifact, the Pagoda, still stands tall and majestic. Although it is no longer the sacred treasure of immortals and Buddhas of yesteryear, it still embodies vast power of vows, gleaming with golden light, and faint chanting echoes in the void.

After all, the number of Buddhist believers in the far west is still large and deeply rooted.

Lu Cheng Daoist arrived at the invitation, dressed in a simple Taiqing Daoist robe, his aura as restrained as a deep abyss.

He did not bring many followers, only Youming, Shisheng and others stood behind him. The group arrived on clouds and landed at the edge of the Red Lotus Plain.

The welcoming monks were already waiting and respectfully led this powerful human religious figure, who was renowned throughout the Immortal Realm, into the temple.

The ceremony took place in the huge square where the remaining pagoda stands.

Several orthodox Buddhist cultivators who are friendly to Buddhism have arrived, but sects such as Shangqing Sect, Jue Tian Sword Sect, and Sanhuang Palace have not sent anyone. These sects are friendly to Wanxiang Senluo Palace.

The Myriad Manifestations Palace, being one of the nine lineages of the human race, suppressed nine large Netherworld Eyes, thus making a great contribution to this world. In addition, the Ghost Path also belongs to a branch of the Daoist sect. If it weren't for Liu Hanzhou's matter, it's uncertain whether Lu Cheng would have come to the invitation from Zen Master Xiaoyue.

However, given the current situation, Lu Cheng believes that preserving the Buddhist tradition is more beneficial for the human race. After all, Buddhism is more benevolent than other races.

The plaza was paved with crimson bloodstone, inscribed with intricate Buddhist demon-subduing and calamity-crossing formations. Lu Cheng could discern at a glance the effects of exorcising evil spirits and transforming the menacing into the peaceful.

At this moment, at the core of the formation, a platform constructed from countless white skeletons intertwined with eerily blooming red spider lilies that resembled weeping blood, exuded a peculiar aura that was neither alive nor dead, strange and holy.

The Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother sat serenely atop the human bone flower platform.

She was dressed in a plain white monk's robe, yet it could not conceal the ghostly and sinister aura that had seeped into her very bones. Her long, ink-black hair was not tied in a topknot, but casually draped over her shoulders, which only accentuated her snow-white complexion. Her aura was extremely strange; though she sat there upright, she seemed to exist outside the boundary between life and death.

Lu Cheng was led to the front of the viewing platform, where he nodded slightly to several powerful figures from other major sects or alien races who possessed profound auras.

His gaze calmly swept across the altar, landed on the Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother, and finally settled on the majestic golden pagoda.

On the pagoda, the Eight Heavenly Dragons appear and disappear, and the vast and powerful Buddhist vows gather and surge on the pagoda like a golden ocean.

"The time has come!" A grand Buddhist chant resounded through the sky. Zen Master Xiaoyue, dressed in a bright red robe with gold thread and holding a nine-ringed staff, stepped out from the shadow of the pagoda.

His face was thin and frail, but his eyes were like a deep, still pool, containing boundless wisdom and compassion, as well as a deeply hidden resolve.

To revitalize Buddhism, exhaust its resources, and guide ghost cultivators like the Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother into Buddhism is a huge gamble in itself.
However, he knew his own situation well. Both he and Prajna Vidyaraja were seriously injured and urgently needed the power of powerful non-Buddhist masters to subdue demons. Otherwise, they would be unable to withstand the external calamity. Now, he had no other choice.

Zen Master Xiaoyue stood before the Dharma platform, slammed his staff on the ground, and emitted a clear and melodious hum.

Instantly, hundreds of eminent monks around the square began chanting the ancient "Great Compassion Rebirth Mantra" and the "Vajra Subduing Demons Sutra" simultaneously. The chanting of Sanskrit words converged into a torrent, sacred and solemn, cleansing the soul.

Countless golden runes emerged from the void, merging into the magic array to form golden, burning chains of light that coiled towards the central flower platform adorned with human bones. "Fellow Daoist Wanmiao, past sins are a sea of ​​karma; turn back and you will find the shore!" Zen Master Xiaoyue's voice, like a resounding bell, penetrated straight to the soul:
"Today, with the supreme power of the Eight Heavenly Dragons Pagoda, I will cleanse you of all worldly impurities and restore your Buddha-body to its golden form. Only by severing the past can you attain enlightenment."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zen Master Xiaoyue clasped his hands together, and a dazzling golden Buddhist light burst forth from his body, completely merging with the radiance of the pagoda behind him.

