The Taoists of Xuanmiao Temple approached slowly, an eerie wind swirling around them. Their flesh rippled like waves in the wind, filling Ji Xiang with dread and prompting a sigh.
Xuanmiao Temple, after all, was a renowned sect of the Southern Quanzhen Dao. The figure in the center was even a cultivator of the Huangting realm, and now they had been annihilated.
The underworld was as formidable as ever. Last time, they had nearly succeeded in wreaking havoc on the Forbidden City, and now they had extinguished the incense of Quanzhen Dao in Gusu. They were silent when they did nothing, but when they acted, it was always a major operation.
At this moment, the Duluona ghost in the courtyard spotted the Taoists and raised its iron staff, ready to strike!
"What abominations are you!"
The Duluona ghost's iron staff descended, but the Taoists did not dodge. Some were smashed into pulp, while more remained unfazed.
Among the Taoists, Nanyangzi, the leader, turned his half-ghastly face towards the Duluona ghost.
He began to recite scriptures!
"The world is foolish; they see Taoists die and evildoers die, yet they do not distinguish between them. They only see them as equally dead, with no difference. Evildoers who die enter the three evil paths. Taoists who die are born in heaven and earth, or become great kings, or ascend to immortality, never to be born in evil places..."
The Duluona ghost's iron staff was raised, but it did not swing again!
Its form and spirit began to vanish, its eyes wide with unwillingness!
"The Great Supreme Cave Abyss Divine Incantation Scripture! How can you wicked abominations recite such a scripture..."
Before it could finish speaking, it had disappeared.
Meanwhile, the Taoists who had been smashed into pulp began to stir. Their flesh and blood writhed, and slowly, an invisible outline stood up. Then, bones and teeth were reassembled. Afterward, flesh and blood wriggled, attaching themselves to the bones bit by bit. Their internal organs were gone, leaving only a mass of human-shaped flesh smeared onto the skeleton, molded into a human form.
The little fox almost vomited at the sight.
Ji Xiang was also utterly shocked.
"Skin and flesh, the five viscera lost. These people are dead and cannot be saved."
The five viscera contained the five elements' vital energy and numerous divine spirits of the human body, representing the body's inner strength. Now, their form and spirit were lost, their physical bodies destroyed into pulp, their five viscera gone, and their souls vanished...
Without the art of wish-revival, under normal circumstances, most resurrection spells would not be able to save these people!
Ji Xiang thought of the Fire Lord.
The Yellow Heaven Sect of the Fire Lord could revive people with wishes, but one had to be a loyal follower of the Yellow Heaven Sect, and the conditions for revival were unclear.
Ji Xiang only knew of this one wish-revival technique.
Not counting the miracles of Christ.
His clothes became increasingly soiled, and his body emitted a foul odor, a sign of approaching death. However, Ji Xiang's physical body had consumed Jiajing's immortal elixir, giving it the roots of heaven and earth. It was naturally impossible for him to die just like that.
The speed of erosion suddenly slowed, and the lightning in the sky only brewed without striking.
These strange occurrences led the group to recognize the uniqueness of Ji Xiang's physical body:
"You have taken the Heavenly Marrow and undergone a transformation?"
Ji Xiang did not reply but looked at Nanyangzi, whose face was half-ghastly and half-closed among the Taoists.
It seemed that the other half of his face was normal, indicating that his form and spirit had not been completely seized. Indeed, the form and spirit of a Huangting realm cultivator were not so easily seized. The "form-seizing" ability of these refining ghosts, no matter how powerful, had its limits.
"Let me see how to deal with you..."
Ji Xiang was about to get a clear view of what the inner scene divine tablet displayed when his vision blurred, and everything became indistinct. Even the text on the divine tablet seemed obscured by a thin mist.
"After the Great Celestial's Five Decays comes the Minor Celestial's Five Decays. The light of the Dharma extinguishes, the heavenly music disappears, the flesh is moistened, the mind is confused by illusions, and the eyes cannot see."
At this time, his cultivation was suppressed, his physical body decayed, his eyes could not see heaven and earth, and his magical power was gradually fading.
