I used folk talismans to ward off the evil spirit.

Chapter 80: Success in Opening the Path, Ancestor of the Path (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

"No wonder the Department of the Supernatural never doubted my identity as a 'Pathfinder'."

Looking at the "folklore notebook" in front of him, Jiang Jun seemed to realize something: "So, no matter what my background is, if I want to take another step forward, there is only one path I can take: to find a way out."

Over the past few months, he has been inquiring about the Divine Bureau, intentionally or unintentionally, and has gradually figured out the three paths to becoming extraordinary.

The first path is to find an extraordinary opportunity in the Abyss of Deception and ascend to the heavens in one step. Such an achievement depends entirely on the quality of the opportunity itself; once one steps into the extraordinary realm, it becomes extremely difficult to make any further progress.

The earliest superhumans in the Devils Master system all followed this path.

The reason why the Maoshan Sect was able to dominate the scene back then was precisely because the extraordinary opportunities they possessed far surpassed those of others in both quality and quantity.

The second path is to forge one's own path and become the founder of a lineage. This path is the most perilous, but once completed, the future will be vast and boundless, filled with limitless possibilities.

The founder of the Bureau of Supernatural Phenomena, and the old Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, were both such figures.

The third path is to follow the path of those who came before, ascending step by step and cultivating diligently. Most of the extraordinary individuals in the Department of Divine Wonders follow this path.

While they may have avoided many hardships, it is extremely difficult for them to step out of the shadow of their predecessors.

The Thunder God of Maoshan is a prime example.

He first obtained an extraordinary opportunity, directly stepping into the second stage of the realm, enjoying unparalleled glory for a time, but ultimately he was shackled by that opportunity.

The old Celestial Master and others caught up and left him far behind.

Lei Ming Zhenren was naturally unwilling to give up and tried to forge his own path, but ultimately failed and had to turn to other methods.

His final choice to join the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs instead of seeking help from the like-minded Longhu Mountain was certainly a loss of face.

But more importantly, the "Three Souls and Seven Spirits Method" has already opened up the ten stages of the extraordinary path, and its path is far more profound than the "Dragon and Tiger Golden Elixir Method".

Since you've already fallen into someone else's trap, then you should choose the strongest one!

Therefore, in the eyes of the Divine Bureau, no matter what opportunities Jiang Jun obtained or how many levels of strength he possessed, as long as he did not open up a path, he would have no possibility of further progress.

"Fortunately, I had planned ahead and received the promised assistance from the Department of the Mysteries, so it turned out to be a lucky accident."

He looked at the "Folklore Notebook" in front of him, which was still calmly resisting the erosion of the laws of the Abyss. The colorful paintings faintly shimmered with light, and remained unmoved.

He no longer hesitated.

The four protective artifacts flew out from the depths of his consciousness, hovered around him for a moment, and then suddenly exploded, transforming into a blazing and pure radiance that enveloped his entire being.

The next moment, a layer of ethereal flames simultaneously erupted from his divine sense, true energy, and physical body.

The flames had no temperature, yet they seemed to burn through all illusions. Jiang Jun's figure gradually became transparent in the firelight, like an ancient Buddha transforming into a rainbow and returning to Nirvana.

In his mind's eye, the "Five-Colored Stone" was stimulated by the flames, and it became even more radiant, with its five-colored light flowing endlessly.

The more intense the flames, the more brilliant they become, as if a purer essence has been forged in the fire.

But the "Pure Lotus" presents a completely different picture.

The flames climbed up the lotus petals and seedpods, and along with the two buds that grew side by side, they began to wither and die rapidly.

As the saying goes, "True scriptures fear no fire."

Jiang Jun wants to open up the way of suppressing things, and the method he cultivates must withstand this "fire tempering" test.

Although the "Five-Colored Stone" visualization is derived from "Shi Gandang", it has long been original, embodying his own principles and insights, with a solid foundation and unafraid of being tested by fire.

While the "Pure Lotus" visualization is useful and aligns with his pre-set path, its essence remains unchanged despite several revisions.

