Floods, droughts, great famines, and war.
"It's merely a phantom conceived by the Jade Purity evil entity. If the true form of Haotian Shangdi descended as a deity, it could indeed bring about immense changes to the world. But a mere ancient ghost god derived from Haotian Shangdi, a flawed creation from the early Taoist period, dares to equate itself with the Heavenly Emperor?"
"Do you truly believe you can influence the current mortal realm? The turning of the seasons, the shifts in weather, the migrations of all beings – these have nothing to do with you. Ancient ghost gods should cease their attempts to wreak havoc in this era."
"Even if this era lacked Nüqing and the Heavenly Laws were lost, new rules would still operate. They simply don't apply to you because you weren't present when these new rules were established. Now that they've been supplemented, they are applicable."
Ji Xiang clasped his hands together.
The sea of suffering is boundless!
The world of the sea of suffering unfolded, filling the heavens and earth. Due to the peculiar nature of the High Heavens Ten Thousand Ghosts, it had already transformed into a distinct realm, making it difficult to drag it in. Nevertheless, the surging waves of the sea of suffering managed to seal off this entire realm.
For every sentient being, every immortal, human, or ghost in the world, there are countless instances of suffering. The sea of suffering is boundless, and turning back may not necessarily lead to shore!
Ten thousand demons of the lost path emerged, casting covetous glances at the High Heavens Ten Thousand Ghosts. Blood mist permeated the air. The flying ghosts in the sky had been nearly annihilated by the ancient celestial demons and the heavenly soldiers of various realms, and were now entangled with those celestial ghosts.
The Four Heavenly Calamity Ancient Curses also began to take effect on Ji Xiang.
Blood and vital energy surged like a torrent.
The physical body and consciousness began to wither like a drought.
Human desires were ignited, consuming everything in the world with greed, swelling the self until it transformed into a hungry ghost, embodying great famine.
Finally, anyone within this ghost realm, be they human or immortal, would have their essence and soul continuously dissipate, being absorbed by the surrounding celestial ghosts. This was the scourge of war, causing the body and spirit to gradually be ravaged.
However, although the four curses affected Ji Xiang's physical body, under the gaze of the High Heavens Ten Thousand Ghosts, his body, which had just withered, was instantly restored to fullness. Furthermore, the surrounding ambient energy, including the energy of the ghost realm, was not consumed by him but was gradually transformed.
"The Unity of Heaven and Man Method!"
This method of Unity of Heaven and Man, left behind by Emperor Wu of Han, allowed a hundred immortal souls to reside within his body, circulating all surrounding energies for his use. Ji Xiang, enduring the negative forces of the four curses, charged towards the heavens. The surging energy transformed ghost energy, then demonic energy, causing the eyes of the High Heavens Ten Thousand Ghosts to gradually fill with a look of terror.
Ghosts lacked the seven emotions and six desires, but as ancient beings who governed fear, they knew its feeling intimately. They had simply never imagined that a "human" would project it onto them.
But this was not the end.
The surrounding celestial ghosts converged towards Ji Xiang, eager to complete the sacrifice and devour the humans. However, the heavenly soldiers and celestial demons were a considerable nuisance. Responding to the call of the High Heavens Ten Thousand Ghosts, they made strenuous efforts to interfere with Ji Xiang.
The celestial ghosts greedily devoured the surrounding ghost energy. They devised a plan: to gather the ghost energy, thereby depriving Ji Xiang of a portion of his power source. Without convertible energy, this realm would lack even basic vital energy, and this demon would inevitably fail, becoming a sacrificial offering once more.
But at this moment.
A thunderous immortal melody suddenly resounded through the void. The surrounding celestial ghosts let out terrified howls. Donghua Xiannu now held a bamboo scroll between her hands. She seemed to have completed some spell with her immortal blood and immediately unleashed it.
She had no means to restrain the High Heavens Ten Thousand Ghosts, but knowing the methods to counter the celestial ghosts, she would no longer have her essence taken by them.
