The Jade Dragon Daoist Abbey, Xu Fu's possessed vengeful spirit warrior, with a special poison of wish and the peak power of the mortal realm, dissolved all nine Yang God avatars, causing them to vanish without a trace.
At this moment, Chen Taichu's resentment reached Xu Fu's heart.
That fluctuating black energy also appeared in the Jade Dragon Daoist Abbey like an illusion, radiating a strange filth, yet seemingly containing the sole great Dao principle of heaven and earth, captivating the cultivators' gaze.
The vengeful spirit warrior possessed by Xu Fu had also been contaminated by this black energy before.
Thus, in this instant, the vengeful spirit warrior's form and spirit were stripped away, and Xu Fu's consciousness was immediately expelled!
In the final moment, Xu Fu's consciousness saw.
The vengeful spirit warriors he controlled underwent a transformation, a change that could tangibly affect their very essence, from their form and spirit to their physical bodies and even their souls.
An ancient and surging power poured into their husks!
"What is this!"
It was as if some great existence had heard Xu Fu's voice and responded to him!
"Dao!"
One thought spanned millennia, one thought extinguished millennia, all phenomena slowly retreated, revealing a fleeting illusion resembling the Daoist shadow of time in Xu Fu's eyes! This ancient immortal, hidden in the mortal realm for over two thousand years, was at this moment also struggling to breathe.
Unlike the millennia within the Inner Mountains and Rivers.
In truth, to survive for two thousand years in the Outer Mountains and Rivers made him even more powerful.
Although there was not much spiritual energy available for cultivation here.
This place possessed the Great Dao.
All myriad transformations were spells; only one form existed within the Dao!
Not cleansed by time, but scoured by the Great Dao contained within time, such two thousand years were more profound than ten thousand years in the Inner Mountains and Rivers!
And across an immeasurable distance, in the unseen depths, Xu Fu's will seemed to stand face-to-face with Chen Taichu in a void.
"Xu Fu, you turned yourself into a ghost god, just as I expected."
"The so-called ghost gods originated in the ancient pre-Qin period, transcending ordinary spirits, capable of manifesting divine events. Possessing divine, extraordinary power, you are akin to living celestial positions."
"The myriad gods of Fu Li were all created by later generations through wishes, while ghost gods do not belong to the gods of Fu Li. They act freely, hiding in the world. The point that distinguishes them from common spirits is that they do not require incense offerings, and possess various inconceivable powers. They are often intangible or invisible in the real world, but can be communicated with through prayer, sacrifice, and other means."
"In the pre-Qin period, the Fang Xian Dao emerged, relying on elixirs for immortality, seeking imperial favor, or striving for worldly wealth, or borrowing imperial power to truly achieve eternal life."
"Your wisdom originates from the Hundred Schools of Thought, drawing from Daoist learning, utilizing Yin-Yang school techniques, adopting the language of the Guans, learning Confucian sacrificial rites, and emulating Mohist's unconstrained thought."
"Zhuangzi said in his book that those who studied esoteric arts from his time onwards became very numerous."
"You arose in the Spring and Autumn period, gained fame in the Warring States, flourished under Emperor Qin, and declined under Emperor Wu of Han."
Chen Taichu's voice was icy cold, filled with anger and hatred.
"And now, you, who did not go to the Inner Mountains and Rivers with the other Fangshi, are merely a废弃 (fèi qì -废弃) immortal. The system of immortal Dao, in general, becomes more powerful in later eras. The immortals who had just ascended were rare existences in the world back then, while now, the ascended immortals are merely infants who have just attained immortal Dao among the many immortals."
"At that time, immortals did not have ranks, nor the hierarchy of the Five Immortals. Ascended, Corpse-Released, Merit, Medicinal... these were merely methods of becoming an immortal."
"But later, these became mere designations for ordinary immortals, because most immortals found better ways to ascend. These were clumsy methods."
"There was no Heavenly Heart or Hunyuan in the past. By the time of Emperor Wu of Han, Dongfang Shuo had entered the Inner Mountains and Rivers, and the Heavenly Heart realm only then appeared in the world."
Chen Taichu taunted Xu Fu.
He implied that Xu Fu was merely an outdated player who had fallen behind the version updates.
Wielding outdated ancient spells, he believed that later techniques could not decipher them, but there was a reason why lost arts were lost. Either they were too difficult to learn, or their function had been replaced by some later technique.
Xu Fu's heart trembled violently.
Chen Taichu had already dispelled the ghost god poison he had set.
Those rolling black energies, and the ancient power that suddenly surged within them, seemingly carrying the power of "Dao," had saved Chen Taichu from the poisoned state, and with this power, he could even trace back in reverse...