The scriptures he recited became incredibly difficult and profound, each syllable resonating with the laws of heaven and earth:

"All forms are illusory. If one sees all forms as non-forms, one sees the Tathagata. All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows, dew, and lightning; thus should one contemplate them."

Knowing illusion is to depart from it, without relying on expedient means; departing from illusion is enlightenment, also without gradual stages. The world is impermanent, the land is fragile, the four elements are suffering and empty, the five aggregates are without self, subject to arising, ceasing, and change, illusory and without a master; the mind is the source of evil, the body is a den of sin…”

"Om! Mani! Padme! Hum!"

The final six-syllable mantra of Om Mani Padme Hum exploded like six divine thunderbolts.

At the top of the pagoda, the vast golden power of vows, accumulated over countless years and through the devout faith of countless believers, finally found its outlet.

Boom! !

A pure golden beam of light, ten feet in diameter, crashed down from the top of the tower, carrying the supreme power to cleanse all filth, convert all evil, and reshape all foundations. It poured precisely into the human bone flower platform, completely submerging the Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother who sat upon it.

Sizzle sizzle...

In an instant, a tooth-grinding, violent sound erupted from the human bone flower stand.

The stark white skeleton trembled violently under the pure Buddha light. Countless dark, twisted, and cursed ghostly marks and malevolent energy were forcibly expelled, struggling and writhing like maggots clinging to the bone. They were then rapidly purified and evaporated in the supremely yang and powerful golden light of the Buddha's will, turning into wisps of green smoke and dissipating.

The alluring red spider lilies swayed wildly, their petals peeling away one by one, only to be quickly reborn in the golden light, their crimson hue losing some of its eerie quality and gaining a more compassionate, crimson gold.

At the core of the golden light, the Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother endured unimaginable pain and transformation. Her body became transparent within the golden light, revealing countless fine, black spiderweb-like fundamental laws of the ghost path being torn apart, peeled away, and dissolved inch by inch by the golden light.

This kind of primal detachment is a thousand times more painful than being slowly sliced ​​to pieces. Yet, her pale face held an eerie calm, her eyelids lowered, as if she were not the one enduring all of this.

What's even more chilling is that even at the core of this "death ripple" that could instantly annihilate an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator, her body only trembled slightly and did not disintegrate.

That state of annihilation, neither alive nor dead, became her only barrier against this violent baptism, allowing her to maintain a sliver of her true spirit on the verge of destruction.

Amidst this extreme pain and reshaping, change gradually begins.

hum!
A grand hum, seemingly emanating from the depths of the netherworld and echoing throughout the Buddha realms, erupted from the body of the Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother.

Then, the Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother sat cross-legged on a lotus platform, her hands forming a mysterious mudra.

Behind her, the void twisted and expanded violently, and a magnificent Dharma image, towering to the heavens and standing sixteen feet tall, suddenly appeared.

This Dharma image actually had three heads and six arms. Its bizarre form and complex aura caused all the spectators present, including Lu Cheng, to hold their breath in awe.

On the right was a stunningly beautiful celestial maiden. She was enveloped in a faint, iridescent glow, and her gossamer-thin robes outlined her breathtaking curves, adorned with jewels that reflected a mesmerizing aura.

Her beauty is beyond words, and even more enigmatic is the ever-changing expression and demeanor she displays. At times, she is like a resentful woman confined to her chambers, her brows furrowed with an unyielding, thousand-year-old sorrow; at other times, she resembles an innocent young girl, her eyes clear and pure, untouched by worldly dust; in an instant, she may transform into a bewitching enchantress, her captivating gaze alluring; and the next moment, she may be as pure as a lotus blooming on a snowy mountain, awe-inspiring and unapproachable. These myriad emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, happiness; purity and allure; cold beauty and passionate intensity—interweave and shift, captivating the viewer's soul. Those with even slightly unstable hearts may instantly succumb to her charms, unable to extricate themselves.

This beautiful celestial maiden had four arms. Above her were two delicate, white wrists, soft and boneless, each holding an object. Her left hand held a seven-colored, shimmering glass bottle, its surface radiant with light. Within it, countless strangely beautiful spider lilies were growing, blooming, withering, and blooming again in a never-ending cycle. Each bloom and withering emitted a suffocatingly rich fragrance, and illusory petals fell like celestial flowers—a scene of "intoxication and bewilderment, the arising and ceasing of desires."