Later, the "Sanskrit Lotus Seed" evolved into the Sanskrit Lotus Bud. Although each has its own unique features, it also made the lotus more complex.

At this moment, burned by the fire of nothingness, the impurities are revealed in their true form and can no longer be hidden.

Jiang Jun remained expressionless, having already made his decision.

On the "Pure Lotus," four protective talismans suddenly flew out, casting a shimmering, mysterious light that fixed the lotus in place.

With a flick of the light, the entire twelve-petaled pure lotus flower, along with its two buds, disintegrated, transforming into a shimmering, ethereal light.

The crimson glow and azure clouds that had previously floated above the lotus were also derived from divine objects, and were now shattered along with the suppressing light.

Numerous rays of light surged and collided in the confined space, like an overturned palette, mingling and blending together in a chaotic mess.

The methods that Jiang Jun had consulted, such as the practices of Qingzhu Temple and Yuanguang Temple, also evolved on their own under various mysterious collisions, making this radiance increasingly chaotic and indistinguishable.

However, Jiang Jun's consciousness remained clear as a mirror amidst the chaos.

"Learn from the strengths of others, discard the dross and select the essence, eliminate the false and retain the true, and innovate and reform —"

He suddenly felt enlightened.

"My path has been completed!"

Before the words were finished, the four protective talismans sank into the depths of the light, separating the pure from the impure, and fixing all the disordered changes in place.

In an instant, a brand new lotus flower sprouted from the flames of nothingness.

Green leaves like a canopy, white lotus roots like jade, red lotus like fire, standing tall and graceful amidst the flames of nothingness, untouched by the slightest dust.

A lotus seedpod is surrounded by twelve petals, and deep within the seedpod, lotus seeds are faintly taking shape.

"This lotus flower originated from the Pure Lotus," but it represents a fusion of the three religions, applying ancient wisdom to modern times, resulting in a completely different appearance, deserving a new name."

Jiang Jun's consciousness became increasingly clear and lucid, and a thought arose in his mind.

"Legend has it that there was a Creation Lotus that transformed into the artifacts used by the three sages to attain enlightenment. My lotus, however, is a reversed version of the Heavenly Stems, a synthesis of various scriptures and doctrines."

"It may be named—the Lotus of Creation".

"9

Upon hearing this, Guiyuan immediately sensed something.

The celestial phenomena suddenly changed, a cold wind howled, and eerie wails echoed from the void, as if the end of the world had arrived.

Jiang Jun was completely unafraid, his mind was clear, and his spirit was as calm as a rock.

The "Creation Lotus" swayed slightly, shimmering with nine-colored mystical light.

Jiang Jun's divine sense, which had been nearly dissipated by the flames of nothingness, spontaneously gathered under the illumination of the mysterious light and reformed into one hundred and eight square crystals.

The "Five-Colored Stone" simultaneously emitted a five-colored glow, drawing upon the power to suppress things, which surged like a river, transforming into a torrent of true energy that carried his divine thoughts throughout his body.

Four protective talismans flew out and merged with the original four protective objects, generating a mysterious power that reshaped Jiang Jun's physical body.

Divine thought, true energy, and physical body—the three processes of creation occur simultaneously, forming a unified whole.

Jiang Jun felt that there was no more stagnation in his body, and that his essence, energy, and spirit had reached an unprecedented level of harmony.

"Transcendent Realm —"

He laughed loudly, and his aura surged, easily crossing that boundary.

"It's done!"

Before the words were finished, a thunderous roar erupted.

A bolt of lightning containing endless laws struck down from the depths of the Abyss.

The thunder was so fierce that even the "Folk Notebook" could not resist or escape it.

Jiang Jun, however, remained calm and unhurried.

With four protective objects surrounding him, he transformed into a streak of light and crashed directly into the illusory palace that the notebook had transformed into.

The lightning bolts followed closely, exploding violently within the illusory palace.

That clap of thunder was like the first thunderclap at the dawn of creation. Yin and Yang were first separated, the pure and the impure were distinguished, and heaven and earth were established.

