Biyou Palace did not wish to engage in combat with Tianxin, nor did it intend to interfere with the Great Sun Tathagata. It also did not want to be involved with Christ, Ji Xiang, Ksitigarbha Guanyin, Yao Tianshi, and the other powerful figures.
They merely made arrangements on Lei Wang and, using Lei Wang's body, guided the might of the Thunder Department gods, causing the long-lost Thunder Department Immortal Scripture to reappear in the human world.
Due to the fierce nature of the Ruyi of the Thunder Ancestor, Lei Wang, possessed by some power, wielded the thunder hammer and struck indiscriminately. The heavens and earth roared, as if mountains were collapsing and the earth cracking, the universe overturning. The South Sea region was thrown into chaos, the ground shook violently, buildings collapsed, and countless people were crushed to death.
"Lei Wang, why do you not awaken? How can you wield that Ruyi?"
"The Thunder Law punishes evildoers on behalf of Heaven. Now, you wield the Ruyi of the Thunder Ancestor indiscriminately, killing living beings. Great disaster will befall you!"
Ji Xiang attempted to awaken Lei Wang's original consciousness, but all his efforts were in vain. The opponent seemed to have had his soul completely erased, leaving only a body that carried the might of the Thunder Department.
Outside that body, strong incense and offerings began to emanate. The people of the South Sea were still praying for Lei Wang's protection. Their wishes guided them to Heaven, burning fiercely and empowering Lei Wang's physical body.
Then, a vast white smoke rose from Ji Xiang's body and surged towards Lei Wang!
"I will devour you!"
The Tongtian Mingyan could devour anything and had always been invincible. However, this time it failed.
A purple-red thunder light erupted from the Ruyi of the Thunder Ancestor, scattering the Tongtian Mingyan with a single blow!
[The Heavenly Splendor Immortal Treasure is no longer an earthly object and cannot be acquired!]
The Inner Scenery Divine Tablet gave a prompt. The Heavenly Splendor Immortal Treasure had surpassed all previous treasures. Just as immortals could not devour the form and spirit of a Tianxin realm expert, treasures of this level were beyond what the karmic fire generated by the Son of Heaven's white smoke could devour.
The Tongtian Mingyan also needed to advance. Its limit was to devour the form and spirit of ordinary immortal artifacts at most.
The Son of Heaven's power was no longer sufficient. He was the monarch of the human world, the king of earthly gods, but not the lord of gods beyond the heavens.
The next advancement required seizing the power of a Heavenly Emperor.
Thunderous roars echoed in the heavens.
At Biyou Palace, the immortals within reached out and drew away the Thunder Department Immortal Scripture. They saw the Yushu Treasure Scripture detach from Lei Wang's palm and ascend into the sky.
At this moment, none of the immortals present could step forward to stop them. Watching as the Yushu Treasure Scripture was fished away by the immortals of Biyou Palace, Ji Xiang looked around and finally turned to Zhou Sheng:
"That's Biyou Palace? Aren't you guys on the same side?"
Zhou Sheng was stunned, then retorted indignantly, "Who says we're on the same side as them?"
"With this Thunder Department Heavenly Scripture here, if I gained any benefit, would I still be showing off in front of you?"
Ji Xiang nodded upon hearing this, "That's right. I was just momentarily surprised and didn't react. The Yao Tianshi made a deal with me earlier, so there's no reason for him to pull something like this now. It can only be said that Biyou Palace had some dealings with the Changsheng Heavenly Palace in the past, and now they have settled their accounts. I don't know who they are working for now. The people behind them are very mysterious and have broken free from Shangqing's control."
Zhou Sheng explained that Biyou Palace was originally instructed by the Shangqing sect of Li Shanhe. Zhu Huo Palace and Liu Yun Palace had discussed separating them to occupy the popular destiny. Their intentions were grand, aiming to integrate the Dharma teachings and establish a foundation for their existence before the arrival of a new era, thereby occupying immense destiny. They could also, through this method, destroy their original sect and re-establish a great teaching, bringing forth the Ancestral Talisman of Shangqing.
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However, later, the master of Biyou Palace, the former Daozi of Shangqing, broke off contact with the Shangqing sect of Li Shanhe and defected to someone unknown, stealing the Qingping Sword as he left. This caused the cultivators in Biyou Palace, including those of the Nine Streams, to advance greatly in cultivation, with some even directly reaching the Pure Yang level, achieving the pinnacle of the human world. These individuals were previously considered low-level cultivators in the mortal realm.
"How can there be such a magic in this world? If there is, the price must be enormous."
Advancing cultivation continuously in a short period without any bottlenecks?
