Dongyun Zushi returned to his senses, but he had also lost his powerful cultivation at the Pure Yang level. However, these were not difficult matters for him, especially after learning that Ji Xiang had reshaped his immortal body and gathered the five elements into primordial energy. His astonishment was evident, and his gratitude was boundless.
Despite a thousand doubts, the facts had manifested within him. It seemed that the imperial court's renewed regard for Wudang Mountain stemmed from this black-robed Daoist, perhaps valuing this very ability.
The elder cultivators were all beaming, recounting to Dongyun Zushi how the Buddhist sect had grown powerful over the years and had begun to pressure them. They lamented that if not for this young man from the Tongwei Sect, who had turned the tide, gained the Emperor's favor, and become the Dao Master, the Daoist sect would have continued to decline in the coming decades, with perhaps only Longhu Mountain flourishing among the three mountains.
If Grandmaster Zhang hadn't been on very good terms with Emperor Wanli, Longhu Mountain wouldn't have been able to avoid the Buddhist sect's suppression. Ultimately, it would have become a stepping stone for Buddhism during the Wanli reign.
"Our Great Ming, at its founding, had the Black Robed Prime Minister Yao Guangxiao. Now, our Wudang prospers with the Black Robed Dao Master Ji Xiang. It is truly a cycle of a hundred years, with fortunes waxing and waning, all depending on heavenly destiny!"
An old cultivator sighed with emotion, stating that Heaven's decree was paramount. Without the interference of heavenly destiny, in terms of attracting followers, the Daoist religion could never compare to Buddhism. One need only look at how Emperor Wanli's mother was enfeoffed as a Bodhisattva.
"That's not entirely true. In fact, within the deep palace, there is a concubine of our Daoist faith. Even the Nine Lotus Bodhisattva, Empress Dowager Li, dares not provoke her. However..."
Ji Xiang then interjected, informing the people of Wudang Mountain that there was indeed a significant figure from their sect in the imperial harem. However, this figure was significant merely in terms of status.
"Such a thing exists? Who might that be?"
"Consort Shou."
"Ah! It's that one from the Jiajing era...!"
The Wudang cultivators were all greatly surprised. But Ji Xiang immediately followed up by telling them that although Consort Shou was a member of the Daoist faith, she was not aligned with Wudang, and might not even be considered part of the 'Biao Shanhe' faction.
Upon hearing this, many were perplexed. It was then that Dongyun Zushi spoke. His sharp gaze swept over everyone. Although his form was that of a small child, appearing tender and soft, and his voice was that of a child, his tone carried a sigh of worldly weariness.
"Within Biao Shanhe, there are many who appear to be from Biao Shanhe but whose hearts lean towards Li Shanhe. Since she is a concubine in the harem, and the consort of a previous emperor, remaining in the palace to cultivate, perhaps that emperor has already entered Li Shanhe?"
Ji Xiang turned, and Dongyun Zushi revealed a smug, childlike expression:
"It has been the same throughout the dynasties. During the Yuan Dynasty, those people's ambitions swelled, but they simply hadn't done such a thing. Kublai Khan believed himself to be the greatest in the world and didn't put much stock in the people of Li Shanhe. Moreover, the situation in the Song Dynasty was ruined by them. Those Mongols were extremely overbearing and proud, and they only respected the Quanzhen Dao.
As for their own cultivators, many were unconventional, growing up in the chaotic circumstances of various dynasties during the Song era. They pledged allegiance to the Great Yuan, but they didn't have many avenues to enter Li Shanhe, and the people within did not welcome them. As for whether Kublai Khan sought a way to enter Li Shanhe before his death... I don't know. I fell into demonic possession before him.
And among those unconventional cultivators, some found methods to enter Li Shanhe and avoided the Four Great Heavenly Hearts... Oh, during the Yuan Dynasty, the Four Great Heavenly Hearts no longer governed worldly affairs, as several dynasties had collapsed.
In short, some people leave their proxies in Biao Shanhe before entering Li Shanhe. This is a very common practice. Therefore, this Consort Shou has remained in the Forbidden City precisely because it is the safest place. The time for her to move about has not yet ripened."
Ji Xiang: "When did Ancestor enter demonic possession?"
"Thirty years of Zhiyuan."
"What a pity."
"What do you mean?"
"Kublai Khan died in the thirty-first year of Zhiyuan."
Dongyun Zushi's eyes widened: "...Is that so?"
