Recruiting ancient demons into the mountain did not cause much of a stir. Although many young cultivators found this move rather inappropriate, the older cultivators did not think so. They felt that it was a time of great change, and sectarian differences could be temporarily set aside. What needed to be done was not recruiting demon cultivators, but grandly welcoming the imperial envoys.
The sinful cultivators from various sects and factions were imprisoned in the Demon Sealing Palace, their powers sealed. An old cultivator proposed a ruthless suggestion, stating that to prevent these sinful cultivators from escaping, their琵琶骨 (pípá gǔ - the bone at the back of the shoulder blade) should be pierced with a hook. This way, even if they could use their powers, they would not be able to use special techniques like transformations. To escape, they would have to go through the palace gates.
This statement terrified the sinful cultivators, who could not stop begging for mercy. They claimed they had already suffered lightning strikes and fires, and were on the verge of death. They hastily invoked the Great Ming Law, stating that private torture was forbidden, and that the imperial court would hold them accountable.
"Although the origin of the Divine Heavenly King is no longer easy to investigate, the events that previously occurred to Scholar Feng and Hu Xiao Shi might not be limited to just the two of them. In other words, there might be other 'Zhao Clan's Spiritual Essences' that have already appeared in the world..."
"The whereabouts of Nan Yang Zi, Luo Po Xian, and Miss Hou have also suddenly disappeared. This matter is quite concerning..."
Ji Xiang pondered this matter.
The origin of the Divine Heavenly King was unclear, but it could at least be confirmed that he was related to the Song Dynasty. If that ancient tomb illusion was a part of the Underworld's Dharma Realm, appearing briefly in the human world, it was not impossible.
At the same time, the first batch of villagers and the second batch of villagers were not of the same path. However, this did not mean their words were entirely credible.
"If the Taiping Town illusion is indeed a projection of the Underworld's Dharma Realm in the human world, then there is a fifty percent chance that the three of them are lost within the Underworld."
"Descending into the Underworld is not something ordinary people can do."
The Dharma Realms of the Underworld were different from those of the Heavenly Realm. One could not simply enter by means of invitation or sensing. One had to die once to open the gates of the Underworld's Dharma Realms. Although Ji Xiang himself possessed fragments of the Western Liang Li Heavenly Emperor's Dharma Realm, those fragments could only be used ten times. They were now close to their limit, and could only be used to transcend souls, not to open the gates of the Underworld's Dharma Realms.
Moreover, most of the Dharma Realms in the Underworld were under the control of the Primordial Emperor. If one entered without the protection of the Underworld Lord's divine token, they would truly have no return.
The conclusion was that descending to the Underworld was possible, but not by suicide. And one had to be prepared... that would likely be a long time from now.
Feng Menglong listened to Ji Xiang's conclusion, his expression was very grim, and his spirit was greatly dejected. However, he still spoke with a glimmer of hope, "If what the second batch of villagers said is true, then my wife and the others should have also left there, right?"
"How can you be sure they are telling the truth? Just because the two of you came out? Perhaps they kept you because you two have no magical powers and are useless."
Ji Xiang did not hesitate to deliver a blow to his spirit:
"In ancient times, Emperor Wuzong of Tang ate children's livers because children's livers were helpful in refining elixirs for eternal life. What about you? You are a child. Why would they keep you? Right? Perhaps they wanted people with magical powers."
Beside them, Hu Xiao Shi pricked up its pointed ears and mumbled dissatisfaction.
Do not look down on a poor little fox.
The Golden Light Incantation had achieved great success. Was this not a great sorcerer?
Ji Xiang turned to look at Hu Xiao Shi, standing at the entrance of the thatched hut, wanting to speak but hesitating. In the end, he shook his head. Although he did not speak, it seemed as if he had said everything.
These two, one a scholar who could not pass the imperial examinations, and one a fox spirit who could not become a fox immortal, were a perfect match.
Perhaps they thought your culture was too low.
Although Ji Xiang did not speak, he seemed to have conveyed the full meaning, immediately enraging Feng Menglong: "I possess Righteous Qi!"