As for Ji Xiang's Supreme Profound Thunder Sound, Donghua Xiannu had heard it several times.
The Seven Transformations of the Emperor, the Nine Forms of Changing Scenery.
This could not only change the form and spirit but also the "form" of spells and divine abilities!
"Though the intent is not fully present, the form bears resemblance. The Supreme Profound Thunder Sound is a formless technique, but it originates from the heart. Therefore, by recalling the sound of thunder in my heart, I can naturally conjure a similar 'sound form' based on my memory."
"I have a melody."
Donghua Xiannu placed her hand on the bamboo scroll, which then transformed into a zither.
Spiritual melodies played in the void, and heavenly music shocked the sky.
Immortal music arose, terrifying the celestial ghosts.
"Eight-sided Thunderous Roar, Qianying Heavenly Sound!"
Qianying, during the Han, Wei, and Jin dynasties, was a legendary deity in the heavens who governed thunder and creation!
Eight-sided Thunderous Roar: legend has it that the thunder drums in the heavens had eight sides, and these eight thunderous sounds corresponded to the eight directions of the world.
The celestial ghosts were terrified by the thunderous sound and began to flee with roars. Ghost energy scattered and was seized by Ji Xiang. With a surge of power, a torrent of demonic energy surged, piercing the firmament. The voice of the High Heavens Ten Thousand Ghosts gradually lowered, as if struck from above, its consciousness becoming hazy.
But Ji Xiang did not relax in the slightest.
The Qingqiang Sacrifice was not yet over.
Killing the High Heavens Ten Thousand Ghosts was likely impossible. This entity was formed from imagination, and its complete eradication would require the Nüqing Heavenly Laws.
However, as long as the Qingqiang Sacrifice could be interrupted, the High Heavens Ten Thousand Ghosts should also disappear.
"Donghua, take all those monsters and minor deities out of here."
Donghua Xiannu frowned. Ji Xiang explained, "The High Heavens Ten Thousand Ghosts are difficult to kill. Only by having all the surviving beings here leave will the Qingqiang Sacrifice lose its offerings. I will then use this period of its weakness to search for the Qingqiang Stele and close this ritual."
"Also, I will entrust a wish to you. If I encounter a Heavenly Heart expert and cannot escape, use the Spiritual Radiance Dream Bestowal technique to pull me into a dream and escape."
Ji Xiang arranged his escape route. Donghua Xiannu said nothing more. She cast her spell, whisking everyone away. Riding on immortal clouds, the High Heavens Ten Thousand Ghosts and the celestial ghosts of various realms retreated, and this realm suddenly became calm.
But only the outlines of everything remained, making it difficult to discern the direction of the Qingqiang Stele, only knowing it was within Mount Wawu.
But that was also manageable.
Now that there were no human traces here, he could unleash his overwhelming divine abilities without restraint.
"Heavenward Roar!"
The head of a colossal beast appeared, reaching the heavens and pressing down on the earth. It lunged forward.
Swallowing a hundred miles of mountains and rivers!
All the surrounding mountain ranges that blocked the way were destroyed. Behind the void, a great mountain enveloped in purple clouds suddenly appeared. Its summit was extremely high, and its expanse was vast, a mountain that could not possibly exist in the mortal realm. Demonic energy swirled, with not a trace of ghostly power visible.
"Demonic energy?"
Demons, something that had not been brought to the forefront for a long time. Yet, the ancestral court of Taoism had transformed into a demonic mountain, and the last celestial demon in the mortal realm seemed to be sealed within the mountain, unable to leave.
And the "stele" that the imperial court's monsters had seen was before Mount Wawu.
And this stele was indeed not a ghost stele.
"The inscription on this stele is..."
The inscription on the stele was ancient, and many characters had been weathered and corroded by the years of ghostly energy. Ji Xiang could only decipher the first thirteen characters. These thirteen characters seemed to be imbued with immortal might; though carved in stone, they were impervious to water and fire.
"Zhang Ling of the State of Pei obtained the Supreme Clarity Profound Origin technique here!"