In his right hand, he held a tiny, almost imperceptible silver needle. This needle appeared and disappeared in the void, acting as if threading a needle. As the silver needle pulled, countless visible, colorful threads, exuding the aura of emotions and desires, appeared out of thin air. They intertwined and wove, eventually converging into a long, colorful sword as thin as a cicada's wing, its blade flowing with a mesmerizing and beautiful radiance—the Sword of Entangled Love.

This sword is silent and still, yet it exudes a terrifying aura that is inextricably linked, lingering in the bones, and soul-consuming.

In stark contrast to this beautiful celestial maiden was a terrifying, white skull on the left.

This skeleton was far larger than that of an ordinary human, its bones translucent like jade, yet exuding a chilling stillness that penetrated to the very marrow. From the empty eye sockets, nasal cavity, and mouth, eerie green flames and thick, inky black smoke billowed continuously, the flickering flames seeming to echo the wailing of countless vengeful spirits. The entire head appeared ferocious and twisted, radiating a savage ferocity that seemed intent on devouring its prey.

The skeleton wore a patchwork robe made of countless agonizing, lifelike human faces, each face screaming silently. In its other hand, it gripped a grotesque bone sword. The sword's blade was covered in backward-growing serrations, between which clung slivers of dark red blood and bits of flesh. The hilt seemed to be twisted from the spine, exuding an extreme malice that slaughtered all living beings and defiled all things—the Sword of All Filth and Slaughter.

The mere sight of them is enough to pierce one's soul, filling one with boundless fear and loathing!
The head at the very center of this three-headed, six-armed form is none other than the Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother herself.

At this moment, her appearance was exactly the same as that of the Myriad Wonders Demon Mother, who sat serenely in golden light, receiving baptism. Her eyelids were lowered, and her expression was utterly serene.

She was completely naked, yet her allure was not seductive, but rather emanated a primal, warm, and pure luster, like white jade, flawless and immaculate. Her hands were clasped in front of her chest in an ancient and profound Buddhist mudra: the Nirvana Mudra.

This face lacks the ever-changing allure of a beautiful celestial maiden, and the ferocious malice of a terrifying skeleton; it possesses only a simple and serene tranquility, like a newborn infant, untouched by worldly dust.

At its deeper level, it is an absolute annihilation and transcendence that transcends the boundaries of life and death, the distinction between defilement and purity, and the emotions of sorrow and joy.

This is an ultimate purity and nature, neither born nor dying, neither sad nor happy, neither defiled nor pure. It is as if all the disturbances and phenomena of the world, under this seal, return to the stillness and emptiness.

Three heads and six arms, one body with three sides.

On one hand, she is intoxicated by love, conjuring up images of all living beings, and wielding the sword of entangled love and karmic ties.

A scene of utter depravity, brimming with deathly resentment, wielding a vile and murderous sword.

On one hand, there is tranquility and transcendence, returning to the simplicity of a newborn child, thus confirming the supreme Bodhi mind.

This bizarre and magnificent image, combining great beauty, great terror, and great annihilation, stands proudly within the golden pillar of vow power, becoming the core focus of the entire ceremony.

The power of the beautiful celestial maiden and the terrifying skeleton clashed and surged violently under the baptism of Buddha's light, as if to tear this Dharma form apart.

However, it is precisely the serene and tranquil face and the seal of annihilation in the center that, like a stabilizing force, firmly maintains the stability of the Dharma form, guiding and transforming the conflicting forces on both sides into nourishment for reshaping the foundation.

"Excellent! One body, three forms: the karmic deeds of the ghost realm in the past, the true nature of nirvana in the present, and the enlightenment of Buddhahood in the future." Upon witnessing this scene, Zen Master Xiaoyue's eyes shone brightly, and his chanting grew even louder, pushing the power of the stupa's vows to its limit.

The golden liquid, no longer in the form of a pillar of light, but like a tangible golden soup, poured down from the Baihui acupoint on the top of the head of the Dharma image, carrying a scalding and sacred aura, flowing throughout the entire body of the Dharma image, seeping into every inch of "skin" and every "bone".

