From Under One Person: Sincere Journey Through the Heavens

No less than him.

Judging from the form of the ghost realm, it clearly possesses a certain degree of order, similar to the Netherworld. Among the ghosts' subordinates, at least three are no weaker than you, who have unlocked the second-tier gene lock.

Being together, you're so focused on protecting the newcomers that you can't concentrate on the fight... While an emotional outburst might have a 10% chance of getting you into a third-stage state, I think among your companions present, besides Zhan Lan, no one else could give you such a powerful stimulus.

Zhan Lan was taken aback, her face flushed, but it was gone in an instant. She scolded Chu Xuan, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Zheng Zha was momentarily embarrassed, but still asked, "What are you plotting?"

"Just trying to keep everyone alive."

Chu Xuan adjusted his glasses, his face expressionless. "Now, we have nine people, which can be divided into three groups. Zhan Lan, Zhang Jie, and Lu Renjia are the weakest; they will explore in the opposite direction of Black Mountain, sweeping away the wandering ghosts and yakshas in the surrounding area. Zhan Lan's mental scan might attract the attention of ghost soldiers and ghost generals in Black Mountain..."

"Jungling?"

Zhang Jie swung his Desert Eagle and laughed, "You've finally come up with a good suggestion."

Chu Xuan glanced at Zhang Jie and continued, "Arno, Qi Tengyi, and Zhao Yingkong are responsible for searching for any useful clues about Black Mountain, Lanruo Temple, or anything else in the vicinity of Black Mountain."

Qi Tengyi is an 'archaeological expert', so he should be able to bring us a lot of gains. Arno is responsible for protecting him. Zhao Yingkong is an assassin, and her main personality has reached the fourth level. With the light point given by Jiang Liu, she should also be able to use some spiritual power to harm ghosts and monsters.

Meanwhile, Zheng Zha, Ling Dian, and I infiltrated the interior of Black Mountain to investigate what other troublesome forces existed besides the 'big guy' Jiang Liu mentioned, and also to draw fire for the first two groups' operations.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Zha stared at Chu Xuan for a long while before saying quietly, "Fine! Then I'll trust you one more time!"

Unlike in *Alien*, this time Chu Xuan didn't suggest sending the newcomers to draw fire. Instead, Zheng Zha, Zero, and Chu Xuan himself were chosen as the targets to draw fire...

Of course, it's also because in the Ghost Realm, sending newcomers to draw fire is just suicide! It's pointless!

the other side.

The moment Jiang Liu stepped onto Black Mountain, his magnetic field suddenly fluctuated and dissipated—

The Black Mountain exudes a peculiar force field that affects the performance of supernatural abilities. Once these abilities leave the body, they will be disrupted by the invisible forces of this place and reduced to the most basic Qi body unit state.

Is it only possible to rely on one's life and cultivation level?

Jiang Liu's heart sank. He activated the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts and ran quickly along the winding mountain road. All sorts of strange monsters, such as bull-headed humans, horse-faced humans, and human-bodied turtles, that attacked him along the way were smashed to pieces and turned into mincemeat.

Although these ghosts are transformed from yin spirits, they are truly "alive" in relation to this space, so even after they are killed, their corpses will remain.

Only when they went to the real world could these ghosts' "corpses" be destroyed, disintegrating into qi and returning to the world.

As he went higher, he saw that the number of ghosts and monsters gathered there increased. Jiang Liu took off the stick-like object he was carrying on his back, tore off the cloth covering it, and revealed the "Ruyi Jingu Bang" (Golden Cudgel), which had a section of black iron in the middle and golden hoops at both ends.

Holding the iron rod, he circulated his Qi and poured it into it, which did not dissipate, thus calming Jiang Liu's mind.

With a sweep of the long staff, a large number of ghosts and monsters in front were blasted away. Some of the dead and injured ghosts even turned into wisps of gray air, which were absorbed by the "golden hoops" at both ends of the iron staff, emitting a faint golden halo, like the glow of stars, which was quite magical.

Immediately, the iron rod trembled and resonated with Jiang Liuren's magnetic field, actually causing him to actively activate his Eight-Nine Arcane Arts. The spiritual light at his ancestral aperture fluctuated in a peculiar way. The Azure Dragon and White Dragon seemed to sense this and circled the spiritual light nine times, their bodies seemingly tinged with a faint golden hue, exuding an air of immortality.

Jiang Liu had an epiphany. He adjusted the five spirits of his mind and the five qi of his body, circulating them through the nine cycles of the cosmos. He realized that the key to the nine cycles of alchemy lay in the six viscera, which, in conjunction with the five qi in his chest, nourished the six qi of heaven and earth: Jueyin wind and wood, Shaoyin sovereign fire, Taiyin damp earth, Shaoyang ministerial fire, Yangming dry metal, and Taiyang cold water.

Five days make up a hou (候), three hou make up a qi (气), six qi make up a shi (时), and four shi make up a year.

Understanding the four seasons and six qi is helpful in mastering the art of controlling the heat, which is the key to "alchemy"!