Moreover, curses echoed from all around. These were the refining ghosts manipulating the souls of the common people, beginning to curse and revile Ji Xiang for the consequences of his previous actions.
Mother and Child Ghost: "It's all because of you! If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have died from a ghostly invasion!"
Stall Ghost: "You demon Taoist! The fact that Gusu City has become a dead land is all your fault."
Young Master Ghost: "I will annihilate your soul, and you will fall into the Avici Hell forever, never to be reborn!"
Beggar Ghost: "You killed us! Why!"
Constable Ghost: "As a cultivator, you claimed to save people, yet when faced with strange events, you acted rashly without careful investigation, ultimately making us innocent people bear the responsibility!"
Merchant Ghost: "We paid with our lives for your recklessness!"
"It's all because of you, all because of you... it's all your fault..."
The common people approached and surrounded Ji Xiang, their single eyes rolling. The "Taoists" of Xuanmiao Temple began to set up a formation.
The little fox became anxious and took out his white jade knife, ready to call for backup.
But Ji Xiang stopped him.
"It's not time yet. Let them continue."
Ji Xiang was prepared to have his physical body and spirit separated again, which was a last resort if the divine miracle proved ineffective.
He could see nothing now, not even his own inner scene. His vision was dim, but he could still hear the curses. This situation was very similar to the trial of the Azure Heaven Demon.
It turned out that even in the real world, one could encounter situations similar to those in demonic trials.
All calamities arose from oneself.
All disasters were born from oneself.
Even Heaven's will acknowledged that under such circumstances, a normal person's Dao heart would have wavered. Under the interference of the surrounding living people, they would have been corrupted, their Dao hearts shattered, and they would have fallen into evil ways or been killed by them.
Even Ji Xiang's mind had wavered slightly before.
But now, Ji Xiang's mind was focused on only two things.
Kill.
Or not kill.
Sensing the killing intent emanating from Ji Xiang, the surrounding "common people" began to wail:
"You heretical demon! Disguising yourself as a Taoist to save all beings, yet you still intend to kill us!"
"Your murderous intent is so heavy. Did we provoke you to deserve to be slaughtered by you?"
"I am a living person, a living person! How dare you kill me!"
Ji Xiang remained unmoved, his killing intent still brewing within him. But in the next moment, the refining ghosts seemed to realize that their manipulated cries were useless against Ji Xiang. They then released their suppression, allowing the souls of those people to briefly awaken.
Boom!
Suddenly, the area became chaotic. The souls and consciousness of the people briefly awakened, and upon seeing a giant eyeball on each other's faces, they were terrified and cried out. But amidst the shouts of others, they touched their own faces and found eyes there too!
"Don't cry!"
At this moment, Nanyangzi, with his ghastly half-face and blood-red eyes, reprimanded the mortals!
Seeing Nanyangzi, many of the common people of Gusu recognized him and immediately knelt down, shouting:
"Daoist Nanyang! What is happening? How did we get here? What are these eyes on our faces?"
"And who is this person! Who is this person!"
Those who stepped forward pointed at Ji Xiang, their remaining eyeballs filled with unconcealable shock and fear. But Nanyangzi laughed heartily, then said somewhat madly:
"He is a celestial demon from the outside, disguised as a Taoist, mingling among you. It is he who has caused you to become like this now!"
"See my appearance? Xuanmiao Temple becoming like this, my face becoming like this, it's all his doing!"
"You have been possessed by ghosts, and he is the instigator of all this!"
Nanyangzi pointed at Ji Xiang. At this moment, Ji Xiang, made hideous by the Five Decays of the Celestial, with disheveled hair, unable to see, and emitting foul odors, truly looked like a monster.
The common people were stunned.
Then, their expressions began to contort!
Overwhelming curses came from all directions. Some knelt on the ground, wailing and screaming, their shrill voices more terrifying than those of ghosts!
These were the true emotions of fear from mortals, not the false words spoken under the manipulation of ghosts!
"It's not my ancestor who harmed you! The ghosts that harmed you are among you! It's him, it's him!"
The little fox tried to argue and pointed at some of the common people who were refining ghosts. But as soon as he spoke, thunder rumbled from the tribulation clouds in the sky, as if refuting his words!
