The golden seal vibrated, and a spreading halo directly suppressed the multitude of swords in Ji Xiang's hand!
The multitude of swords suddenly became incredibly heavy, making them impossible to wield!
This was a bit dangerous. Ji Xiang soared into the sky, his gaze flickering.
Han Dynasty treasures. Ji Xiang was cautious. The Great Han Dynasty, which had long since vanished a thousand years ago, seemed to be periodically restoring its presence in the world through some of its remaining treasures: Emperor Wu's Dew-Collecting Plate, Emperor Guangwu's Qingping Sword, Dongfang Shuo's elixirs, and numerous Corpse-Shedding Immortals revived from the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling.
He never expected to see a divine artifact left by the Han Dynasty in the hands of a Japanese False Immortal.
Within the golden wind and thunder, not only was the national prestige of Japan contained, but there was also a power similar to that of the Ming Dynasty. That was likely the residual might of the Han Dynasty, preserved somehow. It was said that the one who controlled all the divine artifacts of Japan was Xu Fu. As a Qin Dynasty alchemist proficient in ghosts and spirits, anyone who could serve Qin Shi Huang must possess extraordinary means.
Furthermore, Ji Xiang had learned from Zhang Sanfeng that Xu Fu seemed to intensely dislike Dongfang Shuo from the Han Dynasty.
Perhaps it was the alchemists entering the Inner Mountains and Rivers to create a high heaven, a grand feat not accomplished by him, but by a junior from the Han Dynasty who became the leader of all alchemists. He, the orthodox alchemist of the Qin Dynasty, was instead deemed a heretic, which was likely the source of his greatest anger.
The reason for being able to resist the multitude of swords was the residual might of the Han Dynasty within the golden seal. Mixed with the national prestige of Japan, it formed a mysterious power that was neither of the Central Plains nor of the Eastern Seas.
This golden seal was recorded in the Book of the Later Han. The country of Itsu merged with the Kingdom of Nu and sent envoys to the Han Dynasty, receiving this golden seal to protect their nation.
However, the whereabouts of this golden seal were later unknown. In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, after Himiko of the Yamatai Kingdom rose to power, she briefly unified some tribal states with sorcery, including this Han-Wanu Kingdom.
Ji Xiang stared at this golden seal. This was a good item. Things left by the Han Dynasty were bound to be extraordinary. If necessary, he would seize it.
A hundred thousand thoughts flashed by in a few moments.
"Remnant Immortal?"
Uesugi Kagekatsu was startled upon hearing his two immortals speak like this.
But the two False Immortals did not explain further, merely saying "not true immortals" to calm Uesugi Kagekatsu's fear. However, Ji Xiang flew up, deliberately speaking to disrupt his state of mind:
"Yuan Mountain Castle has fallen, Shimazu Yoshihiro has been captured alive by our army, begging for life but unable to die, and will be taken to Shuntian for execution after this battle!"
"You should also face the executioner's blade. Don't let me capture you alive!"
Provoked by his words, Uesugi Kagekatsu was indeed greatly alarmed!
"Commander Shimazu has been captured alive by you!"
His spirit wavered. The two False Immortals then unleashed a stream of immortal power to stabilize Uesugi Kagekatsu's spirit. It seemed to be a form of incantation, and several phantom images of gods and spirits appeared on Uesugi Kagekatsu, which slightly eased his expression, turning his pale complexion ruddy.
He and the two False Immortals exchanged no further words. They all knew what they had to do now!
It was extremely dangerous, requiring careful consideration, and a single misstep could lead to eternal damnation!
At this moment, Ji Xiang was also observing the divine artifacts on their bodies. The Inner Scenery Divine Tablet displayed numerous texts!
[Heavenly Deer Bow: Divine Artifact! Withered grass fills the autumn fields, mountain winds blow ceaselessly!]
[Propelled by wishful thoughts, the stronger the wishful thoughts on the bow, the greater the power it unleashes, until it can break all laws. It possesses two divine abilities.]
