Shushan Earthly Immortal

Chapter 463 Protecting the Altar and Performing the Spell: The Wonders of Harmony with the Dao (Seeking Monthly Tickets~)

"My land, my altar, my way is truly profound."

Profound and mysterious, supremely wondrous and dignified.

The altar must not be lost, and the Way must not be lightly transmitted.

"There should be spirit generals to protect the altar."

After purifying the altar, Cheng Xinzhan muttered incantations, then suddenly pointed his sword at the lion crouching beneath the altar, unleashing a thunderous roar.

"Where is Master Baolu?!"

The lion's heart skipped a beat, realizing the opportunity the master had spoken of had arrived. It immediately let out a long roar, then unleashed its supernatural powers, transforming back to its original size into a towering lion over thirty feet tall, guarding the south side of the altar, and loudly proclaiming...
"Your subordinates, heed my command!"

Cheng Xinzhan nodded, and then said,

"You are born of the pure Qi of mountains and rivers, and the essence of metal and stone. Your form possesses the majesty of a lion and an elephant, and your nature contains the virtue of the earth. You have been practicing Taoism for several decades, observing the precepts and following the rules, eating only the pure Qi and abstaining from meat, cultivating your body and mind, and are now capable of great use."

"Now I establish this altar, connecting heaven and earth. It is only right that protection be provided to ward off calamities and safeguard destiny. Therefore, I hereby bestow upon you the title: 'General of the Guardian of the Spiritual Garrison,' to patrol by day at dawn and dusk, and guard by night at dusk and dawn. To roam the eight directions, expelling evil and binding demons. To devour impure energy, protecting the Way and upholding truth. Merit will be recorded, and transgression will be punished. You shall obey with reverence!"

After reciting the mantra, Cheng Xinzhan made a hand seal and pointed at the lion's forehead below the altar. Immediately, the altar beneath his feet shone brightly, and a beam of mysterious light shot out and struck the lion.

At this moment, the altar on Cheng Xinzhan's Dao-merging ground stood tall and firm, imbued with spiritual energy and spirits. It had consumed countless treasures and was inscribed with countless divine talismans, embodying his immense effort. Moreover, this altar was different from those he had built before. He intended for it to stand permanently on the Dao-merging ground as a mystical altar for transmitting the Dharma. Therefore, it was rooted in the earth, its spirit united with his own, and its spiritual energy was extremely abundant.

As the mountain king, the lion is the essence of the earth, the quintessence of gold and stone, and in terms of destiny, it is in harmony with Cheng Xinzhan's altar of gold, jade, stone and earth. At this moment, the lion was appointed by Cheng Xinzhan as the altar's guardian general, and immediately connected with the altar's energy. The lion felt a surge of powerful spiritual energy flowing into its body, and various mysterious sounds echoed in its mind, making it feel comfortable all over and clear-headed.

At the same time, the lion's stone body was also undergoing earth-shattering changes. With the emergence of a burst of spiritual light, its body rapidly grew in the light, soaring from thirty feet all the way up. At the same time, the aura of the lion realm was also rapidly increasing.

Before the lion's mountain root was severed by the Western demonic monk, it had survived six Golden Core tribulations, its body reaching over thirty zhang in length. Later, after being sealed by the mountain, its cultivation level dropped to the fourth level, and its body shrank to the size of a water buffalo. Later, it followed Cheng Xinzhan, cultivating the Goddess Peak's Heaven-Mending Technique, and received guidance from the Kui Mountain Lord, rapidly recovering its cultivation level. However, due to its inherently lazy nature, it neglected cultivation after returning to its peak. Furthermore, given the long lifespans of mountain lords and the extremely long intervals between tribulations, it made no significant progress in its cultivation.

But at this moment, the lion became the guardian spirit of the altar and was bathed in the divine light of the altar. Moreover, it was the altar set up by Cheng Xinzhan, a Fifth Realm True Person with extremely high attainments in altar rituals, prayer, and earth magic, in his own Daoist practice site. He was enjoying a great opportunity. Not long ago, the lion, who had always been by Cheng Xinzhan's side, had personally witnessed Cheng Xinzhan's attainment of the Dao. That time, he also received a great blessing.

Great opportunity and great fortune are great blessings. The inner elixir inside the lion's belly became more and more rounded and refined under the cleansing light of the altar. Its realm and aura soared, and it entered the upper three cleansing, the seventh cleansing, the eighth cleansing, and the ninth cleansing in an instant. Its body grew to forty feet, fifty feet, and sixty feet.