Jiang Jun found himself in a vast palace complex, and proceeded without hindrance to the most central hall.

The imperial robes he wore had vanished without a trace, and his original clothes had long been burned away by the flames of nothingness.

He came naked, with nothing on his body.

In the center of the main hall, a throne was placed.

Seated on the throne was a tall figure, dressed in black robes and wearing a twelve-tassel crown, his face obscured by a hazy mist, making it impossible to discern his features.

That figure was exactly the same as Jiang Jun's image in the Mirror World.

Before Jiang Jun could speak, the tall figure suddenly disintegrated, turning into ashes and scattering away, leaving only the imperial robes lying quietly on the throne.

Jiang Jun:

At this moment, a second bolt of lightning exploded above the palace, instantly obliterating nearly two-thirds of the palace complex.

Without further hesitation, Jiang Jun flashed to the throne.

A strange feeling suddenly arose in his heart, and he raised his hand to touch the twelve-tassel crown.

"Buzz buzz buzz one"

The entire palace resonated with him.

The twelve-tasseled crown fell on his head, and the black silk robe seemed to possess a spirit, automatically covering his body.

With his robes fluttering, he ascended the throne, sat down calmly, and looked up at the third bolt of lightning that was about to strike.

The palace seemed to come alive at that moment.

A vast and powerful force surged through Jiang Jun, causing him to actively connect with the four protective artifacts and the "Creation Lotus."

'

The five-colored stones blend together.

Despite being showered with unprecedented power, Jiang Jun showed no joy whatsoever.

He calmly steered the entire palace, taking the initiative to meet the bolt of lightning in the sky.

According to the information he obtained from the Bureau of Mysteries, the thunderbolts descended from the "root of the Abyss," and for those who seek the path, it was both divine punishment and guidance.

By tracing the direction from which the lightning came, one can enter the source of the Abyss and complete the opening of the path.

"Boom!"

The palace complex collapsed again, with nearly one-tenth of the buildings reduced to dust.

Jiang Jun's expression changed slightly. Without a moment's hesitation, he steered the palace complex toward the deeper part of the Abyss.

The laws of the Abyss were completely triggered by this collision.

Time and space lost their meaning at this moment, and everything fell into boundless chaos.

In a mysterious space, the boundless darkness resembled an ancient, unchanging forest, enveloping all existence and the unknown.

Suddenly, a palace appeared out of thin air.

A radiant glow, as majestic as a mountain and as vast as the sea, emanated from the palace, illuminating a small patch of darkness.

The light was not intense, but it carried a profound and majestic aura.

Countless indescribable beings immediately became restless, like hunters who had smelled blood, rushing in from all directions, constantly crashing into and tearing at the palace complex.

The palace complex was damaged again in just a short time.

Seeing this, Jiang Jun breathed a sigh of relief. He raised his hand and flicked out a stream of light, which flew into the boundless depths of darkness.

Before long, a stone chisel, exuding an aura of pioneering, flew in from nowhere and landed steadily above the palace.

The stone chisel unleashed immense power, striking with a single blow, instantly killing the chicken to scare away most of the restless dark beings in the surrounding area.

From within the stone chisel, a majestic voice resounded: "Knowing that you were about to unleash the calamity of the Abyss, I waited here. Why did it take you three months to arrive at this place of origin?"

Three months? Jiang Jun felt a slight chill in his heart, but his face remained expressionless.

He said calmly, "The path to enlightenment lies in this one act, and in order to achieve perfection, it has taken some extra time."

As soon as he finished speaking, several more auras flew in from the darkness, each possessing extraordinary presence.

A Dragon-Tiger Golden Elixir, its golden light restrained, exuding a profound aura.

An ancient Bodhi tree, its branches and leaves swaying gently, exuding a Zen-like atmosphere.

A mottled bamboo slip, ancient and weathered, with characters faintly visible.

A blood-stained spear, its sharpness concealed, its murderous aura withdrawn.

Judging from their aura, they are all extremely powerful divine beings.

