The Right Sovereign, master of arms and armor; the Xié Jié Shū, official who transmits and executes orders.
Xié is to send, Jié is the tally, Shū is secrecy.
The Xié Jié Shū shook slightly and re-integrated into Ji Xiang's shadow.
"I am leaving this place. I will handle the surrounding matters. The Shadow God will teach you the subsequent tactics."
"Rest assured, we will ensure a clear path, striking straight at the heart of the enemy. This is also what Tokugawa Ieyasu desires, so why shouldn't we fulfill his wish?"
Ji Xiang gave a few instructions, then departed from the Jishan Grand Camp, flying towards the southeast.
The wind howled, clouds rolled, lightning was harnessed, and in the distance, a mountain city could be seen, its national might condensed into the form of a roaring serpent.
Let's start here!
Ji Xiang descended.
Since ancient times, tallies and seals have been crucial credentials for passing through checkpoints and verifying identity; while privy affairs are state secrets that must not be seen by outsiders.
The mountain city was guarded by countless soldiers and strongholds, but as Ji Xiang descended, they acted as if they were blind. Even the national might showed little reaction. The serpent seemed to sense something entering its domain, but upon closer inspection, it found nothing, and thus remained silent.
Ji Xiang was entirely black at this moment, like a shadow.
Shadow God, Xié Jié Shū.
To perform all secret matters!
People do not pay attention to their own shadows. The Right Sovereign can turn shadows into human forms, while the Xié Jié Shū can turn people into the forms of shadows. If the Right Sovereign is the king of the Nine Shadow Gods, then the Xié Jié Shū is the Right Sovereign's right-hand man, lurking in the darkness, handling all secrets.
[Shadow God (Xié Jié Shū): One of the Nine Shadow Gods.]
[Its deeds are secret, unknown to the world.]
[Has Shadow, No Form: Body transforms into shadow, even when walking in broad daylight, one will not be discovered. Others will overlook your existence, and all your aura and traces will vanish.]
[Fish of Shadow Tiles: In the state of shadow transformation, as long as one's true form is not deliberately revealed, one will not be obstructed by any power. A shadow is all the proof needed; one can freely enter and exit any place.]
National might permeated the area, yet Ji Xiang entered as if a fish in the sea, hidden within the deep shadows of the water, without encountering any obstruction.
The general in the city was still feasting and drinking, completely unaware that a strange black shadow stood before him, and he was raging about why his lamps were so dim.
"This makes things so convenient."
Ji Xiang placed his hand on the general's head, and the Heart Demon Reversal technique immediately took effect.
Two days later.
Southwest of Qingzhou City, outside Gongzhou City.
A surge of Buddhist power suddenly appeared.
"Indeed... can you tell this nun how you entered?"
"This nun did not sense your movement, which is why I only discovered your presence now, and my rescue arrived late. This is truly a terrible matter."
"However, you didn't kill those people in Qingzhou City? Also, can you tell this nun how you moved your position without being discovered?"
"You didn't kill the people of Qingzhou City because you were afraid that a large number of swords would be drawn, causing landslides and earth tremors that would attract attention, right? Unfortunately, such calculations have long been seen through by this nun. As soon as you appear, this nun will know where you are. It was only last night when you vanished into thin air that truly startled this nun."
Ji Xiang waited in a wilderness, and a young girl approached, with long hair, yet she called herself a nun.
Upon seeing the young girl, Ji Xiang spoke directly:
"I heard you were looking for me? I thought it was someone formidable, but I didn't expect you to be a false immortal."
"Although I don't know who you are, it's clear that Xu Fu is already restless. Did he send you to your death?"
Ji Xiang revealed himself. Through the information from the Shadow God, Ji Xiang learned that the Japanese forces had dispatched a master who claimed to be able to deal with him, this "Immortal of the Great Ming."
Furthermore, this master seemed to know his location. Tokugawa Ieyasu appeared indifferent to whether Ji Xiang was within the Great Ming army formation, clearly indicating that this newly arrived master gave him absolute confidence.
"This nun is the same. I thought it was some kind of person who could easily kill two of our country's immortal masters, even defeating the Sword Saint and others. I didn't expect it to be such an immature youth. Of course, with this young face, I probably don't have much credibility."