Seeing this, the surrounding people cursed even more wildly!
"You demon child, you still say it's not! Even Heaven cannot bear to watch!"
"It's fortunate that Daoist Nanyang enlightened us, otherwise we would have been controlled by ghosts all along!"
"Look at my appearance! How can I get married with my eyes like this!"
"Everyone, beat this demon Taoist to death!"
The little fox was greatly frightened and began to perform the Golden Light Spell, but Nanyangzi waved his hand and threw the little fox onto the large tree where people had died strangely on Zijie Street.
"You still want to use the Golden Light Spell for protection? How can I let you succeed!"
"Monster, demon Taoist, demon child, demonic methods, demon!"
With every word Nanyangzi uttered, the common people surged closer. They punched Ji Xiang, but his physical body was strong. Many of them cried out in pain and rolled on the ground after throwing a punch!
"This demon Taoist has an indestructible body!"
After a flurry of punches that failed to injure Ji Xiang, they broke their own hand bones. These people were greatly frightened, and then someone began to throw stones!
Even if stones were thrown and shattered, at least their own bones wouldn't break!
Thus, many stones and wood began to be thrown at Ji Xiang, shattering all over the place. His head and body were covered in fragments and dust from the broken stones.
The Taoists had finished setting up the formation, and the energies of the Five Elements appeared. These refining ghosts, possessing the Taoists, used a fierce array that reversed the Five Elements and changed Yin and Yang!
"Azure Dragon Crimson Blood Array!"
The Azure Dragon emerged from the sea, tracing its path through heaven and earth. The Qian light surged, and evil perished. The Azure Dragon Crimson Blood Array was a grand formation that reversed the Five Elements, changing the Yin and Yang!
"Refine!"
Ji Xiang sat in the center, and the grand formation began to slowly activate. The Azure Dragon and crimson blood rose, resembling a fierce sea of blood!
The common people, still unsatisfied after venting their anger, continued to lash out at Ji Xiang. At this moment, Nanyangzi shouted:
"All citizens of Gusu! This outside celestial demon has possessed the body of a disciple of the Daoist sect and forged an indestructible jade body. You cannot harm him!"
"But Xuanmiao Temple, where I reside, possesses the Azure Dragon Blood Array specifically for refining celestial demons. Let me refine this great outside demon. Once his physical body disintegrates, you can all feast on his blood and flesh, and vent your resentment!"
Nanyangzi delivered his speech, and the surrounding common people immediately cheered in response!
The crowd was incensed, as if Ji Xiang, this "demonic Taoist," was about to be refined in the center of the formation!
And Ji Xiang, at this moment, was caught in a dilemma and contemplation.
These ghosts could still awaken people's souls and guide them.
But what these ghosts said was not entirely wrong.
The source of this incident was indeed himself.
This opening move, designed by the underworld, was extremely difficult to detect. The other party knew of his ability to "observe and decipher opposing spells," so they acted in secret, using a hidden method to create a fait accompli.
Now that the matter was settled, no explanation could change it.
Even when the little fox spoke on his behalf, the heavenly tribulation roared, clearly indicating that Heaven's will endorsed the other party's claims.
Ji Xiang spoke:
"Did you not suspect that Nanyangzi had a problem?"
He said this merely to test, and to his surprise, he received no response at all. The common people continued to wail and curse, filled with anger and resentment, making no attempt to refute his words.
They could not hear.
Because the refining ghosts did not want them to hear.
"They don't need to shatter my Dao heart; they only need to make me feel guilty. Then their goal is achieved."
"My vows are broken, my cultivation is damaged, everything is caused by the populace, and even Heaven's will is guided to descend tribulations. At this moment, heaven and humanity conspire against me, truly a great mistake caused by a single thought."
"But what of it?"
Ji Xiang chuckled: "I feel guilty, that's true! But that does not prevent me from killing to uphold the Dao!"
"These people are considered dead, their souls are in their bodies but not under their control, their form and spirit are lost and difficult to recover. Once the ghosts leave their bodies, they will eventually turn into scattered white bones. Therefore, I am not killing living people, but ghosts."