[Two Divine Abilities: One is Annihilation, arrows shot by this bow, upon impact, will eliminate the target's three souls and seven spirits; the second is Law-Breaking, arrows shot by this bow will shatter all of the target's spells.]
—
[Heavenly Feather Arrows: Divine Artifact! You have traveled for a long time, yet have not returned!]
[Propelled by wishful thoughts, the stronger the wishful thoughts on the arrows, the greater the power they unleash, until they can break all laws. It possesses three divine wonders.]
[Three Divine Wonders: One is Inevitable Hit, a person targeted by an arrow cannot escape its pursuit; the second is Spirit Piercing, for those bearing divine positions, their divine power will be assimilated by the arrow, thus being pierced and killed by this arrow; the third is Return, if this arrow is stained with the enemy's blood, it will turn back and kill the wielder on the friendly side. When the wielder on the friendly side is killed, the fatal wound will instantly reflect back onto the enemy stained with blood (similar to a life-exchanging curse)!]
—
[Golden Seal Bestowed by Emperor Guangwu to the King of Han-Wanu: Divine Artifact! In the dark chamber, floating and sinking without a moment's pause, in the shadowy dwelling, neighbors still have lingering light! An object bestowed by the Han Dynasty to suppress national destiny. During Himiko's era, Xu Fu imparted Qin Dynasty secret arts, and with the power of the Killing Stone, temporarily nullified this item's might. After the fall of the Han-Wanu Kingdom, this seal could not display its full power and was hidden by Xu Fu. It possesses four protections.]
[Four Protections: One is National Destiny Protection (cannot be used after the fall of the Han-Wanu Kingdom); Second is Rank Protection, its existence rank is higher than the golden seal (Vassal rank). Treasures of a lower rank than the golden seal will be suppressed by the golden seal (e.g., Emperor suppresses Vassals, Vassals suppress Ministers, Ministers suppress Grand Officials, Grand Officials suppress Scholars), and identical treasures within the same country that have received enfeoffment will be completely suppressed; Third is Life Protection, the holder of the seal is enveloped by the Han Dynasty's destiny within the golden seal. As long as the destiny remains, the holder's life cannot be harmed; Fourth is Wishful Thought Protection, any wishful thoughts, traces, and lingering influences affected by the golden seal cannot be erased by any conventional means.]
—
[《Scroll of Hungry Ghosts》: Immortal Artifact! Six Paths of Reincarnation, Five Directions Hungry Ghosts! A scroll of the Six Paths painted by Emperor Shirakawa during the Kamakura period. Elevated to an artifact of Immortals and Buddhas through the worship and wishes of successive eminent monks of the Lotus King Institute he founded! It possesses five terrors!]
[Five Terrors: The five terrors are the materialization of the five directional hungry ghosts. Following the order of the scroll's rotation, they open the entrance to the Six Paths of Reincarnation with powerful sacrificial wishes. Those locked by the Six Paths of Reincarnation will suffer the rule-based punishments of the other five paths of the Six Paths, excluding the Heavenly Path!]
—
And the divine positions held by Uesugi Kagekatsu and the two False Immortals. For the False Immortals, although the power granted by their divine positions was not as strong as the power of their own immortal artifacts, the divine positions came with a physical form and spirit, which could slow down the decay of their physical forms and spirits.
"So that's how it is! I received enfeoffment from the Son of Heaven, but in terms of rank, I am a 'Minister.' This golden seal's holder is judged as a 'Vassal,' one rank higher than me. Moreover, this golden seal can be used in both the Central Plains and the Eastern Seas. Within the same country, treasures whose ranks do not surpass the golden seal's rank will be suppressed. This means..."
"The multitude of swords is useless."
Ji Xiang was very displeased that the Sword of Mountain Splitting he had just obtained was suppressed. After all, he hadn't swung it enough yet!
When he returned to his country, he would have the multitude of swords reforged into an immortal artifact that conformed to the domestic style!
