The Vajra Wisdom can break all, yet be unbroken by all. Manjushri Bodhisattva's divine sword of wisdom ignited with Buddha-fire of wisdom. These flames of wisdom erupted, mingling with the blazing incense and flesh, instantly bathing the scene in golden light. Various梵音 (Fan Yin - Buddhist chants) arose from the void, and the realm of the Sea of Suffering manifested, drawing this entire domain into the world of tribulation.
Burning its remnants, blazing holy fire.
If the cultivators of the ancient Fire Worship Sect were to witness this scene, they would undoubtedly prostrate themselves, believing a true god had descended. This radiant, holy figure, wreathed in flames, was precisely as depicted in their scriptures – the God of Fire.
However, unlike the golden radiance, the flames of wisdom gradually shifted from red to blue. As the divine blue fire ascended, the violent power interwoven from countless energies within Ji Xiang's body instantly calmed. All energies converged, as if no collision had ever occurred.
The Buddha-fire of wisdom could incinerate all afflictions and poisons. At this moment, the divine sword used itself as a conduit, burning away all the "afflictive impurities" within Ji Xiang's energies. The excess, which had already merged with Ji Xiang himself, was also guided by the divine sword into the divine ability of the Sea of Suffering.
These afflictive poisons were, in essence, the lingering unwilling wishes of the original owners of the blood qi, earth demon qi, and corpse-解 (Jie - liberation) qi that Ji Xiang had absorbed. Their powers refused to be so easily consumed, their resentment transforming into invisible curses. However, because Ji Xiang had returned to his ancient Heavenly Demon form, he was largely immune to most poisons below the Heavenly Heart. Thus, these resentful wishes, manifesting as invisible curses, could only linger within Ji Xiang's various powers, circulating with the flow of energy, unable to harm him directly. But when different resentments gathered, they would create immense conflict.
Not only could the various energies not fuse, but these wishes also repelled fusion.
But now, these residual impurities had all been incinerated by the wisdom-fire sprayed from Manjushri's divine sword.
Finally, the residual might of that violent power was erased by another divine ability within the divine sword.
"Samadhi of Illusion: Practitioner, one should awaken to the fact that all phenomena in the world are illusory, and one should distance oneself from this illusory realm."
"Using these resentful wishes to activate the divine ability of inverted reality and illusion, this 'conflict' itself became a false illusion, thus pacifying the agitated energies within me..."
Manjushri's divine sword acted autonomously this time, a gesture of goodwill. The Buddha sword possessed a spirit and did not wish to be merely an ornament alongside other divine swords. This action seemed to provoke dissatisfaction from other treasured swords.
The Tianye Yun Sword and Tianyu Yuzhan, whose original users' rights had been forcibly removed, showed no reaction, like two soulless, dead swords. However, the Raikiri and a large number of swords began to tremble, flying up from Ji Xiang's side, asserting their presence.
"A sword for killing enemies, and a sword for harming the good, are naturally different. There is no need to compete excessively for merit."
Ji Xiang soothed the two divine swords, then grasped the Buddha sword and infused it with his own pháp lực (Fa Li - magical power).
The Sea of Suffering churned, but the various energies were accelerating their fusion. The violent power of the Seven Treasures Yellow Lotus was completely digested, and the blazing flames of the incense and his physical body gradually subsided, never to rise again.
All power returned inward.
Boom!
Accompanied by the fierce light flashing from his seven orifices, the time for Sun Refining was shortened by over ten days in this instant!
And this, during the process of Sun Refining, after consuming the Seven Treasures Yellow Lotus and perfectly absorbing its Buddha treasure's might, Ji Xiang's mind seemed to sense something, and he drew the Buddha sword across himself.
A Buddha sword could not harm a mortal body, but it could kill demons and ghosts. Although Ji Xiang was an ancient Heavenly Demon, he was also one of the demonic beings. Upon being wounded by the Buddha sword, no normal red blood flowed out. Instead, a drop of extremely viscous, crystal-clear, colorless liquid emerged, yet it contained potent Yang energy.