Sizzle...

hiss...

boom!
Purification and reshaping have reached their peak!
Within the crystal vase in the hands of the beautiful celestial maiden, the cycle of life and death of the Manjusaka flower began to slow and become more Zen-like; the exotic fragrance faded, transforming into the pure scent of lotus. The alluring light on the Love-Threads-Cyclone Sword gradually subsided, the sword becoming clear and transparent, and the love threads entwined around it transforming from colorful to pure golden threads of vow power. The eerie blue ghost fire and thick black smoke emanating from the seven orifices of the terrifying skull gradually transformed into warm golden-red Buddhist flames under the golden light, while the smoke turned into wisps of sandalwood incense. The filth in the skull bowl evaporated completely, leaving the bowl pure white and holy, with specks of golden light within. The blood and flesh on the Myriad Filth-Slaying Sword disappeared, the jagged serrations softened and smoothed, and the entire sword transformed into a Vajra Sword of Subduing Demons, its malevolent aura gone, leaving only a solemn and majestic aura.

The entire transformation process lasted for seven days and seven nights. When the last trace of yin and evil energy was completely refined, when the images of the beautiful celestial maiden and the terrifying skeleton were completely integrated into the central, serene and transcendent original image, and when the sixteen-foot golden body was completely solidified, it exuded a gentle yet solemn aura, a combination of compassion and majesty.

This time, Xiji Zen Temple really went all out, as the number of golden-bodied cultivators that the ninth-grade top-quality Buddhist artifact, the Floating Pagoda, could support was already very small.

Now, the yin and ghostly energy accumulated by the Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother over ten thousand years of cultivation must be cleansed. The ghost path belongs to a branch of Taoism. Now, the Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother possesses the Buddhist principle of eternal nirvana and the Taoist skill of life, death, yin and yang. She can be said to have broken free from the barriers and ascended to heaven in one step. She has a bright future ahead of her.

boom!
The Eight Heavenly Dragon Pagoda erupted with unprecedentedly brilliant golden light, accompanied by resounding dragon roars and thunderous chants, announcing the birth of a new Buddhist master.

The sixteen-foot-tall golden body slowly opened its eyes, its gaze no longer holding the former sinister wrath of the Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother, but only the clear wisdom and boundless compassion that came after experiencing tribulations.

She clasped her hands together and bowed deeply to Zen Master Xiaoyue: "Disciple Miaoyin thanks Zen Master for your life-saving grace. I wish to take refuge in the Buddha and uphold the Dharma."

The Myriad Wonders Ghost Mother was reborn and became a great Buddhist practitioner, Laywoman Wonderful Sound.

The grand ceremony finally came to a close. On the viewing platform, the powerful figures from all sides had different thoughts, including astonishment, admiration, fear, and contemplation.

Lu Cheng stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze calmly sweeping across the void at the edge of the plaza before looking in the direction of the Myriad Manifestations Palace.

As the Ghost Mother of Myriad Wonders (Layman Miaoyin), she betrayed her sect and joined another faction, which was a disgrace that could have triggered a bloody war between the two sects to the death.

However, from beginning to end, not a single person from the Myriad Manifestations Palace came to question or obstruct them. This eerie silence was more alarming than thunderous wrath.

Of course, there were still various statements and messages expressing dissatisfaction. But to this extent, it didn't even amount to much noise and little action.

A cold glint flashed deep in Lu Cheng Daoist's eyes. He had hoped that at least one of the three Mahayana cultivators would show up, so that he could test their strength. Unfortunately, they had chosen the deepest and most dangerous form of concealment.

"Sect Leader Lu, I've kept you waiting." A calm and gentle voice sounded beside him.

After the ceremony, Layman Miaoyin changed into an elegant moon-white monk's robe. He exuded spiritual light and had an ethereal and otherworldly temperament. Only in the depths of his eyes did a trace of profound wisdom remain, as if he had seen through the vicissitudes of life and the cycle of life and death.

She personally came to invite Lu Cheng: "The Master must have come for the matter of the Myriad Manifestations Palace. The Zen Master is waiting for you in the quiet room. Miaoyin also has some insights and wishes to have a chat with the Master."

Lu Cheng nodded upon hearing this: "Thank you for leading the way."

The quiet room was simple and rustic, with the fragrance of sandalwood wafting through the air.

Zen Master Xiaoyue sat cross-legged on the futon and bowed to Lu Cheng with his hands clasped together: "I am very grateful to Headmaster Lu for attending this ceremony, which adds luster to this grand event of Buddhism."

His smile was gentle, but his eyes carried a hint of weariness and solemnity, clearly indicating that presiding over such a heaven-defying ceremony was extremely taxing on him.

Furthermore, Layman Miaoyin did not fully accept the power of Buddhism, retaining some of his own Taoist principles. He clearly did not want to be completely bound to the Buddhist lineage, but only wanted to settle the karmic debts of Xiji Temple and then leave, each going their own way.

