A god and ghost moved, and Ji Xiang, far in Joseon, felt a connection in his heart!
It was like the feeling when he was targeted by the Jade Emperor, or when Emperor Huaguang fixed his gaze upon him. This gaze cast from the netherworld felt like an unerasable curse. Ji Xiang followed this feeling and looked towards the other side of the sea.
"Is Xu Fu making a move?"
That power came from across the sea. Now that Ulsan was broken, Ieyasu had become a traitor, and the Mori and Kuroda were potential rebels, these three, each with their own agenda, orchestrated this great retreat from Ulsan, their aim being Hideyoshi.
"It couldn't be the actions of Ieyasu and the others that attracted attention. They are all still alive, and the great battle of Ulsan has just ended. Even if Xu Fu possessed earth-shattering abilities, he is ultimately a false immortal. Perhaps he can grasp everything that happens under his control in an instant, but this is Joseon."
"His eyes cannot see this far."
"If that's the case, then it must be the apprehension caused by my killing of the Eight Hundred Bikuni. It seems this maiden nun is truly a figure of great importance."
The Tai Xu Bao Guang could cleanse anything, its usefulness comparable to Kong Xuan's Five-Colored Divine Light in the folk tale "Investiture of the Gods." However, killing the Eight Hundred Bikuni did not yield her divine treasure, only leaving behind her錫杖 (xī zhàng - monk's staff).
This was merely a Buddhist artifact. Although powerful, it was still far inferior to an immortal treasure that was indestructible.
"My Tribulation of the Mortal World has been resolved in the Yellow Springs. I am currently in the state of Sun Refining, yet I still feel a palpitation. It seems Xu Fu's methods this time are extraordinary."
As the ominous feeling drew closer, Ji Xiang's Inner Scenery Divine Tablet also responded!
[Great Master (Qin Dynasty Refining Technique):朕 (zhèn - imperial 'I') has had calamities in successive reigns, fearing that the court lacks good governance, do you attribute blame to the deities?]
[A great god and ghost worshipped since the era of Emperor Suinin. In ancient times, the Yamato Province suffered a great plague and disaster, causing half the people in the land to die. At this time, this god and ghost appeared and told Emperor Suinin that by merely sacrificing to it, this disaster would be quelled, and you could continue to control the nation. Thus, Emperor Suinin respectfully sacrificed to this god and ghost, bestowing upon it titles in the name of the entire nation. The disaster was soon pacified.]
[Incarnation of Great Calamity: The existence of the Great Master is closely linked to the country of Japan. Anyone who kills it will have "calamity transferred" to them, meaning the name of the Great Master and its very being will be transferred to a new object, making the new object the "Great Master" and the "incarnation of calamity." This is not a curse, but an "inheritance."]
[Qin Dynasty Refining Technique: Deities and ghosts refined by the Qin Dynasty Refining Technique possess the ability to possess others, meaning to exist by replacing the form and spirit of others! The possessed will receive the blessings of the god and ghost's power. This is the dissolution of form, dependent on the affairs of gods and ghosts! However, after the form and spirit are replaced by the god and ghost, as time passes, the god and ghost's form and spirit will gradually take over the consciousness of the possessed, and finally, the possessed will completely become a part of the god and ghost. Qin Dynasty alchemists would not refine themselves into the form of gods and ghosts unless absolutely necessary.]
[National Destiny Devourer: Upon becoming the incarnation of calamity, you will absorb the resentment of the dead to continuously grow stronger. The more disasters there are in the world, the more potent your power will become. Simultaneously, your connection with Japan's national destiny will become increasingly intimate. Once either cycle between you and the national destiny is severed, it will cause immense damage to both.]
[National Soul Vassal: The Great Master's avatar is called Ota-tane-ne-ko. If worshipped by such a half-human, half-divine being, overseas nations will automatically submit, meaning they will plunder the national destiny of others to strengthen themselves.]
[Sacrificial Object Eighty Hands: The Great Master can summon a ghost and demon army of eighty thousand belonging to its own existence!]