"After this matter, I am willing to accept the punishment of heavenly lightning. At this moment, I must also exterminate all the ghosts and restore clarity to the world! These spirits and specters, who manipulated people's hearts to slaughter the city, deserve to be punished by heavenly lightning!"
At this moment, a token on his body suddenly emitted a faint white light!
The sky immediately erupted with thunder!
This token flew up into the air; it was the Divine Might Grand Order!
"Hmm?!"
Nanyangzi saw a token fly up and immediately acted, snatching the white-glowing Divine Might Grand Order into his hand. He laughed heartily:
"Hah! You demon Taoist, still spouting wild boasts!"
"Is this token your last resort? It's far too weak!"
Nanyangzi saw the image of Wang Lingguan on the back of the token and laughed. He said to Ji Xiang, "Wang Lingguan! Good! This Grand Unity Heavenly Venerate of Thunderous Manifestation specializes in killing worldly demons and heretics. I want to see how you, a heretic, will deal with him now!"
But at that moment, the token, without anyone touching it, began to emit a sound.
Dong—
Like the beating of a war drum.
Thunderclap erupted from flat ground!
A vast voice echoed between heaven and earth, causing countless ghosts and common people to panic in fear!
"Utmost strength, utmost courage, saving the dead and saving the living!"
This voice seemed to come from the celestial realm. An anomaly occurred, and Nanyangzi immediately cast a spell to seal the token. But the white light blazed like inextinguishable fire. The token shook, and countless white rays of light flew out, striking the living people!
For all unrighteous demons and evil spirits in the mortal world, striking the plaque once and reciting "Utmost strength, utmost courage, saving the dead and saving the living" would immediately strike down their divine positions and demonic bodies, cutting them into pieces!
With a single chime of the spirit plaque, heaven and earth shook!
Immediately, countless ghostly screams echoed through heaven and earth! The refining ghosts, though already merged with the living, were now struck by the token's white light, which only harmed the ghosts' forms and spirits, not the people's flesh and souls!
Nanyangzi also let out a scream. A part of his ghostly form was severed, and the token slipped from his grasp, falling to the ground, still vibrating. Then, it flew up towards the sky!
"What's happening? What about this token?"
Nanyangzi could not believe it. Where did that voice come from?!
Ji Xiang was also somewhat surprised, but at this moment, it was almost time to break the stalemate!
The other party seemed to have no other tricks left.
Within the Azure Dragon Crimson Blood Array, the blood and the Azure Dragon had completely enveloped Ji Xiang, refining him. But suddenly, they dispersed, and a soft white light emerged. The Azure Dragon Crimson Blood Array vanished without a trace, and Ji Xiang appeared unharmed from the formation. The state of the Five Decays of the Celestial had also completely disappeared!
The many Taoists of Xuanmiao Temple had their hearts pierced by the white light, their forms and spirits severed. In their terror, they saw Ji Xiang emerge completely intact and were stunned into place.
"Why?!"
Ji Xiang looked up at the surging lightning. Within that lightning, he sensed a familiar aura.
The Wang Lingguan token had manifested the thunder techniques of the Divine Firmament Sect, and these techniques were now calling to him!
The method of using a divine ability descended from the heavens, causing Ji Xiang a slight surprise. He then cupped his fists towards the sky.
Ji Xiang took out the Bright Light Heavenly Book, and a trace of incense and fire appeared on his fingertips:
"Everyone has some trump cards. Your poisonous methods did give me some trouble. If I don't make you think I'm at my wit's end, how will you let down your guard?"
"Surprised? Unexpected? Unbelievable? Don't rush. See it a few more times, and you'll get used to it. Without absolute certainty, how would I dare to contend with you?"
"You did well this time. Don't do it again next time."
He wrote some words on the Bright Light Heavenly Book, then raised his five fingers. His five fingertips, empowered by the Bright Light Heavenly Book, began to manifest five different colored bolts of lightning!
In conjunction with the heavenly Divine Firmament lightning and the immense heavenly tribulation, countless bolts of lightning were guided down, held in his hands!
A vast lightning light flickered between heaven and earth, spreading for a hundred miles!
"Thirty-six Heavenly Transformations—"
"Mastery of Five Thunders!"