But the anger did not last long before it subsided, leaving only a deep sense of powerlessness.
What was the use of Righteous Qi? It did not seem very useful. Although he had been warned that it was because the level of Righteous Qi was too low, if the Righteous Qi mentioned by the ancient sages had three realms, then his current state was only the initial stage of Qi.
So, as Ji Xiang was preparing to leave and find a place with heavy Yin energy to consume the Second-Turn Immortal Elixir, Feng Menglong's wails were heard from within the thatched hut, along with the phrase "I can do nothing."
Ji Xiang was stunned for a moment, then suspiciously turned back and opened the door. Seeing Feng Menglong wailing inside the thatched hut, he approached and touched his body.
"What are you doing!"
Feng Menglong was startled and quickly slapped Ji Xiang's hand away: "Daoist Ji, I did not realize you had such a fetish!"
Ji Xiang ignored him and asked, "You just spoke, did you hear any voices in your mind? Or did you suddenly feel an infinite power surge?"
"Ah? No."
"Oh..."
Ji Xiang left, looking back three times. Feng Menglong also curiously touched his own body.
What happened? Did something just happen?
"Could it be that the Righteous Qi in my body has changed, and Daoist Ji noticed it?"
...
Ji Xiang left the Tongwei Temple and flew to the summit of this peak, beginning to study the treasure in his hand, the Second-Turn Immortal Elixir.
However, the consumption of the Second-Turn Immortal Elixir... setting aside the "great joy and pleasure method," the current method of consumption not only required the use of Yin energy in a place of heavy Yin to harmonize and purify the Yin energy, but also the recitation of Buddhist incantations. Otherwise, directly consuming such immortal elixirs, which retained the great Buddhist heavenly sounds of the秽迹金刚 (Huìjì Jīngāng - Vajra of Filth), would cause one to be changed from the depths of their heart and become close to Buddhism.
Place of heavy Yin...
Thinking of this, his gaze turned to the distance. Wind and clouds swirled, and the next moment, he saw the four palaces outside Lei Zu Peak, located in different parts of the mountain. The Demon Sealing Palace was at the very bottom, the Evil Banishing Palace was on the mountainside, and the Demon Locking and Soul Suppressing Palaces were closer to the peak.
When he returned to the mountain earlier, he saw lightning and dark clouds surrounding Lei Zu Peak. The Yin energy was suppressed within the palaces by the might of the lightning, making it difficult to surge upwards. At the same time, the malevolent energy within was constantly being destroyed and shattered. If he wanted to use a place of heavy Yin to refine the Second-Turn Immortal Elixir, the Soul Suppressing and Demon Locking Palaces would be an excellent choice.
This saved him the trouble of searching.
"A place with deep Yin energy, so it is close to the peak of the mountain, receiving the primordial energy of heaven and earth from Lei Zu Peak, drawing down heavenly lightning to strike, locking the Yin energy within the palaces and preventing it from dissipating, and constantly wearing away the malevolent energy. The Yin energy here is indeed pure."
"There is no need for me to purify it elsewhere."
"However, even after purification, I cannot consume it rashly."
It was not just a matter of the elixir's target audience.
The target audience of this immortal elixir was actually the four types of banished immortals, remnant immortals, pseudo-immortals, and false immortals.
And he himself was not among the four categories.
Ji Xiang pondered this. Although many people considered him a remnant immortal, only he knew the true situation.
He was not a remnant immortal at all. He had merely taken the cultivation of ascension and placed it there, ready to be used at any time. He had never truly become an immortal, so how could he be considered crippled?
"The description of the Inner Scene Divine Token states that if a person who has not become an immortal consumes this elixir, their physical body will be forcibly elevated to the level of an immortal, and they will simultaneously gain the form and spirit of an immortal, corresponding to the elixir's immortal aspect. However, if their foundation is unstable, after forcibly ascending through the elixir, they will not be able to make any further progress in this life."
His cultivation was at the immortal level. What was being dragged down was his physical body and form and spirit. But there was a very important point.
What kind of foundation was considered "unstable"?
