Boom! The aura of the Crow's Cry Nation was revealed with this single Nine Nether Immortal Light, truly shaking Ji Xiang's very soul!
His three souls and seven spirits seemed about to be summoned from his body!
"Not good! The three souls and seven spirits are about to turn into formless soul energy!"
The Vow-Keeping Vajra was greatly alarmed. He fully activated his Buddhist dharma, attempting to help Ji Xiang escape this predicament!
However, the moment the Buddhist dharma began to circulate!
Buzz—
The divine tablet of the Vastly Crossing the Drowned Heavenly Venerate emitted a dark glow, and all of the Vow-Keeping Vajra's Buddhist power was absorbed by the Drowned Heavenly Venerate!
Immediately after, this Heavenly Venerate's divine tablet displayed a sliver of its might. The three souls and seven spirits, which were almost melted by the Crow's Cry Nation's aura, stabilized once more!
Everything here seemed to be suppressed by its power!
"This!"
The Vow-Keeping Vajra was dumbfounded. Although he knew some of the pasts of the Heavenly Venerates here, he ultimately did not know the divine power they possessed. The only certainty was that they were not as powerful as the Nine Nether Sin-Removing Heavenly Venerate, as they were merely Formless Heavenly Venerates...
Formless?
Formless!
In an instant, the Vow-Keeping Vajra seemed to have thought of something!
The power of the Crow's Cry Nation was to transform the tangible into the formless, and these Heavenly Venerates, spoken of in Taoist legends, were themselves formless!
A guess surfaced in the Vow-Keeping Vajra's mind, but he dared not speak it. After all, most stories before the Tang Dynasty had been annihilated in various Dharma Realms, long since fragmented, making it impossible to recreate this past history. Unless there was a treasure that absolutely needed to be found, carelessly searching for fragments of Tang Dynasty history could lead to great curses lingering in the Dharma Realms.
On Ji Xiang's side, his soul, which had been shaking and about to leave his body, stabilized. The formless part of his soul also recovered. The Drowned Heavenly Venerate's power enveloped this dark death realm. As Ji Xiang obtained the Nine Nether Immortal Light, the gate to the Crow's Cry Nation also slammed shut!
When the distorted Dharma Realm space returned to its original state, what appeared before them was still the corrupted wilderness of the Root Country. The gate leading to the extreme Yin seemed to have never appeared here!
Ji Xiang sensed the divine ability.
The power of the Nine Nether was indeed extraordinary and would surely have its use sooner or later.
"Young friend, let us return."
The Vow-Keeping Vajra carefully suggested to Ji Xiang, "When we return, this monk wishes to ask for your help to escape from the Human Realm."
However, Ji Xiang, after grasping and refining the divine ability, did not immediately respond to the Vow-Keeping Vajra's suggestion. Instead, he looked around the darkness, where the Yellow Springs cold qi permeated the heavens and earth.
"Those two False Immortals fell into the Yellow Springs, are they dead?"
"I'm afraid... they won't live much longer."
The Vow-Keeping Vajra understood what Ji Xiang was about to do and carefully considered, "The Yellow Springs is inherently a place of death. To descend into the Yellow Springs is to die. Without corresponding supreme Yang dharma power, one cannot resist the Yellow Springs cold qi here for long."
"However..."
The Vow-Keeping Vajra had seen a bit of the situation in the Human Realm before. Those two False Immortals possessed the Han Guangwu Golden Seal, which seemed to protect the holder, achieving a pseudo-immortality.
And not only that...
Ji Xiang seemed to be asking, and also half-affirming, "You said before that staying here for a long time might attract the Great God of Yellow Springs, also known as Izanami in Japanese mythology. And this divine position may not be held by anyone, but she is definitely maintaining the order of the Yellow Springs Nation."
"This means that, similar to Dou Mu Yuan Jun who protects the Forbidden City in our world, it doesn't require someone to control it. If it's placed here, it can purify and correct this land."
"And you also said that the Yellow Springs Nation might be monitored by Xu Fu, and that Xu Fu can even manipulate this Dharma Realm. This point is correct, isn't it?"
"And if that's the case, even if their souls fall into the Yellow Springs, as long as their will is connected to Xu Fu, can't the False Immortals be reborn through their will?"
The Vow-Keeping Vajra fell into thought. This was indeed something he did not know, so he could not give a definitive response. Reviving someone through their will was a technique that existed in all religions, but the process of revival and the upper limit of the revived were things that were not publicly disclosed.
"It seems you can't be sure either! To kill an enemy, you must not only destroy their physical body and soul, but also annihilate all their will. Especially for experts at the immortal level, if they dared to drag me into the Yellow Springs without any backup, claiming they were prepared to sacrifice their lives, and brought two immortal artifacts with them?"
"Would they truly be willing to part with them!"
The Vow-Keeping Vajra thought for a moment and then earnestly warned, "But the Yellow Springs is vast, and this is ultimately a Dharma Realm. The difficulty of finding two lost immortals within a Dharma Realm is too great."
"Searching for them here is truly a waste. It's better for us to return first. If they are still alive, they will definitely return."
