Ji Xiang's form and spirit were reflected upon the Zhenwu statue, allowing him to hear and see everything happening here.
He hadn't expected the Dharma Sect to also venerate the Great Emperor Zhenwu.
Entering the Xuantian Coffin was perilous, as it contained a Celestial Immortal who was likely an enemy. Ji Xiang was also surprised that he was the one who had sealed the coffin lid, and now he was the one opening it. Fortunately, the Celestial Immortal seemed not to have discovered that the lid was open.
"The Xuantian Coffin can reflect me into the mortal world. Are the secret arts used by the Six Sect Dharma Masters also reflection techniques? It seems they paid a great price, consuming much life to reverse everything, and I was erased by them as a 'calamity'."
"Everything returns to its origin... Yuan Shi begins anew?"
"In that case, the Xuantian Coffin is truly a treasure, requiring no cost and offering infinite reflections, which equates to infinite chances to try again... This thing... feels like a save point."
Defeat is common in warfare, brave hero, try again?
Ji Xiang suddenly had an unbidden thought: wasn't this so-called reflection similar to saving a game?
Therefore, this world could also be called the past world.
"And for some reason, I didn't lose my memory this time entering the coffin world... Could it be because the Reflection of Desire was unlocked?"
"If it's because the Reflection of Desire was unlocked, then people entering the coffin will retain their memories. Does this mean that those inside the coffin can also regain their memories?"
"Looking at it this way, that Celestial Immortal who suddenly struck the coffin lid earlier must have used some spell to regain his memory... It wasn't me who unlocked it, but this Celestial Immortal's condition. The entry of the Maoshan Mountain Master stimulated his awakening, and then he regained his memory, attempting to break through the false world. He had previously tried to reflect his existence into the mortal world, but I stopped him."
Ji Xiang's current location was the Shangqing Kunlun Cave, the very coordinate that was reflected into the coffin world. This "Shangqing Kunlun Cave" was a manifestation of the coffin world.
Then, within this manifested Kunlun Cave, there was a white jade platform. Ji Xiang tried it, but found that this platform could not communicate with the Zhu Huo Palace.
A phantom is still a phantom. Only by using reflection techniques to project one's form into the mortal world of the surface geography can they transform from illusory objects into real existences.
At the same time, according to the Inner Scenery Divine Tablet, the mountains and rivers within the coffin hid a celestial art from Wei Yu Mountain.
"I wonder if that celestial art is in this Kunlun Cave."
Ji Xiang merely had this thought, and immediately felt it was unlikely to be obtained so easily. He had only entered to seek refuge. Since he hadn't lost his memory, the next thing to do was to deal with the Six Sects first.
Taking advantage of the fact that the Celestial Immortal hadn't discovered the coffin lid was open, he should hurry out and resolve all the external issues.
"I've heard some incredible news. People from the Biyou Palace are coming? This is truly a stroke of luck. When you all arrive, I'll fly out of this coffin and hang you all from the ceiling."
Ji Xiang, possessing the Zhenwu statue, reflected the form of incense and fire, silently contemplating revenge.
But the people from the Biyou Palace were delayed.
...
The Great Manifestation of Glorious Light Dharma Master in the flames was also getting anxious.
"Haven't the people from the Biyou Palace arrived yet?"
"They should be able to use遁术 (Dùn Shù - escape techniques)!"
The expressions of the five Dharma Masters were uncertain. The Guangze Dharma Master, however, was very calm.
"Perhaps something delayed them on the way, or perhaps they encountered cultivators from Shangqing and are still killing."
"The Biyou Palace hunting Shangqing cultivators has been going on for a long time. That's why I said the Biyou Palace cannot be related to Shangqing. Would they kill their own family for no reason?"
The Guangze Dharma Master chuckled. At this moment, the Hei Sha Dharma Master chimed in again.
"I venerate the Great Emperor Zhenwu, and Wudang Mountain also venerates the Great Emperor Zhenwu. Are all of Wudang Mountain of the same lineage? Am I also a person of Wudang Mountain?"
"Shangqing, I recall, has three lineages, right?"
The Guanyin Dharma Master asked curiously, "Yes, I remember. It seems there are two lineages within Shangqing... If the Biyou Palace is truly related to Shangqing, then they are fighting amongst themselves between these two lineages. But where did this third lineage of yours come from?"
"You must have misspoken."
The Hei Sha Dharma Master, however, said, "I did not misspoken. Besides the San Mao and Qing Xu lineages of the Shangqing Sect, there is another lineage that venerates the Great Master Xuan Zhong, originating from the Zi Qi lineage. It's just that you are unaware of it."
"There is no one cultivating this lineage anymore, so it is naturally unknown."
"My Hei Sha Dharma techniques come from an ancient book circulated within the Shangqing Sect. I obtained it by chance in the past, which is how I learned of this matter. I founded the Hei Sha Dharma Sect, and the Great God Hei Sha is an avatar of the Great Emperor Zhenwu."
"And it is said that the Great Emperor Zhenwu had two masters, one of whom was the Purple Qi Yuan Jun, an avatar of Lord Laozi."
All the Dharma Masters suddenly realized, "So that's how it is."
"No wonder your Hei Sha Dharma techniques require venerating the Great Emperor Zhenwu to perform. I always wondered why your Hei Sha Sect, when performing rituals through the Great God Hei Sha, still needed to request talismans from the secondary deity, Zhenwu."
The Guanyin Dharma Master mentioned this. At this moment, the San Xuan Lao Jun Dharma Master among the Dharma Masters jested, "Then, by that logic, am I not your teacher? Shouldn't you come and offer incense to me?"
The Dharma Masters all burst into laughter, and through the flames, a cheerful atmosphere filled each altar.
Only the Great Manifestation of Glorious Light Dharma Master within the fiery world could not laugh.
The Biyou Palace was delayed, which was definitely problematic. Delays on the road were out of the question. The Biyou Palace's escape techniques were peculiar; it was said that even Shangqing's formations couldn't trap them. He couldn't imagine anyone in this world who could make the Biyou Palace's escape techniques ineffective.
"The calamity has not passed, and the blood in my heart is still boiling. Either the Great Ming Dao Master is not dead, or the people of the Biyou Palace will do something unfathomable."
The Great Manifestation of Glorious Light Dharma Master had already used fire遁 (Dùn - escape) to transmit an item and borrowed a celestial artifact from Prince Lu. He wanted to see if the Biyou Palace would indeed make a move against the Six Sects' orthodox traditions.
If nothing happened, everyone would be happy.
If the Biyou Palace did make a move, he would use the celestial artifact to send the arriving expert... on his way!
"A celestial artifact, how nice. I didn't expect you to have something like this."
Suddenly, a voice directly echoed in the Great Manifestation of Glorious Light Dharma Master's mind!
The Great Manifestation of Glorious Light Dharma Master froze. He looked around the fiery world; there was no one present. At the same time, this voice appeared in the minds of the other five Dharma Masters.
...
Everyone was greatly alarmed. Ji Xiang, possessing the statue, watched as the Hei Sha Dharma Master suddenly stood up and, in a dazed manner, told someone to "get out!"
"You found me?"
Ji Xiang was also startled.
He thought he had hidden quite well. He had been reflecting for a long time without any issue. Had this Dharma Master discovered him earlier?
Just as Ji Xiang was thinking of revealing his true form and rising from the coffin, a Tai Xu Treasure Light captured this eccentric. However, the Hei Sha Dharma Master immediately followed up by shouting:
"Biyou Palace? Are you an immortal from the Biyou Palace?"
Ji Xiang watched him gesticulate and bow towards empty air.