There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 236 The Realm of Yang Shen Manifestation
The further they went, the more half-human, half-ghost creatures they encountered, and the more ferocious their forms became.

Some were covered in pustules, oozing foul-smelling mucus; others had twisted limbs, resembling forcibly pieced-together remains; some were simply unrecognizable as human, only emitting incomprehensible roars before lunging forward!
Some of these half-ghost cultivators were quite powerful, but because of their confused minds, Chen Qing did not have much trouble dealing with them. He didn't even need to use any specific methods; he simply used his fingertips to unleash the Star Silence Tribulation Light and extinguished the attacking ghosts one by one!

The man surnamed Jiang was even more relaxed, his sleeves fluttering as he strolled along. The approaching ghosts were often shattered by a powerful, invisible force before they could even touch the hem of his clothes, and they were sent back to the black swamp.

During this time, the man glanced at Chen Qing's clean and efficient methods, a flash of admiration in his eyes, and said, "Fellow Daoist Li's foundation is truly rare, which shows that you have a clear understanding of your own path of cultivation. You just asked me about the details of the Three Corpses?"

Chen Qing didn't stand on ceremony and said, "I'd like to hear the details."

The man surnamed Jiang nodded and smiled, "Since you asked, I must answer. The path of cultivation is long and arduous. We have come this far, experiencing the three initial stages of cultivation. Starting with foundation building and physical refinement, we must first open the dantian, absorb spiritual energy, condense the life talisman, and stabilize our bones. Only then can the yin spirit break through the barriers, the spirit and qi unite, and we begin to transcend the shackles of the mortal world..."

As he spoke, he flicked his finger and released a burst of energy, dispersing a gust of yin wind from the left. He continued, "Only after these three realms are perfected can one touch upon the wonders of refining the spirit and seeking the Dao in the middle three realms. First, one must form the Golden Core, condensing one's magic power, divine soul, and blood into one furnace to forge the foundation of the Great Dao. Then comes the Nascent Soul seeking the Dao. The Golden Core breaks through its shell, the Nascent Soul is born, and one's spirit travels through the void, sensing the laws of heaven and earth, melting the appearance of heaven and earth, and constructing the prototype of the Dao Domain. After that, one enters the realm of peering into the heavens with the Dharma Image. The Nascent Soul grows and merges with the Dao Domain, transforming into the Dharma Image, peering into the mechanism of the operation of heaven and earth, and comprehending part of the rules of the origin of the world."

Chen Qing's heart stirred slightly. He asked about the Three Corpses, but this cultivator surnamed Jiang gave a general overview of the initial three realms and the intermediate three realms, explaining them in a simple and easy-to-understand way. In fact, he had sorted out the cultivation path. In particular, the Nascent Soul Asking the Dao mentioned by the other party corroborated what Chen Qing had learned from the "Slaying Evil and Transforming Scenery Method", and he gained some understanding.

As for the realm of seeing the heavens through the Dharma form, this person revealed the key in just one sentence, which shows that he also has a deep understanding of it!
"This person is unfathomable. Could he also be a Nascent Soul cultivator who has touched upon the path of Dharma Aspect? However, when I asked him about the details of the Three Corpses, he mentioned the previous six realms. So, the Three Corpses theory should be inherited from the previous six realms and be the aspect involved in the seventh, eighth, or even ninth realm?"

"Uuuuuu——"

In the distance, the wailing of ghosts grew louder, driving the half-ghost cultivators into a frenzy. However, they seemed to sense the profound aura emanating from Chen Qing and his companion, and their attacks slowed slightly, though they still circled around without retreating.

At this moment, the man surnamed Jiang's voice gradually became solemn: "Although those in the middle three realms can be called patriarchs, only by breaking through to the upper three realms, 'merging with the Dao and breaking through the void,' can one truly touch the root of the Great Dao! The upper three realms involve the fundamental laws of heaven and earth. Those who have not reached the realm, even if they hear about them, will find it like looking at flowers through fog, and will find it difficult to remember for long. They may even suffer from the backlash of the laws and gradually forget their form. Only those with great perseverance and great opportunities can glimpse them."

He looked at Chen Qing, his eyes shining brightly: "However, fellow Daoist, you possess extraordinary talents and supernatural abilities, and your foundation is far more solid than your peers. Perhaps you can withstand this weight. Coincidentally, the 'Yang God Manifestation' realm of the upper three realms is something I can barely remember at the moment. It involves the mysteries of the Three Corpses, which I can explain to you."

The two had now reached a relatively open area. The black swamp was still under their feet, and a huge ravine could be vaguely seen in front of them, like a wound on the earth. It was bottomless, and a dense, tangible aura of yin energy was emanating from it!

The man surnamed Jiang stopped and faced the abyss, slowly saying, "The so-called 'manifestation of the Yang God' is a profound realm that cultivators can only reach after achieving perfect Dharma form and severing major karmic ties in the mortal world. Its core lies in the two aspects of 'refining the Yang God' and 'dividing the God into three parts'!"