The iron rod in Jiang Liu's hand originated from Xuanzang's nine-ringed staff, and the "golden hoops" at both ends came from the golden branches of the divine tree that Jiang Liu had refined internally, naturally possessing the ability to "absorb qi".

Now, Jiang Liu uses the power of the iron rod to attack ghosts and monsters, which has activated this ability. Combined with the nine-turn principle of the iron rod, Jiang Liu has come to understand the nine-turn method of alchemy that transforms the five elements into the six qi.

In short, it is to use the effects of the five elements to strengthen the six internal organs, and truly forge the human body into a cauldron, with the five internal organs and five elements forming the Great Void, and the six internal organs and six elements transforming into the alchemical furnace!

In this way, one can refine everything that is swallowed, whether it be food or the energy of heaven and earth, thereby comprehensively enhancing one's essence, energy, and spirit, which is the method of "seizing the creation of heaven and earth".

If combined with the "Invading the Mysteries of the Sun and Moon" technique of the Sun and Moon Refining Form, the connection between the Eight-Nine Mysterious Techniques, Dharma Image Seals, and Sun and Moon Refining Form becomes even closer.

Ultimately, it was because he understood the method of absorbing the six energies of heaven and earth that Jiang Liu's skill in controlling the fire, although still at the level of controlling the fire for one day, began to develop in the direction of corresponding to the changes of the four seasons.

The grading of skill in controlling the heat for a day, a month, and a year—

There's an error!

In Jiang Liu's classification of fire control, progress is gradual, corresponding to the work of one day - the sunrise and sunset of the sun; the work of one month - the waxing and waning of the moon; and the work of one year - the cycle of the four seasons.

In reality, the first two, the temperature of a day and the temperature of a month, correspond to the rotation of the stars; the latter corresponds to the changes in climate and phenology throughout the year.

Both of these require skill and timing, but they take different approaches.

It doesn't necessarily have to be done step by step.

Both can be done simultaneously. In fact, theoretically, the daily progress pursued by the older generation of most sects is completely different from Jiang Liu's definition of "sunrise and sunset." They should be following the direction of "five days make a hou, three hou make a qi, six qi make a shi, and four shi make a year," rather than actually moving in the direction of the sun, moon, and stars from the beginning like Jiang Liu has...

# Chapter 343 The Emperor of the Underworld—Self-Proclaimed

in short.

By using the iron rod to kill the ghosts, Jiang Liu finally understood the direction of mastering the art of controlling the heat.

There are two.

Firstly, it corresponds to the changes in the sun, moon, and stars.

This direction can be divided into:

The Golden Crow's skill in controlling the heat—corresponding to sunrise and sunset;

The Jade Rabbit's skill in controlling the heat corresponds to the waxing and waning of the moon;

And the power of the Zhou Tian Xing Su fire control—corresponding to the rotation of the stars in the sky!

Since ordinary human lifespan has a limit, reaching the level of the Jade Rabbit Fire in this direction is already the limit within the limit. Reaching the level of the Golden Crow Fire is considered to have reached an extremely profound realm in the path of cultivation.

Jiang Liu has now reached the "One Day Fire Mastery" level he originally set, which is now the newly defined Golden Crow Fire Mastery level, and is progressing towards the Jade Rabbit Fire Mastery level.

The second direction corresponds to the changes in climate and phenology throughout the four seasons.

According to the principle that "five days make up a hou, three hou make up a qi, six qi make up a shi, and four shi make up a year", theoretically, it can be divided into four stages: a hou, a qi, a shi, and a year.

But in reality, this division is not correct.

Without him.

Compared to the relatively clear system of the movement of stars, the division of the four seasons within a year is not so distinct, especially the changes in climate. Although it seems to be punctual every year, there are actually extremely subtle time differences, not to mention that the changes in air currents are even more real-time.

Therefore, if one is not proficient in numerology and does not construct a Qimen within oneself, so as to sense the changes of the four seasons at any time and place and change oneself accordingly in order to maintain the constancy of one's life, even if one personally experiences the four seasons, there will be no progress whatsoever.

Conversely, by constructing a Qimen within the body, based on the five internal organs, one can spontaneously and instinctively sense the changes in the climate of the universe, and thus naturally control the timing and intensity of the corresponding climate and phenology.

Jiang Liu had already constructed a unique system within himself. Although he didn't understand the specific methods of casting spells, he could sense the changes in the flow of qi in the surrounding area. He also cultivated magical symbols and seals, among which the four innate methods derived from the innate talisman diagrams could help him connect with heaven and earth. Now, by chance, he had also comprehended the method of absorbing the six qi.

He had already mastered the skill of controlling the timing of fire according to the changes in the four seasons.

Although there are no seasonal changes within this ghost realm, there is still a flow of energy, and the essence of this energy flow is no different from that of feng shui and natural climate.

Therefore—

Jiang Liu took a breath, swallowed the Yin energy of the ghost realm, and refined it for his own use. With a flick of his staff, golden light pierced the air, sweeping away a group of ghosts and monsters.