"I wonder if you, like this nun, are an ancient person in the Central Land who is ageless and whose appearance does not change?"
"This nun originally did not wish to commit much bloodshed, but the Western religions are gradually rising, the ancient Shinto teachings are gradually declining, and the Dharma of my Buddha is like a river flowing backward. If I don't achieve some results, I fear I will be abandoned by the Lord Regent. Therefore, I have brought this decaying body, about to pass away, across the great river and vast sea to kill you."
"Although you appear immature, this nun dares not truly treat you as a mere child. Being able to kill the two immortal masters, Vajra Treasury and Ghost Forest Layman, who came with Uesugi Kagekatsu, and seize their divine artifacts, shows you have some strength."
"Therefore, this nun also dares not directly attack and kill you. Firstly, I fear your violent resistance, and secondly, this nun has only come for you. If I were to kill those Ming soldiers, the excessive killing karma would cause this nun to fall into hell and never be reborn."
Upon hearing this, Ji Xiang couldn't help but laugh twice, without any other words. This made the girl somewhat suspicious:
"Before we fight, shouldn't we announce our names to each other?"
"This nun does not yet know your esteemed name."
Ji Xiang: "You don't need to know mine. It's enough that I know who you are. No matter how solemn your outward disguise, the killing intent in your heart is already manifesting and boiling."
"A master of great compassion, who in past eras specialized in divination. It's no wonder you can know my location."
In his eyes, the Inner Scene Divine Tablet displayed text.
[Eight Hundred Bikuni: False Immortal! An ancient immortal who has survived since Japan's Heian period! This person has consumed divine treasures, is unharmed by all laws, and their lifespan is divinely ordained. Nothing can harm them except death from old age.]
[Dharma Gates: Infusion of Three Poisons, Womb Realm Dharma, Pure White Lotus Anointing Dharma...]
[Hayagriva: Three eyes, eight arms, subduing demons of the three realms, averting all evil curses and demonic arts, intimidating all obstructing obstacles!]
Eight Hundred Bikuni smiled:
"Alright, since you are unwilling to tell me your name, it doesn't matter."
"I only need to know what you are."
"Heavenly Demon! I have come precisely to subdue you! I also know that the Heavenly Jewel Spear is in your hands. I will also tell you that many swords and the Heavenly Jewel Spear are useless to me. I am immortal and indestructible, only my lifespan is fixed. Therefore, apart from my lifespan, nothing can take me away."
"If you surrender and serve by my side as a guardian boy, it would not be bad."
Ji Xiang merely sneered upon hearing her words.
The smile on Eight Hundred Bikuni's face also disappeared. She said no more, and her Buddhist Dharma began to circulate.
The form of Hayagriva appeared upon her!
"Immeasurable Life Wrath, Self-Nature Wheel Avalokiteshvara."
"Through bending and stretching, bowing and rising, speaking and breathing, thinking and moving, one abandons the Bodhi mind and loses good roots."
"Seal the gates of evil realms!"
A curse-like power appeared out of nowhere.
Good roots refer to non-greed, non-anger, and non-delusion. Conversely, losing good roots means being harmed by the three poisons of greed, anger, and delusion.
All beings possess the nature of good roots within their bodies, which arise from the mind. Eight Hundred Bikuni was naturally full of confidence. She knew that the Underworld had been greatly disturbed and the Heavenly Jewel Spear had been stolen, which was why Emperor Jinmu had dispatched her to subdue this person.
Her identity as a Heavenly Demon was also known from this. Therefore, the Underworld's confinement could not hold her. This was Emperor Jinmu's belief. He found it difficult to know the specifics of the battle. He could sense that the Underworld had been torn apart, but when Emperor Jinmu sensed the situation within, he found that the Great God of the Underworld, Izanami, had disappeared.
And throughout the entire Underworld, there was only pure, radiant light.
"Even if you have the ability to wreak havoc in the Underworld, you cannot be without the three poisons of greed, anger, and delusion in your heart. By severing your good roots and sealing the gates of evil realms, preventing all demonic energies from manifesting outside your body, your inner fire will burn your soul, and you will be harmed to death by the three poisons of greed, anger, and delusion..."
"Death?"
