"Lingbao Tianzun..."
Ji Xiang deliberately released demonic energy, with Grandmaster Zhang also by his side. Although they did not enter the Tai Miao, they had been observing the movements within the temple.
The vast evil energy was actually emanating from a former emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Within the dark vortex surrounding this malevolent entity, Ji Xiang sensed the power of the black energy.
"I seem to have learned something."
"What do you mean?"
In response to Grandmaster Zhang's inquiry, Ji Xiang pointed to past events.
"There is black energy here."
"This black energy, known as Hei Sheng since ancient times, first emerged from beneath the Dongyue Temple. The original Dongyue Temple was established by a Grandmaster of Xuanism, who set up a formation beneath it to invert life and death, Yin and Yang. However, he eventually abandoned this endeavor and halted the formation beneath the Dongyue Temple."
"And Hei Sheng did not originate from the underworld. It's just that someone in the underworld mastered the method of controlling it. In the mortal realm, during the reign of Emperor Zhengde, the black and white dragons fought, causing a blood rain across the land, and Hei Sheng manifested as the demon Zhou Sheng."
"From what I know, the black energy originates from a Yuqing evil entity. Throughout history, many have come into contact with this object. However, Taiqing and Shangqing cultivators have hardly heard of its existence. Only ancient corpse-ascended immortals knew of the Yuqing evil entity."
"And now, another powerful being who controls the energy of Hei Sheng has appeared. It is surprisingly Emperor Jingtai. However, it should not be Emperor Jingtai's primordial spirit, but rather one of his three souls, fused with immense resentment and fixed by some power, destined to live and die with the imperial incense of the Ming Dynasty."
"Let us return to the matter of the original establishment of the Dongyue Temple."
"The original temple was established by a Grandmaster of Xuanism, but it has now been destroyed."
"And the new temple, which was the former Dongyue Temple... was built by Emperor Yingzong, who repaired the original temple and inscribed its name."
Grandmaster Zhang pondered, then suddenly said,
"How did this matter trace back hundreds of years? The Dongyue Temple... did Emperor Yingzong already know of the existence of immortals in the underworld a hundred years ago?"
"Or perhaps, Emperor Yingzong was connected to the Yuqing evil entity? That shouldn't be the case..."
The Grandmaster did not disbelieve that emperors practiced divine and ghostly arts; he believed in it. After all, Zhengde and Jiajing possessed magical powers. In past eras, there should have been individuals with such abilities, especially during the Yongle period. Yao Guangxiao was a renowned master, at the peak of the Chunyang realm in the mortal world. There were rumors that he reappeared after the death of Emperor Yongle and even ascended to become an immortal.
However, if Emperor Yingzong possessed divine and ghostly arts... having attained such great power, why would he seek revenge against Emperor Jingtai?
Yet, the words of the malevolent entity forced the Grandmaster to believe that this matter might indeed be related to Emperor Yingzong, and even this black energy was now inexplicably linked to this former emperor.
"The affairs of the imperial family are difficult to intervene in. We can only do our best. The matters of the imperial family must be resolved by the imperial family themselves. We can at most handle the aftermath."
The Grandmaster believed that even if they knew, they could not casually intervene. Ji Xiang, however, disagreed and directly refuted him:
"Even if one is the Son of Heaven, if they commit acts harmful to the world, they must be judged by all under heaven. If all under heaven cannot judge, then let those in heaven judge."
"The Son of Heaven is the Son of Heaven of the mortal realm, the ruler of humanity. How can he control those true gods, Buddhas, immortals, and demons?"
The Grandmaster frowned, "Senior Brother..."
"Since the malevolent entity is involved with the Yuqing evil entity, I must return to investigate. It is simply not yet the time."
"Do you know that among the Heavenly Heart realms closest to the mortal world, besides the four Heavenly Hearts of the Three Teachings, the last one, the fifth Heavenly Heart, Yuan Huang, who incited Prince Lu to rebel and even made him a regent, is a Yuqing cultivator?"
"And how do you know that Emperor Yingzong's establishment of the Dongyue Temple and the reason for the malevolent entity's transformation are unrelated!"
The Grandmaster was suddenly startled.
Ji Xiang had already withdrawn his demonic energy and said to the Grandmaster, "The Eastern Royal Court has been largely secured. I will now depart for the South Sea."
The Grandmaster quickly replied, "The Emperor's troops will follow shortly to support you, Senior Brother."
"Mortal troops are of no use. Do not dispatch demon soldiers or mountain monsters either."
Ji Xiang suddenly advised.
Currently, Shun Tian Prefecture had recruited many strange creatures and monsters using the Investiture of the Gods decree, and after examining them, they were incorporated into the divine official system. Therefore, many demon soldiers and mountain monsters had transformed into folk deities and generals. However, these beings were of no use to the Southern Dharma traditions, and were even less effective than ordinary soldiers armed with firearms.
"Naturally, we will not dispatch these demon soldiers and mountain monsters. The Dharma traditions of the South Sea are most skilled at controlling mountain and wild demon soldiers. If the court's troops were to be subdued by them, it would lead to great disaster."
This was a case of one overcoming another. Those monsters and mountain spirits who had become divine soldiers and generals appeared majestic to mortals. When encountering Dharma tradition cultivators skilled at subduing them, they would immediately retreat and be unable to engage. At this point, the appearance of firearms would force the Dharma tradition cultivators to retreat.
"His Majesty has already ordered troops to be dispatched directly from there. We obtained some useful firearms from there previously... and have ordered the Director of Ceremonial, Eunuch Chen Ju, to oversee it."
Ji Xiang was not familiar with Chen Ju, but to be a Director of Ceremonial meant he was deeply favored by the Emperor. The Grandmaster mentioned the forceful acquisition of the Bugao Lao cannon foundry and the recruitment of its Western director, which was now the Ming Dynasty's official cannon casting site.
However, despite the director benefiting from this arrangement and receiving official endorsement, other Westerners did not comply.
"In fact, when the Dharma traditions sent their reply, the court had already received a secret report from that region. In Haojing'ao, the Franks were colluding with the Dharma traditions, selling numerous military supplies to the Southern Dharma traditions. They bribed the provincial administration commissioner with land rent, and they even began to recruit ronin from Japan as thugs, building fortifications, setting up artillery batteries, and establishing an independent armed force. Simultaneously, they accepted Japanese merchant ships, which were prohibited from trade by the Ming Dynasty, and engaged in trade with Japan."
"These are unscrupulous scoundrels. The Dharma traditions are their sanctuary, and they are the firepower support for the Dharma traditions. To wage war on the South Sea now would severely deplete national strength, even more so than the war in Joseon."
As the two were speaking, Emperor Wanli had just emerged from the Tai Miao when a eunuch rushed to report to him with a look of panic.
Upon hearing this, Wanli's expression darkened. The two immortals, concealed in the sky with illusionary techniques, turned their heads to look.
"Yang Yinglong of Bozhou has rebelled!"
The northern Tatar conflict had just subsided, and in the Shu region, another conflict had erupted.
The three great campaigns of Wanli were the Joseon campaign, the Ningxia campaign, and the Bozhou campaign. Among them, the Bozhou campaign was merely the arrogant fantasy of someone who wished to declare himself king and establish his own territory.
"But in this world today, did Yang Yinglong truly rise in rebellion out of arrogance?"
Speaking of the Shu rebellion.
Ji Xiang suddenly had a bad premonition, yet it was difficult to clarify.
He then formed a hand seal.
"Future vision, focus and observe."