They flew from the depths of darkness, landing around the palace and guarding the four directions.

Many beings in the darkness were intimidated and dared not approach, yet they were unwilling to retreat, so they lingered nearby, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Within the Dragon-Tiger Golden Core, an aged yet gentle voice resounded: "Fellow Daoist, do not worry. Simply inscribe your own path into the source of the Abyss of Demons. With us protecting you, those evil spirits cannot harm you."

"Thank you all for your help." Jiang Jun was determined and did not stand on ceremony. With the support of the palace's power, he fully activated the four protective objects.

The power to suppress things erupted in his hands, shining as brightly as the sun.

The entire palace was settled with a roar, laying its foundation in this land of origin, and began to continuously erase and tamper with the information in the surrounding darkness.

The clear light of "The Unpredictable Ghost," the purple glow of "The Sorrowful Ghost," the crimson flames of "The Divine Rooster Catches the Five Poisons Talisman," the golden light of "The Ghostly Gourd" —

With the palace's blessing, the four protective forces gradually merged into this mysterious space.

The omnipresent darkness began its frenzied counterattack, surging forth relentlessly.

Stone chisels, golden elixir, ancient Bodhi tree, mottled bamboo slips, and blood-stained spear each guard their respective areas, firmly keeping the dark tide at bay, unable to advance an inch.

Finally, as a large area of ​​darkness surrounding the palace was marked with the seal of the suppressing object, the Root Land trembled violently.

Jiang Jun's consciousness suddenly vanished at that moment.

His vision rose sharply, as if he had suddenly ascended to an infinite height, looking down upon this land of origin from a "God's perspective".

The next moment, the "Folklore Notebook" flew out, and the four colorful paintings burst forth with dazzling light.

"Willow tree!" Jiang Jun pointed.

"Ghostly Prohibition" transformed into a section of verdant willow branch and gently fell into a courtyard within the palace.

Willow branches take root as soon as they are planted in the soil, and in the blink of an eye they sprout new buds and grow into big trees with lush branches and leaves, their green shade spreading out in a shady way.

The clear light enveloped the willow tree, giving it a mysterious aura that was hazy and indistinct.

"Sour jujube tree! Garlic!"

"The Ghostly Sorrow" flew out in response, transforming into a jujube sapling and landing in another courtyard.

The saplings grew rapidly in the wind, and in no time they became towering trees with gnarled branches, iron trunks, and sharp thorns.

The garlic clove fell into an abandoned nursery, where it immediately sprouted green shoots, which soon grew lush and green, covering the entire nursery.

However, after they separated, the brilliance of both the jujube tree and the garlic tree was much weaker than that of the willow tree.

"Yellow paper, cinnabar, realgar—" Jiang Jun pointed again.

The "Divine Rooster Catches Five Poisons Talisman" burned in mid-air, turning into a small piece of cinnabar and a small pile of realgar, which landed in a corner of the palace.

The yellow paper, however, never appeared.

Jiang Jun hesitated for a moment, then changed his mind: "Flame—a rooster!"

"Giggle giggle one"

A loud crow echoed throughout the palace, and a proud little rooster flew up to the eaves of the main hall, surrounded by flames, and stood with its head held high.

Jiang Jun smiled knowingly, shook his head slightly, and threw the "Swallowing Ghost Gourd" out again.

"Gourd, red beans, white salt."

The gourd disintegrated in mid-air, and the fragments gathered together to form a gourd seed, which fell into a garden.

It took root in the soil, and in the blink of an eye, the vines spread, and gourds of all sizes hung all over the trellis.

The red beans fell not far away, and only a sickly, thin vine grew, bearing a few shriveled beans.

The white salt, falling next to the cinnabar and realgar, was just a small pile, as white as snow, but without any mystical appearance.

After the original forms of the four protective artifacts were disassembled one by one, Jiang Jun's aura suddenly weakened, leaving him extremely weak.

He paid no heed to himself, and suddenly raised his hand, tearing off the first four colored pages of the "Folk Notebook" and throwing them into the endless darkness.

