The Great Sun Tathagata did not delay. His blazing sunlight disappeared from Beiju Luzhou and in the blink of an eye, the radiance arrived at the territory of Taoism. Within the Inner Mountains and Rivers, Taoism had the latest entry. The Four Great Continents were the exclusive domain of Buddhism. The Ten Continents and Three Islands, along with the Eight Great Seas, were the residences of numerous immortals and Buddhas. However, these were merely large fragments of the Inner Mountains and Rivers.
It was merely that ancient immortals and gods had entered this place. Beyond the seas, shrouded in mist, lay other blessed lands.
The territory occupied by Taoism in the Ten Continents and Three Islands was not large, as this matter concerned priority. In the past, Zhang Daoling entered the Inner Mountains and Rivers, transforming into the fourth sky. At that time, the Taoist sect only had one continent and one sea. Now, after a thousand years of changes in the Outer Mountains and Rivers and ten thousand years of time in the Inner Mountains and Rivers, the territory of the Taoist sect had grown to three continents and two seas.
Correspondingly, over the long years, the Buddhist sect's power had become too vast and they were targeted multiple times. Thus, they abandoned one continent and one sea in exchange for lasting peace. This was the result of a four-way balance. Even so, the Buddhist sect still retained another continent and sea.
Liuzhou, Kunwu Mountain.
The radiance of the Great Sun Tathagata arrived at this place. A Taoist palace was to stand tall and reach the heavens. On the upper levels, one could not hear the sounds of chickens and dogs in the human world, nor smell the smoke and fire from human dwellings. It was to be connected to the world of the gods.
The Taoist sect had sixteen Great Celestial Palaces and dozens of smaller celestial palaces. Although most celestial palaces were gathered in Juku Luzhou, as time passed and the Taoist sect acquired new continents, celestial palaces migrated. The Jinglun Celestial Palace of the New Celestial Master Dao was one such example.
Liuzhou was located in the West Sea. It was mostly mountainous, with accumulated stones forming Kunwu, which emitted bright sword light, resembling crystal and capable of cutting jade as if it were mud.
This continent was home to many sword immortals.
The moment the radiance of the Great Sun Tathagata manifested here, it was detected by the immortals of the Jinglun Celestial Palace. Instantly, celestial beings from all over the heavens appeared, and two flying immortals emerged, creating a grand spectacle and standing ready.
"So it is the Great Sun Tathagata Buddha. We wonder what brings you from Beiju Luzhou to Liuzhou?"
The two flying immortals, seeing that the visitor was not the enemy they had imagined, breathed a sigh of relief and explained, "Recently, the Hidden Immortal Sect's True Person Huolong has been killing Shangqing cultivators everywhere. The Taoist sects throughout the Ten Continents are in a state of panic. We ask for your understanding."
A question emanated from the radiance of the Great Sun Tathagata: "The Jinglun Celestial Palace belongs to the New Celestial Master Dao and has no connection with Shangqing. Why are you so nervous?"
One flying immortal: ".....Someone has cultivated the Shangqing Dharma."
The Great Sun Tathagata did not press further. The matter was not his concern. He had come here only to inquire about Ji Xiang's whereabouts.
After hearing the Great Sun Tathagata's inquiry, the two flying immortals, although the Esoteric Buddhism sect harbored resentment towards most of the Taoist sects, had no significant entanglement with the Jinglun Celestial Palace. While they should have regarded the Great Buddha of the Esoteric sect with hostility from the stance of fellow Taoists, the other party was, after all, at the Heavenly Heart realm, and it was unlikely they would be driven away immediately.
Unless there was a great feud.
"We do not know much about this person....."
After speaking, they recounted the past encounter between General Nuogao Dayin and Ji Xiang. Although the Jinglun Celestial Palace had been observing Ji Xiang, they more often did so through the eyes of others. For example, Fire Lord was their possessed object and one of their acting agents. However, this woman always messed things up, which was not very satisfactory to them.
If she had not been recognized by the Taiyin Tribulation Fire in the past, she would have been replaced long ago. Keeping her was merely to re-elicit the complete Taiyin Tribulation Fire.
"This person possesses the power of the Four Sacred Ones of the North Star....."
"It is said that this person roamed the Great Fuliu Realm for fourteen hundred years....."
"This person seems to be of the same generation as the Great Teacher of the Virtuous....."
"It is said that True Person Huolong's assassination of Shangqing this time is related to him. He should now be a successor of the Hidden Immortal lineage. As for the divine position you described, we are also unclear. In past records, we have never heard of such a deity."
"If you could know even a fragment of the name of that deity, perhaps we could help you inquire. You could ask older Taoist sects."
The Great Sun Tathagata paused and said, "How could Celestial Master Kou not know?"
The beings referred to as Celestial Masters were not limited to the so-called "Four Great Celestial Masters." The leader of the New Celestial Master Dao, Kou Qianzhi; the leader of the Southern Celestial Master Dao, Lu Xiujing; the master of the Maoshan Hundred Dharma Sect, Ye Fashan; the master of the "Chongxuan Sect," a unique Taoist sect of the Tang Dynasty, Du Guangting..... Even Zhong Kui had the title of "Ghost-Catching Celestial Master."
In short, within the Taoist sect, the term Celestial Master referred to a highly cultivated enlightened individual, often the leader of a major sect.
"Celestial Master Kou does not know."