In just a short while, the lion, which had become connected with the Spirit Communication Altar and its master Cheng Xinzhan, grew to a height of sixty-four zhang, and its cultivation level reached the perfection of the Third Realm, Ninth Cleansing, just waiting to form its embryo. Moreover, within Cheng Xinzhan's altar and the entire Daoist temple, the lion was as if it were in its own temple, and its combat power was on par with the four realms.

The lion suppressed its elation, its face solemn and dignified, and gently touched its forehead to the altar, replying:

"Ling Shu obeys the order and will strictly follow the decree."

Cheng Xinzhan nodded. With the purification ritual and the guardian spirit of the altar settled, he began to formally implement the altar ritual.

The first task is to dispel the thunderclouds that are shrouding the land of Qiannan.

The Thunder God's divine light and the Cleansing Altar's radiant rain only dispelled the thunderclouds in the vicinity of Redwood Ridge; much of the surrounding area remained shrouded in dark clouds and disturbed by thunder. Furthermore, the Green Robe wouldn't sit idly by. Since the altar of Cheng Xinzhan was built, the battle of magic had already begun, and the thick thunderclouds surrounding the altar spread again, threatening to fill the clear sky above it once more.

Cheng Xinzhan performed the ritual steps and chanted incantations.

"The Thunder God of the Heavens, dispels thunder and drinks rainbows."

Wherever the Heavenly Symbol goes, it cannot be stopped.

It helps bring sunshine and rain, but not evil winds.

Anyone who dares to act recklessly will be condemned by Heaven.

Listen to my Dharma name, and the thunder and lightning will vanish.

Cut it off quickly, cut it off quickly, thunderbolts are hidden.

Hurry like a law! "

After reciting the incantation, Cheng Xinzhan flicked his hand again, and a drop of Qi Dew flew out from his fingertip. As soon as the Qi Dew left his hand, it transformed into a white rainbow.

"A white rainbow pierces the sun."

Cheng Xinzhan's "Rainbow-Seeing Thunder-Dispelling Incantation" is a spell to pray for clear skies and stop thunder, using a rainbow as a talisman; seeing a rainbow stops the thunder.

Cheng Xinzhan unleashed eight white rainbows, which soared from the top of the altar, radiating incantation light, like white dragons winding their way straight to the dark clouds, churning and leaping, and wherever they passed, the thunder ceased.

Immediately afterwards, Cheng Xinzhan formed another mudra and recited the "Flowing Clouds and Scattering Mist Mantra":
"Fire bell, fire bell, Thunder and Fire God."

It bursts through the five directions, gathering the mist and rolling the clouds.

Pure air rises to the heavens, while turbid air condenses and solidifies.

The fiery clouds stretched for miles, burning away the evil spirits.

If you disobey this order, you will be destroyed by flying fire!
Hurry like a law! "

After reciting the incantation, Cheng Xinzhan pointed to the sky, and a crimson spiritual light flew out from his fingertip, rose to the top of the dome, and disappeared into the dark clouds.

"call--"

The thick, dark clouds were ignited by the spiritual light, burning fiercely. Crimson flames spread rapidly, and a tremendous roar of fire echoed across the sky. Under the scorching flames, the dark clouds disintegrated, and pure white energy rose and merged into the sky, while the turbid demonic energy turned into black rain that fell down. But before the demonic energy could reach the ground, it was swept away by the flames and burned into nothingness.

The demonic energy nourished the flames, which burned ever brighter, stretching out in patches and gradually forming a crimson glow that swept across the sky.

"Blazing Clouds Burn the Heavenly Gang".

Using fire and clouds as their banners, the clouds would disperse upon seeing them.

White dragons and crimson clouds roamed the skies above the Miao region, radiating boundless light and heat, sweeping away thunderclouds and restoring sunshine.

This is the function of the altar ritual.

Normally, even with Cheng Xinzhan's Five Realms True Man powers, he could dispel thunderclouds, but he could never do it so easily, and the range he covered would not be so wide.

He appeared to be dispelling thunderclouds, but this was merely a facade. In essence, he was engaging in a contest of magical power with the Five Realms True Dragon, a clash on the Great Dao of Celestial Phenomena. With the altar protecting him, connecting heaven and earth, it undoubtedly made things much easier for him.

His continuous casting of divine incantations and commanding of celestial phenomena consumed a great deal of his magical power and spiritual energy. Yet, at this moment, he was completely unaffected and continued casting incantations. This was the benefit he gained from being on the path of Dao Integration.

The biggest difference between the Fifth Realm and the Fourth Realm lies here.

When assessing the combat strength of cultivators at the fourth or fifth level, the timing and location are absolutely indispensable topics, and can even be said to be the key to victory.