In this regard, the existence of this golden seal was to prevent these military commanders from harboring rebellious thoughts while holding divine artifacts, which indeed aligned with the rules of royal authority suppressing subordinates. However, from another perspective... there was important information!
"Are you two Xu Fu's confidantes?"
Ji Xiang's sudden soul-piercing question made the pupils of the two False Immortals shrink! In an instant, each holding their immortal and divine artifacts, they raised their treasures towards Ji Xiang!
The heavens and earth instantly became dark and lightless. The concepts of Qiankun and the world vanished in an instant. All things were dim and obscure, only the 《Scroll of Hungry Ghosts》 floated and ascended to the sky. In the painting, five hungry ghosts emerged from the scroll, about to fill the entire world!
The golden seal also emitted a halo shaped like wind and thunder!
The golden seal was influencing the 《Scroll of Hungry Ghosts》. The intensity of the wishful thoughts on the scroll instantly increased by a notch. Moreover, within the golden seal, there were powerful wishful thoughts left by successive holders!
And with the golden seal's augmentation, the wishful thoughts on the 《Scroll of Hungry Ghosts》 could not be erased by any means at this moment!
The gate of the Six Paths of Reincarnation had been opened!
In the void, a phantom image of an underworld realm appeared. Six giant rotating wheels, each inscribed with a Swastika symbol in the center, representing the entrances to the Six Paths of Reincarnation. At this moment, one of the rotating wheels suddenly stopped, the Swastika symbol cracked, and its entrance had already opened towards Ji Xiang!
The two False Immortals exchanged glances.
"Hungry Ghost Path!"
Ji Xiang reached out!
"Heavenly Retribution!"
The opening gate of the Six Paths of Reincarnation suddenly stopped!
Seeing the two False Immortals stunned, Ji Xiang smiled!
"Then I don't need weapons, do I! The weapons that seal my powerful fists are already controlled by you!"
"All-Under-Heaven Scripture of the Cave!"
The Great Seal of the Three Capitals!
The giant seal that appeared out of thin air could also shatter mountains and overturn seas. Ji Xiang formed the seal, extended a sky-piercing giant finger, and where it touched, the sky collapsed, the divine realm receded. The two immortal and divine artifacts emitted halos, cooperating with the power of the two False Immortals, and instantly stalemated Ji Xiang!
The expressions of the two False Immortals also changed drastically!
"Such power from a mere Remnant Immortal!"
Their fear grew greatly, and their expressions were daunted during the confrontation!
A Remnant Immortal who had re-cultivated from a True Immortal possessed such power with the body of an Earth Immortal. Once their full cultivation was unleashed, the gap between a False Immortal and a True Immortal was so immense!
Falling from the level of an immortal to the level of a mortal was only one rank, but the difference was immeasurable!
The two of them were somewhat flustered. Ji Xiang's finger suddenly changed, and the Seal of the Three Capitals transformed into the Seal of the Three Sovereigns, its power increasing several times. The primordial energy and the power of mountains and rivers in the world were mobilized, and the Three Talents and Three Treasures were gathered. The physical forms and spirits of the two False Immortals began to decay gradually, as they had unleashed a large amount of immortal power, making it difficult to maintain the existence of their physical forms and spirits!
In their panic, they consumed the Dew of the Azure Candle, temporarily stabilizing their physical forms and spirits, and collided with Ji Xiang's immortal power. Moreover, due to the "Heavenly Retribution" technique, their attempts to open the gate of the Six Paths were always unsuccessful!
Suddenly, as Ji Xiang was pressing his advantage, the Calamity of the Red Dust above his head shook violently, as if reminding Ji Xiang that a dangerous moment was about to arrive! Ji Xiang quickly dodged, and an aura of death suddenly emerged through the gate of the Six Paths of Reincarnation.
The phantom images of the five directional hungry ghosts filled the heavens and earth, affecting Ji Xiang's five senses. In this instant, Uesugi Kagekatsu had already shot the Heavenly Feather Arrows!
But Ji Xiang was also prepared!