Ji Xiang struggled with Lei Wang while trying to seal the sky and prevent the treasure scripture from flying away. At the same time, he recalled that in Dingjia City, he seemed to have heard the Heavenly Monarch from Biyou Palace say that they were no longer what they used to be.
"Of course, that's a ruthless method that exhausts all one's potential and severs future lives." Looking at the disappearing immortal lights within Biyou Palace, Zhou Sheng couldn't help but sigh. "All one's potential is drained to exchange for an extremely high realm. This is life-consuming, and ordinary people wouldn't dare to learn it. However, those low-level cultivators, who have no hope of longevity themselves, use someone's vicious method to experience Pure Yang for several years, or even the feeling of ascending to immortality."
"Moreover, even if they ascend to immortality, it is said that they cannot replenish their lifespan. Their 'destiny' was already 'fixed' when they practiced that method!"
The heavens have divine officials who manage human lifespan. The Song Dynasty once held the divine position of the Nine Heavens Mandate Administrator, capable of stripping people of their lifespan, altering the time of life and death, redistributing excess lifespan, and supplementing deficient lifespan.
In the folk tale "Journey to the West," there is also the story of Monkey King crossing out his name from the Book of Life and Death, making his monkey descendants immortal. The underworld manages three registers, whose function is to control the life and death of all things in the world. However, although one of these registers is difficult to alter, the other two can be changed.
If it can be changed, then "one's fate is not to die."
"If the fate of such people is 'fixed,' then no method can restore it. The people of Biyou Palace cherish their lives and rarely show themselves. And what I mean by 'fixed' is not just one meaning."
"It is said that the great power can also freeze their lifespan at a single moment, allowing them to maintain this state forever. Time will not pass for them, but once this divine ability of being frozen is released, they will likely turn to dust and disappear in an instant."
Ji Xiang was shaken by what he heard.
This was like briefly pulling a living being out of time and space. He would not be affected by the passage of time in the world. The remaining lifespan, whether three years or three breaths, was irrelevant to these power-seeking individuals. After all, once they returned to the flow of time, they would immediately die.
"Heretical demons and evil ways shall be tested by me."
Ji Xiang deemed this method an abnormal path of cultivation. Furthermore, the people of Biyou Palace hid within the Dharma Realm, indirectly intervening by leveraging the close connection between the Dharma Realm and this world. Half of the Shangqing Dharma Realm was controlled by them, and the Shangqing Realm itself was one of the most powerful Dharma Realms, very close to the human world.
"Come on, with the Treasure Scripture of the Thunder Department obtained by them, even if you are ranked as a Heavenly Demon King, you might not be able to test them. I've never heard of the Demon Department being able to control the Thunder Department."
Zhou Sheng was dismissive of Ji Xiang's harsh words.
Because at this moment, Biyou Palace was about to succeed.
"Among the departments and bureaus in the heavens, the Thunder Department possesses the greatest divine ability and the strongest power, capable of interfering with all worldly affairs. With this Yushu Treasure Scripture obtained by them, it is likely that the divine positions of the Thunder Department will soon be heavily drawn in by Biyou Palace!"
"Now that the Treasure Scripture has been seized, it is a foregone conclusion."
Ji Xiang frowned, about to unleash his divine ability, when suddenly Donghua Xiannu seized an opening, withdrew from the battlefield, and flew out a silver hammer and a bronze bell from her sleeve.
The Bell of Xiying chimed, and the heavens and earth echoed with the lingering bell sounds. The treasure scripture was suppressed in the sky, gradually being pulled back by Donghua Xiannu.
In the sky, the Shangqing aura rippled. Over a dozen arms tentatively extended from the Dharma Realm, engaging in a tug-of-war with Donghua Xiannu. Simultaneously, Lei Wang, possessed by some entity, became even more violent. The raging thunder on the Ruyi of the Thunder Ancestor almost destroyed his physical body, turning it into dust. His indestructible Thunder Dharma body also showed large areas of charring.
It was almost like a corpse fighting.
[As you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.]
A sudden voice completely froze the treasure scripture in a certain position in the sky. The forces of both Biyou Palace and Donghua Xiannu formed a balance, which could not be broken unless a third party intervened.
Ji Xiang looked to the side, where the dark-faced preacher in blue stood.
The preacher in blue stared at Ji Xiang, filled with anger.
He was angry that Ji Xiang had previously stolen his False Gospel.
However, he could not attack Ji Xiang and appeared at this moment to help Ji Xiang.
This was because it was Christ's will.
"I cannot disobey the Lord's divine decree, or I will curse you to fall into hell."
The False Gospel was activated, solidifying that patch of sky. The preacher in blue looked aggrieved, while Ji Xiang said nothing more, merely nodding.