However, this would result in a huge loss for Xiji Zen Temple.

Lu Cheng returned the greeting and said, "The Zen Master's Buddhist teachings are profound and can reverse the course of events, which is truly admirable. And to guide such a person to enlightenment within the Buddhist community is also a meritorious deed."

"However, the fact that the Myriad Manifestations Palace is so quiet is quite intriguing."

Inside the quiet room, upon hearing this, the compassionate expression on Layman Miaoyin's face faded, replaced by a cold mockery and...fear.

"If the Myriad Manifestations Palace is a place for quiet cultivation, why would I have painstakingly built it up for a thousand years and then abandoned my family and betrayed my sect? I heard that True Person Lu has already accepted Liu Hanzhou as a disciple, so he must already know something about the deals that this sect has been doing in secret over the years."

However, what the real person knows is only about one or two tenths of the truth.

"Oh, I'd like to hear more," Lu Cheng asked. It's always good to know more about your opponent before a major battle.

"The reason I abandoned my family and sect is because I suspect that the Myriad Manifestations Palace is no longer a sect of human ghost cultivators, but has completely transformed into a ghost sect. Although the Myriad Tribulations Yin Spirits are unlikely to attain sainthood, they can remain in the world forever, immortal and eternal. After Senior Brother Youhun left, the sect was controlled by Bishui and Shigu. These two are inherently lacking in talent and have weak Dao hearts. It is terrifying to think about where they will lead the sect..."

"If Sect Leader Lu wants to eliminate Wanxiang, the first thing he must do is break its mountain-protecting formation. The Ten Thousand Souls Forest Prison Suppression Formation is connected to nine Netherworld Eyes. The core of the formation is hidden deep within the 'Ten Thousand Souls Palace,' which is protected by layers of distorted space and billions of vengeful spirits. It is constantly overseen by one of the sect's Mahayana Dao Lords and is indestructible. A direct attack will only result in mutual destruction."

Lu Cheng listened quietly. It was clear that what the hermit Miaoyin was saying was not something he had accomplished in a short time, and now he could say that he had finally gotten it off his chest.

"However, the foundation of this formation lies in the 'Nine Netherworld Fiend Earth Qi' and the 'Resentment Power of Ten Thousand Souls.' If it were when Senior Brother Youhun was in charge, there would naturally be no problem. But the Myriad Manifestations Senluo Palace has committed countless sins over the past few thousand years, accumulating a vast amount of resentment. Therefore, at the core of its formation, due to the excessive complexity and size of the resentment, a barely perceptible vortex gap will form at a specific trough of the 'Nine Netherworld Tide.' This gap is the only and most fatal flaw in the operation of the entire formation. It lasts for a very short time and is fleeting."

"When will the Nine Nether Tides occur?" Lu Cheng asked succinctly.

"Three hundred and seventy-nine years later, at the third quarter of the Zi hour in the year of Guihai, the Nine Nether Tide will usher in a rare climax. At that time, the earth energy of the Nine Nether will flow back, and the resentment of all souls will experience a brief stagnation and involution. The 'gap in the vortex of resentment' will be the clearest." A complex light flashed in the eyes of the Myriad Sound Hermit, a secret buried deep in her heart as a former core member of the Myriad Manifestations.

"Is this matter known only to you, fellow Daoist?"

“Guarding the Hall of Ten Thousand Souls is not an easy job. After Senior Brother Youhun left, Bishui and Shigu colluded with each other. At that time, Junior Brother Wanhai had not yet attained enlightenment. I guarded the Hall of Ten Thousand Souls for eight hundred years out of the thousand years. Through that place, I vaguely learned how many evil deeds Bishui and Shigu had committed in secret. In the end, I decided to leave.”

"Amitabha Buddha, if I don't go to hell, who will? The demonic flames are raging, poisoning all living beings. How can the Buddhist community sit idly by?"
Three hundred and seventy-nine years from now, if the True Man intends to destroy the Myriad Manifestations Palace, my Western Great Zen Temple will certainly provide its full support.

Just then, Zen Master Xiaoyue finally spoke up.

On the one hand, the Xiji Zen Temple needs the support and assistance of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. On the other hand, if it can break through the sect of the Wanxiang Senluo Palace, one of the nine sects of the human race, the spiritual items obtained can greatly make up for the sect's lost vitality.

This is still a high-stakes gamble, but Zen Master Xiaoyue is betting that the current Taiqing Sect Leader can win in the end.

(End of this chapter)