Four loud bangs followed, and the source land began to shake violently.

"What kind of path is this fellow Daoist about to open up? How could it have attracted such a great deal of attention?" The aged voice within the Dragon-Tiger Golden Core carried a hint of surprise.

From within the blood-stained spear, another solemn voice said in a deep voice, "Even when the 'Three Souls and Seven Spirits Technique' was created, it didn't possess such grandeur, did it?"

From within the stone chisel, a majestic voice directly confirmed: "When we pioneered this path, our grandeur was indeed inferior to that of this gentleman!"

In the center of the main hall, Jiang Jun sat high on his throne, dressed in black robes and crimson skirts, with a twelve-tasseled crown hanging down. He proclaimed in a loud voice: "From this day forward, I will initiate the Way of Suppressing All Things."

"Willow branches, jujube thorns, cinnabar, gourds, and other such items have since acquired the power to ward off evil spirits and suppress ghosts."

"People of Blue Star, by following my guidance to refine your own protective objects, you can generate their power. Those who are destined can enter my path of protective objects."

As soon as he finished speaking, thunder roared down like a waterfall, continuous and unending.

Nine-colored rays of light emerged from the void, circled several times above the palace, and then suddenly fell.

Jiang Jun felt that he and the palace, the palace and the place of origin, and himself and the place of origin were all one and inseparable at this moment.

His vision broadened once again.

This time, we saw further and more clearly.

The originally murky and boundless darkness was suddenly stained with billions of colors.

He saw a colossal abyss beast slowly roaming in the darkness, saw eerie shadows that blotted out the sky, and saw countless indescribable beings entangled and devouring each other.

They are born every moment, and they disappear every moment.

In this boundless darkness, countless palace-like points of light emitted a faint glow, flickering like fireflies, as if they might be swallowed up by the darkness at any moment.

A sudden realization dawned on Jiang Jun, but a question immediately arose: "Are those all Dao Pioneers? Are there really that many Dao Pioneers on Blue Star?"

With a shift in his vision, he clearly saw a nine-colored radiance extending into the endless darkness, landing on a blue planet shrouded in eerie mist.

An endless stream of eerie energy surged across the blue planet, and countless monsters appeared out of thin air. Just as they were about to wreak havoc, they were captured by a force that seemed both real and illusory, and fell into another gray and gloomy world.

But there are always a few "lucky ones" who escape capture and end up in cities, villages, or wilderness, causing one horrific disaster after another.

Following the nine-colored radiance, he sensed tens of millions of protective artifacts, emitting candle-like glows to resist the erosion of the monsters.

But ultimately, they were outnumbered and outmatched!

As the nine-colored radiance descends, another wondrous change is taking place!

But before Jiang Jun could examine it closely, this vast and expansive view only lasted for a brief moment.

His consciousness suddenly returned, and all that remained before him was the area around the palace, illuminated.

As the palace merged with the Root Land, the dark beings, who were ignorant and acted solely on instinct, gradually ceased to target it and dispersed.

By this time, the once magnificent palace complex had been reduced to only nine main halls and their accompanying pavilions and terraces.

The five beings who came to the rescue stopped using their methods and ceased driving away the dark beings, silently hovering around the palace.

"Congratulations on your successful path to enlightenment, fellow Daoist." From within the Dragon-Tiger Golden Core, the aged voice asked with a smile, "Since you do not wish to reveal your true name, may I ask if you have an honorific title?"

Jiang Jun was slightly taken aback, and was about to think of one on the spot.

Suddenly, the "Folklore Notebook" emitted golden light, and four hexagonal seal characters with drooping rays appeared out of thin air:

Juntian Daoist.

Jiang Jun smiled knowingly and said loudly, "Daoist Juntian greets fellow Daoists."

"Excellent!" A joyful voice came from within the Dragon-Tiger Golden Core. "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Juntian."

The other four people also paid their respects in turn.

However, they didn't address each other as "fellow Daoist," but simply said loudly, "Greetings, Master Juntian!"

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