The two flying immortals truly admitted this, and the Great Sun Tathagata was momentarily at a loss for words. He really wanted to say, "I don't believe it, let me go in and see," but in reality, he could not do so.
".....Since even Celestial Master Kou does not know, this humble monk will go to the Shenxiao Sect to inquire."
The Great Sun Tathagata left the Jinglun Celestial Palace. His blazing sunlight crossed Liuzhou and arrived at the third location of the Taoist three continents, which was also the most recently acquired continent in the past two thousand years—Changzhou.
Changzhou, also known as Qingqiu.
In the Chensi region of the South Sea, there were many mountains and rivers, great trees, immortal herbs, spiritual medicines, sweet dew, and jade essence, with everything available. There was the Purple Mansion Palace, where Heavenly True Maidens roamed.
Changzhou, Qingzhen Blessed Land.
The members of the Shenxiao Sect were scattered. Their palace, the Shenxiao Celestial Palace, was not one of the sixteen Great Celestial Palaces but a small celestial palace. However, the Shenxiao Sect's magical power was fierce, and their lightning techniques and罡风 (gangfeng - strong winds) were their得意之术 (deyizhishu -得意之术, proud skills). They could harness the power of heavenly winds and thunder. Therefore, despite their scattered members and only a small celestial palace as their gathering place, few people were willing to offend them.
Except for the True Great Daoist Sect's Tianchang Celestial Palace, which strongly supported the Jin Dynasty, and was their mortal enemy, the cultivators of the Jin and Yuan dynasties were not friendly with the Shenxiao Sect. On the contrary, they got along well with the Liao people.
The small celestial palace did not have a Heavenly Heart realm to suppress it. The highest cultivation was only at the Flying Immortal level.
However, the Shenxiao Sect had the Xihe Sect as a collateral branch to provide support. Although the master of Xihe, Celestial Master Sa, had not ascended to the Inner Mountains and Rivers, he had once attacked immortals within the Inner Mountains and Rivers, making many people extremely wary of the unique Xihe lightning technique that arose from oneself rather than from heaven and earth.
"Great Sun Tathagata, what is your intention in coming here?"
A flying immortal from the Shenxiao Celestial Palace came forward and inquired about the Great Sun Tathagata's purpose, with clear hostility.
"This humble monk is here to ask about someone."
"Who?"
"Is the Great Sage Yuanmiao here?"
"Yuanmiao.....!"
The flying immortal's expression changed drastically, and he became furious. "Lin Ling Su is not here. If you intend to take his life, Great Buddha, you should go find him yourself. We will have nothing to do with it, even if he is cut into a thousand pieces. Do not come to the Shenxiao Celestial Palace to cause trouble!"
If an ordinary flying immortal dared to speak to a Heavenly Heart realm like this, they would certainly be punished. However, this was indeed not Beiju Luzhou. If a Buddhist Heavenly Heart realm were to act here, a Taoist Heavenly Heart realm would also manifest, and this would be an unnecessary conflict.
The Great Sun Tathagata was not in a good mood, but he did not want to fight here. However, the tone of the Shenxiao flying immortal still displeased him:
"Buddhas also have anger. This humble monk is merely looking for someone. Whether Yuanmiao is here or not, this humble monk will not attack the Shenxiao. However, you flying immortal truly lack manners."
"Forget it. This is an extraordinary matter, and this humble monk has urgent business. Since he is not here, this humble monk will search a bit...."
The Great Sun Tathagata left the Shenxiao Celestial Palace. His Heavenly Heart's myriad thoughts spread across the continent. However, since there were no Buddhist cultivators here, searching for someone with his thoughts was much more difficult.
"Buddha Lord, please wait!"
Suddenly, someone intercepted the Great Sun Tathagata on the way. The Great Sun Tathagata was slightly surprised.
His Heavenly Heart's thoughts reflected across all continents, and it was impossible for anyone to know where he would appear next.
"Who are you?"
This person was completely wrapped in a white robe, with a dark face and no features, concealed by an illusionary technique. The Great Sun Tathagata could not help but sneer, "In front of this humble monk, do not use illusionary techniques. Since you have something to say, being so secretive also shows a lack of manners. You are not a true strong person."
"The Buddha Lord speaks wisely."
The white-robed man wiped his face with his hand, dispelling the darkness.
"I am from Shangqing. I know what that deity on the Northern Pole Dharma Master is. I have come to tell the Great Sun Buddha!"
"That is an existence that people have wanted to guide since ancient times, but no one has ever truly succeeded! It is truly strange! How could it have been taken by that person and placed within him?"
"If the Great Buddha obtains that divine form, it will be of great benefit!"
The Great Sun Tathagata could not help but be surprised:
"I, as the Imperial Tutor, control the position of the Great Sun Tathagata, already holding one of the three highest positions in Esoteric Buddhism, and I reflect with Shakyamuni Buddha. What benefit would this unknown divine image bring me if I obtained it?"
The Shangqing cultivator laughed heartily, "That is the power of Yuqing, which was rarely manifested even at the beginning of Taoism!"
"It is an incarnation of Heavenly Lord Yuanshi!"
"And the Esoteric sect's so-called Primal Buddha is the 'Primordial Buddha,' which is also one of the 'Yuanshi'! If you can obtain this divine form, perhaps it will allow you to glimpse the Primal Buddha position!"
The radiance displayed by the Great Sun Tathagata instantly intensified!
"So that's how it is!"