"Master, why did you leave the Yin Xian Sect and join the Tong Wei Sect?"
"What do you mean leave? Tong Wei was originally a branch of Yin Xian. I've founded many sects. Have you heard of the Wu Shan Sect? Back then, it was full of demons..."
"Demons?"
"What's strange about demons? You are a demon yourself. Compared to demons, spirits are more approachable."
Ji Xiang, with the young girl Shen, followed Zhang Sanfeng from the mountain gate. As they flew, they entered a secret place. The valley was deep, and the sound of reading could be faintly heard. A path led into it. This was one of the three hundred Wudang roads built by the imperial court in the past. Large stones paved the ground and extended forward, leading to the Tong Wei Temple not far away. The temple gate was not large, with seven tiled houses and a very strong scent of incense.
"Who is reading?"
The young girl Shen looked up and asked with curiosity. Zhang Sanfeng's spirit seemed to lift, and he clapped his hands at Ji Xiang, saying, "It's great that she can hear that sound. The child you had the Celestial Master send last time could also hear it. You brought two people with superior roots. These are two great things you've done for our sect."
"Ancestor Grandfather, what is this sound?"
The young girl Shen also quickly called out, establishing a relationship. As soon as she called him Ancestor Grandfather, Zhang Sanfeng's brows relaxed, and his mood improved.
"The Tong Wei Sect was established during the Chenghua period. This place was originally a place where an ascetic ghost practiced."
"What you are hearing is the sound of him reading that he left here back then. The sound is imprinted in the cliff face and has been ongoing for nearly a hundred years without ceasing."
The little girl was very surprised.
The Chenghua period was indeed a very, very long time ago.
Ji Xiang also knew about this hidden ghost. It was said that he had cultivated to the Pure Yin realm, which was the highest level of cultivation for a ghost immortal, corresponding to the Pure Yang realm.
To cultivate to the Pure Yin level in the human world, which was full of Yang energy, was truly astonishing. However, he failed when attempting to ascend, and his soul was scattered, leading to his death. All that remained in the world was the lingering resonance of this hidden scripture.
"If you can hear it, listen more. This scripture has a very significant effect on stabilizing the soul."
"Since ancient times, countless people have attempted to become immortals, but few have succeeded. It is truly too difficult for the current generation to become immortals."
As Zhang Sanfeng spoke, he spat at Ji Xiang again, "This is all your fault, you demon."
"Since the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is not abundant, the trials of demons should be appropriately lowered."
Ji Xiang, hearing the old man's shamelessness, responded shamelessly, "Master, you are mistaken. Those who achieve liberation through decomposition do not need demon trials. They simply wake up as immortals after a good sleep."
He thought to himself that if he underwent liberation now, he would wake up in the twenty-first century.
"Master says it's difficult to become an immortal, but your cultivation is that of a true immortal."
Zhang Sanfeng walked ahead without looking back, "How many immortals are there who remain in the human world?"
"Do those who haven't awakened count?"
Ji Xiang asked.
Zhang Sanfeng shook his head, "No, I'm talking about those who have awakened. Besides those who awakened through decomposition, how many immortals do you know of now?"
"Two decomposition immortals, the Celestial Master, a Song immortal, and three people I don't know. One of them has a strong demonic aura."
"It seems that among the three unknown people, one is you."
Ji Xiang replied. Zhang Sanfeng led the two into the Tong Wei Temple. There were quite a few disciples in the temple. At a glance, seventeen were standing in punishment. The children of the craftsmen brought by the Celestial Master from Shuntian Prefecture were also among them, with their hair styled like adults, holding scriptures and standing at the entrance, listening to the stern reprimand of a Taoist in green.
The Taoist in green wore copper earrings, had walnuts on his sleeves, and bells on his wrists. When he moved, they chimed with thunderous sounds, long and continuous.
Seeing Ji Xiang return, the craftsman's child's eyes lit up, but as the Taoist in green was still reprimanding him, he quickly lowered his head.
Ji Xiang smiled knowingly and greeted the Taoist in green, exchanging salutations.
"Junior Brother Ji's cultivation is complete, and he has returned to Wudang? This is too fast."
"To answer Senior Brother Lian, not yet. Returning from here..."
Zhang Sanfeng interrupted their reunion and ordered the Taoist in green, "Buyun, bring those two sleeping youngsters to my room."
The Taoist in green responded, instructed the disciples to continue standing in punishment, and then went to the back courtyard of the temple.
At this time, the three entered the temple's living quarters. Zhang Sanfeng pulled out three cushions, sat down on one, and said slowly,
"Besides these, are there no others?"
Ji Xiang pondered for a moment, "Xu Fu is still alive, but in my perception, he is not one of the eight immortals."