A stream of glazed light turned into a shield. When the Heavenly Feather Arrows struck this glazed halo, Ji Xiang had already left his original position. After a brief pause, the Heavenly Feather Arrows pierced the Miraculous Jade Light, renowned for its defense, inherited from ancient times by the Xuanmiao Temple!
The divine power was assimilated with the opponent in an instant. The reason the arrow could pierce the Jade Light was not by force breaking force, but by using the opponent's own methods against them!
Ji Xiang narrowed his eyes, unsure if this item could be blocked by the Grand Void Jade Light.
The activation of the Grand Void Jade Light itself consumed a considerable amount of spiritual power. While it was fine to use in normal circumstances, in a life-or-death struggle with an expert at the immortal level, it had to be reserved as the ultimate move for a killing blow, and only when the opponent had no more tricks could it be unleashed.
But if this arrow could assimilate the Grand Void Jade Light...
Then it would be over.
"Golden Light Barrier!"
Ji Xiang sent out hundreds of golden light talismans from his sleeve, and a golden light rampart rose from the ground, covering the sky. After piercing the Miraculous Jade Light, the Heavenly Feather Arrows returned and struck the Golden Light Barrier again. During the interval when Ji Xiang was being attacked, a gate of the Six Paths had already been opened!
The Hungry Ghost Path rotated, and the Human Path opened wide!
"It's the Human Path!"
Ah, Ah, Xia, Sa, Ma, Ha!
"Lotus Born Six Paths Vajra Mantra!"
The False Immortal holding the Scroll of Hungry Ghosts was now emitting Buddhist golden light, unleashing a unique technique of the Immortal-Buddha level!
This mantra possessed immeasurable merit. Anyone who heard the mantra, saw the characters, or touched the text would have their karmic obstacles of three lifetimes eliminated, and would be forcibly guided to rebirth. Even hungry ghosts in hell would be pulled out of hell and forcibly transcended!
The Human Path was one of the three good paths. With the gate wide open, chanting the Six Paths Vajra Mantra would forcibly induct the chanter into the three good paths, eliminating their physical form and guiding them to rebirth!
Ji Xiang sensed the call from the Human Path gate, and for a moment, he felt a premonition of his three souls and seven spirits about to leave his body, his heavenly and earthly souls about to be taken. This made Ji Xiang's pupils contract. He chanted a spell to undo it!
"Seek the supreme Dao. If there are those who retreat, commit further evil deeds, enter the cycle of birth and death, and no longer contemplate the subtle principles of the mind... return to evil realms, with no hope of escape. How can such beings be tamed!"
After speaking, the call to the souls within the Human Path gate immediately stopped! The False Immortal holding the Scroll of Hungry Ghosts' expression immediately changed greatly, as if he had seen a ghost, his mind greatly shaken. "《Vairochana Buddha's Separate Practice Sutra》! Impossible! How do you know the solution to my mantra!"
Ji Xiang naturally did not answer. Instead, he pressed his palm downwards, and the Seal of the Three Sovereigns descended with a roar. The mountains and rivers were once again shaken like turbulent waves and sent flying into the sky! Then, an aura emanated from his body, and Ji Xiang pointed that aura towards the pursuing Heavenly Feather Arrows!
Azure Sky Heavenly Gang Wind!
The Azure Sky Heavenly Gang Wind, one of the Nine Heavens Heavenly Gang Winds, surged out, blocking the Heavenly Feather Arrows. Ji Xiang rode on a seven-colored cloud and aimed the Wheel Cannon at Uesugi Kagekatsu!
Buzz buzz! The golden seal exerted its power, and the Wheel Cannon was also affected. Ji Xiang finally remembered that this weapon had been enfeoffed by Emperor Wanli, and immediately cursed the bad luck of the old Sixth. He could interrupt the opponent's spells, and the opponent also had the power to interrupt his magical artifacts.