"Don't misunderstand."
Chen Taichu interrupted Xu Fu's thoughts: "The tracing technique is not a power given to me by this black energy, but my own spell."
"What, you don't know how?"
Xu Fu remained silent.
Chen Taichu then let out naked mockery and disdain.
Old man, your magic is long obsolete. With just this much strength, you want to kill me?
You're dreaming too early!
However, Chen Taichu was also bluffing at this moment. He just wanted to know why Xu Fu dared to break their promise.
Doing business like this, being two-faced, no one will dare to stand with you again in the future.
"You don't seem to be human either?"
Xu Fu noticed that Chen Taichu's image appearing in the void began to change, differing significantly from his initial appearance.
Not only had his attire changed, but his appearance had also altered, his demeanor becoming even more detached and transcendent.
"This is the Second Form."
"All things and sentient beings have a primary form. Form and spirit are one. Through transformation techniques, one can change their form and spirit, or by obtaining a divine position, one can change their form and spirit to become like a god. However, in essence, it is still the original form and spirit undergoing transformation."
"And this black miasma, though considered an ominous disaster since ancient times, is one of the direct manifestations of the power of the Great Dao in the mortal realm. For it is both formless and formed, and the so-called disaster is also manifested by heaven and earth, using all living beings as a medium."
"Demons and monsters, upon encountering the black miasma, are often consumed by it, losing their form and spirit, becoming possessed and twisted by the black miasma, transforming into various strange shapes, appearing and disappearing, and causing disasters in the mortal world."
"By controlling the black miasma, one gains a second form and spirit, and this form and spirit can even occupy the divine tablets of the thirty-three heavens. You know that the gods of the thirty-three heavens are all divine tablets formed by wishes, but we, by using the black miasma, can refine the divine forms within the divine tablets."
"The form of a god, as long as wishes and offerings exist, will never decay. This is what I originally intended to give you, and this is merely one supreme application of the black miasma."
Xu Fu was greatly astonished: "So that's how it is! This is indeed a good thing, but you actively come into contact with objects of disaster. The black miasma originated in the Qin and Han dynasties, and we Fang Xian Daoists dare not..."
"That is merely you who dare not. You old fossil of this era, a clay figurine who should have turned to dust two thousand years ago."
Chen Taichu: "To have been buried with the First Emperor at Mount Li would have been the best end for a timid Fangshi like you."
Xu Fu laughed heartily: "I never intended to be buried with the First Emperor, nor did I ever intend to help him seek elixirs. If there were truly immortal and indestructible things, I would naturally consume them myself. As for him, it would be better for him to die in a pile of rotten fish!"
"Alright, you probably can't hold on much longer. Our transaction is void."
Chen Taichu, however, let out a terrifying laugh: "Indeed it is void. You came to me for this transaction, yet you yourself unilaterally canceled it. I truly don't know what benefit you gained from this. Are you just playing with me?"
Xu Fu: "My benefit came unexpectedly. To be precise, it was brought to me by the Heavenly Demon King who tested the Dao for you."
"It wasn't a transaction at all, but his actions were beneficial to me."
Chen Taichu: "Then, I understand."
"You want to use this Heavenly Demon King to do something. I cannot retaliate against you for the moment, but your Dao will, in no way, return to your original body."
"I must leave you with some memory, otherwise you will dare to trick me or others again next time."
Chen Taichu's image gradually faded, and the surging black miasma completely engulfed and consumed Xu Fu's will-avatar!
......
Sima Shen, leading a portion of his warriors, felt his way towards Mount Phoenix.
However, he could not find the entrance to Mount Phoenix for a long time. He found that Mount Phoenix, whether viewed from afar or up close, looked ordinary, unlike what his master had described.
"Sima-san, is the clue to the Treasure Gathering Basin really on Mount Phoenix?"
Among these warriors, a leader who did not appear to be a vengeful spirit but a living person, asked Sima Shen about the Treasure Gathering Basin in broken Ming Dynasty Chinese.
"Of course, Ishida-san."
"In the early years of the Ming Dynasty, the Treasure Gathering Basin first appeared in the region of Mount Phoenix. It is conceivable that this item is a treasure left over from the previous Song Dynasty, and it looks like a mud basin."
"Although there are legends that Emperor Taizu took the Treasure Gathering Basin and buried it under a city gate in Shuntian Prefecture, the information I obtained from the Ming court indicates that this is false, and the Treasure Gathering Basin is not in the Ming court's imperial palace at all."
Sima Shen secretly added, especially learning how financially strained the court's military expenses were, which further proved that the Treasure Gathering Basin was not in the hands of the Ming Emperor.