"Moreover, even if they have great means to return from the Yellow Springs, they will inevitably be severely weakened. They are not true immortals, merely false immortals. Corroded by the power of the Yellow Springs, even with the protection of that golden seal, the Yellow Springs qi clinging to them is not so easily removed."
If they couldn't be found in the underworld, they would definitely be found in the mortal world. Originally, they would have laughed and said, "You're dead too!" But upon returning to the mortal world, everyone would have looked at each other in disbelief, realizing it was all a pretense.
The Vow-Keeping Vajra brought up Japanese mythology. The filth of the Yellow Springs Nation could only be washed clean in specific places. This was how Izanagi in mythology was. The filth from the Yellow Springs still followed him after he escaped. Izanagi washed away the Yellow Springs filth in a river in the Aokigahara of Hinata Country. And this Hinata Country was where Amaterasu was born, meaning it was a land where supreme Yang qi accumulated.
Therefore, without considerable skill and backup, who would dare to descend into the Yellow Springs lightly?
"Let's go back."
Ji Xiang looked around, not leaving the Root Country. "I was just saying. It's indeed a good idea to go back and kill them again, as they will definitely appear on the Korean battlefield again."
"However, I have no intention of returning for now. The reason I asked for your opinion, to see if they were alive, was only to prevent them from hindering me."
"If King Ksitigarbha wishes to return, please do so quickly. I have my own way of returning, as you have seen."
The Vow-Keeping Vajra was suddenly in a difficult position. "This, I'm afraid that won't do. This monk can only attach his form and spirit to you, young friend. If you don't leave, this monk's form and spirit cannot leave on its own, as there is nothing else here for me to attach to."
Ji Xiang: "Then, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, please retract your own great power."
The Vow-Keeping Vajra was puzzled. "Why is that? This monk can help you share the erosion of the Yellow Springs."
"Because, next, the Yellow Springs will be very painful."
"???" The Vow-Keeping Vajra seemed to have heard something absurd and was speechless for a moment. But he still confirmed with Ji Xiang if he really wanted to retract his power.
After receiving confirmation, the Vow-Keeping Vajra, with a belly full of doubts, contracted his entire form and spirit, gathering at Ji Xiang's glabella, forming a swastika symbol.
Ji Xiang, on the other hand, let out a comfortable sigh.
The surrounding Yellow Springs cold qi surged towards him continuously!
This was the resting place of the dead, not a place for the living!
The demonic and the ghostly, their nature is similar! Their qi devours each other until one side gradually grows stronger!
Ji Xiang's previous use of dharma power, and the demonic qi that leaked out, was enough to attract the attention of the Yellow Springs cold qi here. How could the entire Yellow Springs let go of Ji Xiang, this powerful Heavenly Demon!
Transforming the Heavenly Demon into the power of the Yellow Springs Dharma Realm was a rule within the Dharma Realm, unrelated to greed or anything else!
What to do?
The Vow-Keeping Vajra sensed Ji Xiang's actions.
Then.
A massive Yang qi erupted from Ji Xiang's palm!
The entire dark Yellow Springs death realm was immediately torn apart by light. The radiant treasure illuminated all directions, flowing with two faint red mists!
The Vow-Keeping Vajra's mind was greatly impacted in this instant!
The Second-Turn Immortal Pill!
"Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's mind will also waver. Is the Bodhisattva a person of the Inner Mountain River or the Outer Mountain River?"
"If you wish to seize it, now is the perfect opportunity."
Ji Xiang spoke as if tempting him, while the swastika on his glabella flickered, and Buddhist chants emanated from within.
The Vow-Keeping Vajra recited Buddhist dharma, stabilizing his mind and dispelling the greed that had just arisen. He still had a request for Ji Xiang, so of course, he could not snatch such a treasure here. Moreover, this thing was of no use to his current form and spirit; he could neither eat nor absorb it. Just looking at it could easily lead to greed.
"Young friend, you jest. This monk is not that kind of person. How could I harbor such a wicked greed? Sin, sin!"
"Whether it is the Outer Mountain River or the Inner Mountain River, the Second-Turn Immortal Pill is no ordinary item. It can allow banished immortals and incomplete immortals to return to their positions, and it can allow False Immortals and Pseudo-Immortals to advance further... This treasure that forcibly elevates mortals to the immortal level, how can it not be a good thing?"
"This monk is currently in a state of incompleteness, so this item is indeed useful to me. However, I can neither take it, nor dare to take it, nor should I take it, for it would be useless. Rest assured, young friend, this monk understands your intentions. If by consuming the Second-Turn Immortal Pill, you can return from an incomplete immortal to a true immortal, then the breaking of the cycle of reincarnation is within reach, and this monk can also be freed from the Human Realm. This is a win-win situation!"
Ji Xiang asked, "The Vajra of Filth previously tampered with this pill. Take a look, are there still his methods on it?"
"What! The Vajra of Filth?! How could he... So that's how it is! Young friend, you have a predestined affinity with my Buddha!"
"No, no, no, Bodhisattva, you mustn't say such things!" Ji Xiang quickly stopped the Ksitigarbha's praise!