Eight Hundred Bikuni's voice paused.
In her eyes, a vast Buddhist light was emanating from Ji Xiang!
A Vajra form appeared!
"Ksitigarbha's self-sacrifice, Namo Compassionate Vow Vajra Protection, Three Poisons Annihilation."
Her left hand formed a mudra, and pure Buddhist energy swirled and surged.
"Namo Vikritamukha Vajra King Buddha."
Her right hand formed a mudra, and a blue-gold lotus light bloomed inch by inch.
"Namo Mahamayuri Vidyā Rājñī Bodhisattva."
The manifestation of three Buddhas destroyed the three poisons!
Greed, anger, and delusion evaporated like flowing clouds. This scene stunned Eight Hundred Bikuni. After two breaths, she came back to her senses, her heart greatly shaken, knowing that the situation was dire!
How could the body of a Heavenly Demon have the protection of three Buddhas?
"You, a demonic being, possess such great Buddha-nature!"
A absurd thought suddenly arose in Eight Hundred Bikuni's mind.
She actually felt that perhaps this Heavenly Demon before her, if he entered Buddhism, could become a great Buddha.
In that case, it was even more imperative to convert him and bring him to Japan.
With such powerful guardians present, the Japanese Buddhist sects would surely prosper, their faith would not be encroached upon by any sect, and their supreme status would endure forever.
"Demonic Buddha... a good being. Today, I will convert you to the Buddha-country and bring you into my Lotus Pure Land!"
"Although you have the protection of three Buddhas, these three Buddhas are not divine positions you possess yourself, but merely gifts they have bestowed upon you. I can see this. Do you think that relying on three external protections can counteract my converting Buddhist chant?"
"Since I cannot deal with you using the three poisons, I will try with orthodox Buddhist Dharma."
The form of Hayagriva suddenly changed!
The horse mane around its neck began to grow in abundance, gradually spreading to the area around its face, changing into a mixture of crimson and golden colors. The horse's head turned green, and beneath the Ming King's body appeared a flat, circular disc shaped like a lotus. It wore a crown of five skulls, a necklace of fifty human heads, and was draped in human skin and elephant hide, with a tiger skin skirt, adorned with snake and bone ornaments.
"Supreme of the Womb Realm, Lion of Fearless Avalokiteshvara!"
The three horse heads let out lion roars, and wherever their aura reached, heaven and earth rumbled, deafening!
The mantra of Hayagriva was orthodox Buddhist Dharma. Eight Hundred Bikuni attempted to use this method to erase the demonic thoughts in Ji Xiang's heart and completely convert him to Buddhism!
In her opinion, Ji Xiang, as a Heavenly Demon, even with the protection of three Buddhas, must still have demonic thoughts in his heart. Buddhist Dharma could protect demons and eliminate demonic obstacles, but it could not prevent other Buddhist Dharma from infiltrating. After all, they were all Buddhist things. To convert demons and destroy terror, if the power of the three Buddhas responded to her Ming King mantra, perhaps they would turn around and help her convert this Heavenly Demon together!
At that time, it would not be the power of three Buddhas against the power of one Buddha, but the power of four Buddhas attacking the demonic being together!
Indeed, along with the mantra, Eight Hundred Bikuni saw the three Buddhist powers begin to respond to her call, covering that Heavenly Demon, and working together to convert the Heavenly Demon!
She immediately changed her hand seal!
Pure White Lotus!
Beneath Ji Xiang, white lotuses appeared!
The Lotus Pure Land had emerged. Eight Hundred Bikuni narrowed her delicate eyes, and a smile finally appeared on her beautiful face.
White lotuses served as adornments, glorifying his body!
"Excellent, you have entered my Buddhist gate... being able to subdue this matter without committing bloodshed adds great merit. From now on, our Japanese Buddhist sects can flourish..."
White lotuses filled the area, and Eight Hundred Bikuni's smile grew even more beautiful.
When the lotuses had completely bloomed and spread across the land, even Ji Xiang's figure was enveloped by the white lotuses. She stopped chanting the scriptures and looked at the giant white lotus before her with a look of satisfaction:
"This Lotus Pure Land was originally meant to be a Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss that could only be witnessed after reciting my scriptures a million times. Today, I personally open the way for you. From now on, you will shed your demonic body, transform into a Buddha-son, purify your inherent nature, burn away the seeds of the impure mind cultivated in the consciousness of all sentient beings, and extinguish the seeds of your immeasurable kalpas and myriad evil karma."