This liquid even radiated overwhelming qi and blood. The mere appearance of a single drop stirred immense waves within this Sea of Suffering. The Sea of Suffering was even pierced by a small hole by this drop of qi and blood. With the appearance of the hole, Ji Xiang also dispelled the world of the Sea of Suffering. Subsequently, this drop of blood could even draw upon the Tai Xu Qi of the Great Fu Li.
And this type of liquid, Ji Xiang had seen something similar before!
"My blood has transformed into something akin to Heavenly Marrow?"
This should not have been an anomaly produced by becoming an immortal. Although immortal blood had become immortal blood rather than mortal blood, it was still red, but it would not be easily shed, instead integrating with the self. The physical body had long been forged into a single piece like alchemical furnace divine iron. Even if an arm were severed or a head cleaved, immortal blood would not easily spray out.
When all immortal blood was refined into pure qi, this was the peak of immortal cultivation. At the Heavenly Immortal level, one had reached the end and could be called a Flying Immortal.
To advance further was to comprehend Tai Yi, sense Da Luo, and choose between Heavenly Mandate and Karma. Success would lead to becoming a Heavenly Heart; failure would result in falling to a Loose Immortal.
And regardless of which path to immortality, based on Ji Xiang's current knowledge, no immortal's blood had ever exhibited changes like Heavenly Marrow. For Ji Xiang, this transformation was both a good thing and a troublesome one.
Heavenly Marrow, if consumed, might have the same effect. Then he would become like the moving flesh of Tang Monk.
"But even if it truly became Heavenly Marrow, it would not reach the level of Moon Radiance or Sun Radiance. At most, it would be slightly superior to the Qi of the Zhou Tian Stars, perhaps even slightly inferior. In this case, strong individuals would not covet my blood, and I would not fear the weak."
Therefore, it was merely a slight inconvenience.
Not a dire misfortune.
Human medicine had existed since ancient times. Ji Xiang never expected that he himself would one day become a form of human medicine.
However, Ji Xiang's thought was completely shattered when the second drop was squeezed out.
The shattering of illusion was followed by a series of astonishing descriptions. The Inner Scene Divine Tablet seemed eager to inform Ji Xiang of the origin of this power, and numerous texts appeared before Ji Xiang's eyes.
[Heaven and Earth's Innate Marrow: The nascent form before the condensation of Heaven and Earth's essence! May the Primordial Mother be born with me between life's triumphs, exist with me between the sun and moon, be preserved with me between the Nine Heavens, and be consumed with me between nature!]
[Multiple energies mixed and merged, incorporated into the body of an ancient Heavenly Demon, nurtured and manifested through the innate body, burning primordial green qi, and utilizing the opportunity of Sun Refining!]
[That which is called innate is the apex of all things' genesis, the source of all phenomena and life. Taoism calls it 'True One'! ]
[When Heaven and Earth's Innate Marrow exists within the body, it has the following effects:]
[Eternal Life: Your lifespan is more than ten times that of ordinary cultivators.]
[Root of Ten Thousand Qi: Able to absorb any energy to restore one's state.]
[Upon complete refinement of Heaven and Earth's Innate Marrow, the following effects apply:]
[Heavenly Spirit Inhalation and Exhalation: Those possessing Heaven and Earth's Innate Marrow, upon entering the immortal realm, can transform all useless qi in the world into spiritual qi that can be cultivated!]
[Qi Origin Commencement: Manipulate the various qi of Heaven and Earth, separating their form and substance, using Heaven and Earth's Innate Marrow as a guide to transform the phenomena of the Zhou Tian with a single qi.]
[Essence Manifestation Profound: Gather the various qi of Heaven and Earth, combine with essence, using Heaven and Earth's Innate Marrow as a guide, manipulate a single qi to forge the phenomena of the Zhou Tian.]
"This is?"
Ji Xiang was startled. At this moment, the two drops of blood floated away from Ji Xiang's body for a short time before returning to the wound themselves, and the wound instantly vanished without a trace.