This was not the preacher's will, but Christ's. Although Christ had repeatedly tried to assimilate him, he had also intervened to help on multiple critical occasions. Even though his motives were strong, one must acknowledge his actions.
Tongtian Mingyan surged from Ji Xiang's body, its white smoke rolling up into the sky like a great wave. Once the Yushu Treasure Scripture was devoured by the white smoke, the immortal text on it would be seized by Ji Xiang.
"Liuhuo Heavenly Court!"
Ji Xiang summoned the Demon Heaven. Accompanied by the roars of eighty thousand ancient heavenly demons, the immortals in Biyou Palace began to tremble. Their fear was read by the eighty thousand heavenly demons through their wishes. These immortals had never experienced demonic trials; their own spirits were already twisted. Hearing the voices of the heavenly demons, they began to feel terrified.
The Liuhuo Heavenly Court was established. If any external force appeared in Biyou Palace, they would immediately be pulled into it for demonic trials. Their true names would be reflected in the Crimson Heaven and they could not escape. Under Ji Xiang's manipulation, this trial would become "slaughter."
Biyou Palace clearly knew this, so they did not send anyone from the Dharma Realm to intervene.
Instead, they extended the tip of a sword.
"Qingping Sword!"
Ji Xiang saw the sword tip.
The moment this sword was extended, although it was still extremely far away, Ji Xiang's brow suddenly spurted a spray of blood, which splattered onto the Demon Heaven.
The sword qi entered his body, piercing his true form. Qingping was the ultimate sharpness in the world, invincible and unstoppable!
After the Qingping Sword struck successfully, it was about to tremble, but it suddenly stopped in the sky. Then, from all directions, countless voices seemed to sound simultaneously.
At some unknown time, Ji Xiang had dispersed into one hundred and twenty-nine thousand six hundred Yang God incarnations. All incarnations aimed at the Qingping Sword and simultaneously performed the spell:
"Imperial Heaven's Retribution!"
The power on the sword was dissipated in an instant.
The next moment, the Qingping Sword was withdrawn, but the Tongtian Mingyan had already latched onto half of the divine sword's body. A sword form was forcibly torn from the Qingping Sword's main body by the Tongtian Mingyan!
"Got it!"
With half of the sword form torn off, the divine light on the Qingping Sword suddenly dimmed! Ji Xiang, however, let out a loud laugh!
That sword form was gathered in Ji Xiang's hand. He held the Tai Xu Bao Guang in his right hand and the Qingping Sword form in his left.
"Tai Xu Sword Intent!"
A nine-colored sword light dispersed across the ten heavens and ten earths.
However, it did not strike towards Biyou Palace.
Instead, the sword's edge turned, and Ji Xiang stabbed it back towards Lei Wang! As this sword light fell, Lei Wang's body was half erased, and the spirit possessing him was also forced to appear.
The Tai Xu Sword Intent instantly erased the opponent's arm. Ji Xiang also manifested the form and spirit of the Ghost Slayer General, shattering all methods.
In the next moment.
A heavenly thunder roared.
The Ruyi of the Thunder Ancestor left its wielder and was seized by Ji Xiang, who swung it towards the sky!
Ten thousand thunders boomed in the heavens. Outside the Demon Heaven, the Thunder City shifted. Ji Xiang's palm felt a violent tremor, unable to even hold the form and spirit of the Ghost Slayer General. He could only forcibly control it, but would be counterattacked by the thunder hammer.
"I've taken it, but it's not working. Treasures of the Thunder Department can only be held by deities of the Thunder Department. Moreover, this is an immortal treasure of the Heavenly Venerable of the Thunder Sound Manifestation of the Nine Heavens! Although it uses the Primordial God Position, it is essentially a heavenly demon and is not recognized by the Ruyi of the Thunder Ancestor."
"However, it's not a big problem."
Zhou Sheng was somewhat surprised to see this scene. Treasures that even the power of Yuqing could not hold were truly rare. But as for Ji Xiang, Zhou Sheng understood how many divine images the True Lord of the North Pole possessed.
The Ruyi of the Thunder Ancestor had been obtained. Now, the Thunder Department and the Demon Department would merge.
As expected.
Ji Xiang glanced at Zhou Sheng:
"No need to panic."
His tone was indifferent. The next moment, he withdrew the form and spirit of the Ghost Slayer General.
He manifested the image of Marshal Tian Peng!
"When performing thunder magic, only Tian Peng can command the thunder gods."
"When practicing thunder magic alone, only Tian Peng can manifest its effects."
"Gods of the Thunder Department, heed my command!"
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