"Xu Fu... oh, that old fellow doesn't count as an immortal. He was an immortal when he was in Japan, but not anymore since coming out. He's just a pseudo-immortal. It's said that his current state is because he tried to imitate Dong Zhongshu back then, gathering the destiny of the nation to achieve harmony between heaven and man. At that time, heaven and man were very close. Xu Fu hoped to create a divine kingdom on earth, but something went wrong, causing his true self to be trapped on those islands and unable to leave. He couldn't return to the inner realm either, so he's just barely surviving in the outer realm. I don't know the details."
"He once sought out Dongfang Shuo to join him, but they eventually turned against each other, and the alchemists split into two factions. Generally, those alchemists who couldn't get along under Dongfang Shuo went to Xu Fu, just like Lord Canghai from the late Qin Dynasty, who picked up scraps everywhere."
"Of course, I'm not just talking about Xu Fu, but also others before the Jin Dynasty. Their cultivation methods were different from yours, so as a celestial demon, you might not be able to sense them. Just like you said, decomposition immortals don't need demon trials, after all, demon trials didn't exist before the Jin Dynasty."
"However, strictly speaking, the formal establishment of demon trials was in the early Song Dynasty. Although the concept of demon kings existed in the Jin Dynasty cultivation world, there was too much turmoil in between. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, they had their own cultivation methods and did not rely on the blessings of their predecessors, so Tang immortals were special."
"Later, in the Song Dynasty, those who did good or bad deeds before relied entirely on their own thoughts. It was only then that some people emerged and said this wouldn't do, it needed to be standardized. Thus, they invoked the divine position of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, and somehow managed to attract a group of celestial demons, leading to demon trials."
Ji Xiang pondered, "Methods of becoming an immortal other than decomposition?"
Zhang Sanfeng said, "This is where we need to talk about earth immortals."
"Earth immortals, the Golden Elixir Great Dao, without the techniques of heavenly immortals. We currently consider the completion of the Golden Elixir as proof of entering the earth immortal level, and the attempt to ascend as proof of entering the heavenly immortal level."
"As Ge Hong said, when the form and spirit merge, one is human; when the form and spirit are separated, one is a spirit or a ghost."
"The basis of immortality lies in the state of being both separated and merged! When merged, riding clouds and dragons, refers to heavenly immortals. When separated, liberating through decomposition and transforming one's substance, refers to decomposition immortals! Heavenly immortals are the ultimate life, and decomposition is the ultimate death. Taoist cultivation is not like Confucianism's adherence to the doctrine of the mean, but rather a dualistic yin and yang technique. To achieve great success, one must either live or die!"
"As for earth immortals, they neither have the form of decomposition nor the talent of heavenly immortals, and can only wander in the human world without great divine powers. In fact, it is the doctrine of the mean, a path prepared for those who can neither become heavenly immortals nor dare to undergo decomposition. This is the current path of cultivation, namely the art of the Golden Elixir."
"Therefore, some cultivators who are not yet full heavenly immortals or who have not yet transformed into earth immortals will find their forms and spirits gradually decaying. This is because earth immortals rely on refining their forms to remain in the world. If they do not become heavenly immortals, their forms and spirits will gradually rot due to the passage of time, the regression of their cultivation, the invasion of miasma, the contamination of various impurities, and poisoning from incense, among other phenomena."
"And these cultivators who have achieved half the form of a heavenly immortal, such as Xu Fu, must have changed their forms and spirits many times. This is because their forms and spirits no longer belong to the human form of the mortal world, but have the form of immortals. However, the outer realm does not have an environment that can nourish immortal forms, so the decay of form and spirit is a normal phenomenon. As the external form decays, the mind will also decay, eventually turning into a monster that is neither human nor immortal."
"The same applies to heavenly immortals who descend to the human world. Once in the human world, they are exiled immortals. Immortals who achieve success in the human world can go up to the inner realm, but they cannot easily come down. Even if they come down, they must destroy their past immortal forms and regress their cultivation. This is for the same reason."
"These immortals before the Jin Dynasty, due to the inconsistent cultivation methods at that time, some cultivated complete heavenly immortal forms but lacked immortal power. They remained in the world for a long time without immortal power, eventually dissipating their foundation of existence, leaving only an unconscious illusory form and spirit. At this point, they can no longer be said to be alive. Some cultivated heavenly immortal power but lacked heavenly immortal forms, so their original forms and spirits gradually decayed. These people can be called false immortals. However, since they lacked immortal forms, they were not worthy of the name 'immortal.' False immortal is just a general term we true immortals use for them. Calling them immortals is actually not very appropriate."
Ji Xiang suddenly understood.
So this was what the so-called pseudo-immortals and false immortals displayed on the inner scene divine plaque of the second-turn immortal elixir meant!