Then, the text in the Inner Scene Divine Tablet did not stop, continuing to float:
[Before the Tai Xu, what is there in the desolation? The utmost essence is stimulated, and the True One is born! The True One manipulates the spirit, and the primordial spirit naturally transforms!]
[Ancient immortals believed that within the vacuum of the Tai Xu, there exists true essence. True essence and true qi interact, and through fusion and manipulation, true life force is generated. This gives rise to the changes of all phenomena, thus all things are after the True One, becoming post-natal beings. Before the birth of the True One, qi was undifferentiated, and beings at this time were innate, with ancient Heavenly Demons being one such type.]
[When a person is born, they receive the primordial qi of Heaven and Earth, becoming spirit and form; they receive the qi of the Primordial One, becoming liquid and essence. When heavenly qi is depleted, the spirit disperses; when earthly qi is depleted, the form becomes ill. When primordial qi is depleted, life is exhausted. As long as primordial qi exists, life exists. Nature cannot be separated from primordial qi, and life transforms and is born according to its kind. When primordial qi is completely consumed, life ceases.]
[Heaven and Earth's Innate Marrow has existed since antiquity. Possessing this object and refining it, one day, one can possess immense power akin to the splitting of Heaven and Earth! In normal times, Heaven and Earth's Innate Marrow will also grant the possessor supreme talent and aptitude!]
[Heaven, Earth, Water, and even Man are all divided from a single qi, and even the various immortal realms between Heaven and Earth are 'formed by condensed qi'!]
[When Qian Kun was opened, clear and turbid were separated, flowing into rivers, condensing into mountains and peaks, aligning with the stars above, and hiding cave heavens below. All are governed by the great sages and true lords, thus there are spirit palaces, imperial residences, jade halls, and golden terraces, all formed by condensed qi!]
————
"The human body is like a world, containing wind and rain, accumulating clouds and thunder, serving as the pivot of Heaven and Earth."
"By transforming the body into Heaven and Earth, the most ancient cave heavens and blessed lands of the inner mountains and rivers were born this way. This requires the use of 'Heaven and Earth's Innate Marrow'."
In the Southern Great Sea, among the mountains, the Dharma Sect flourished. King Lei and his followers met with that Buddha-ghost. The Dragon Lord Jiupan Cha Wang spoke frankly to these Dharma Sect powerhouses of the Inner Mountains and Rivers, showing goodwill without any of the arrogance of Inner Mountain cultivators. As the sect leaders of the Dharma Sect heard him speak of the secrets of the Inner Mountains and Rivers, astonishment and shock appeared on each of their faces.
Subsequently, desire ignited in their eyes!
"Master, if what you say is true, does it mean that by entering the Inner Mountains and Rivers, and having Heaven and Earth's Innate Marrow refined within oneself, it's like the body containing a world? Then, the inner palaces and residences will correspond to the blue sky, and one can create a world?"
The Dharma Sect leaders' faces were filled with joy and surprise.
This was different from taking a portion of the Great World and hiding it with illusionary techniques to create a "ground realm." This was truly opening up a hidden dwelling, capable of absorbing spiritual qi and creating its own Qian Kun. This was no longer at the level of magic, and could not even compare to divine abilities!
If they could open up a hidden cave heaven, then even if immortals appeared before them, they would not fear being surrounded and attacked by Heavenly Masters, but could truly contend with the Ming Dynasty's territorial powers!
"In the past, weren't there often such stories in the Outer Mountains and Rivers?"
The Buddha-ghost smiled and said, "Once, someone washed cloth by the river. Returning home at night, they followed the river but did not reach their village. Instead, they arrived before a large city and were driven away by a cowherd. That night, what was seen in the human world was a guest star offending the Taurus constellation."
"There was also a man from Wuling in the Jin Dynasty, who made his living by fishing. Following the stream, he lost track of the distance. Suddenly, he encountered a peach blossom forest... The tale of this Peach Blossom Spring made the local prefect send people to follow him, but they became lost and could not find the path again."