Even the description given by the Inner Scene Divine Token was vague, which made Ji Xiang feel somewhat hesitant for the first time. He did not want to reach immortality and then be unable to make any further progress. That would be like trapping himself.
It could only be said that low-grade immortal elixirs still had major problems. They only provided a foundation for becoming an immortal, but at the same time, they locked the person's upper limit... However, people who originally needed to consume a Second-Turn Elixir to become immortals, did they have any upper limit to begin with? Their innate talent was originally not even enough to become an immortal...
"Should I consume the Sun's Radiance to improve my bone structure? But King Lu said it requires thirty drops. The Sun's Radiance Heavenly Marrow I have, after confiscating all the White Lotus Society strongholds, plus what he gave me before, only amounts to fifteen drops. This is only half..."
Whoosh—
A gentle breeze blew, but with a somewhat majestic momentum, even the clouds in the sky began to scatter.
Zhang San Feng appeared on the mountaintop, silent and unseen. He had already settled the place for Hai Shen Jun's cultivation and had some matters to discuss with Ji Xiang. However, he did not see Ji Xiang in the temple. Looking up, he realized he had gone to the mountaintop.
"The Four Palaces of Lei Zu, entering the Soul Suppressing Palace or the Demon Locking Palace, where the Yin energy is deep... It seems that the cultivation of heavenly demons is not much different from the ghost path."
"Master heard me?"
"Nonsense! I am a true immortal. You are mumbling on my mountain. I came specifically to find you, how could I not hear?"
"I completely forgot. True immortals can hear all sounds in the nine heavens and ten earths..."
"Nonsense! You clearly let me hear it on purpose. If you want to use the Soul Suppressing Palace for cultivation, just say so. I won't think you are cultivating some evil or crooked path, after all, you are already a heavenly demon, cultivating a unique demonic art. How crooked can it get?"
"Master, what you said is incorrect. The art of the heavenly demon is the most righteous of all arts."
Ji Xiang chuckled and did not hesitate to tell Zhang San Feng that he had an immortal elixir. This Second-Turn Immortal Elixir was useless to a true immortal like him. It was specifically prepared for those who could not become immortals. Even if Zhang San Feng snatched it and ate it, nothing would happen. It would be like chewing on a candy.
The Second-Turn Immortal Elixir... Zhang San Feng's expression had long become very strange.
The second turn was not of great use. The four types of crippled immortals were indeed eager for such elixirs. Although immortal elixirs were rare, each of the nine turns had different uses. Of course, becoming an immortal was a common effect, otherwise, it would not be called an "immortal elixir."
Ji Xiang knew what he was going to say and waved his hand. Zhang San Feng's beard twitched with laughter and said:
"There are indeed few women in the world who are worthy of a heavenly demon. Since ancient times, there have been fox wives and ghost concubines, mountain gods marrying wives, and fierce ghosts holding weddings. What was born was nothing more than divine beings, ghost infants, and the like. But to be paired with a heavenly demon, what would be born, I have truly never seen or heard of!"
Ji Xiang chuckled dryly, "Demonic people... Actually, this physical body is also human. What is born... No! Why are we talking about having children?"
Ji Xiang suddenly realized. He was almost tricked by the old man. He immediately prepared to leave, no matter how much Zhang San Feng shouted behind him about introducing him to good girls, he did not turn his head back.
"The old women within ten miles of Wudang have all asked me to be a matchmaker... Wait a moment!"
Zhang San Feng grabbed Ji Xiang. The power of a true immortal was far superior to that of a "fake remnant immortal" like Ji Xiang. With a mere pull in the void, he dragged Ji Xiang down from the clouds.
"Master, what are you doing? Are you bullying me, a remnant immortal, with your true immortal power?"
"What are you talking about! As your master, cough cough, as your master, I want you to help me with something. Can the matter of consuming the immortal elixir be postponed?"
Zhang San Feng put his hands behind his back and said, "Consuming the immortal elixir requires a long time for refinement. During this period, one cannot do too many things, so there is something I need to tell you first and ask for your help."
Ji Xiang was surprised: "Master, are you perhaps coveting my Great Dao characteristics? Writing new magical arts with the Three Teachings' True Meanings comes at a high price. As you can see, I still have a great tribulation of the mortal world hanging over me, and I don't know when it will descend."