To not witness the downfall of a generation's great ruler, to be contemporaries, was truly a regrettable matter.
"Everyone, there are still some matters to attend to here. Please do not disperse for now..."
Ji Xiang had just resolved Dongyun Zushi's demonic possession. What remained, besides the verbally promised teaching of the Five Azure Heavenly Scrolls, was an important task: to clearly explain to everyone the events that befell Scholar Feng and the little fox outside Wudang Mountain. The Hai Divine Lord's entry into the mountain was also at the request of Ji Xiang and Zhang Sanfeng. The surrounding demon soldiers had now been subdued and served as Wudang's external support.
To prevent similar possession incidents from occurring again, it was necessary to impart the "Ultimate Chapter of the Great Spiritual Consciousness Sutra" to the cultivators here. In the future, when encountering similar strange entities, this sutra could be used for resolution and self-preservation.
As he was speaking, someone suddenly arrived, riding the clouds, with a hurried expression. Seeing that the Wudang cultivators were all present, he rushed forward:
"Fellow Daoists! This is dire, dire news is coming!"
The person arrived shouting that something big was about to happen. An old cultivator reprimanded, "You, the Deputy Sect Master of our Wudang Dragon Gate Sect, are so flustered, lacking the demeanor of a great cultivator!"
The Deputy Sect Master of the Dragon Gate Sect glared at the old cultivator: "You have demeanor! People from the imperial court have arrived!"
"Ah! What's going on!"
"Where is your demeanor!"
"Oh, what demeanor are we concerned with now! Everyone! Something big is here!"
The old cultivator's expression changed drastically, and those around him were instantly shocked!
Speaking of the imperial court, and it arrived so quickly?
"What are they here for?"
"I don't know, but it's a demon cultivator, with a fierce aura, actually at the Spirit Refining realm! A fox head with dragon horns. I was momentarily startled, but then that demon cultivator claimed to have an old acquaintance with the Head of the Daoist Directorate."
Upon hearing this, Ji Xiang was greatly surprised: "The Fox Dragon has arrived?"
But something was amiss. The Fox Dragon was only at the Nascent Soul realm, and had lost its magical powers, currently in recovery. How could it have suddenly reached the Spirit Refining realm?
"I will accompany all the senior cultivators."
Although Ji Xiang was a rogue outside, he held great respect for the sect leaders of his own mountain. However, everyone knew that the reason the imperial court had come was because of Ji Xiang. They all said they dared not. The old cultivators stated that they would follow behind this imperial Daoist boy, as they were not worthy to walk alongside him.
Thus, the cultivators left Leizu Peak. Dongyun Zushi also followed out of curiosity. Zhang Sanfeng watched the situation from the sky. By the time they reached the second mountain gate on the mountainside of Wudang Mountain, the Fox Dragon appeared before Ji Xiang, holding an imperial decree.
"North Pole True Person, it has been a long time. I hope you are well."
"True Person, you need not bow to receive this decree. There is a major event this time."
The Fox Dragon's magical powers had recovered, and furthermore, it was now unrivaled in the world. However, its aura was somewhat unstable. Ji Xiang was immediately curious: "Is it really you! But how did you suddenly enter the Spirit Refining realm?"
The Seven Treasures Yellow Lotus, such a supreme treasure of Buddhism, could only halve the time for cultivating the Yellow Court and the twelve years of innate cultivation. To surpass it would require consuming an immortal pill.
But where in this world were there immortal pills? Could it be that Emperor Jiajing had completely refined the divine position of Taishang Laojun and begun mass-producing elixirs? But didn't he curse Wanli last time? This grandson and grandfather had no affection for each other; they were merely tools to maintain the dynasty. Would Jiajing look favorably upon Wanli?
"This matter is of great importance and cannot be spoken of."
The Fox Dragon naturally dared not speak of its previous encounter with the Heavenly Dao. The news of the Forbidden City ascending to heaven was locked down in Shuntian, but it would be opened sooner or later, though it would take a considerable amount of time.
Because...
"The Grandmaster has been injured and cannot leave the capital. The Korean front has suddenly become tense, with reports of ghosts and gods close to the immortal level appearing there. Although the one-year period has not even passed one-third of the way, His Majesty still wishes for you to go and break the stalemate."
"You must resolve this swiftly!"
At this moment, the red omen above Ji Xiang's head suddenly vibrated.
The Tribulation of the Mortal World had occurred.