"There were also Liu Chen and Ruan Zhao from the Han Dynasty, who entered Mount Tiantai and met immortals. Half a year later, they returned to their hometown, only to find that their descendants had already lived seven generations."
"Also, in the Jin Dynasty, Wang Zhi went to Stone Chamber Mountain to gather firewood. He encountered a young boy and an old man playing chess by a large rock beside a stream. He placed his axe on the ground and stopped to watch. After a long time, the boy urged him to go home. When Wang Zhi went to retrieve his axe, the axe handle had already rotted. Returning home, no one recognized him, but a few elders who heard his name called him someone from a hundred years ago."
"The passage of time in the Inner Mountains and Rivers is different from the Outer Mountains and Rivers. This is precisely because what was opened was true Heaven and Earth Qian Kun, not the petty trick of carving up the Great World for one's own use like the ground realm."
Of course, as for the appearance of the Inner Mountains and Rivers itself, the Buddha-ghost was not entirely clear. Where the earliest Inner Mountain and River was located, and which cave heaven and blessed land was created, perhaps only those old ghosts from the Qin and Han dynasties knew.
The Dharma Sect leaders exchanged glances. At this moment, someone spoke, their previous enthusiasm slightly diminished, and they became a bit calmer, thus asking the Buddha-ghost with the doubts in their hearts:
"Master speaks very well, but such a precious treasure, if it were truly easy to obtain, then the Prince Lu from before, who also rebelled and almost ascended to immortality, why did he not produce such a thing?"
The Buddha-ghost burst into laughter: "That is because the people behind Prince Lu were not of the righteous path, but were actually Yuan Huang's邪修 (Xie Xiu - evil cultivators). Heaven and Earth's Innate Marrow is, of course, a treasure. Yuan Huang, as a later cultivator, could not possibly possess it."
"Later cultivators? I heard he was from the Wei Jin period. Does that count as later?"
King Lei was very confused. If even the Wei Jin period was considered later, then the origin of Heaven and Earth's Innate Marrow was somewhat bizarre.
"Naturally, it is so. However, I must apologize, but I cannot inform you of the origin of Heaven and Earth's Innate Marrow."
"And even if you knew, what could you do? Let this matter pass. To get back to the point, I have now descended to the mortal realm from the Inner Mountains and Rivers at a great cost, leaving only the physical shells of immortals and Buddhas. I cannot bring my own cultivation, and thus have lost all my divine abilities."
"Even so, I had to come here, intending to mutually illuminate the fundamental laws of Heaven and Earth with all you Dharma Sect leaders. Whether it is Buddhism or Taoism, the techniques of the Dharma Sect originate from Buddhism and Taoism, and thus can naturally illuminate them."
"Then, to establish a new dynasty."
Beside the Buddha-ghost stood a young man, barely twenty, who remained silent, but his face was filled with arrogance, and his eyes were full of ambition.
The leaders of the many Dharma Sects were not unfamiliar with this person.
Because the region of Huguang had a great connection with him.
Prince Chu Ding, Zhu Hua Kui.
"Everyone, the opportunity for change is about to arrive. The immortals and Buddhas of the Inner Mountains and Rivers are eagerly establishing contact with the human world. Whoever can seize the initiative at this time will take the lead. Daoism is constantly embroiled in internal strife. The Shangqing lineage was recently subjected to continuous assassinations by the Yin Xian Sect, causing widespread panic and fear to venture out. Now, our Buddhist sect has a vast influence in the Inner Mountains and Rivers. Although there are minor frictions internally, overall we still occupy half the heavens."
"I will exchange one continent of the Inner Mountains and Rivers for you to use Heaven and Earth's Innate Marrow to transform Qian Kun. In this way, a true fifth major power will emerge in the Inner Mountains and Rivers, that is, you, the leaders of the Dharma Sect!"
"As long as one of you can achieve immortality!"
As the words fell, countless gazes fell upon King Lei in the center.