[Countermeasures: If the Great Master is killed, one must go to Japan to sever the connection with the national destiny. Otherwise, upon returning to the Ming Dynasty, or while existing in Joseon, within one month, half the population of that country will die suddenly, creating immense karmic sin. Furthermore, the longer the power of the Great Master exists within oneself, the greater the impact on one's mind.]
[Chant the Pure Mind Divine Incantation to maintain clarity of mind.]
[Chant the Pure Heaven and Earth Divine Incantation to resist the aura of calamity.]
[Maintain the form and spirit of the Vast Crossing of the Deluded Heavenly Venerable to nullify the opponent's possession.]
[Use the power of the Golden Visage Jade Aspect Heavenly Venerable to protect yourself.]
[With a large number of wishes, activate the Heavenly Deer Bow and Heavenly Feather Arrows to break its divine and ghost form. However, due to its lack of a physical body, being a condensation of the national soul, it cannot be completely killed.]
[Use the power of the Southern Divine King of the Ten Directions Divine Kings to open up the Abandoned Worthy World, dividing and forcibly discarding the power within the opponent.]
[Use the power of the Heavenly Opening Yellow Path Heavenly Venerable, in conjunction with the White Copper Four Noble Truths Staff left behind by the Eight Hundred Bikuni, to perform a sealing technique!]
[Do not use the Jade Purity Hidden Book to kill the opponent!]
[This target has been struck by the Heavenly Jade Spear, rendering it ineffective against it.]
"The arrival is truly ill-intentioned. I never expected this god and ghost to come not to kill me, but to die!"
Ji Xiang's brow furrowed!
If the opponent had come to challenge him, it would have been one thing. Any god or demon would be annihilated upon encountering him, the Heavenly Demon! But this time, the opponent had deliberately come to die, and it was after its death that the real trouble would begin!
Qin Dynasty alchemists had methods of form dissolution and were skilled at manipulating gods and ghosts to possess people's forms and spirits. He had now witnessed it.
However!
"If it were me from a month ago, I might not have been your match. But in this past month, I have become familiar with the Dharma realm powers of the Four Heavenly Venerables and the Ten Directions Divine Kings, and my magical power is incomparably abundant."
"You coming to find me is like a fish entering a net, seeking your own death!"
Ji Xiang brandished the staff in his hand!
This equipment dropped from killing the Eight Hundred Bikuni, finally finding its use!
"Eighteen Buddhist Artifacts, White Copper Four Noble Truths Staff!"
Four Noble Truths! They are suffering, accumulation, cessation, and the path!
Suffering: birth, old age, sickness, death. Accumulation: afflicted by the three poisons. Cessation: Nirvana, liberation. Path: true unblemished wisdom, eliminating all troubles and disputes.
"Individually, the Four Noble Truths are not particularly strong, but when used together, they can seal all dharmas and break all seals. It's a pity you encountered me, otherwise this Buddhist artifact would still have some use."
"You, transformed by the national soul, an intangible evil, correspond perfectly to the cycle of the Four Noble Truths. I shall subdue you with unblemished wisdom!"
Ji Xiang waited near Ulsan. As the god and ghost crossed the sea, a scene of disaster appeared in the heavens and earth!
The Buddhist artifact ascended to the heavens, manifesting the world of the Four Noble Truths. Ji Xiang waved his hand again, revealing the form of the Vast Crossing of the Deluded Heavenly Venerable, and empowered the "Immortal Robe of Transformation" with the power of the Golden Visage Jade Aspect Heavenly Venerable!
He drew his bow and nocked an arrow with both hands!
Heavenly Feather Arrows, entwined with the power of the Southern Abandoned Worthy Divine King!
Finally, a vast cloud of mist erupted around his body, transforming into the appearance of the last Heavenly Venerable!
Heavenly Opening Yellow Path Heavenly Venerable, the heavenly gate wide open, stepping through the void!
"Xu Fu wants to force me to go to Japan."
"Why be so impatient? After all... I will have to kill my way there sooner or later!"