"As Mount Phoenix was the imperial palace of the previous Song Dynasty, the appearance of the Treasure Gathering Basin here means there must be other good things."
"Currently, the real Mount Phoenix is in turmoil, and the demonic heads have all been eliminated. So, as long as we can get in and hide, we will definitely find the lost treasures. The Treasure Gathering Basin is likely a replica of a Tai Xu Treasure Artifact."
Ishida Mitsunari stroked his small mustache and asked:
"Sima-san, what is a Tai Xu Treasure Artifact? I don't seem to have heard the Emperor mention it!"
Sima Shen smiled: "If you ask Hideyoshi-sama, perhaps he will know."
Ishida Mitsunari immediately stated: "Since you have Hideyoshi-sama's permission, then I have nothing to say. However, a while ago, I heard some news that the Ming Dynasty seems to have the Embroidered Uniform Guard within our country."
Sima Shen laughed heartily: "Then do you think I look like an Embroidered Uniform Guard?"
Ishida Mitsunari: "I heard that the Ming Dynasty's Embroidered Uniform Guards are everywhere, so anyone could be an Embroidered Uniform Guard, even myself."
"You and I are both suspects, so I must clarify some strange terms."
Sima Shen: "Then, after you return to Japan, report my words and actions to Hideyoshi-sama. For now, let's find the Treasure Gathering Basin first, then transfer from Qiantang to the Maritime Trade Office in Mingzhou. The Emperor is still waiting for this treasure."
......
Ji Xiang could not find any trace of Chen Taichu. The strange howling sounds vanished along with his disappearance, leaving behind only some black miasma.
"Black miasma, I haven't encountered it since the Forbidden City."
The Tongtian Mingyan floated, enveloping and devouring all the residual black miasma. Information about the black miasma appeared in the Inner Scenery Divine Tablet.
However, to Ji Xiang's surprise, most of the information remained as black bars, and there were even many question marks, indicating it could not be viewed.
[Black Miasma: Originating from the ancient pre-Qin period, an ominous disaster energy.]
[Its source seems related to the changes in Dao???]
[Seems related to the Great Spiritual Communication Technique???]
[Seems to have a close connection with Outer Dao???]
[Completely enduring the black miasma will cause irreversible changes.]
[Your compassion may drastically regress.]
[Your Dao heart will become firmer.]
[You may possess indestructibility.]
[You can perfectly use spells that do not conform to your cultivation origin.]
[Your life itself may be elevated (Human - Yin Spirit, Demon, Fiend, God).]
[You will be unable to use the Daoist characteristics of the Three Teachings' true meaning.]
[You will focus on one Dao and reach its extreme.]
[You will more easily attain enlightenment.]
[You can obtain a second form and spirit from any source, including forcibly stripping the form and spirit of the gods of the thirty-three heavens.]
[You can influence mortal wishes.]
[Dedicating everything to Dao, you will receive ████████████████████████████]
[???]
[???]
Ji Xiang narrowed his eyes.
These entries seemed very tempting.
But why would this energy of disaster bring him such great benefits after completely devouring and enduring it?
There were unseen entries.
"I remember Emperor Jiajing said something similar to Scholar Liu, stating that he didn't know much about the black miasma either and had to go to the mortal realm to observe it specifically. This indicates that the application of the black miasma's power is a recent development."
"And the first appearance of the black miasma originated from the Yin World."
The power of the Yin World is actually not as strong as the Inner Mountains and Rivers, at least not according to Ji Xiang's current knowledge. They even needed to cooperate with other forces in the Inner Mountains and Rivers. Among the Ghost Immortals, there were no beings at the ascended level.
Strange, inexplicably strange, including these known entries, they all seemed very peculiar.
For now, he would leave it in the blank divine tablet. From the current situation, the blank divine tablet still possessed powerful suppression effects, clearly indicating that its level was far higher than these mortal realm items.
The Silver Bottle Maiden then paid her respects to Ji Xiang.
"Great Emperor, has the ringleader been apprehended?"
"He escaped."
Upon receiving this answer, the Silver Bottle Maiden showed a look of misfortune.
Ji Xiang then slowly ascended into this black sky.
The mountains and ranges were all imprinted as if from the same mold. There must be a true main peak here.
To know where the main peak was, one only needed to destroy all the other peaks.
Lightning gathered in his palm, and the divine ability of controlling the Five Thunders struck down, leveling and shattering those mountain peaks, even blowing those demonic temples to ashes. As the mountains collapsed, an ordinary-looking peak was destroyed, and a mud basin fell out, which Ji Xiang picked up.
This item was called the Treasure Gathering Basin.
The youthful version of the Tai Xu Treasure Artifact.