If he continued to praise him, he would be converted to the West and become a subordinate.
"Why not praise him? Young friend, upon entering my Buddhist sect, you will manifest a perfect Dharma body, at least achieving half-step Bodhi. Why not consider..."
"Ksitigarbha, are there any of the Vajra's methods on this thing?" Ji Xiang placed his hand on the swastika mark. "Answer me properly, or I will offend you. I can still take this piece of meat."
"Young friend, do not be anxious! This monk is too attached! If you don't come, then don't come. The gates of Buddhism are always open to you. Hmm, speaking of this immortal pill, the Buddhist aura on it has been removed, but the traces remain. However, they will not affect your mind, but these traces still have some unfavorable aspects..."
"That is Buddhist affinity. This monk is not speaking nonsense. After taking this immortal pill, you, young friend, may have to interact more with people of Buddhism in the future. If you do not wish to be converted into a Buddha, then you must hold onto your original heart and use fewer Buddhist techniques."
"With this monk's current dharma power, it is impossible to erase the traces left by the Vajra of Filth, so I can only let you refine it yourself."
"As for the method of refinement, young friend, you only need to... first recite the Diamond Sutra in reverse!"
The Vow-Keeping Vajra explained, "The Diamond Sutra can sever adverse conditions, also known as reverse conditions. Simply put, it is the cause of disasters. Ordinary bad luck arises from this causal dharma. Reciting the Diamond Sutra in reverse can sever one's own favorable conditions, that is, sever my Buddha's Buddhist affinity."
"The Diamond Sutra has thirty-two chapters and five thousand words. Reciting it once in reverse will extinguish all Buddhist affinity."
"However, the Buddhist affinity of the Vajra of Filth, given his Heavenly Heart realm, whether it can be severed so easily still needs to be considered... The Diamond Sutra can only sever one's own causal dharma. I fear that this Buddhist affinity might spontaneously reconnect, forcibly converting you..."
Listening to the Vow-Keeping Vajra's explanation, Ji Xiang also nodded secretly.
What was displayed on the divine tablet back then indeed wrote this. The effect of the Great Buddha's Heavenly Sound was to make oneself closer to Buddhism, and the second was to gain Buddhist affinity. Now, after being refined once by Taoist incantations, one effect was washed away, but the Buddhist affinity effect still remained.
After all, it was a Heavenly Heart realm technique. The power left behind could not be completely removed by some incantations. This was a vast difference in level compared to the incantations cast by ascending immortals.
"I heard that reciting the Abhidharma-Mahavibhasha-Shastra can completely erase these Buddhist affinity traces. Is that feasible?" Ji Xiang asked. This was the answer given by the Inner Scenery Divine Tablet back then, but two hundred scrolls were too many.
"The Abhidharma-Mahavibhasha-Shastra? Xuanzang... no, the scripture of Medicine King Buddha?"
The Vow-Keeping Vajra pondered carefully, "This, the Eastern Pure Lapis Lazuli technique?... Perhaps it can!"
"Thank you, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. If this is successful, I will owe you a favor."
The Vow-Keeping Vajra repeatedly said, "Favors are nothing. Just help this monk escape from the Human Realm. Moreover, young friend, you already knew the method to break Buddhist affinity, so this monk did not help much."
"I will do my best."
Ji Xiang did not leave the Root Country because this was the end of the Yellow Springs. Even Xu Fu might not be able to detect this place.
He looked up at the vast calamity of the mortal world. As he sensed the Yellow Springs cold qi around him for longer, this calamity of the mortal world was also gradually diminishing. But this was not a good thing, because the disappearance of the calamity of the mortal world came at the cost of his life.
"Hoo—"
Ji Xiang inhaled a breath of Yin qi, then circulated the Yang qi within his body. Yin and Yang combined, returning to his mouth. He closed his lips tightly, circulating the qi without leakage, and stood upright.
It was as if a small person was speaking in his nose. Below Ji Xiang, several Shadow Soldiers stood up. This Shadow Treading technique startled the Vow-Keeping Vajra again!
"The lost Shadow Treading technique of the Tang Dynasty!"
The Vow-Keeping Vajra truly felt today that it was not he who chose Ji Xiang. At this moment, this Great Bodhisattva seemed to have gained enlightenment.
Perhaps, it was the traces of Buddhist affinity left by the Vajra of Filth that brought him and Ji Xiang together in this land of Joseon.
If that were the case, the terror of the Heavenly Heart was unspeakable.
"Everything is causal dharma. Causal dharma is the cause that gives birth to all things."
The Vow-Keeping Vajra secretly recited Buddhist names.
Ji Xiang, on the other hand, had already begun the process of consuming the immortal pill with the Shadow Soldiers.
Recite the "Sutra of the Past Vows of Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Buddha" fifty times!
Then, recite the "Diamond Sutra" once in reverse.
Finally, recite the "Abhidharma-Mahavibhasha-Shastra" two hundred scrolls, transforming himself into the Buddhist Shila form, to summon the Eastern Pure Lapis Lazuli technique!
The pill entered his body, and a powerful supreme Yang force began to shine outwards, like the great sun illuminating the Yellow Springs land!