"To refine the Yang Spirit, one must draw upon pure Yang fire to temper the core of the Dharma body, eliminating all Yin impurities and transforming the primordial spirit into the supremely Yang and unyielding 'Pure Yang True One' body! This process is extremely dangerous and must be based on the 'Day Manifestation of the Yang Spirit' method, proceeding step by step until the Yang Spirit shines like the sun, illuminating the universe, only then can it be considered a success."

He extended a finger, and a touch of pure Yang energy flowed from the fingertip, dispelling the surrounding chill.

"When the Yang Spirit is first formed, it can transform into a rainbow of light with a thought, and traveling tens of thousands of miles in an instant is not difficult. Moreover, it can issue a single-word command within a hundred miles, and the words will become law."

Chen Qing's gaze sharpened, and he understood as he recalled the methods of the Taijing Daoist.

The man surnamed Jiang then said, "However, even if the Yang God is formed, the cultivator's own greed, anger, and ignorance will also manifest and amplify. It requires immense willpower to slash them out one after another, transforming them into three clones. This is the 'Three-Part God.' Each clone carries one of the original body's obsessions and possesses about 50% of the original body's combat power!"

"Each of the three corpses has its own mysteries, and they are even like the true spirits of others. They can cultivate on their own. Some of the three corpses are even unwilling to return to the body and gradually become independent. Only when all three corpses are completely eradicated can the three flowers gather at the top of the head and the five qi return to the origin. The three corpses will transform into pure qi that surrounds the body, and the yang spirit will be completely perfected and have boundless supernatural powers."

He concluded by saying, "To achieve this state, in addition to cultivation techniques and mental state, external resources are also indispensable. In the absence of the corresponding opportunity, I have heard that the most common method is to use a hundred catties of Sun Essence Gold to forge an altar and set up a Pure Yang Grand Array for protection in order to activate the Pure Yang True Fire and temper the primordial spirit. If one is not careful, the primordial spirit will collapse and one will be doomed forever."

As soon as the words were spoken, a deep roar suddenly came from the abyss ahead, causing the entire land of Nili to tremble!
Countless ghosts surged out from the edge of the abyss like a tide, among them were several enormous black shadows with an aura comparable to that of a Nascent Soul cultivator!
"Woo——"

A chilling wind howled, and the ghostly aura was as dark as ink. In the shadows, several enormous black shadows could be vaguely seen crawling out of the abyss!
Their forms are twisted, some with three heads and six arms, others with huge mouths on their bellies. Wherever they go, the ghosts twist and disintegrate, and there is tremor everywhere!
The two concealed their presence.

These enormous, twisted objects lingered for a moment before gradually disappearing into the distance.

After a few breaths, Chen Qing narrowed his eyes and whispered, "There's actually a twisted ghost cultivator at the Nascent Soul level here?"

"A murderous aura fills the sky! This is a ghost cultivator who has nurtured a ghost infant! But he has also lost his mind!" The man surnamed Jiang's eyes narrowed, but he smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Li, if you have a method to refine a ghost infant, this place is a treasure trove! How about it, would you like to go with me to hunt one?"

As Chen Qing's thoughts stirred, he suddenly felt the landscape outside the stele forest within the Purple Mansion tremble even more, and he vaguely caught a wisp of Taiyuan echo. The resonance grew stronger, like magnets attracting each other, pointing directly to that huge ravine.

He had no time to deal with these ghostly infants. He shook his head, and with a swift movement, he rushed into the abyss.

The man surnamed Jiang laughed heartily, his sleeves fluttering as he transformed into a streak of light and followed closely behind.

The two of them went one after the other into the ravine. The deeper they went, the denser the Yin energy became, almost tangible, eroding their protective spiritual light. Meanwhile, the Taiyuan Echo became clearer and clearer, like a great bell resonating in Chen Qing's heart.

But after a few breaths, he stopped.

Here, at the bottom of the ravine, in front of Chen Qing, there was a huge, smooth, mirror-like stone wall.

On the wall, a magnificent mural is depicted!
The painting depicts hundreds of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats in various poses, some compassionate, some majestic, some contemplative, and some glaring, all facing a blurry blank area in the center, as if in worship or in suppression.

An ancient, solemn, yet somewhat desolate atmosphere washes over you!

"The Ten Thousand Buddhas Paying Homage to the Ancestor Diagram!" The man surnamed Jiang landed beside Chen Qing, his eyes gleaming with a strange light. "It's actually a visualization diagram passed down from the Western Wilderness Buddhist sect, which has been lost for a long time! This diagram is said to be the foundation of visualization for entering the Buddhist path through Nirvana. It contains the great supernatural power of a thousand Buddhas descending. If it can be activated, it can conjure up a thousand Buddha phantoms to cleanse evil spirits. Its power is boundless! Unfortunately, the spiritual energy required to activate this diagram is enormous, which cannot be supported by ordinary sects. It also requires pure Buddhist power as a guide, otherwise it will only have the form."