Seeing Ji Xiang flying towards him, Uesugi Kagekatsu had already retreated among the forty vengeful spirit warriors. The powerful resentment was like a curse or poison. Ji Xiang formed the Peacock King of Great Wisdom Mantra, smashed several vengeful spirit warriors with a palm, then aimed at Uesugi Kagekatsu and suddenly blew out a breath!
The breath transformed into white light!
Purple Gold Pill Sword!
A sword severed the head!
The white light fell, and Uesugi Kagekatsu's head flew into the sky. The Heavenly Deer Bow fell to the ground, and the Heavenly Feather Arrows flew over, as if losing control, striking Uesugi Kagekatsu's chest!
The arrow was stained with blood!
"But it shouldn't be useful. The blood stained is his own, not mine. His head has flown eight hundred feet into the sky, what else could happen?"
Ji Xiang thought so. Within the Inner Scenery Divine Tablet, it warned Ji Xiang that the divine position the opponent possessed was Daeshan-no-Okami, and this deity was the god who suppressed the Land of the Yellow Springs and the human world...
"The Ming Dynasty immortal has fallen into a trap! He killed Mr. Uesugi!"
The two False Immortals, seeing Uesugi Kagekatsu killed, were not surprised but delighted!
The gate of the Land of the Yellow Springs was about to open, and the two of them, with the resolve to die gloriously, began to display their divine positions!
Ōanamuchi-no-Kami, Lord of the Shadowy Realm!
Sabihitsuchi-no-Kami, God of Drowning!
Immortal might surged, transforming into tides. The Six Paths of Reincarnation became a canopy. With the cooperation of the two divine positions, this world was separated from the original true human world. Moreover, the gate of the Six Paths of Reincarnation began to spin wildly, and the golden seal also emitted a brilliant halo!
The protection of life and wishful thoughts, the pushing of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, the gate of the Land of the Yellow Springs opened wide! The Calamity of the Red Dust was about to be fulfilled here!
Sudden oppression!
Ji Xiang realized at this moment that the Daeshan god was like a stone. When the holder of the divine position died, it meant the stone was moved away?
Could it be operated like this? Divine bodies are truly miraculous!
"Peacock King of Great Wisdom Mantra!"
"Huiji Vajra Divine Mantra!"
Ji Xiang did not hesitate, directly invoking the two mantras of the Peacock King and Huiji Vajra to eliminate all poisons and pushes. Thus, four vast forces stalemated here. The two False Immortals and the Land of the Yellow Springs were all desperately trying to drag Ji Xiang into the world of the Yellow Springs!
At this time, within the gate of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, the gate of the Human Path began to stir, once again attempting to extract Ji Xiang's three souls and seven spirits for rebirth. Among the Six Paths, although the Human Path was a good path, it was the most bitter. Those whose souls entered the Human Path, after dying in the Human Path, were reborn within the Human Path. This cycle continued endlessly, this was the "suffering of reincarnation."
Ji Xiang sat cross-legged on the seven-colored clouds, surrounded by swirling spiritual power like a vast ocean, surging with waves, yet he remained still, like a vajra rooted to the ground. At this moment, it was a contest of whose spiritual power was more abundant!
Suddenly, a shadow appeared within the gate of the Human Path. It looked towards Ji Xiang through the gate of the Human Path, emitting a sound that could only be heard in the world of ignorance.
Within Ji Xiang's body, in the Inner Scenery Divine Tablet, text suddenly appeared:
[Three Poisons Harm: All suffering has a root. Greed, hatred, ignorance, the three poisons ultimately!]
Ji Xiang was stunned, and then his spiritual power receded. He was instantly pulled towards the Land of the Yellow Springs!
This sudden change caught Ji Xiang completely off guard. In the next moment, he was sent into the entrance of the Yellow Springs. He decisively used the previously accumulated Christian divine miracles to reverse the situation. The Lord's small window immediately shone brightly!
Seeing Ji Xiang being pulled into the Yellow Springs, the two False Immortals thought they had succeeded and would not die. However, in the next moment, Ji Xiang suddenly appeared in a divine light and returned from the Yellow Springs, which scared them out of their wits!