"From now on, you will practice all Buddhist Dharma and achieve whatever you desire."
Eight Hundred Bikuni extended her hands, and the giant white lotus before her slowly opened with her movements.
She was about to welcome the future Buddha-son.
But as the white lotus opened, what appeared inside was an unfamiliar "existence"!
Eight Hundred Bikuni was stunned.
What appeared before her was like a sculpture carved from gold and jade, and it clearly was not in the style of Buddhism, but rather resembled the style of Taoism in the Central Land!
"What is happening?"
"How did it become like this?"
As she was about to step forward, suddenly, the Heavenly Venerable, carved from gold and jade, opened its eyes!
At that moment, all the white lotuses dissolved and turned into clouds!
"Great Luo Heavenly Palace, within Jade Brahma light. The sacred realm of Yu Luo Xiao Tai, a magnificent and natural wondrous form!"
The Heavenly Venerable, carved from gold and jade, opened its mouth and uttered grand syllables. Instantly, Eight Hundred Bikuni's chest felt a surge of energy, and the Heavenly Venerable she saw emitted thousands of auspicious rays of light!
"Golden Visage Jade Form Heavenly Venerable."
"Grant the Immortal Robe!"
The golden and jade carved form was not a sculpture, but the Heavenly Venerable's heavenly robe transformed by the Golden Visage Jade Form Heavenly Venerable!
The body merged with heaven and earth; as long as heaven and earth are not destroyed, I am not destroyed. Evolving the true profound art, breaking through the obstacles of formlessness and emptiness!
Where the Heavenly Venerable resides, there is no thought, no attachment, no love!
Unfettered by all phenomena and transformations!
Eight Hundred Bikuni's expression turned to terror. Ji Xiang's voice came from the form and spirit of the Golden Visage Jade Form Heavenly Venerable, accompanied by the Jade Brahma precious light filling this finite world!
Her consciousness flickered, and when she looked up again, suddenly all the light in heaven and earth was obscured in an instant, and then surged forth again in the next instant!
How could this be!
The situation had escalated beyond her expectations, but Eight Hundred Bikuni was only slightly startled before clasping her hands together and chanting a Buddhist name:
"So it is. You, like this nun, are not subject to any conversion... No wonder that Buddhist Dharma did not reject you. You transformed the Buddhist Dharma for your own use, not because the Buddhas did not wish to convert you, but because they could not."
"But now, both you and this nun are immortal and indestructible, and not subject to conversion. It seems this battle will have no outcome. You cannot kill this nun, and this nun cannot kill you."
"How about a truce?"
Eight Hundred Bikuni knew that she could not defeat this Heavenly Demon this time. Her previous plans for conversion had all turned to naught. For now, she could only retreat, as lingering here was meaningless.
But Ji Xiang said!
"Since you are immortal and indestructible, and I have no other means to deal with you, let's settle this with one strike."
Eight Hundred Bikuni was puzzled: "One strike?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. Are you saying you actually have a way to deal with this nun? Then why didn't you use it before?"
Ji Xiang explained: "This move is not easy to use, as it consumes a lot. For me, it is a rootless technique, and each use weakens its power. Relying on the Treasure Gathering Basin in my hand, it takes a long time to recover."
"I have also seen all your techniques. You are immortal and indestructible, so I have no other means to deal with you."
Eight Hundred Bikuni did not understand Ji Xiang's words. Just as she was somewhat bewildered, she suddenly focused her gaze and noticed a dazzling ray of light!
All the light on her fingertips condensed, forming a nine-colored treasure light, about an inch in size, held in the Heavenly Demon's palm!
The radiance was not large.
Yet it struck her as if struck by lightning. Instinctively, she sensed a supreme and profound energy, as if it were about to cleanse her very soul!
Great Terror!
Eight Hundred Bikuni immediately fell silent and fled!
But the voice followed like a shadow, arriving as promised!
"Tai Xu Treasure Light!"
"Go!"
.........