Looking at the blood-red ominous sign floating above his head, Ji Xiang was truly afraid of encountering any major trouble that would also implicate the mortal world. Therefore, staying in Wudang Mountain was a good choice. There were cultivators like clouds here, and it was a royal Taoist temple. There were not many people in this world who dared to directly attack Wudang Mountain to cause trouble.
"Whether you help or not, it will definitely be within your capabilities."
"Please tell me, Master."
"Heavenly demons can control human demonic tribulations, right?"
"Yes..."
"Can you too?"
"I can control it a little, but I cannot create tribulations for others. That is the ability of a demon king. I have not reached that realm yet."
Ji Xiang heard Zhang San Feng's intention. Was he asking him to inflict a tribulation on someone?
That would depend on who the person was. He couldn't let Ji Xiang inflict a demonic tribulation on someone just because they were competing for his wife, could he? Wouldn't that be using his power for personal revenge?
"No, it's for you to resolve a demonic tribulation."
Zhang San Feng reached out and pointed towards Lei Zu Peak:
"Don't you want to use the Soul Suppressing Palace for cultivation? Solve the matter of Great Immortal Dongyun for me!"
Ji Xiang suddenly understood. Zhang San Feng sighed, "In the Great Ming Dynasty, three people near Wudang almost ascended to immortality, but in the end, they failed to achieve it. My guess is that it might not only be because the demonic trials were too difficult to overcome..."
"Great Immortal Dongyun was from the late Yuan Dynasty. Among these people, he is the closest in age to me. Because he found it difficult to become an immortal, he fell into a demonic obsession. From the late Yuan Dynasty until now, he has been foolish and mad..."
Ji Xiang naturally knew who it was. Among the three Pure Yang realm cultivators of Wudang Mountain, Patriarch Dongyun was the madman, imprisoned deep within the Soul Suppressing Palace.
"I understand. I will eliminate the demonic obsession, but I cannot guarantee success, as this might be a demonic obsession cast by a demon king..."
"Didn't you say you had spoken ill of the demon kings before? Go up to heaven and blow more smoke, ask them to help..."
"That was not slander! Master, I was enforcing the law impartially! Am I a treacherous official among heavenly demons?"
Although he protested, he still had to take on the task. Although Patriarch Dongyun was foolish and mad, he was lucid for two to three days each month, but his intelligence was like that of a toddler. Ji Xiang's current body had met him when he was young. He had been asked some extremely profound questions, and shortly thereafter, the Patriarch was locked back into the palace, hidden from the world.
However, in recent years, Patriarch Dongyun had rarely been lucid. He was muddled and confused, as if he had truly transformed into a fierce ghost or demon. Occasionally, when lightning struck the peak, one could hear his roars like those of a giant demon.
Lightning flashed and thunder roared on Lei Zu Peak. Ji Xiang descended and headed directly for the Soul Suppressing Palace. The sky above the peak was dim. The Yin energy inside and outside the palace was confined to the surroundings of the peak, unable to dissipate, forming a realm of heavy Yin.
"Demonic obsession is formed by a stubborn, malevolent thought in the human heart that does not dissipate. It is difficult to describe, but it is a great enemy in cultivation. The Buddhist saying 'put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha instantly' is also a process of eliminating demonic obsession. But where are there so many people in this world who can let go when they say they can?"
"To seek and not obtain is the greatest suffering in the world."
Ji Xiang arrived before the Soul Suppressing Palace. With just one step, the heavenly demon energy within his body began to churn and boil.
The power of the Demon Subduing Chapter was spontaneously brewing!
It was telling Ji Xiang that within this palace, there was an unparalleled earthly demon who had never appeared before!
And at the same time.
A stream of black energy actually spread out from the palace. In the form of a phantom, it used the falling lightning. In the instant the white light burst forth, it projected onto the heavily sealed gate, revealing a pair of blood-red eyes.
"The Demon Subduing Chapter is rejoicing."
"Today, is it perhaps the time for consummation?"