Ji Xiang saw the two False Immortals and thought that they must have exhausted their tricks. Now that the bow and arrow were temporarily useless, he assumed they had no more means of resistance. The Grand Void Jade Light was about to fly out when the Three Poisons Harm suddenly struck again!
Boom!
The shadow of the Land of the Yellow Springs attacked again, and Ji Xiang was greatly alarmed!
"I still have two divine miracles left. I shouldn't have killed so many Japanese soldiers with those two swords just now!"
"What kind of scoundrel!"
Ji Xiang was furious and even more alarmed! Where did that harm come from? Why couldn't he sense the location of the enemy the moment their hostility appeared?
Fortunately, there was the Lord's small window! The prestige of the Christian dharma relied entirely on divine miracles.
The Inner Scenery Divine Tablet also arrived late, displaying the mantra to resist the Three Poisons Harm. This was the first time Ji Xiang had encountered a poison that the Peacock King and Huiji Vajra mantras could not resolve. He immediately chanted the mantra!
The Thus Come One has departed, the three realms are like a burning house. Silently and leisurely dwelling, peacefully residing in the wilderness.
Now, these three realms all belong to me. The sentient beings within them are all my children.
And now, here, there are many troubles and difficulties. Only I alone can provide salvation.
Verse for breaking hell!
The Three Poisons Harm was shattered, and within the Six Paths, the blurry shadow within the Human Path seemed to be stunned, but soon, it did not give up. The Three Poisons Harm continued to descend, making Ji Xiang extremely annoyed!
The two False Immortals were also filled with horror at this moment!
Someone who fell into hell can still rush back!?
Do you think you are Izanagi!
Do you think the Land of the Yellow Springs is your home, that you can come and go as you please! Would it not be an insult to the majesty of the Yellow Springs if we didn't drag you down to die with us!
"Quick, drag him down to die together! We absolutely cannot let this Ming Dynasty immortal live!"
Great terror had already arisen in their hearts. They had already unleashed all their divine power, abandoning their lives to drag Ji Xiang to the Yellow Springs together!
The two Immortals flew up, carrying their two immortal artifacts, intending to drag Ji Xiang into the Yellow Springs once more!
Ji Xiang frowned, unable to sense the location of that harmful entity. But at this moment, the Inner Scenery Divine Tablet suddenly displayed text.
[Ksitigarbha's Self-Sacrifice: Namo, Compassionate Vajra Protection, Liberation from Hell, Karma Fire does not taint.]
"?"
What is this?
Suddenly, Ji Xiang realized something, and then stopped resisting. He was dragged into the Yellow Springs by the two False Immortals. However, after entering the Yellow Springs, their immortal power remained, but in all directions was darkness. The three of them entered the Yellow Springs, but they were not in the same place.
Immortal might flowed, and the Six Paths descended.
Ji Xiang frowned deeply. It was the sudden appearance of the Three Poisons Harm that made him waste a divine miracle. However, it seemed that it was not the means of the two False Immortals. It had been interfering with him all along, but why, if they wanted him to enter the Yellow Springs, did they also give him a Ksitigarbha protection?
Outside his body, Ji Xiang discovered that a layer of Vajra phantom seemed to gradually appear, preventing the deathly cold aura of the Land of the Yellow Springs from contaminating him.
Compassionate Vajra... Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.
Is there something in the Land of the Yellow Springs? What exactly are they trying to do?
Ji Xiang looked at the dark world around him and suddenly seemed to see a faint light. Ji Xiang walked towards that place, and the faint light shone brightly. The Vajra of Compassion within him operated Buddhist dharma, and the faint light in front of him suddenly vibrated, as if opening a new world. In the blink of an eye, Ji Xiang entered it and found himself on a decaying and desolate plain.
Izumo's Underworld, Izanagi-no-Sakura?
No.
At Ji Xiang's feet lay a rotten divine tablet.
It read: "Great Deliverer of the Drowning Heavenly Venerable!"