To be called an immortal by residing in an unmovable place is to be false. Immortals are unrestrained, traveling the seas in the morning and nesting on Kunlun in the evening. Those who possess immortal might only in a specific location are pseudo-immortals.
To decay in form and spirit, possessing only power, is to be false. Since the nature of immortals is incorruptible, those who decay are not immortals, hence those who have power but no form are called false immortals.
At this moment, the door of the tiled house slowly opened.
The Taoist in green brought the two individuals in. They walked in with their eyes closed, like controlled puppets. Zhang Sanfeng reached out again, and two worn cushions flew out from under the statues of the Three Pure Ones. The Taoist in green lightly commanded them to sit, and they sat on the cushions, heads bowed, eyes closed, breathing steadily, but as if their three souls had been severed, they could not awaken.
Ji Xiang also saw his three corpses. The three small corpse spirits wandered behind him, having lost their feet, looking like lonely and helpless wandering souls. However, they had no self-awareness, only acting according to Ji Xiang's commands. At this moment, the three spirits returned to their positions, transforming into three wisps of incense smoke and re-entering Ji Xiang's body.
Zhang Sanfeng stroked his beard, "It's strange, are these three corpses yours or my disciple's?"
Ji Xiang inhaled the incense and replied respectfully, "They are mine."
"I have the technique of the living three corpses, so I can naturally use it on myself."
Zhang Sanfeng's expression changed drastically. He pointed at Ji Xiang and said, "That's why I fear things like you the most!"
The Taoist in green looked confused, wondering why his master was pointing at his junior brother and scolding him, even calling him "things like that."
Zhang Sanfeng looked at the Taoist in green, waved him away, and the green-robed man withdrew. Zhang Sanfeng then scolded, "I worked hard to sever my three corpses, and I fear encountering things like you, which would cause my three corpses to regenerate!"
Ji Xiang chuckled, "So that's it! Master, you are a celestial being who has severed his corpses, and your fear of your disciple lies here."
Prince Lu had once mentioned that there were many methods of becoming an immortal, and severing the three corpses was one of them, and it was quite demanding, requiring great willpower to succeed. This was because the corpse spirits were, according to legend, spirits sent by heaven to monitor each person's body. They were of the same origin as the body and difficult to kill. Once the three corpses were severed, one could eliminate the name of death and become an immortal and indestructible being, immune to all Yin arts.
Seeing Zhang Sanfeng's stern face, Ji Xiang quickly changed the subject and spoke about the Taoist in green:
"I didn't expect Senior Brother Lian's aura to be so contained, his divine light hidden, leaving only a point of clear light between his brows. Clearly, his spirit cultivation has reached great completion, and he is not far from the radiant appearance of the Pure Yang realm."
"Then you want to facilitate his advancement?"
Old man Zhang said grumpily.
"That won't do. I haven't cultivated to that level yet."
Ji Xiang frankly admitted his insufficient cultivation.
Zhang Sanfeng wanted Ji Xiang to facilitate Lian Buyun's advancement, but Ji Xiang was not yet capable of cheating in exams. At most, he could interfere with minor demon trials. Interfering with major demon trials, like in Prince Lu's case, would require the examinee to have committed a great sin, which would then cause the demon kings from the heavens to descend. But that was because he had reported it.
To help someone overcome a demon king's tribulation, Ji Xiang believed his cultivation was still far from sufficient.
As for the time with the Celestial Master, it was purely accidental. It was an additional operation that could only be performed during his own exam, and it could not be repeated.
When Zhang Sanfeng heard Ji Xiang mention reporting, his expression changed again.
"You said you would also instigate demon kings?"
Ji Xiang replied, "I was merely reporting on the good and evil deeds in the human world. Why is that called instigation?"
Zhang Sanfeng retorted, "Isn't that the job of a corpse spirit? You are not a celestial demon at all, you are a corpse spirit that has become sentient!"
Ji Xiang countered, "Then, Master, those like you who have severed their three corpses to become immortals must be great villains."
Zhang Sanfeng was greatly angered, "Celestial demons also cultivate!"
"Of course, celestial demons have their own cultivation techniques."
"Is it the Yuqing Hidden Scripture!"
"!"
Zhang Sanfeng clearly did not know the details of the Celestial Master's ascension, but Ji Xiang was slightly surprised when he mentioned the Yuqing Hidden Scripture, the cultivation scripture of celestial demons. However, he then looked relieved.
"Why are you not surprised that I have seen through your profound cultivation?"
Zhang Sanfeng asked deliberately. Ji Xiang replied frankly, "A Shangqing immortal from the inner realm once mentioned the name of the Celestial Demon Annihilation Technique and explicitly stated that this scripture should not appear on human cultivators."