The iron rod twirled in Jiang Liu's hands, seemingly possessing the power of the legendary "Ruyi Jingu Bang" (the magic staff), capable of killing anyone who bumped into it and injuring anyone who grazed it; even if there were thousands of ghosts and monsters in front of him, they would be of no use.

As Jiang Liu fought his way up, countless ghosts and monsters died along the way. The Yin Qi was absorbed by the "golden hoops" at both ends of the iron rod. Furthermore, the Qi was connected to the cultivation technique within Jiang Liu's body. Every time Jiang Liu's internal Qi circulated nine times, the iron rod became more magical, and the golden hoops at both ends spontaneously grew, revealing strange cloud patterns, just like the imprints of Jiang Liu's cultivation technique.

The section of black iron in the middle seemed to be faintly covered with stars, but it was neither real nor illusory—Jiang Liu had not mastered the skill of controlling the fire corresponding to the constellations in the heavens, so it did not look real.

In this way, when Jiang Liu reached the top of Daheishan Mountain, the monsters that blocked his way were either killed, absorbed by the "Golden Cudgel," or scared away and fled in all directions, no longer daring to confront him head-on.

At this moment, Jiang Liu had just completed eighty-one cycles of the Qi, and the iron rod had also completed a "refinement," conforming to the principles of the Nine Revolutions Elixir Method, and completely connecting with his Qi, just like an external, controllable organ.

Moreover, the "golden hoops" at both ends of the iron rod have changed, covering a wider area of ​​the rod and occupying a quarter of its length.

Taking one end as an example, from bottom to top, the bottom is shaped like a golden lotus emerging from the ground, and the middle is connected to the golden dragon on the top by the shape of a burning furnace.

The phrase "Golden lotus emerging from the earth" refers to Jiang Liuming's understanding of the principle of consuming the "six qi" and his ability to "plant golden lotuses in fire" by combining the sun and moon's refining of his form with the concept of "the moon hiding the jade rabbit and the sun hiding the crow".

The burning of the furnace symbolizes understanding the timing and intensity of the fire, operating the Eight or Nine Mysterious Techniques, and using one's own body as an elixir to refine one's nature and life.

The coiled golden dragon represents the power of cultivating the Dharma image and talisman. Because there are a blue dragon and a white dragon in the ancestral aperture, it presents the appearance of two dragon patterns.

However, upon closer inspection, the two dragons coiled around the pillar are not identical in appearance. One dragon has dark blue patterns on its scales, two claws on its belly, and two horns on its head; the other dragon has a silvery-white halo on its scales, four claws on its belly, and a single horn on its head—these two are the images of the Azure Dragon and the White Dragon.

The change in the shape of the golden hoops at both ends of this staff also confirms that Jiang Liu's cultivation has progressed to the point where the Qi circulation system within his body has fully involved his primordial spirit, brain, internal organs, muscles, bones, and skin, approaching a state of perfection.

"It's just a matter of getting the timing right, and a few details..."

Thinking of this, Jiang Liu looked up and saw a clearing about three miles long and wide. A temple appeared amidst the gloomy atmosphere, and came into view.

Layer upon layer of dark palaces and pavilions, layer upon layer of dark corridors.

Outside the temple gate, a memorial archway stands tall, inscribed with "Netherworld," shrouded in countless dark clouds.

Inside the temple gate, a plaque hangs high, inscribed with "Namo Temple," surrounded by a thousand wisps of dark gray mist.

Two rows of pines and bamboos, a grove of cypresses. The two rows of pines and bamboos, bare and leafless; the grove of cypresses, some green, some black, straight and secluded. And there, in between, a drum tower stands tall, a pagoda steep. The drum tower stands tall, its drum and bells resounding, captivating the soul; the pagoda steep, its secluded splendor dispelling the spirit!

It is:

Originally a sacred site, its scenic beauty rivals that of the Saha world.

Now the Pure Land has become a demonic realm, and those who have fallen from Buddhahood have become demons.

Carrying a stick, Jiang Liu walked to the temple gate, and with one blow, a thousand dark clouds rose up and crashed towards the archway.

"boom!"

With a loud boom, smoke and dust billowed up, creating a gust of wind!

The "Netherworld" archway collapsed instantly, shattering into pieces on the ground.

Jiang Liu stomped on the plaque with the three large characters "Netherworld" and smashed it. He then strode towards the palace gate, smashing it with the stick in his hand and shattering one side of the courtyard wall that was attached to the gate.

"Who dares to trespass into the Netherworld?"

A demon leaped out of the main hall. It was three zhang tall, with a blue face, fangs, and crimson hair. Its face was divided into two parts: one half with angry, wide-open eyes, and the other half with kind, benevolent eyes.

It has a mouth on its chest and abdomen, with twisted and coiled ribs that transform into sharp teeth, which open and close to exhale and inhale yin energy; it has four arms on its shoulders with sharp claws that gleam with cold light; and it has a flame-shaped halo on its back.

She wore a louvered chain skirt around her waist and was barefoot; every step she took made the ground vibrate.

"Trespassing? Not at all!"