Within the four realms, the difference in combat strength between those who have formed a Dao Domain and those who are not in their own Dao Grounds is vast. Furthermore, the presence or absence of a Fifth Realm True Person in their own Dao Integration Ground often results in two drastically different behaviors.

Generally speaking, those who haven't formed their Dao Domain are no match for those who possess it, and those who haven't overcome the Three Calamities are no match for those who have. However, if a cultivator who has formed their Dao Domain but hasn't overcome the Three Calamities is in their own Dao Field that is compatible with their Dao Domain, they can certainly put up a fight against those who have overcome the Three Calamities and have broken in.

Similarly, those who have achieved Dao Integration are almost invincible on Dao Integration grounds, but if they go out and fight against a Fourth Realm Great Perfection cultivator, and this Fourth Realm Great Perfection cultivator has overcome all three calamities and is in a Dao field that is compatible with their own Dao Domain, then the Dao Integration cultivator who breaks in may not necessarily have a sure chance of winning.

For example, Wusaqi of the Blood God Cult was a fifth-realm cultivator, but he abandoned his dojo and physical body, transforming into a ball of blood light and entering Cheng Xinzhan's body. He was suppressed by Cheng Xinzhan's inner world, which caused him great harm, and he was captured.

Ultimately, cultivation is just cultivation. Cultivating from the first to the fifth realm is about climbing the Great Dao, discovering one's destiny, comprehending the universe, and getting closer to the goal of immortality and freedom. The improvement in martial prowess is merely a byproduct of cultivation. The five realms are different stages in the pursuit of the Great Dao, not a list that indicates combat strength.

However, martial prowess rises in tandem with cultivation level. Each major breakthrough in cultivation inevitably brings advancements in various aspects such as life essence, magical power, supernatural abilities, and Daoist techniques, thus creating a gap in martial prowess. For example, opening the Crimson Palace, refining the Golden Elixir, and nurturing the Nascent Soul not only bring tremendous progress to one's life essence and Daoist path but also lead to a leap in magical power and supernatural abilities, thereby widening the gap in martial prowess. As a result, cross-realm combat becomes a luxury.

When a cultivator enters the fourth realm, they integrate essence, energy, and spirit into one body to form an infant, clearly define the Great Dao and manifest it as a domain, and overcome the three calamities to achieve perfection in both body and mind. At this stage, they have already reached the pinnacle of cultivation in the mortal world, and are only a hair's breadth away from achieving the Dao.

The Dao Integration is indeed quite different from the previous practices of opening the Crimson Palace, refining the Golden Elixir, and nurturing the Nascent Soul. This is because the Dao Integration is about aligning oneself with the Dao of Heaven and Earth, rather than absorbing Heaven and Earth into oneself. Therefore, the improvement in martial power is not as significant.

Of course, the lack of significant improvement in martial prowess does not mean that Dao Integration is useless. In fact, the benefits of Dao Integration are so numerous that they could be discussed for seven days and seven nights without exhausting them. However, its most praised and important aspects can be summarized in three points.

Firstly, it grants longevity.

Those who attain the Dao and achieve immortality can live for anywhere from one hundred to five hundred years. While this lifespan isn't short, it seems relatively short compared to the four hundred years attained by those at the Nascent Soul stage. This is because, strictly speaking, the Dao attainment isn't an independent state. Before attaining the Dao, one has already understood the Dao; after attaining the Dao, one has obtained what one sought. The Dao attainment is essentially a transitional stage of carrying on the past and ushering in the future, a transcendental state of immortality.

Ultimately, the Dao Integration stage is merely preparation for the pursuit of immortality. Neither the physical body nor the soul undergoes any qualitative change at the moment of Dao Integration, thus the increase in lifespan is minimal. A true and significant increase in lifespan requires accumulating strength in the Dao Integration stage and will manifest at the moment of immortality.

The reason why the lifespan of those who achieve Dao Integration varies so greatly, ranging from one hundred to five hundred years, is also related to their choice of Dao Integration. The nourishing rain that brings life and growth naturally outlives the destructive autumn winds that bring death and decay; the fertile soil that nurtures all things naturally outlives the desolate desert that is the source of life. These are all self-evident. However, if we were to discuss force in reverse, the latter might have the upper hand. Yin and Yang are in a state of flux, and there is no absolute balance.

Cheng Xinzhan merged with Redwood Ridge. The southwest was a barren land, but since Redwood Ridge was chosen by the Red-Haired Ancestor as the location of his mountain gate, it was naturally not bad; it was a good place among barren lands. Normally, if he had chosen a place to merge with, his lifespan should have been around two or three hundred years. However, his Dao was different. It originated from nothingness and manifested in all phenomena. What he studied was not one Dao, and what he merged with was not a single Qi. The dragon Qi, fire Qi, wood Qi, and water Qi of this land were all willing to merge with him. When combined, he gained a full lifespan of five hundred years.