Zhang Sanfeng snorted, then explained, "Celestial Demon Annihilation, Yuqing Hidden Scripture. I had only seen them in ancient texts before. This is the first time I've encountered someone who actually cultivates it. In the past, legends say that those with great talent in Shangqing wanted to cultivate this scripture, but the results were always tragic deaths, with their souls being gnawed apart by ten thousand demons."
"Therefore, the conclusion was drawn that the Yuqing Hidden Scripture is a scripture for celestial demons to cultivate, not something for mortals to practice. But as you know, there is no Yuqing Dao in the world, only Taiqing Dao and Shangqing Dao. The Yuqing Dao is the source of the Shangqing Dao, but it can also be considered a branch, as there are too few Yuqing cultivators, so they are classified under Shangqing."
"And Yuqing has hidden scriptures, so Taiqing and Shangqing naturally have hidden scriptures as well. Among them, the Shangqing Hidden Scripture is the Shangqing Ancestral Scripture, also known as the Ancestral Talisman..."
Ji Xiang said, "I've heard a little about it. It is said that the Shangqing Ancestral Scripture has already appeared in the human world, but its location is unknown. The two lineages of the Shangqing Sect are interfering in human affairs for it. Yuqing cultivates demons, what does Shangqing cultivate?"
"They cultivate ghosts, the path of ghosts and spirits."
Zhang Sanfeng stood up and pointed at the two people who were brought in and seated on the cushions, "The situation these two are currently in is related to the Shangqing technique."
Ji Xiang looked at Scholar Feng and Fox Xiao Shi, his brow furrowed, "I went to Shangqing Maoshan and caused a big disturbance. I didn't see this kind of magic."
"You caused trouble for Shangqing?"
Zhang Sanfeng was shocked, "You have the nerve to do that? Do you know that Shangqing has two great heavenly palaces and six small heavenly palaces behind it, eleven peak ascendants, and even two Heavenly Heart realm cultivators!"
"Don't underestimate them just because the outer realm is not as good as the Taiqing Dao. Their power in the inner realm is not weak at all!"
Ji Xiang was surprised, "I killed a side ancestor of Shangqing and severely injured three ancestors of Shangqing. I felt that they were not that powerful."
Then he seemed to recall something and suddenly became curious, "Speaking of which, when I severely injured the three ancestors of Shangqing, I used your Rootless Technique."
"What! Rootless Technique? How do you know my Rootless Technique? Everyone else in this world who knows my Rootless Technique is dead, and I haven't taught it to you!"
Zhang Sanfeng was greatly astonished. He had passed down the Song of Rootlessness, but he had not taught the Rootless Technique to anyone after the orthodox year. He himself had changed his name several times and had undergone rejuvenation and regrown several times, all to erase the identity of Zhang Sanfeng.
Ji Xiang's claim of severely injuring the three ancestors of Shangqing with the Rootless Technique made Zhang Sanfeng doubt he was bragging.
"This is true, I am not lying. The matters of the Shangqing Sect are indeed quite strange. They divide their disciples, go to snatch the Yin Mountain Dharma Realm, create the Bi You Palace, and abandon the Qing Ping Sword. However, as Master said, the Shangqing Hidden Scripture is the technique of cultivating ghosts and spirits, and the matter of snatching the Yin Mountain Dharma Realm by the Bi You Palace seems to make sense..."
"You really injured the three ancestors of Shangqing? But that Xu Changshi!"
"It's Steward Xu."
"How did you learn my Rootless Technique?"
"I am a celestial demon, and celestial demons have great wisdom. How could I not learn it? Through a moment of enlightenment in the void, I naturally mastered it."
Ji Xiang boasted without batting an eye. Zhang Sanfeng summoned a blank white talisman and pointed at it, saying, "Write it for me."
Ji Xiang manifested a lead qi from within his body, circulated the root nature of heaven and earth, and wrote with divine script on the white talisman. Zhang Sanfeng looked at it and was instantly stunned, "It's actually my Rootless Talisman!"
"How did a celestial demon know the secret that Yin Xian does not transmit!"
Then he became somewhat annoyed, "You used the Rootless Technique to injure the three ancestors of Shangqing. I really don't know whether to laugh or scold. If it were in the past, I would have praised you handsomely, but now, how can the Yin Xian Sect afford to provoke such a behemoth!"
Ji Xiang was astonished and was about to apologize when Zhang Sanfeng began to pound his chest and stomp his feet, sighing repeatedly,
"You're just randomly attacking like this, you won't kill anyone!"
"Wait, I'll send a message to your grandmaster, True Person Huolong, and have him assassinate the three ancestors of Shangqing immediately, so that our Yin Xian Sect can have some peace for a while! Strike while the iron is hot, and retaliate before they can seek revenge on me."