Chen Qing stared at the mural, especially the blank space in the center, and the Taiyuan Echo he sensed immediately reached its peak!
He seemed lost in thought but made no move. Recalling the records he had obtained from the seal, he asked, "This place was established by the Taiyuan Immortal Emperor, so why are there Buddhist traces everywhere? Could it be that the things sealed here are Buddhist artifacts?"

"The Buddhist sect also had its origins in the West. It spread its influence among the people, gathered faith, and instead of seeking spiritual mines, it recruited people as its own, occupying mountains and enclosing land. This caused certain consequences, with many people feeling uneasy. The Immortal Dynasty was worried that it would corrupt the world, so it banned it." The man surnamed Jiang said meaningfully, "In his later years, the Taiyuan Immortal Emperor traveled to the Western Wilderness and discussed the Dao with the great Buddhist figures of that time. I heard that the final result was that he left behind a chessboard mountain in the Western Wilderness, which suppressed thirty-six living Buddhas, causing the Buddhist sect to decline for a time. Perhaps he also left some arrangements here."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing sensed there was more to the story: "Could it be that a Buddha from the Western Wilderness has come to discuss the Dao?"

at this time!

"Om-"

A terrifying will, like a raging storm, swept across the surroundings!
"boom!"

The surrounding scenery suddenly became distorted and blurred, and the boundary between reality and illusion became indistinct.

"The signs of dreams eroding reality are getting stronger!" the man surnamed Jiang warned. "Have you found what you're looking for? If you delay any longer, the dream of the Lord of this place will change again, and who knows what the outcome will be. At that time, I am confident that I can take you back, but if you don't have a trump card to deal with the three incarnations of Taijing, you will have no choice but to leave Yujing."

Chen Qing was about to speak when his heart skipped a beat, and he abruptly lowered his head!

But then, golden flames suddenly appeared beneath his and the man surnamed Jiang's feet, burning fiercely! In the blink of an eye, they transformed into enormous golden lotus flowers, surrounding the two of them. As the lotus petals spun, chains of Sanskrit characters appeared and disappeared, sealing off the four directions.

The flame carried a sense of purification and contained intense karmic fluctuations, subtly stirring up the hidden sins and virtues within Chen Qing!

"Karmic Fire Golden Lotus Formation!" The man surnamed Jiang frowned slightly. "One of the top demon-trapping formations of the Western Wilderness Buddhist sect! This formation burns the body and soul, specifically targeting evil spirits, and can also imprison living beings. To break this formation, one must use the Vajra Subduing Demon Sutra's mental method, which is extremely strong and yang, and free from all attachments, to transform the karmic fire into Bodhi, only then will there be a glimmer of hope."

Chen Qing was surrounded by raging flames, and the protective spiritual light around him crackled and grew thinner, making him seem almost impossible to withstand!

Seeing this, the man surnamed Jiang pondered for a moment, then raised his hand and formed a seal: "If things are hopeless, I'll take you away first. As long as we're alive, we can always fight again! Even if we have to leave Jade Capital temporarily, you've already dealt a blow to the Three Corpses of the Evil Emperor and suppressed their arrogance, which is a gain in itself!"

"Wait a minute." Chen Qing's mind raced, and the "Tathagata Talisman" in his Purple Mansion suddenly shone brightly. This talisman originally contained the true essence of Buddhism, and now, stimulated by the karmic fire, it actually began to reverse the operation of the great formation!
However, there are many subtle and mysterious things within that karmic fire, which cannot be fully understood in a short time!

"We can't add settings based on waking up from a dream at this point... huh?"

As the Tathagata talisman turned, the content it revealed suddenly felt somewhat familiar to him, and a "Scroll of Supernatural Powers" that he had read in the past immediately came to mind!
That was something he obtained after killing the Demon Sect's Rainbow Transformation Gold in his dream world, and it contained records of two supernatural powers.

"The Golden Body of Karmic Fire" and "The Wheel of Merit"!
He once took a different path and, based on his own characteristics, cultivated two pseudo-supernatural powers: the Buddha's Golden Body and the Wheel of Nirvana. Now, under the tempering of real karmic fire and the assistance of the Tathagata's talisman, he was blessed with good fortune!
"Though the fire of karma is a calamity, it is also fuel! Burning away karmic obstacles, it forges a golden body!"

Upon realizing this, he suddenly formed a hand seal, actively guiding a wisp of karmic fire to gather there!

Inside his abdomen, the outer elixir that had merged decay and Buddha's light shone brightly once more!

Behind them, the void trembled, and the exterior of the stele forest, imbued with the spirit of the Taiyuan Emperor, suddenly unfolded!

The illusory images of thousands of ancient steles floated and sank, and the majestic imperial might that ruled over all directions suppressed the raging karmic fire within three zhang!
"Congeal!"

(End of this chapter)