However, when it comes to longevity, the Corpse-Dissolving Immortal is an exception. Those who cultivate the Corpse-Dissolving Dao are neither in harmony with the celestial mechanism nor with the earth's energy, nor with objects, plants, or water and fire. This unorthodox path to immortality does not increase lifespan. Only at the moment of becoming an immortal, by discarding the old body and taking on a new one, transforming decay into wonder, can one increase lifespan.

Secondly, there is a place where one can settle down and make a living.

After achieving Dao integration, one gains the blessing of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in the place of Dao integration. This benefits oneself and excludes others. The spiritual energy of the surrounding area is entirely under one's control, while the other party is trapped in a state of spiritual isolation. This ebb and flow makes the host almost invincible. This is why Green Robe was helpless after Cheng Xinzhan achieved Dao integration at Redwood Ridge.

Moreover, unless the spiritual energy of this place is exhausted, the host is one with heaven and earth, and the spiritual energy of this place can be directly transformed into the host's magic power with virtually no loss. There is no need to circulate and refine it, and it can be used and obtained at will. It is precisely because of this that Cheng Xinzhan was able to build an altar in the place of Dao Integration and continuously cast divine spells that affected the celestial phenomena of tens of millions of miles away, and still had energy left.

Furthermore, with such a peaceful place to live and settle down, those who are in harmony with the Dao can cultivate themselves in peace, discuss profound mysteries and expound the Dao, and even establish their own sects.

Thirdly, one can comprehend the origin of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth through the spiritual mechanism of aligning with the Dao.

An ancient poet lamented: "Our bodies are like mayflies, fleetingly existing between heaven and earth, like a grain of millet in the vast ocean. I grieve for the brevity of my life, and envy the endless flow of the Yangtze River. I wish I could ride the flying immortals to roam the heavens, and embrace the bright moon to live forever. Knowing that this cannot be achieved in an instant, I entrust my lingering thoughts to the mournful wind."

An ancient sage replied: "Moreover, everything in the world has its owner. If it is not mine, I will not take even a hair of it. If one's body is in harmony with heaven and earth, then one will attain the way of heaven and earth. The clear breeze on the river and the bright moon in the mountains, the ear hears them and they become sounds, the eye sees them and they become colors. Taking them is without restriction, using them is inexhaustible; they are the inexhaustible treasures of heaven and earth. This is called: uniting with heaven and earth to attain the way."

The ancient dialogues fully reveal the essence of the Five Realms. Before the Five Realms lies the exploration of the essence of life and nature; after the Five Realms lies the exploration of the essence of heaven and earth. Understanding the essence of heaven and earth allows one to attain the Dao and become an immortal.

Therefore, the wonder of the Dao lies in "harmonizing with Heaven and Earth to attain the Dao, and achieving it leads to immortality." As for the enhancement of martial power in this state, it mainly manifests in the advantageous location of the Dao; it exists when one is present and disappears when one is absent. If one had to add another point, it would be that in the long process of comprehending the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, as one's understanding of the Dao deepens, the application of its techniques will become stronger. There is nothing else besides this.

This is why most cultivators in the Five Realms of the World comprehend spiritual energy and ponder the path of immortality within their own dojos, rarely venturing out. Moreover, they are absolutely unwilling to casually enter the dojos of others, even if they are friends rather than enemies.

Now, Cheng Xinzhan and Green Robe are each performing celestial phenomena in their own dojos, instead of confronting each other directly, all in order to play to their strengths and avoid their weaknesses, taking advantage of their own location to avoid the other's dojo.

At this moment, in the sky above Qiannan, crimson clouds and white rainbows were dispelling the dark clouds and winter thunder, and the effect was already evident. So, Cheng Xinzhan turned his gaze eastward, looking at the highly poisonous miasma that stretched for more than two thousand miles.

Just as he was about to make a move, a bright red river of blood suddenly flew out from Rotten Peach Mountain. The river contained skeletons, vengeful spirits, and wild ghosts, roaring and ferocious, wielding weapons, rushing towards the altar at Redwood Ridge, with a stench that filled the air.

Cheng Xinzhan was taken aback for a moment, then realized what was happening. That's right, after the green-robed man transformed into a dragon, he relied on the dragon's might, power, and true dragon supernatural abilities to fight, rarely proving himself a match for the enemy. He had forgotten that before transforming into a dragon, he was a demon who cultivated the Asura Blood Path. This time, however, he had used his old tricks against him.

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(End of this chapter)